Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-09


under that age had the
~ privilege Of speaking in
the House every day and
that man has the right
1t this time. The man who has the distinction
of being the youngest person ever allowed to
speak in the House is DIR. William Henry Mil
burn who came to Washington when he was
only twenty years old, as chaplain, in De
cember, 1Si5.
By the subIimity of his thought. his beauti-
fully selected words and his musical voice. DIR.
Milburn has won the name Of The Blind Man
Eloquent" and by that name is known not
only in America, but in Europe also for he has
travelled extensively abroad and has charmed
audiences in foreign lands we'll as in his own
country.
HIS EARLY LIFE
DIR. Milburn was born in Philadelphia Sep
tember 26, 1923. so that he has now reached
almost the age of three score and ten, but his
vigorous constitution indicates that he will far
outlive the days allotted to man. DIR. Milburn
lost the sight Of one eve totally and of the
other partially when n mere child He was
determined, however. to obtain thorough
education and was enabled by bis strong will
to overcome ali obstacles He says that there
was q time when he could read but never with
word, line, . sentence from the page to the
mind
1t was perpetuation of the child's process,
Q letter at a time. always spelling, never truly
reading. Thus for more than twenty years.
with the shade upon the brow, the hand upOn
the cheek. the finger beneath the eye, to make
an artificial pupil, YVES the reading done. So
with great difficulty he prepared for college
and passed. through the four years course with
honor, but at the cost of his health. He en-
to-a ft.ar ,sra
old, and during the first twelve years itineracy
accepted puipIts in almost every state of the
Union and travelled more than 200. 900 miles.
In September, lS45. he went to Springfield
Ill, 10 attend conference Having passed
two years OF probation he was at this time or
dained- This conference decided to build
female seminary and large sum of money was
necessary to establish it. II was then custom
airy for the west to call upon the east for aid In
such enterprises After selecting a site for the
proposed seminary anu making out an esti-
mate Of the sum necessary to put it into opera
ton. the remaining act needful Was the selec-
ton OF some man to act as agent to lay be-
fore the east the educational needs of the west
and that was the appointment which DIR. Mil
burn received for the ensuing wear.
An old friend offered to accompany him on
his travels, and they soon started for Cincin-
matt. where DIR. Milburn preached for three
weeks without receiving anything for his
worthy object. and he saw that he must soon
II
any money back to Illinois, and with this idea
in mind he took Q steamboat at Cincinnati for
Wheeling.
HOW HI FIRST BECAME CHAPLAIN.
1t was Friday morning when DIR. Milburn and
his friend boarded the steamer and he expected
TO reach Wheeling Saturday night
Among the passengers were several members
of Congress who were known to fame and DR.
Alburn thought 1t would be interesting to
observe these men and listen to their converse
non, but instead OF finding them discussing
topics OF national importance he was terribly
shocked by their card playing swearing and
excessive drinking. The steamer was much
delayed by fogs, and when Sunday morning
came was still eighty miles from Wheeling.
There was no Convenient place to land for
church, so II was decided to have services ON
board, and at breakfast q committee waited on
DR.. Milburn and asked him to preach He saws
ne never has accepted an invitation more gladly
for he was never more anxious to speak his
mind
At 1880 . congregation Of nearly 800 assem-
bled, and DIR. Milburn took his place before
them and delivered mis- sermon After the dis
course proper he says that he could not resist
the temptation to say a few straightforward
words TO the men who were seated AZ hls right
and left DIR. Milburn said to them that lie
thought IS members OF the Congress of tie
United States they should be representatives of
the people not only politically. but intellectu-
10y shA teheioorAs b0t tudt II Ne were 10 luQge
the nation by them he mCst consider it nation
OF drinking men and gamblers.
As they we're men of influence DR.. Niburn
said he thought they should Use their power for
good He said that as an American citizen he
felt disgrsced and as . preacher of the GOSPEL
he was bound ~ tell them that unless they re-
nounced thsi- sins they would certainly be
damned.
Dr.. Milburn states that he went to his room
siter the service to think about his short speech
n ha lNrx~<x
Al he had said if he should be called to a reci-
oning- While there some one tapped on the
door and on being admitted said that he had
been selected by the members Of Congress on
board 70 present him . sum Of money In token
OF their appreciation Of his fearlsssness They
bad also sent him with the question whether
Dr. Milburn would allow his name to be used
a. the coming election for chaplain of the
House OF Representatives They promised to
work for him Il be would permit them to pre-
sent his mama. Dr. Milburn wishec short
time In which to talk the matter over with his
friend, who urged him to accept the offer and
before the boat reached Wheeling he told them
ns would sccspt their proposal They went
which proved successful
So it was by this single bold speech 10 the
congressmen on the Ohio rlyer steamer that
Dr.. Miiburn brought these wssternsrs, who
we're all admirers Of frank people, to respect
him and to name HIM aud igks his battle for
chaplain OF the House.
II THE rwxxrI-SISrs coSsRrss
IL was the Twenty ninth Congress, the first
Of Mr.. Folks administration, TO which Dr. Nil
burn We first elected chaplain John Wesley
Adams was speaker during this Congress and
prominent among the members Of the House
we're John Quincy Adams. who had been Presi-
dent Of the United States; Geo. p. Marsh Of
Vermont, who afterward wrote the life Of Web
stsr; Robt G. Winthrop. the orator; Hannibal
Hamlin. Stephen A Douglas aud Alexander H.
etspbens.
A. this time Geo. N. Dallas, . man OF courtly
manners, complete self-possession and sbsolute
inpartislity, was presiding ofacer Of the Sen
sls. That he was . man Of TACT IL shown by q
story which Or. Nuburn tells. -
Gen. Ashley and Mr.. SEWER were the Sena-
tors from Arkansas Gen. Ashley pronounced
the name Of the stats a. il Is spelled and Mr..
SAVER a. 70 has since been hxed by the legisla
ture. When Gen. Ashley rose Mr.. Dallas al