Morning journal and courier., 1893-06-19
GENERAL 0. o. HOWARD HERE.

He Addressed Two Large Congrega- tions at Dwight Place Church Yes terday On ttHome Missions', and ssPersonaI Experiences In Army Life and Christian WOrk.'
 Two large congregations were present at Dwight Place church yesterday morning and evening to listen to addresses by Major General o. o. Howard, commander of the eastern department of the army of the United States and president of the Home Missionary society.
 General Howard is fine appearing el- derly gentleman, with grey hair and beard, slightly above medium height, is minus . portion of his right arm and has astrong, but kindly face.
 He is an old and valued friend of Rev. Dr. Twitchell, both of whom are members of the board of trustees of the Congrega- t!onA church. He is also president of tho American Home Missionary society, hay ing been elected about a year ago, and Is a most earnest and vigorous Christian worker and thoroughly devoted to the cause to which he is engaged. The east ern division of the United States army, which he commands, comprises the terri tory bounded by the Mississippi and the At lantic ocean and the lakes and Gulf of Mexico. He has been the guest of Rev. Dr. Twftche1 since Friday, and will leave on the 9:45 train for Governors island this morning.
 At yesterday morning's services prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Harris, followed by short address by Dr. Twitehell in. troducing General Howard. The latter'a subject was Clone Missions" He made an eloquent plea in behalf of the work and gave brief but graphic description of the work in. foreign and domestic fields. He l also described his visit to Alexandria. Cairo, Smyrna and Ephesus in 1884, and the work that is being conducted there by the foreign missions department. In refer enoe to home missions, he spoke of the excellent work that is being done in the far west by the home missions, and said that there was not . point in the United States where mission work was not urgent ly needed, and was glad to see the interest taken in the work by the churches of tho denominations.
 At the evening service the generals sub ject was "Bits of Personal Experience ir Army Life and Christian Work" IT starting out he said in substance: I can' preach sermon; that Is one thing I an not capable of doing, but will speak te you on the subject of conversion and will treat it in concrete form from my owr experience. I will tell you briefly tho causes which led up to my being brought into the light, in the hope that it may bs of assistance to some of you, ever mindful of the fact that 1t Is the word spoken ir | season which tends to salvation.
 The general then paid glowing tribute to his mother, who died several years sge in Chicago at the advanced age of eighty | four years, and said that while he owed everything he was to his mother, yet abov. all he owed his spiritual birth to her. II | explaining his own conversion he said: When young man in college my mother 1 wrote me letters, and in every one of them after telling me about other things and ad vising me how and what to do, would bt l the injunction, 'Seek frst the kingdom O. letter-or, in the words of soldier,
 "hanked" it; but knew it was there, ant in later years remembered it.
 After completing my college career
 went to West Point, being gent there b. l my uncle, who was member of congress
 There, shortly after my arrival, I inquire'
 for the Bible class, and on the first Sunda
 started to attend it. Dr. Sproule was tn
 chaplain of the institution and taught tn
 class. In going to 1t had to pass all tn
 cadets with my Bible in my hand. Som
 of them said to each other in ridicule o
 me, "He is going to bootleg the professor.
 marched right through them and con
 tinued on my way; but tell you. though
 l have been in twenty two battles wher
 sometimes it seemed almost impossible t
 escape with my life, I never had to exer
 else more true courage than st that time
 and it is true of every young man who
 notwithstanding ridicule, continues on hi
 way, that he exercises more strength thal
 the soldier in battle.
 He then stated his own personal exper
 encs up to thirty six years ago when fo
 the first time after reading he realized th
 full meaning of the text, "the blood (
 Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin."
 The address was an able and eloquer
 one, taking in as it did portions of his lii
 from West Point and in the regular arm
 in Florida and elsewhere. The attentio
 of his entire large audience was hel
 throughout the entire service 50 deep wa
 the interest of both speaker and auditor
 in the lecture.
 Saturday afternoon and early evening
 number of Dr. Twitchell's friends called $
 his house and met the genial general pel
 sonslly, after which at g o'clock he we1
 at the urgent invitation of Admiral Foot
 post to Warner hall where he made brie
 speech to the veterans.