The Forrest City times., 1897-02-05
THE BLIND CHAPLAIN.
Raw William Fl. Mnbmn Has an
 Interesting History.
e,u He Came to Be Elected Chaplain of the House of Representatives Fifty Years Ago Ills Promo
 ton In 1893.
Special Washington Letter.I

GA prayer by the blind chaplain does me more good than sermon." says senator Davis, of Minnesota.
 Although dilatory about reaching .be capitol at noon for many years" says Senator sherman, Il have actually observed and heard that some senators make an effort to get to the capitol al 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 50 representatives are pres e1t when the house is called to order, and it seldom happens that more than len or twelve senators are present when the vice president assumes the gavel.
 Rev. William Henry Milburn, chap lain of the senate, is now 73 years old, although he does not yet begin to look like an old man. He Is strong, vigorous and bids fair to remain with us for many years to come. doing good. It has been 50 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 wears 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 position in any country.
 When young MT. Milburn was elected 1f tives 50 years ago he knew no politi- cians, and had no aspirations for po- litical preferment or political associa- tions. He was blind young man and had just been ordained to the ministry He was travelling upon 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 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 formative state, and the Illinois confer ence selected young Mir. Milburn to travel and solicit aid for the proposed female seminary. Accompanied by a friend to guide him and take care of him, Mir. 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 80 miles f'om Wheeling. The passengers had an informal meeting and asked Mir. Mil burn to preach to them in the cabin of the boat. He consented. and that ser mon changed the course of his life.
 While walking about the boat on Friday and Saturday, the young preacher had heard great deal of pro-