The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-10-21
EVANGHISEIC NRETING
Conducted by an ex-Pize
Fighter and Gambler at the
OPERA HOUSE YESTERDAY.
Ben Hogan's Work-An Eloquent
Assistant With HIm-The Saloon
Considered as un Outlaw by
DIR, Cushing Inst Night
BEN HOgan's gospel meeting at the

Ben Hogan's gospel meeting at thu
0pea House yesterday afternoon was {
success in every sense of the word
Hogan is an ex.prize fighter, gambler
and saloon keeper, He is not bias
phemous nor funny, but is bright
wonderfully in earnest, and while no
educated, nor polished in his manner o
speaking, he holds his audience and in
terests It by u very forcible and enthus
iastlc method OF putting cold facts,
He Is his own bill poster, press ugen
and manager, and up till the time fo
beginning his discourse, acted as usher
and hunted seats for his audience, Hi
is a splendid specimen Of physical man
hood, aud his rather short, well'kni
frame does not carry q supellloul
pound, He has short, thick head
with a small bare patch; a broad, reso
lutte chin, and u good fstherly face, with
eyes that beam with kindness and
flash with fire as he passes from point ia
point ia his dissertation, That he il
scienCed and has studied tho manly art
shows in every motion. His gestures
are made with clenched fists, and take
the direction OF graceful "leads and
guards" while Ills sudden forward,
back and lateral motions show perfect
ease aud grace. His earnestness makes
him very dramatic, and had he the edu.
cation OF which he admits the need, he
would have few superiors as an orator.
TheaudienCe which greeted Mr., Hogan
filled the lower part Of the house, and
showed well in the gallery, 1t was not
composed OF toughs, roughs nor unedu-
Gated people, but was, with few pRlpa.
BILE exceptions, such gathering as a
popular lecturer might expect to face,
People OF wealth, education and refine.
ment sat through the talk, and seemed
to profit by 1t. Gamblers aud sporting
men were Interested listeners, and quite
large number OF church aud Sabbath
school workers were there.
The meeting was opened by tho sing.
ing OF a Gospel hymn. Mr.. o. S. AIorri.
son and u few others from the Young
Mems Christian Association, conducted
hesinging, and the audience Joined in
with gusto. A second hymn was sung
aud by the time II was finished, Mr.. Hogan
had iaken his place on the stage, and
Rev. DR.. Gushing, Hon. O. d. Hubbard
and number OF others had Joined him
Mr.. Hogan asked the choir and audience
TO sign "Rescue the PerIshing," aftel
which Rev. DR.. Cushing read heseyentl
Psalm and offered prayer. After sing
ing "What Friend We have in Jesus,
Mr., Hogan was formally introduced By
Dr.. Gushing, who has known him fol
years, and who Yves willing to vouCh fol
bis good intentions, and ability to dc
good In bis chosen line, Before Mr.
Hogan commenced to speak ho asked
that any ministers Of the Gospel who
might DO In tho audience would come
to the stage. There were no responses,
ant, the audience murmured It's disap'
proval Of their absence.
Mr., Hogan began by saying that II he
had the money, he would hire the Opera
House for week or two weeks, but
since hc had not the money he would
try and get business room somewhere
along the main street and speak In 1t,
He does not talk in churches, because
people do not 60 to churches through
the week, and many Of them not even
on Sunday.
Hemade an appeal for the poor igno'
rant wretChes who have no knowledge
Of churches, schools or Sabbath schools
and told OF his own experience to illus
trate their condition. He said: ~ was
worse than heather till ! was twenty
Ave years old. | could not read OF
write and had never been In school
church or Sabbath school," He cited
these conditions IN an appeal for home
missions, aud talked to prove that they
arc Of much more avail than foreign
missions.
He told an interesting story Of how he
was Inyeigled into gospel meeting In
Broadway, New York, while under the
impression that lie was attending free
show. He told how he waited for the
walters to come and take his order for
drinks, and how indignant he was when
he found what sort OF a place he had
gotten into. He finally got up 10 the
point where he signed the pledge, aud
told how much like a sneak.thiei he felt
when he did ", He said that he had
never felt fear till he signed tho pledge,
and then was afraid people would laugh
at him, He applied his own expo.
rienoe to thoso before him, and closed
with "Let no man laugh you out Of
your kingdom"
He wanted 10 drink a few bottles Of
vine, and sign the pledge again. His
wife told him that would not do, 80 he
prayed God for help to keep the pledge.
He said that be felt as II a thousand
pounds had been lifted from him when
he flushed that prayer, and that In his
he went out on 10 the street
and told his friends In the most child.
like and earnest manner, that he had
prayed and signed the pledge. Harry
Hill, Joe Goss, Joe Coburn and his
other sporting friends offered bets Of
$500 TO 81 that he would not keep 1t
three months, but had no takers. They
said lie was working political scheme;
was shaking the gang to get in with au'
other class Of people.
He told OF his first impressions Of some
OF The Bible characters when the book
was read to him. lie always admired
Christ, because he was game and died
for the cspse." Before Ito could read
he concluded that his wife and
tho ev9pgelists were lying TO him,
because he could not see how any man
could refuse to follow the Bibles dictates
when 80 much Is promised for so little.
He told Of his saloon at Bradford, Pa,
where he made $500 a day, and closed
hiS remarks with an earnest appeal 10
those NOT saved.
Mr.. CHARLES Sawyer, who 10 with Mr..
Hogan, and who was the FIRST person
Mr.. Hogan ever heard talk religion, was
then introduced and made a few 70.
mars. Mr.. Sawyer is a fine talker and
will DO here all tho week with Mr., Hogan
hen Hogan Mt the Opera House Tonight.
It had been arranged that Ben Hogan
should speak AZ tue Y. NJ, O. A, build.
Ing this evening and IL was 30 1nnppnC.
ed yesterday, but laut evening change
was made Ia the programme, and
the Opera House secured. Every.
body 10 welcome 10 attend this
The ex.ptiEs fighters mission
is In Try and do good 10 others, and DO