The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-09
SOULS SAVED BY SONG
PETER BILHoRy,s EXPERIENCES AS
A SINGING REvIvALIsT.
A Preacher in Bismarck, ~. D., Thnt
Threatened tn Run Him Ont
OF Town.

- eNIA oAA64At6 tAAC III ~ OAdb~
man-Bfhorn meetings that have been in
progress in this city for several weeks. has
had a large experience as a singing evan
gelist- The force OF his work was aptly IL
Illustrated a few days ago when he invited a
prominent business man of the city to at
tend the meetings. The business man re-
piled: swell L may come to hear the singing.
II I am ever saved it will be by song. I have
listened to sermons by some of the ablest
and most eloquent preachers OF the country
and none OF them have had any effect on
me-" Many another man might truthfully
say the same. A few days ago Mr.. BiIhorn
talked to a Journal reporter OF his expert
ences in the West and Northwest as a
singing evangelist
1T was In lS2, I believe" he said. taking
an Oxford Bible from the table In front of
him and referring TO the inside front cover
where a date was printed. Eyes 1t vas In
Mr.. Biihorn turned over the pages of the
book, IL was seen that the leaves were tat
tered and torn and the book was marked
sometimes in red ink, and sometimes in
pencil. From appearances one would judge
mark, and there was scarcely a page that
hadn't half a dozen upon II, signified some
impression the marked passage had made
read IL. The edges OF the pages were ragged
from constant thumbing and the book really
was I'm 1883 that l left Chicago with a young
minister named Odell," said Mr.. Bilhorn.
We started for the Black Hills. but when
could go no further on account OF
foods We learned that We would
weeks and so we began holding meetings
on the streets Of Pierre. 1t was a new coun-
5Ty and the people we're OF q father wild
Whfrh Won sea hare (poipfinO ~ fha ar0on
which was unfoIded IN the ROOM and I
would set IL up anywhere in the street and
We could md to stand upon After tarryins
at Pierre for a time, We started for Bis
l1Slfa 1p ON one the Mis :%ay we reVs stop wash on sana
day morning, at Blount TO unload some
freight This was a little town Just being
tents. A crowd OF Indians and cowboys
came down to the landing where the boat
a si1De odai ian ana T myse TIE got %o or ana s 1sass a o fs@
hymns TO the rowds. Among others which
Hang was the hymn. az Am the Child of a
we went back to the boat and on to Bis
marok. ! thought nothing Of the landing at
Ess IN Nh Mr.. tT Mooxd ssss c a1ieIna ons sunday
morning and sang this hymn. At Its conclu-
sion. a man rose In the back part of the
Two years 3 I heard hat song at
Biount, Oak. I was then an unsaved man.
but the song set me to thinking and I de-
ing in the Yankton University to prepare
myself for the ministry"
A PREACHER OF SORDD DESIRES.
Il viii never forget my trip to Bismarck.
When we reached the place Mr.. Oden found
. telegram calling him to Beloit, Wis, i'm
msdiately. as his wife was very sick and
not expected to live. I had Just $500 in my
pocket and Mr.. Odell had but 81. This was
just the amount required for transportation
10 Beloit n ! gave him every cent OF
money I had and he left In about a half
self without q cent, hundreds OF miles from
home and In a city of strangers. I went to
expected to hold meetings on the street. He
said You shall not do anything OF the
6i1d- You vii ruin me, We are making q
here and the people are all excited and IL
you begin to stir up. a religious excitement
you vii have them rioting on the streets; L
here and expect TO be a wealthy man IL
the State capital Is located here. II you
In this town I will nave you arrested I
told him ! did not care what he did, l was
going to hold meetings on the streets and
sing and preach TO the men. / went TO see
the Mayor OF the town and he told me to
20 ansad and hold my meetings II 1 wanted
% and II he found that l was In any danger
responsible for my safety after arrested. I
did hold the meetings The first one I held,
organ IN front of me. When / walked up
20 the meat block and sat the organ down d
crowd gathered around me Immediately.
that I had something to sell. When I set
II NJ and began playing and singing gospel
hymns they opened their mouths In wonder
ment- 1 sang where Is Ny Wandering
Boy Tonight" that was a favorite OF mine
then. While I was singing. some one
dropped two silver dollars over my shoulder.
When II concluded the EspryicaL the men he
gan firing their revolvers, as the most en-
phatic way or expressing their approval.
ter There was a man named Custer, a
brother or the general who was mastered
By the Indians, in the crowd and they
he that dropped the money over my shout
der, but i never knew. He took off his hat
Know sno Y 1 DON'T na0d Believe s0i in these isaa; things a but
my mother did, and my sister did and l
wish that I did"
A CALL IN THE NIGHT.
IT believe the most remarkable experience
I ever had was al. Reedsburg. Wis. I was
there with N evangelist and IL seemed, for
some reason or other. We could not reach
the people. Try as we could, they would
not yield to the spirit of God. Finally the
evangelist left, but one of the ministers
afterwards I was asleep and I heard some
one can my name / raised up in my bed
anu auSWeFeOs Out received no reply. i ldlQ
down again and was nearly asleep when I
heard 1t again. Then / got out Of bed and
knelt down and prayed. i said to myself,
The Lord Is calling me for something. /
felt that The Lord wanted me to go out on
the street I seemed TO hear him say, Take
your organ and go out into the street The
night was a bitter cold one and IL was near
midnight I dressed myself and taking my
organ In my hand started out When l got
stopping met me. He had been awakened
by my praying and he asked me where I
was going. i told him the Lord had COM
mauded me TO 60 out upon the street. He
tried TO dissuade me. but / was determined
TO go and went. i walked down the street
know what TO do and turned and walked
down another street Then / turned again
and walked down near the depot AS I did
I saw a light In a saloon dow the street a
short distance ahead OF me. / went down
and went into the saloon There were
eighteen men in the room gambling. i set
up my organ and began singing. i sang at
Tonight" i sang the first verse and then
broke down and could sing no more. ! got
down on my knees and prayed for the men
there gambling. Then i got up and invited
them to the meetir g. Most of them came
and several OF them were converted Among
those converted were two saloon Keepers,
both II whom closed up their saloons. One
or them poured his arfire stock or liquors
into the gutter.
CARRIED A MAN TO CHURCH.
my first trip as a singer for an evangel-
fst was made 10 Plano. III. ! was with Rev.
III. W. Brown then. The meetings were not
proving quite as successful as Mr.. Brown
fhcrUhf &how aho.1l ,nI ha unaHo a anaCfaI