The herald., 1894-01-02
M|NSTRELSY AND RELIGION
At the Simpson Tabernacle
Last Night.
The Salvation Army and It's New
Converts.
Two Converted Burnt Cork Artists
Amuso a Large Crowd With tho
Banjo, Bones, Singing
and Jokes.

Ministrelsy and religion were com
bined by the Salvation army last night
at their meeting in Simpson tab
ernacle. Besides fsvoring the large
audience with the characteristic prais.
ings they had the services of two ex.
minstrels who have recently become con.
verted and joined the army. The ex.
burnt cork artists did several clever
turns and played the banjo and ratified
the bones in good style. Their part oi
the services was enjoyed and heartily
encored.
The army occupied seats on the plat
form facing the audience. Captain Nc.
Intyre conducted the meeting.
The services were opened with a
hymn sung to the tune of Marching
through Georgia. Several verses were
given and the song was concluded with
genuine army whoop. Capt. Mcintyre
then led in singing prayer, after which
vigorous strong voiced brother rem
dered second prayer.
The army, still kneeling. sang one of
their favorite hymne, A Never Failing
Friend.
the sisters, after which they sang again,
At the end Of one ot the verses Capt.
Mcintyre stopped. and pointing to the
gallery remarked that he recognized an
old friend he had met in Riverside.
''God bless him." he said, at which
every body turned to gazs at the orange
eating friend, who blushed to the tops
of his ears.
The song was then resumed and con-
cluded, after which Captain Mcintyre
introduced the two ex-minstrels, broth.
ere Archer and Steadman. The former
picked the banjo while the latter ratified
the bones. The two are no mean artists
in their ex-lines. They sang l Amt
Coin Back Any Mo-, the army Ginning
In with the refrain. At the end of the
selection the pair were heartily ap.
plauded.
Captain Mcintyre then called for
several testimonials right away, and
again referred to his Riverside friend.
One of the officers came down and led
in song. Then a number of teeti-
monials were heard. One of the broth
ers sold that ON this the first day of the
year he was glad that the Lord had
washed him of his sins. The speaker
wanted to say more, but was interrupted
by monstrous eggnog whoop from O
broad-chested brother several rows be-
hind, who was evidently waiting to
speak. This little interruption discon-
certed the first testifyer, who immedi-
ately sat down and allowed the big
fellow to take the floor and tell how the
Salvation Army had helped him where
the gold cure had failed.
1t does not take much to get the
average convert thoroughly enthused,
and in q short time nearly everybody
was on his feet at once to get chance
to testify. Interspersed were countless
religiously inspired whoops and yells,
uttered by the army in general and every
member in particular. Each testi-
monial was generally followed with
verse of song.
Captain Mcintyre had the band play
several tunes. It might be well to state
that the band has made considerable i'm
provement since the army last appeared
at the tabernacle, about month ago.
and has also extended the number of
selections. The captain called attention
to the fact that the New Years War
Cry contained many excellent articles
and songs; also that it was the best ii-
lustrated paper in the United States. A
the church selling copies.
All OF this time the testimony had
continued and all went well until red. !
shirted convert from the Fatherland got |
the floor. When he saw he had gotten |
a chance to testify his fat little face be-
came wreathed in smiles and he imme- |
diately launched forth.
He started intelligiblv enough and |
told how he and John Barleycorn had
been fast friends three years ago until
he-that is the speaker and not John
had joined the army and had been
saved. From then on the speaker
became go excited and vehement is his
that he could not be under
stood, not even by Captain McIntyre.
But that made no difference to the
brother. This was the opportunity of
three years and he proposed to talk. He
stood there talking and jabbing the air
with ideal Corbett short-arm strokes
first with the right arm then with the
eft, and finally with both. In vain did
Captain Mcintyre endeavor to choke
1lm of. The army was told to whoop.
and although it was the longest and
oudest OF the evening it did no good.
IN and on did the converted brother
ak and jab the air. The
band played and the crowd
,heered, but even this did not
lisconcerted him.
He stopped only after he had run
lown.
Ii order to revive the crowd, the two
ninstrels and Capt. Ferris rendered a
rio with banjo, guitar and the bones.
'rother Steadman addressed the meet
ng and favored it with several burnt
ork jokes. Rev. McClane, pastor of
he tabernacle, ALEC spoke. He praised {
he Salvation army for its good work.
nd hoped to see more during the wear. {
! collection was taken up, after which |
everal more talks were made and sonss
iven, the meeting being dismissed
fter 8 O'Clock.