The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-14
REVIVAL NEEDED IN SENATE,
MOODY AND EVANGELIsTs URcrD
TO GO TO WASHINGTON,

: tiOns-BIind Chaplain Does M.
Know He Is Praying TO God Before
Empty Chairs-A Page Reminds
Him That He Is to "Cut 1t shOrtp
Copyright, 1891
Washington, Feb. 12-It was suggested
at one Of the Moody meetings that the
evangelist could not do better than Ia %
to Washington and hold his meetings Ar
the prayer hour in the Senate chamber.
A more irreVerent sight than the Senate A.
prayer could not be found in long search.
Look to the Senate" is the advice Of
fered to both President and people. No
one happening in the Senate chamber
during the prayer could. however, take
this literally at that time. for the devotion
al attitude of the senators is not all that
could be desired of them.
The sessions of the congress of the
United States have always been opened
with prayer, not SO much because senators
and members of the House are devotional
ly inclined, as because the custom has
| come down from the continental congress
ana is fixed feature of every days BUSH
ness.
Once there were chaplains of congress-
who served both Houses. Now there is A
chaplain for the House and a chaplain
ries for delivering brief prayers when the
presiding officer calls the representatives
or senators to order.
The Senate chaplain is an imposing. his
toric figure. He is a tall, broad-shouder-
ed, bearded man, known all over the word
as the blind chaplain, famous in his youth
as a circuit rider, and later years as A
lecturer. w. II. Milburn is his name. He
was once chaplain of congress. later he
was chaplain of the House, and now for
four years lie has opened the sessions OF
the Senate with prayer.
To any one who sits in the gallery of the
Senate at noon the idea of having a blind
chaplain seems singularly appropriate If
MIR MiibGrn could see with his eyes, how
unhappy he might be to know that some
times there is only one senator on the
floor of the Senate Joining in his apeal to
the Almighty senator on the floor,
the Wee eresiGeat on the chaplains right,
ahd the groups of pages on each side Of
the Vice PRESIDENTS rostTum.
The clerks sit StOlidly at their desk be-
low him, the people in the galleries look
on Indifferent to the prayer. Sometimes
Il man o. woman IL gallery takes courage
to stand up, but even the senators usually
sit as though waiting impatient.y for the
Amen
II is one minute before noon when the
chaplain enters the Senate chamber on the
arm Of tho Vice President and with him
mounts the rostrhm. Sometimes there are
half dczen senators in their seats; sell
dom more. The Vice President strikes his
desk gently with a little handleless gavel
o. ivory and the slight buzz of conversation
ceases The senators get, in attitude for
prayer. They are the devotional ones
ard do the praying for the Senate.
Elk ms of West Virginia was once seen
to read letter through during prayer
hour An admirer in the gallery eX-
claimed: ''Elkins doesn't hear the chap
lain. He is man of concentration. I'll
VI ger he doesn't know the gavel has
sounded" Lodge IS personally devoqt
man, but at prayer-time he often stands
with his hands in his pockets smiling.
Mr.. Cockrell of Missouri unwinds his
his trousers pocket stands erect, his head
bowed deVoutly. He is the most devotional
of all the senators, for his head is bowed
and his eyes are closed. Mr.. Allison OF
Iowa rises noiSelesSly and clasps his hands
over his BLACK broadcloth coat front. He
makes it q rule to be present and IN his
sombre suit, rivals the chaplain in appear
AIR Hale of Maine always well dressed
aIG almost dapper gets up qickly and,
hodins hIc pnce-neZ in his right hand,
sticks MS left thumb and foreinger in
the pocket OF his vest as though he were
about TO make speech.
Mr.. Vest of Missouri pushes back MS
char and looks impatient They are all
a little bit impatient, to tell the truth. The
chaplain has orders to cut 1T short, and
the page " 10 is to lead him from the cham
Der warns him il he exceeds his allotted
time.
When Senator Plat gets to Washing
ton he viii set the pace" for other sena-
tors. if they choose 10 follow his devotion,
al lead Plat is pious externally and
taxes dp the attitude of prayer at sight OF
the preacher.
Ti.iman. ever impressive, attitudnizes
even in prayer. He does not close his eye,
hut STANDS with crossed arms apparently
debating some important problem IL IL
Is a theological one, all right for the atli-
tude. Il is certainly less irreVerent IMAM
others.
QUAY OF PENNSYLVANIA, who is the busiest
man of the Senate, pauses in his writing
but does not lift his hand from the paper.
He bows his head until the amen uen
lifts II, opens his eyes in dazed way anu
resumes work.
one or two senators how their heads
in the attitude of prayer but ] see one OF
them ,surreptitiousy reading an open el-
ter Which lies on his desk. A tardy sem
ator enters a one of the side doors Of tne
chamber and stops when he sees the chdp-
lain. He edges away from the enlIa%Ss
and stands respectfully attentive untl lug
prayer is finished. A clerk pushes open
another door in a breezy way, but SLOWS
and closes it very gently when he hears
face appears at the glass doors OF tHe
cloak room and disappears again. ths
senator who is too busy TO meet the Lou
to-day.
This chaplain does not drone his prayers
He speaks sonorousy, i'm words well cn0s
en- and distinctly uttered. III used to rem,
appeals which might apply 10 current legls
lation. But he was rebuked for doing tng
in the House and he is cautious now apo"
dealing with public questions.
Amen.
The Vice Presidents gavel Ia hea9
again And then the doors fy open all
the senator's pour in from every side Nv
might think they had been waiting for w
chaplan's permission to enter. Suieg
they were not waiting for him 70 s'
through! George Grantham BAN
-Sardou WAS an adept in spiritually
his younger days and much inter-
all the mysteries of the occult AYE
years he put away such pursi or NOR
material things, but now said 20
about TO utilize some - > a stu1'e-
a drama.
An old rail fcnc~ At Lincoln is sara
to have built is p ID out TO creduIou'
strangers on y emises of Ma a.to,
County OKy) lery Lincoln's fathe.
and the faith If Jefferson Davis We.s
neighbors In 1t region. and are said "
have fought ide by side IN . little brusii
with Indians near where the town %
Springfield. KY. now stands
ft,.. p