The Greenville times., 1897-02-06
INVOKING THE DIVINE BLESSING

men told them of the remarkable ser
mon they had heard from remark
able man, aud urged his selection foi
the chaplaincy. When congress con
yened every member Of the house OF
representatives, was aware of the story
and anxious to see the remarkable
preacher, and his election was made
without difficulty. He was sent for and
assumed the position just before the
Christmas holidays. During hat entire
congress he prayed not only for the
nation and for the world, but for the
congressman; prayed for them as an
earnest man would pray for lot OF
miserable sinners.
That was the beginning of the Twen-
ty.ninth congress. James Knox Polk
was president, and George NJ. Dallas
was vice president. The blind chaplain
Wus acquainted with the members OF
the house and of the senate during that
congress; and he has vivid recollections
of Clay, Calhoun and many others who
were then In their prime.
At the beginning of the Thirty-third
congress DR.. Milburn was again elected
chaplain OF the house of representa-
tiyes. Franklin Pierce was president,
and his administration had just begun.
During the interim Webster, Clay and
Calhoun had died, and there were many
new men coming to the front; men who
became prominent in the halls of leg
islation and also on the battlefelds of
the civil war, which wise men easily
foresaw.
At the conclusion of his second term
as chaplain of the house of representa-
tiyes DR.. Milburn returned to the min
istry and continued actively in the
work until December, 1885, when he
was third time elected chaplain of
the house. Thirty years had elapsed,
during which time the blind chaplain
had become more and more famous as
q preacher and lecturer.
III 1898 DR.. Afilburn was elected chap
lain of the senate, and there he viii re-
main as long as he lles. All of the
senators hold him in high esteem, and
many of them hold him in veneration,
His daily invocations are models of
diction and of intense feeling. He is
escorted to the capitol every day by his
niece, "a very beautiful blonde. To-
gether they ascend the elevator and
walk along the marble floors to the
room of the vice president. There they
are welcomed by that courtly gentle
man, and q general conversation en-
sues until the hour of noon, when, TAX.
ing the hand of a little page boy, the
blind chaplain accompanies the vice
president into the senate chamber.
Together they ascend the steps lead.
ing to the vice presidents chair. Tho
vice president takes a little ivory gaveI
and raps lightly on the desk, saying:
The senate will be in order" lie
then steps aside, and the blind chap
lain, lifting his sightless eyes to heaven,
inyokes the Divine blessing upon the
senate. lie is then led down the steps,
the vice president takes the chair, and
business proceeds. Accompanied by the
little page boy, the blind chaplain
usually walks about the senate cham
bcr for five or ten minutes, taking the
hands of senators and paying his re-
spects to them, and they to him. He
then returns to the room of the vice
president, takes the arm of his niece,
and returns to his humble home. The
salary of the chaplain is 5000 per an
mum, and that is but little sum to live
on. SMITH D. FRY.