River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-06-08
THE GOSPEL OF LOVE
The East Full of Fakirs Who Trav-
Ell in Its Holy Name.
They Reflect Discredit Upon the No.
bic Ven and Women Who De-
vote Their Lives to the Work
of Salvation.
Especial Washington letter.

new industry has sprung up in the
cities along the Atlantic coast; and
few of the money makers have come to
Washington recently and set up their
business.
Last December there came to this
city man, with his wife and two sons,
in dilapidated wagon, drawn by a
bony and sorry-looking white horse.
On the side of the wagon appeared the
sign: "HutchinsonMorgan Family of
Singers"
This strengthening outfit anchored
near Pennsylvania avenue, opposite the
center market, in very busy part of
the city, where the throngs at night
are thickest; and there folded organ
was brought forth from under seat,
was set up on platform at the rear OF
the wagon, the woman began to play,
and boy about Is years of age began
to sing.
Nature has gifted him with strong
contralto voice, and his method indi-
Gates bit of culture. Within ten min
utes the wagon was surrounded by up
wards of hundred people. The woman
and her boy sang revival songs; and oc-
casionally the younger lad, about IL
years of age, sang solo.
Night after night during the entire
winter, excepting only the week of the
blizzard, the alleged gospel chariot
went to that spot, and gave its per-
formances without paying license or
tax for the privilege. Collections were
taken several times each evening; and
it was made manifest to close observ-
ers that this professional gospel bust
ness was paying well.
The head of the family is a little bit
of man, with eyes which do not look
fairly at the audience, and which are
downcast when engaged in private con-
versation. Between songs he occasion
ally appears on the platform, with a
Bible in his hand, and makes a pretense
of preaching. He doesn't know enough
about the Bible or about systematic
theology to enable him to instruct
crowd of infant-class children, but he
makes a rambling sort of a talk which
stands for sermon. This disagreeable
part of the performance is nightly en-
dured by the gathered crowd, who de-
sire to hear the singing. The alleged
preaching is necessary in order that
the deceit may be complete and the law
respected.
Because of the pretense that this is
religious effort, a sincere soul-saving
performance, the police department of
the national capital permitted that man
and woman to keep those little boys
out until almost midnight night after
night during the cold winter. They were
kept there singing in order to gather
crowds from whom collections might
be taken. 1t is contemplate business
and exceedingly reprehensible, because
it is conducted in the name of the gos-
pei of love.
Two weeks ago there came to town
one Sunday night another gospel
chariot. 1t bore the name of preach
er and his wife, and ostensibly hailed
from Buffalo, y. Y. The preacher was
coal black negro. He is brighter and
smarter and more entertaining than
the white man who has kept his chill
dren out all winter. He had platform
also in the rear of his wagon; and dur
ing the evening performances his wife
played an organ and sang Gospel
HYMNS The color of her skin shows
her mixed birth.
But that makes no difference. How
ever it may be elsewhere the writer
knows not, but here in the national cap