The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-30
HEARD BY THOUSANDS
Francis Murphy's Night Meeting
Packs TOmlinsOn Hall.
Mayor Denny Makes a Short Talk
Golden Lesson of Temperance from
the Lips OF Murphy.

gray WIFI lue
years of experience and time. stood up be-
fore an audience that taxed the capacity
OF Tomlinson Hall and with warm grasp
of the hand, was welcomed as a resident
of the city of Indianapolis by Mayor
Denny. The services of the evening were
opened with the song "All Hail the Power
of Jesus Name" The packed auditorium
and galleries echoed the words of the IA
miliar old hymn with an earnest enthusi-
asm seldom ever heard in a public meeting.
The members of the Murphy League. with
Mayor Denny. Police Judge Stubs and
other prominent citizens, looked down upon
the mass of humanity from the stage. AS
the notes of the song died away. Mayor
Denny arose and stepped to the front. well
coined by the liberal applause Of the peo-
pie who recognized him.
Mr.. Denny was introduced by Joseph
Taggart, and then in a brief address. spoke
words of welcome to Francis Murphy. He
considered it an honor to preside at one of
these meetings. and bis praise of the
evangelist and of the manner in which the
series of meetings have been carried on
was unstinted. 1t was good to witness the
smile that played over the features Of
Francis Murphy at these words and he
arose TO his feet at the conclusion Of the
Mayors welcome and in one of his char
acteristic talks paid the chief magistrate of
the city a pretty compliment.
II know him." he said ito be a perfectly
true temperate man. and so much conf
dence have l in his ability to abstain from
liquor that / could trust him even at
banquet" Then the choir sang. Throw
out the Lifeline" and the congregation
joined in the chorus until the very gallery
shook.
Mr.. Denny was called for again, and in
reply TO Francis Murphy's unfortunate
quest that he direct the meeting, drily re-
marked:
81 think that director in a meeting like
this is useless thing. I'll turn this big
crowd over to the tender mercies of brother
Murphy
1.-The Lord help us, and bless us, and
make this the greatest meeting of the
SERIES" exclaimed the evangelist, and then
he began. He had a word for the fathers.
the mothers and the girls and the boys.
Everybody comes in for share of Francis
Murphys good things; he is not stingy in
is pretty little praises. and has faculty Of
making each of his hearers feel that he has
an individual interest in them. Last night
he talked to the boys.
These are wonderful young men, he
said, land you have to keep up with them.
The boys are making progress as well as
the town. When / first came to Indian
furnished the motive power. Now look at
us. Yes, these boys are wonderful, and we
have got to make our revivals wonderful.
or they won't have it. Now, We are NOV
ing on. and Jesus Christ is the way TO
save men. He is the truth and the light.
When you meet a hungry man, feed him.
Cheap talk don't fill that stomach of his
1t is a great institution, and 1t has got to
have something in it. Christ said, Give us
niss loxy doll w 10 hun
CRY, and we must reach them; and when
we do see them grab it. When we hunger
need it, too. Francis Murphy needs it. If
my wife didn't look after me. don't know
what l would do 1 am not saint; | am
want to be better. It's so nice to have
Sunday religion-so easy. We go to church
wearing a smile, and our fine clothes. The
minister looks down upon us. rubs his
hands and gleefully says to himself: What
q nice flock But if he'd go home and eat
or two. We scold the Mayor; think he
ought to do it ALL He'll do the best he
Sa ad b eq5 bGr GSd aE e stand up
but keep your money in your pocket and
buy your wife that sealskin sacque or
''This thing of pride is a barrier, but the
salvation army is coming up now and gath
eg them p up from the UT ri esd nd the the
highest. Ii we are only faithful, He'll
save the biggest drunkard in the world
y,
doubt his ability 10 save any man. He'll
save the women. too. 1 was conducting
meeting in New York some years ago and
there sat on the platform with me the
stepped into the hall; she was BEAUTIFUL,
young and elegantly attired. But think of
IL. She was drunk. Pushing her way I'M
steadily to the platform, she reached to-
ward 1 pulled her up with my hand
in hers. As the boys say. L was Knocked
out but l had the woman Hon. Cyrus
Schaffer was there with his little Quaker
wife. Ah there was a noble woman! She
didn't hesitate She didn't draw her skirts
ter, placed her arms about her. and with
the light of love in her eyes whispered a
word in the womans ear. Both knelt on
their knees and prayed. Mr.. SchaHer ana
his angel wife went home with that woman;
found her husband there caring for two
lovely babies. Then with bursting hearts
ttat family prayed to God. He heard their
appeal and answered 1t. On Love! That holy
angel is 70 go through this land and wipe
out every drop of this aecursed drink.
After the conclusion of this pathetic story
the evangelist dragged from an obscure
chair in the rear CT the stage one of the
prominent members of the Murphy League,
Thomas whiting who in his own words
had experienced the happiest moment of his
life when he signed the Murphy pledge.
choir sang "Blest Be the Tie That Binds"
Then Thomas Cleveland was called for
ward. Said he: Il signed the pledge. kept
IL three months and then broke it,
You did WELL" laughingly interpolated
the evangelist
land grasDed his hand and remarked earn
estly: II loved him and love him yet"
'.Yes, and my wife amt jealous, either
retorted Francis Murphy.
but / signed the pledge and broke it
again. continued Mr.. Cleveland. Then L
lost my friends and my money"
THANK Cod interrupted the evangelist;
YOU ought to.
Mr.. Cleveland continued: Il am happy
At this point William Murphy, son of the
evangelist, was introduced and made a
strong speech of a half hour in behalf OF
temperance.
Now" said Mr.. Francis Murphy again,
Il am going 10 call upon friend whose
mission IL is TO preside over the unfor-
tunate. Come out here, Judge Stubbs.'
The Judge responded. and gave the audi
ence the benefit of his brief experience
morning in Police Court 80 per cent of
whose troubles are brought about by whis-
Ky. Then the evangelist came to the front
again, and, as ne reached for a glass of
water. said in his inimitable style 'Sing a
verse, Brother johnson, while | take some
eloquent appeal TO the workingman, con-
Guiding one of his magnificent flights with
the following: "Mercful God. workingmen
When Will you ever get enough of this evil?
The saloons couldn't exist without you;
they'd go Qua of business. For Gods sake
let them go tonight" Then TO the boys:
Now you boys who are poor like myself
and away from home, ] want 10 say some
thing to you. Are there any of you here to-
night? oh. beseech you, boys. who have
allowed the pleasures of the world TO come
between you and your mothers. for Gods
sake forSake IL tonight and rise up
Men. do you drink? All how proud that
wife OF yours is. She loves you. See how