The evening times., 1896-03-24

Dued with religious fcrvOr, however, and
when between seventeen and eight cen years
age he began his cvangelis,ic work in the
East Side uf London. His work grew us his
fame spread aud soon he was feature Of
All the churches He extended his preach
ing throughout England. Scotland, Wales,
and ireland. and then went To Australia.
FIRST VISIT HERE.
Several years ago he visited this coun-
try for the first time, and this is his firth
trip 10 the United States 1t is his first
visit to Washington. however but success
ms already crowned his efforts He is
coming to be regarded as the greatest
evangelist OF the age. Dozens have gone
TO the altar at each meeting in response
to his feryent c1horiations, and the in
tercst he has awakened is deep.
The methods OF this pulpit orator are is
Characteristic us the man His voice is
nIusic,l and strong. and he talks as though
his remarks were addressed to each per-
son in his congregation Individually He
is utterly free from affectation. His
gestures. his movements, are ma ature'S own
Despite the fact that he never spent a day
in school he speaks the purest English.
and his accent and pronunciation are per
feet. He is eloquent fiery, full of rude
poetry and honiely phrases that appeal
20 the masses. He is a veritable child of
nature. with all OF modern refinement
Music is Il Characteristic of the gypsy
race. and this evangelist is full of il. He
has no technical knowledge of music. but
can play on 4 number of Instruments, and
has a voice of wonderful power and COM
pass. He leads all the singing "a the meet
ingS, amt his voice can be singled out
from Ill the others. cisfull of ma enetism,
and hi>appcals go direc, to every individual.
LEADS THE SINGING.
He leads his congregation as though they
were scholars in II big Schooroom. Last
night he prcraced his sermon with the hymn
Hes the Prince of Peacemakers," in
which the ConCrc CATION joined. After the
first verse he said to them:
You didn't half sing it; lets try it again.
They did try il again, and their voices
filled the church with Il mighty flood OF
sound. After it was finished he said:
That's better. It's 4 nice thing To sing
like that. It's nice thing to have "a song
like that III your soul. It's as if the Lord
had taken the song of some scrap and
wrapped il up in your soul and it was trying
To gish forth"
The text of his address was Strive to
Enter In and he preached a homely SER
mon with an eioqucncc and a beauty of
thought and diction that few evanGclists
have attained. He possesses a thorough
knowledge of the Scrip,ures, and his voice
is adapted to the pathos as well as the thun-
ders of cloquence. He cXorted his hearers
.. Ind hair h,,Sip thnp1-
selves; never mind the neighbor across the
way. They must stop asking questions,
foolish and otherwise, and bc saved in a
way.
You must come down from your upper
story" he said. You can't argue your
selves into the kingdom of Cod
HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
In person, Mr.. Smith is rather above
The medium height, well built. with
broad. squire shoulders. He has the typi-
,al features OF bis race. His complexion
$ swarthy, his hair and mustachc black,
and his eyes dark and keen His features
ire regular, though, and his face rather
handsome.
All of the education he has, he has given
himself. In his wanderings he has managed
such as he would have received at any
,ollcge, and his extensive work has given
lin a broad kno owledgc OF human nature. |
Ie has two missionaries at work among
ii is own people in England n ow. living with
hem, and wandering about with them.
There is very little in the future of |
ny race" he said 10 a Times reporter, |
until they are imhned with religious |
pirit. The nomadic tendency is in the |
blood OF the gypsy. and he can rs easily |
freak away from il as cease to breath. |
Even now feel it, and in the summe time. |
when am not occupied with my work, |
want to go out into the woods and wander |
about, without any restraint
Mr.. Smith is the only one of his race
Who has ever. in its history. taken Up
cligious work of any kind.