The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-06-13
A oENUINE
n Line OF steamboats, Managed on
Christian Principles.

Christian Principles.
"Bin Arp in writing from Nash
vile, tells an interesting story OF
Captain Ryman, who built the large |
tabernacle In which the Southern
Baptist Convention held its meetings
last month. Everybody in Nashville
knows Capt Ryman, and the story is
authentic beyond question:
Who is Captain Ryman? l have
been his guest for q day and a night.
His beautiful home is on the heights.
1t is uncovered in shade and sur
rounded by flowers-howers without
and flowers within-for at the beauti-
full table 1 found matrons and maidens
and school girls, all ready to give well
come to the stranger-the Georgia
cracker as they call me. 1t is a large
family, and reminded me of home, for
as 1T is in all large families, there is
more freedom, more companionship,
more talk, more music and more com
pany.
Captain Ryman is u Waterman. He
runs the line of packets or steamboats,
from Nashville to Evansville, $50 miles.
There are eight boats and they average
a round trip in a week and SO there is
one to so and one to come every day.
There is nothing strange or peculiar
about that. The captains office is
near the wharf and 1 concluded to visit
the outgoing steamer and see her out
fit. Everything aboard vas lively. I
noticed @ sign ove the cabin door and
got ready to throw away my cigar, for
| supposed the sign said SO, but it
didn't. 1t said: "Trust in the Lord
the same door it said: "The Heavens
Declare the Glory of God" and at the
far end of the cabin was another line
OF scripture, and all about were gentle
reminders that sin Him we live and
move and have u being"
els this a missionary boat ?" said 1.
Yes" said the captain; tours are
all missionary boats. We have no bars
nor quick sands, no drinking pilots or
or black, no gaming tables. We may
carry q tough sometimes, but we don't
know it and don't throw anybody over
board. Yes, you may call them mis-
sionary boats If you choose, for they
have converted some sinners that I
know and have improved the morals of
boatmen all along the line"
I learned from others that the cap
tain used to run his boat like every
body else ; and whisky and cards and
a good deal of swearing were consider
ed part of the furniture, but q few
years ago Sam Jones came along here
and in one Of his magnetic sermons
shook the captain all up and knocked
out his props and put him to thinking.
He has q great big heart and is full of
sympathy for the poor and unfortunate,
and so he suddenly "came to himself"
as the scriptures say of the prodigal
son, and broke up his bar and forbade
all gaming or drinking Or swearing on
his boat, and he had all that scripture
put over the doors and discharged
every man who vas unwilling to work
on h g schedule. 1t was hard on
him for q while and hard on his boat.
but after awhile he whipped the fight,
and then he bought out some of the
other boats and now he controls all the
boats on the river, and there is no
liquor or cuss words on any of them,
and 1T Is said that this is the only line
of boats in the wide world that is run
by water n a Christian code of
morality. You can tell it from stem
to stern, from the pilot to the firemen,
from the walters to the d~eckhands.
Everything is sober and everybody po-
lite and well-mannered.
Captain Ryman then began to play
missionary all over the town and started
the great tabernacle movement and
got help everywhere, md Sam Jones
Poo - LAG llChS dllu
raised $22, 900 in one night, and all this
Is a union business and takes in all
denominations, and the great taber-
nacle is a Nashville institution and in
it they have preachers and lecturers
from all ver the country, and its
work is refining and elevating and has
given a high moral tone to the young
men of the city and the neighboring
colleges. Sam Jones and Captain
| Ruro0fN hnun fN,n10l all Ait, a,l A.
captain has besides a mission hall of
his own down near the wharf for
steamboat men, and there has been
preaching or service there every night
for seven years. Just think of one
mans power, or say two mems power,
for good in a community. ] confess
that / was amazed. Hundreds and
perhaps thousands of men have been
saved from ruin by it, and many a
mother and many IL wife made happy.
"They who have called many unto
righteousness shall shine as the stars