Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-16
GOVERNOR STANLEY AND LEGISLA-
TORS ATTEND CHURCH.
THERE WERE SO OF THEM
"MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW CHOs.
EN-" THE TEXT.
Chief Executive of KanAas Sets an
Example That II Unanimously
Followed - Collection Was
Something Phenomenal
Forgot His Hat.

TOPEKA. Jan. 15.-tSpecial) Governor
Stanley inadvertently did sorne good MIS-
sonary work in Topeka this morning. He
did not allow the pressure of his new office
duties to interfere with his regular Sab
bath devotions. and IL o'clock saw him sit
ting in the front row of the Amen corner
of one of the Methodist churches of this
city.
The very 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 forty-five
years. The fact. however. that thirty-sev-
en- men. representing every district of Kan
sas. and many of them forgetful of the
spiritual teachings Of their youth. trailed
behind him to the house of worship, and
occupied seats as close to the executive as
one which filled 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 a hundred
brown-faced individuals following him. by
twos and threes and in single file for a
block and half, was one to which the
people of Topeka are not often treated
possibly because not many of the governors
Of Kansas have themselves been church.
g6ers.
Inside the sanctuary, however, the most
remarkable features of the incident were
brought to light and these were the ones
which shook the faith of some of the
lambs in the missionary methods of Will
lam 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 an
nouncement Of the text, however. caused
some of the visitors to demonstrate the
fact that they were decidedly i'll at ease
and came very close to causing a scene y
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 gentlemans lips
big fellow who halls from away out in
the big Seventh spontaneously emitted a
groan which shook the big Bible on the
pulpit.
1T was this way" he told his nearest
neighbor after the next prayer had been
begun. Il did SO hope he 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 up and
down mn the peWs; me contributions S,. were ere
months, or at least in the amen corner
Nearly every man in the crowd dropped
enough force to attract the. attention of
the governor of Kansas and startle him
with their generosity and devotion.
Of the Crowd in a9 u.s. ones sa
seatmate, who held his hand ready to drop
a az 25-cent piece into % the plate. Il paid for
One from Southern Kansas dozed away
during the sermon and didn't waken until
the fair soprano in the organ loft was
his his ham. hands "a and del: cry % encore M '' ~ W ~'''p
All the while during the service scores Of
pairs of eyes were turned in the direction
manded attention If he had not come in
| just ahead of company of worldly men,
for he was governor of Kansas. and, be.
been offered everybody walked to the
| amen corner" to shake his hand, and
welcome.
! so glad to see you. governor, and God
| bless you" whispered an elderly sister.
so good of you to bring all of those men: y
Governor, won't you come to our Sab
bath school this afternoon and talk to US
| little whieI" 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 filed by the governor.
why, Bill, you here?" asked Governor
Stanley, pattihg the first on the back
What, are you Methodist. Ed
| BEST in the world. governor" came the
| answer. Born in the faith. Baptized be-
fore | was" and then some Of the sis.
ters didn't know they were office-seekers.