The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-12
AN EVANGELIST NOW.
John Currie Oace Fought a Bloody
Prize Fight.
Brief History Of the Man His Conversion and
Work-A Tribute to John L. sulli-
vans Good Deeds

Evangelist John Currie spoke to a large
audience last evening in the lecture-room of
the Mason street Presbyterian Church. His
text was Gen. g: And the Lord God
called unto Adam and said, Where art
thou?'"
His sermon was on the position of human
ity with regard to God. He divided his dis
course into four parts, represented by the
four valleys mentioned in the Holy Writ
the valley of dry bones, the valley of decis-
ion. the valley of blessing and the valley of
vision.
In the course of his remarks he pointed
out two of the four words in the original
used to represent man. The first was used
in speaking OF Adam, and meant Z" One who
looks up into the face of God; and the sec
ond and last meant One who looks down
like a brute"
Mr.. Currie, who has been preaching at the
aforementioned place evangelically since
Sunday evening. has had quite an eveutful
life, and to CALL reporter last evening
gave brief resume OF 1t.
NATIVE OF GLASGOW.
Said he: Il was born in Glasgow In 1874
NY father was the foreman in large baking
establishment and my mother was pro-
fesSlonal dressmaker. They both made a
great deal of money and l had all that
could desire for several years.
When was years of age, however, my
father BEGAN drinking, and misfortune I'M
nIediately entered the once happy home.
My mother was n Christian and good wo-
man and stood up under the blows of adj
verse fortune for two years, at which time
my father lost his position, but then she
was attacked with melancholia and had to
be sent To an asylum.
Things went from bad to worse, and
when | was years old | went to work for
myself. When / had been working for a
year we got mother out OF the asylum and
were walking up high street when she be-
came separated from us. and that was the
last ever saw of her. We afterward heard
that some OF the asylum authorities had
found her wandering and had taken her in
charge, and that she had died there.
My grandmother then took charge of m e
until | was 81. When | was only 10 years
of age was considered Il good Splinter, and
l became so fond of athletic sports that it
kept me from vices. At the age of - was
a good wrestler. and at 16 | was called a
good all-rOund athlete. When l was IS
could lift flty-six pounds even with my
head on my little finger.
IN THE PRIZE-RING ONCE.
:" was in the prize-ring once and 1t was
my last appearance. 1t happened in this
way. We were ali in saloon when a big
fellow walked in and said he would toss
anybody for the drinks l took him up and
beat him two or three times. One of my
companions laughed at the fellow (uone Of
US knew HIM. and was knocked down for
his pains. | resented the attack and was
also knocked down.
when | got up | said 'Fll fight you for
money and slapped up pile Of silver upon
the cou"ter. The fellow took me up, and
we went out next morning to settle it. We
fought for one hour and thirty-fiye minutes,
and we fought each other to a standstil, the
referee calling 1t a draw. l saw that he
was In splendid condition, while | was not.
We met III a few days to take down our
stakes, and | had learned in the meantime
that nc was none other than Jack Cameron,
the best pugilst OF bis class in town.
RESULTS OF PRIZE-FIGHTING.
The seconds wanted to make another
match and knew that with training could
beat him. | agreed but he backed down.
But while they were talking ! commenced
to think of the results of prize-fghting and
had made uD my Diiud that | would never
90 into the ring again. You know of ALI
Greenfield; well lie killed man in the ring !;
that man was Jack Cameron, my old opp0-
nent. When | came to this country | took
to sprinting and was pretty good one. L
trained Jack Graham, who for many years
held the record in Boston The result of
one of his wins was protracted snree,
during which | went to Montreal and found
myself there alone and without cent.
Il went into the Y. NJ. c. A. meeting one
night and was so well treated that | went
again. 1t was there that | was converted.
and ever since then | have devoted myself
to this work. When l am not in the
churches devote myself to the pugIlisis,
and just here l want to speak OF man
whom you are well acquainted with-Jo ohm
l.. Sullivan. see any number OF reports
OF everything bad aud wicked that he does,
but | never see any mention of his good
works, while know that he has beiriended
many widows and orphans. and has done
good deeds which, by their superiority,
ber''
Mr.. Curris has, since his conversion, made
made diligent study OF the Bible, and has
read it through many times, being able to
quote thousands of passages from il.