The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-14
a BIG EVENT.
An Immense Audience Greets Command T
Boo,h at the Opers House.

BOO al the 1pert house
One OF the largest audiences that has
ever been brought together under one roof
in Wichita was that which greeted Bal
liDgton Booth, commander Of the Saliva
ton Army of America. at the opera house
Sunday afternoon. The meeting was an
nouneed for 3 o'clock. but an hour previous
the house was literally packed The audi
ence was made up of every imaginable
class Of society, from the street arab to the
wealthy banker ard from the bonueted
Magde!en who now joyiulIy parades the
streets from which she has bzeu rescued
TO the diamond-laden society belle
who has never seen the dark
gloomy and polluted side of Iife as il exists
even in Wichita, whose worst people are
ouly rustic, unscienced amateurs in the
commission Of sin. compared with other
localities. A critical observer could see a
resemblance to this affair in that held IN
the same building last June, when the
Peoples party met in biennial convention.
The plain people in politics were on the
platform then; the plain people in religion
were on the same platform now. Jewell
ing. the leader Of a new political crusade,
1EphC AAGH- DULL, tue lCdAcI u q new re-
Hgious crusade, spoke now. The one
preached against monopoly; the other
preached against sin; Gould was the target
IN the first instance; the devil was The tar
get in the last instance. Both preached
salvation, but from present appearances
one of them only viii be successful
as but one OF them probably Is sincere.
That there was a Certain likeness between
both audiences no Que who has, seen both
can deny. The same disc0rdaut music
stirred the hearts of the followers in each
cause and even the same methods vera
used in raising the sinews of war. 4 short
sighted man could see perfect type of a
Jerry Simpson on the stage Sunday and a
deaf man could recognize the tones OF
Mrs. Lease. A perfect type Of John
Bridenthal could be seen in a red jersey;
Judge Vrooman could be seen in a faded
broadclOth coat while Jones of Butler, the
Alliance nightengale could be recognized
IN every Other person.
Be all this as it may the Salvation Army
meeting was grand success and very in
teresting to those who attended it. Mr..
Booth is not an eloquent man hut he j.
a good speaker and presented
the aims and objects as well as the achieve
ments of the Salvation Army in clear,
forcible and interesting manner. He
went back to its inception twenty-seven
years ago in the east end OF London and |
followed It's progress up to the present !
period, when it has penetrated into the /
hearts Of thirty-seven different countries I
and its songs are sung by over 1000, 900 !
tongues representing a score or more |
different and distinct languages and dia- /
ects. He used many interesting incidents /
TO illustrate the character of people /
brought under the influence OF it and |
brought out with particular force one 1
very romantic incident where the army !
rescued the scion of a noble family, who (
lad been in parliament thirteen years,
who was on his way TO the ocean beach to
commit suicide when the noise of the .
attracted his attention and
nred him back from the mighty rolling
waters 20 the Salvation Army barracks,
where he was converted and saved
At hight he spoke TO another large
audience in the same building. Several
more humble members testified their ex-
,erience, including an ex-city marshal who
egulated the peace of Caldwell in the old
lays when the festive haFlot and the risky
owboy painted the town red.
This same mans father was on the
tage, and remarkable character he is
u all the vast audience that looked upon |
he stage, probably no one knew him but
he EAGLE reporter, and yet he is one of
he most remarkably religious men that
AS ever set foot upon the hallowed soil OF
Kansas. Every one noticed him, for he
ooks exactly like the great Gladstone.
He is Father Lee" There is not a
owboy or gambler who has ever roamed
long the southern border of Kansas but
What knows the familiar face OF Father
zee. EighJy-seYen winters have made his
air as white as the driven snow, but his
mind is as strong as ever and his physical
ondition is in itself mperAnce lecture, !
or he IS still robust and bids fair 10 be-
ONE cetenarian. Sixty years
90 he crossed the plains Of
Kansas, crept over the rugged
eaks of the Rockies, trod the burning
auds of the Arizona desert and stead
astly followed the course OF the blazing
IN until he carried the light of the gospel
nto the benighted Sandwiches of the Pa
AZ. A-fSA SAL|C tLeAL llIliC Do has OeEI Az
Industrious worker IN the vineyard Of his
faster and if one of the brightest crowns
T glory IN heaven Is not reserved for him
hose who know him will be disappointed
y hen Caldwell was IN her glory 10 the
arly days Father Lee was there In those
ays the house that was not saloon was
gorgeous gambling palace. Thugs and
oughs of every color and nationality lived
n these places Ike parasites. and a man
ould make a contract any day with an
ther man 10 have third mans throat
ut from ear TO ear for quarter. Father
ZEE did voluntary missionary work
n these places and many are
he times he led young man
way from the faro table without as much
5 a word being uttered against him. II
ny other man but the venerable Father
ZEE would attempt such a thing his life
wouldn't be worth ten cent piece Father
zee was privileged character in all these
laces, for there was no man so far gone
ut what recognized the purity OF his soul
nd the honesty OF his motives
ABOUT THG STATION.