The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-23
OVATION TO MURPHY
Great Jam of People at the First
Of His Temperance Revivals.
The Orator at His Best = Why the
Churches Are Not CrOwded-Curse
of Wine Cellars.

The Murphy League gave it's illustrious
namesake ovation at the old Central
Christian Church last night. Thousands OF
people assisted I'm the welcome to Francis
Murphy, which was warm hearty and
characteristic OF the Indianapolis public.
An hour before the opening of the meet
ing the auditorium was filled with people.
Then they poured into the galleries and
crowded the aisles. At s o'clock the vesti-
bule was damned with an anxious crowd,
pushing and showing for an entrance that
was impossible. Hundreds stood upon the
sidewalk in front of the church until long
after the exercises began in the hope OF
finally securing standing room within the
sound Of the speakers voice. Hundreds of
people were turned away, and reluctantly
retraced their steps homeward
Upon the platform sat Francis Murphy
surrounded by the members of the Murphy
League and ministers Of the city churches.
Above their heads a banner proclaimed
With malice toward none. with charity
for ALL" The American flag foated from
the ceiling and draped from the chande-
liers, and as the notes of gospel hymns as
cended the folds of the starry banner
seemed to stir with the enthusiasm OF the
occasion. The Rev. Mr.. Sparks. chaplain
OF the Murphy League opened the exer-
cises with an earnest prayer. Then the
audience sang, What a friend we have in
Jesus"
Mr.. Murphy was introduced to the vast
concourse below by Rev. DR.. Haines. who
took occasion to deliver a few practical.
earnest remarks in the interest of the COM
mon cause The Doctor, after calling Mr..
Murphy 70 the 'front.' stood for a moment
and happily said:
II stand for a moment in the glory OF the
brilliance that CLEANS from his great, gen.
erouS face"
Those who heard Francis Murphy were
unanimous in the statement that he was at
his best last night In the effervescence Of
his glorious good spirits he seemed to bub-
BILE over with the wealth of wit and humor
so natural to him and with which he deals
so admirably. Versatility is one of the tall
ents of Francis Murphy, and with his earn
est eloquent tongue he finds Ii simple
enough TO fash from the dry humor OF an
anecdote to the touching pathos OF a story
from real life. Last night he talked upon
Real Life" much of which was from the
page OF his own life book. Very eloquently
he pictured to the audience little cottage
his prattling babyhood and of the mother
whose sacred name he cannot now speak
without tremor Of the voice, he interest
ingly told. Also of his emigration to Amer
ca. where he became the victim of the
liquor habit. Many times has Francis Muir
ply told the story Of his experience with
thrilling emotion and earnest words than he
did last night. Throughout his bright re-
marks he now and then thrust suggestion
in the direction of his brethren, the church
able pew business in the church history or
the present day, so thought Mr.. Murphy,
and he struck f,b Sss 81 Po Ss of
great many congregations.
I'll tell you what 1t isl he said. There
isn't enough warm, goed-hearted welcome
church in this land ought to be filled so
full that the minister couldn't get In at
the door and would have to crawl through
the window to reach his pulpit. If you
can't come to church without looking over
Francis Murphy's head when he's got on
ragged coat you'd better stay away.
I'd like to see a church law that said that
If every member didn't bring a visitor
with him every time he came to church he
couldn't get In. You wonder why the
church is always begging. I'll tell you why,
my friends. You go to the theater and pay
a dollar for a seat. Then you go to church
and squeeze a nickel"
America, came in for share OF the speak
er's delicate, but well-timed, satire. Said
he: 1.-THE wine cellar has been the cause
land and in this country than anything
else. Here's a man who has $4,000 worth
OF wine in his cellar. / ask him how much
he gives to the church. He says that he
gives a hundred dollars. That's the way;
fifty thousand for the wine and hum
dred for the minister. These wine cellars
have got TO be cleaned out. Do it this
spring, too, If you please. Bring out that
black bottle. Why. I've seen woman
work q half day to scrape black fly on
the window. Purify the cellars as well as
ITS a good thing to call on the Mayor
of the city to close up the rum shops, but
it's the duty of the people to help him.
Let every man in Indianapolis abstain from
LIQUOR and there won't be any occasion to
close saloons on Sunday They won't open"