The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-16
ALL WENT TO CHURCH.
How Governor Stanley Set Good
Example for 81 Legislators


How Governor Stanley Set 3 Good
Example for 81 Legislators
Governor Stanley did some missionary
work Sunday. He took 81 representa-
tives to church. This party of polite
ians attended the First NJ E. church
for Governor Stanley is a devout Meth
odist-
The fact that Governor Stanley at
tended church services is not, in itself,
so remarkable, for he has been doing
that with the greatest regularity for As
years. The fact, however, that 81 men,
representing every district of Kansas,
and many of them forgetfuI of the spir-
itua1 teachings of their youth, traiIed
behind him to the house OF worship, and
occupied seats as close to the executive
as 81 men were able to crowd, was one
which filed the good sisters with ex-
ceeding great joy and assured Stanley
of the solid Methodist vote OF the
Fourth ward two years from now.
The sight Of the governor of Kansas
walking reverently and deliberately
down the street with nearly half hum
dred brown-faced individuals following
him, by twos and threes and in single
file for block and a half was one to
which the people of Topeka are not Of
OF the governors of Kansas have them
selves been church-goers.
Inside the sanctuary, however, the
most remarkable features of the incl
dent were brought to light and these
were the ones which shook the faith of
some of the lambs in the missionary
methods of William Eugene Stanley.
Every man but one took off his hat as
they entered the church and all of them
bowed their heads when the preacher
advanced his Sabbath morning petition
to the throne of grace. The announce
ment of the text, however, caused some
of the visitors to demonstrate the fact
that they were decidedly at ease and
came very close to causing a scene
The pastors discourse, it so happened,
was built about the good old Methodist
text: For Many Are Called but Few
Are Chosen As the last word of the
verse dropped from the reverend gentle
away out in the Big Seventh" spon-
taneously emitted a groan which shook
the big Bible on the pulpit.
TT was this way" he told his nearest
neighbor after the next prayer had been
begun. Il did SO hope ne would use
that text about them that seek, fndin,'
or the one where the Almighty says,
He that cometh unto Me will in no
wise cast out I felt that the preacher
could do me SO much good by preachin'
on them texts this morning..
After the sermon came the collection,
and the ushers passed the silver plates
tons were the most generous made in
that church for months. Nearly every
man in the crowd dropped a quarter
or half dollar, generally with enough
force to attract the attention of the
governor of Kansas and startle him
with their generosity and devotion
Don't do it, Bill. don't do it, whis-
pered one of the crowd to a seatmate,
who held his hand ready to drop a 25-
cent piece into the plate. Il paid for
this. I put in a dollar"
One from southern Kansas dozed
away during the sermon and didn't
waken until the fair soprano in the or
gon loft was finishing her solo, when
he started to clap his hands and cry
All the while during the service scores
of pairs of eyes were turned in the di-
rection of Mr.. Stanley. He would have
commanded attention if he had not
come in just ahead of a company of
worldly men, for he was governor of
Kansas, and, besides. was superintend-
ent of a Methodist Sunday school. After
the benedictiOn had been offered every
body. walked to the ''amen corner to
shake his hand. and give him a good,
oId-fashioned Methodist welcome.
so glad to see you. governor. and
sister so good of you to bring all of
those men,
Governor won't you come to our
Sabbath shooI this afternoon and talk
to US a little while?" asked an officer.
Your school is the largest in the state
isn't it? Bring those men with you
and maybe ours will be. Ha, ha, ha-'
''All those men, meanwhile, Joined in
the procession which fled by the COVER
nor.
why, Bill, you here?" asked Cover
nor Stanley, patting the first on the
back What, are you a Methodist,
Ed"
Best in the world, governor" came
the answer. Born in the faith Bap-
tized before I was and then some
of the sisters didn't know they were