The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-03-13
THE BLIND CHAPLAIN.
Rev. William q. MiIburn Has an
Interesting History.
How He Came to BE Elected Chaplain Of
b House of Representatives FIFTY
Years Ago His Promo
tiOn In 1898.
Especial WASHINGTON Letter.l

Especial Washington letter.
"a prayer by the blind chaplain does
me more good than a Sermon" says
Senator Davis, of Minnesota.
although dilatory about reaching
the capitol at noon for many years, ,
says Senator Sherman, ~ have actually
observed and heard that some senator's
make an effort to get to the capitol at
noon in order to hear the opening
prayer"
AS a usual thing statesmen care little
for the prayers that are daily said in
the senate and house of representatives,
and few of them care whether they are
OF time each day or not. Usually not
more than so representatives are pres
ent when the house is called to order,
and it seldom happens that more than
ten or twelve senators are present when
the vice president assumes the gavel.
Rev. William Henry Milburn, chap
lain of the senate, is now 20 years old,
although he does not yet begin to look
like al old man. He is strong, vigorous
and bids fair to remain with us for
many years to come, doing good. 1t has
been so years since he first came to
Washington to assume the position of
chaplain, but he-has not served ~continu-
orsly in that capacity. He was only 22
years of age when he was elected chap
lain Of the house Of representatives in
1s45. No other man so young has ever
been selected for such a position in any
country.
When young Mr.. Milburn was elected
chaplain of the house of representa-
tives so years ago he knew no politi-
clans, and had no aspirations for POI
Ltical preferment or political ~associa-
tons. He was a blind young man and
had just been ordained to the ministry.
He was travelling upon a philanthropic
mission when an incident occurred
which changed the entire course of his
life.
He attended the Illinois Methodist
conference at Springfield, in 1s45, and
that conference decided that a female
seminary should be established at
Springfield. The people of the west had
no money, and it was customary for
western conferences to appeal for aid
from eastern churches. Finally the
Methodists established what is known
as the Church Extension society for the
purpose of extending aid systematic
ally to western circuits. At that time,
however, the society was merely in a
formative state, and the Illinois confer
ence selected young Mr.. Milburn to
travel and solicit aid for the proposed
female seminary. Accompanied by a
friend to guide him and take care OF
him, Mr., Milburn started on his mis-
sion. He first went to Cincinnati and
preached there for three weeks without
receiving any financial recognition, SO
he concluded to shake the dust of Gin
cinnati from his feet and go further
east.
On Friday morning he took the Ohio
river steamboat for Wheeling, expect
/ ing to reach the Virginia town on SAT-
urday night. In those days nearly all
travelling was done by steamboat and
stage, for railroads were few and far
between. That Ohio river steamboat
was delayed, as all river steamboats,
were in those days, and on Sunday
morning the boat was still so miles
from Wheeling. The passengers had an
informal meeting and asked Mr.. Mil
burn to preach to them in the cabin of
the boat. He consented, and that SER
no changed the course of his life.
While walking about the boat on
friday and Saturday, the young
preacher had heard a great deal of pro-