The Florence tribune., 1897-06-19
Letters From Rev. |. T. whittemore.
GENEVA, N. Y, June 5, 189I

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 the Palmer House, Chicago. Let me tell you how I spent four days in the "Windy City.'' It was cold and l had to wear my overcoat every day l called on friends and attended to busi- ness Saturday. Sunday morning l went to the Third Presbyterian Church and heard Rev. Dr. Withrow, the re- tiring Moderator of our General As sembly. Sunday evening, as usual, l went to the "Pacific Mission," estab- lished by Col. George A. Clark twenty or more years ago, 100 Van Buren St. It's history Is remarkable. The colonel was Baptist, if my recollection is cor rect, and many years ago was wealthy and worldly and finally lost his prop erty. He was "backslider." He cane to Chicago, repented, entered into real estate business and prospered financially and consecrated his heart and purse to the Lord. He was thorough business man and whatever he did was with his might He rented an empty saloon thirty CT thirty-aVe years ago, right in the worst part of the city, surrounded by saloons, and began to beard the lion in his dea. 5 He and his noble wife and few Gelp- CTS started Gospel Mission as a counter irritant to Safau's work, and every night from that time to this, rain or shine, the work has, gone on without let or hindrance, and not a night has passed but souls have been converted. Drunk ards, gamblers, fallen women, fwhaIf- rats, thieves, ard even murderers have been conyerted-from one to ten, or more, in an evening, until hundreds and thousands have been saved and re- joice in telling others the ''Old, Old Story" It is a red-hot revival from January 1st to December 31st, all the year around. It beats Methodist camp meeting, for while all is quiet and orderly, just as such camp meet ings are, there is dead-in-earnest spirit in the workers to save the lost that is marvelousl They sing in the Spirit; pray in the Spirit and talk in the Spirit. They go out into the street, seize 6 poor drunkard, bring him in, pray and talk with him, and pre-empt him for Christ. So with lost women {; Mrs. Clark goes for them and many have been "snatched as brands from the burning" Besides the work every evening, they use two gospel wagons and preach from one street corner to another every Sunday afternoon. Be- hind the platform hangs life-sized DOT trait of Col. Clark, who being dead yet speaketh." The workers fall, but the work roes en
 Monday was decoration day. I thought of home and how loved ones there would strew flowers on the grave of sleeping ones in the two or three cemeteries aud not forget the grave dearest to me.
 The morning papers announced that procession would form at p. m. aud march up Michigan avenue, so took a stand at that hour and waited with the tens of thousands that lined both sides Of the avenue for miles acres upon acres of human beings, of all ages and
 
 conditions, except the very oakland for one long hour we waited while the line was forming to the south. At pre- cisely 3 p. m. the procession began the march up the street It was a magnif- cent sight. Cavalry, infantry. artillery, batteries, zouaves-boys in blue and boys in gray-eaeh company preceded 1 by band of music or martial music fife and drum-and there were veterans of "Feds" and from "Dixie," side by side. Gov. Tanner and his aids, gen erals, colonels, captains and civilians all marching under the star spangled banner to do honor to the heroes who fought and bled to save our country How deep the emotions and how thrill. ing the memories of the dark day: when the destiny of our nation seemed to hang in the balancel How pleasant the thought that the blue and gray car now walk arm in arm in procession and sit and talk over old times when they exchanged across the lines coffe, for hard-taclx and tobacco for sugar Braver generals were never pittec against each other than Grant agains ' pemberton, Sherman against Lee Sheridan against Longstreet. Except few brave ones who fought so braveI, and can say "ail Of which saw aul part of which l was, the present gen eration know but little of the dark day from 6 to '65. Thank Godl we have country that knows 10 North or South no East or West, lone and indissolubl now and forever.'' PARsoS. . HAMILTON, N. Y, June Ii, 1897.
 FRIEND REPPY :-The third chapter C
 my tour left me at Geneva, N. r., 0
 the beautiful lake of the same nam,