Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-22
JOE BLACKBURN CONVERTED.
The Kentucky Senator Yields to
Moody's Eloquence.

Now mn Earnest Worker in tho Cause--
He Sends a Package of Tracts to His
Wicked Colleagues In the Senate.
Now York Sun speclak
WASHINGTON, March 13.-Every
United States Senator found in his mail
this morning neat little package OF
religious tracts, encircled by a rubber
band and bearing on its face the words,
Compliments Of J. s., G. Blackburn"
This was the popular Kentucky Sena-
tors device for announcing to his as
soclates that he had abandoned forever
his old life and entered upon new and
untried existence as result of the con
victing eloquence of Evangelist Moody,
who has been holding revival meetings
in Washington for month. Very carly
in the course Of the Moody meetings
the Kentuckiah began to exhibit re-
inarkable interest In them. He became
regular attendant, and sat on the plat
form night after night, within II few
feet of the evangelist, and it was noticed
that the two had frequent conversations
together.
Then Mr.. Blackburn began to invite
some of his friends TO the meetings, and
everybody understood that he was very
much impressed, but the idea that
Jovial "Joe" Blackburn, who had for
his whole life led the gay existence
which is peculiarly adapted to the Ken
lucky temperament, should really be-
come converted by Moody's teaching
and enter on the work Of evangelzation
himself, even in u small way, never cn-
tered anybody's head.
The tracts with which Joe favored his
friends to-day were four in number.
One is brilliant little affair in red, en-
titled "Strong Drink, or the Temper
ance Song in Gods Word" which is
filed with pertinent Biblical quotations
against the evils of intempcrance.
The three others are tastefully
printed in gilt. "Happy Nancy's Secret,
or Confidence in God" tells that there
once lived in an old brown cottage n
solitary woman. She was some 30
years of age, tended her little garden,
and knit aud spun for living.
She was known everywhere, from vii
lage to village, by the name of Happy
Nancy" She had no money, no family,
no relatives, and was half blind, quite
lame, and very crooked. There was no
comeliness In her, and yet there in that
homely deformed body, the great God,
who loves to bring strength out of
weakness, had set His royal seal.
The lesson intended to be brought
home to the Senators by this tract is
that they should "Follow Happy
Nancy's rule and never give place in
their bosom 10 imaginary evils"
The other two tracts are in verse. One
is the "Song of the Sparrow" and re-
lates that:
Pm only a little sparrow,
bird of low degree;
Ny life is Of little value,
But the dear Lord cares for me.
1t proceeds for dozen stanzas in the
same vein. "a Little Pilgrim" is en-
belished with cut Of railway train.
1t tells in rhyme story about little
girl and conductor, concluding;
of gathering pence and clipping tickets. too,
The train was full and he had much to do,
Your fare, my little girl" at last he said;
She looked a moment, shook her little head;
Il have no pennies don't you know said
she,
"My fare is paid, and Jesus paid for me-"
There are three more pages of this,
with appropriate scriptural illusions,
anu tne grave anu aggressive senators,
from the aged Morrill, down to the
youthful Dubois, are wondering which
of them is to be influenced flrst by "Joe'
Blackburn's change of heart, and how
far the eloquent and big-heartcd Ken
tuckian's new enthusiasm will carry
him.
Senators Squire, Proctor and Gray
were also very constant in their atten.
dance upon the revival meetings and
the last named two nightly added their
deep bass voices to the chorus. Mr..
Squire is Mr.. Blackburn's intimate per.
sonal friend and companion.
These Senators, with other public
men, were contributors to q fund started
by MIR. Blackburn for the purpose of
continuing the Moody and Sankey
meetings 10 days beyond the dates set
for the close of the revival.
Each contributor agreed to give one
days salary for the 10 days. The
salary of United States Senator is
about $l4 per day.
1