The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-26
A VICTIM OF DRINK
Incident of the Murphy Meeting
> That Caused Mixed Emotions.
Tried to Address the Crowd While Still
lntOxicated-Many Reformed Men
Tell Their Stories.

The gospel of temperance found its out
let through the mouths of reformed men
last night The same surging mass of eager
humanity that has characterized the Muir
ply meetings all week filled Central Chris
tan Church. The meeting was largely de-
voted to experiences or to the distribution
of pie Mr.. Murphy termed it The
great man believes that this glorious tenn
perance pie should go around, and at the
opening of the exercises last night an
nounced that all the boys were to have a
piece. And the boys had it Great, big,
strong men, many Of them, with the sill
very touch of time in their locks, told the
old story Of lives made sinful through drink
and Of the happy moment of redemption.
After a song by the excellent choir d.
rected by Samuel Johnson, Mr.. Murphy Of
fered an earnest, fervent prayer, and then
with few Of his characteristic remarks
turned the meeting over to the men who
love him for the work he has done for them.
There were many striking stories told, and
scores of voices that trembled with sup
pressed emotion were lifted in behalf Of
the cause of temperance. pathetic scene
attended by a singular circumstance, oc-
CURED during the progress of the evening,
and although the incident furnished conSid-
cradle amusement for portion of the audi
tons. Shortly after the opening OF the ex-
perience portion of the programme the at
tention of Francis Murphy vase called to
a well-dressed middle-aged man seated at
the left Of the platform, who seemed to be
making a painful effort to be heard. The
keen eye OF Mr.. Murphy readily perceived
that the individual was intoxicated, and
with kind word or two he endeavored to
disSuade the victim from humiliating HIM
self before the great audience; 1t was use
less, however for the drunken man in
sisted upon addressing the people, and
finally the evangelist, stepping to the edge
Of the rostrum, reached out his great hand
and led the disturber upon the platform.
For a moment the scene was painfully en-
barrassing, but Francis Murphy has seen
the utmost GOODNESS, and with his great face
shining with good nature and love for his
fallen fellow-man, he supported the stag
gering figure a moment and allowed the
poor, besotted fellow to pour out his woeful
and incoherent story. The man gave the
name of King and said that he lived on
College avenue in a home happy enough
but for the shadow of intemperance that
rested over it. He gave his occupation as
that of commercial traveller. There Were
many In the audience who knew the
maudlin speaker and vouched for his story
At length he concluded, and the touching
climax Of the scene came. Francis Muir
swayirig figure, stood silent for a moment,
and then lifting his quavering voice In sup
HANK Thee for Thy love and for Thy pa
thence with us. Bless Brother King; bless
his home, his wife, and his children. Help
him and deliver him, for Thy names sake.
Amenp'
Then. tendcrly leading the erring man to
a chair the evangelist resumed the eXer-
cises without comment AS Ihe notSs Oh
music from the singers filled the cnurch
the sobs of the wretched penitent mingled
with the words of the hymn. The expert
ences of the reformed members of the
Murphy League were varied and interest
ing one man said: Il down TO the bot
tom of the ladder, and two rounds below. L
was dragging my family down with me-
NV wife was Christian woman, and she
was patient with me. No matter at what
hour 1 came staggering home, there was
always light in the window for me. i IL
tell you what reformed me. had Two
sweet daughters. One day they were going
along the street and somebody said: There
goes drunken Jim's girls l heard OF IL ana
i said to myself, shall / allow my daugh-
ters to be called drunken Jirn'S girls? No.
And that's why 1 put on the blue ribbon
The experience of William Clyde, young
mechanic claimed by the league some
months ago, was touching. The young man
was thrust in the county jail for having
failed TO pay a fine assessed against him
for one of his drunken sprees. While ne
was incarcerated a lady, a member of the
W. C. Il. u, called at the Jail, was admit
ted and pleaded with him to lead better
life
.sThat broke me all up he said 81
thought if a good, pure woman IKE TINS
could kneel down upon the filthy floor OF
our Jail in the interest of a wretch like my
self. / surely ought to be able TO repay ner.
1 did so by taking the blue ribbon"
to Francis Murphy, exclaimed: I'D rather
be Francis Murphy than the President OF
the United States. ! am confident mat
these reformed men on this latforrn could
accomplish more work in day than the
whole United States Senate has done In
month"; At the conclusion of the meeting
many young men left the church wearing
thp cOlOrS