The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-06-09
THE 1yEIS And iN'TblIL.IljTI5ENCEP|.
BEL AIR MO. JUNE 9. 1899.
THE SERMON IN A SALOON.
BY JAY BENSON HAMILTON, d. D.

BY JAY BENSON HAMILTON. ID. u.
Three weeks ago | spent week in
IN euterprisDg little Western city in
attendance upon ii Methodist Annual
Conference. The leading merchant
| was NV host. After dinner. the first
day OF my visit, we were talking Of the
| rOwth of the city from Il small frontier
settlement. My host, who was proud
| of the little city, related many Incl
dents connected with its early history.
Anne ng other stories he told me how
| Meth, dism began by a sermon in Il
saloon.
Il attended the first Methodist meet
ing ever held il. the town. 1t was
| terrible service. / tremb!e now, when
| think of it, although it was so many
years ago. Our town was IL l'retty
tough place. The chief businesses
were liquor selling, gam cling and uI
| dertaking. There was II fuuela! ever
| day. Ifsome one did not die from dis
ease or acciG, Mt there was IL murder.
| The sire t or barroum fight that was
not to finish attracted little or no +
| tentiou. The bowie knife aud revolver
were never concealed. They were al
ways within ready reach. If ever 4
place deserved 10 be called hell it was
| n
| II was a youngster who had run
away from home in the East to try the
froIic Of frontier lie. | hal been II
resident about week. As | was pass
ing down our principa! street, noticed
Ii horseman in a very peculiar garb
| riding slowly along as If he were look
ing for some one. Noticing me, he
drew t he reins of his horse and said:
"'Youpg man, is there hall or room
of au' kind in this place large enough
to hold 81 meeting in? am Metho-
dist itinerunt and would like to add
| this town to lily circuit: desire TO
hold Il service tonight.
| II was so amazed that for Il moment
| was silent as l looked closely at the
stranger. He was tall, powerful look
| ing man. He had clear resolute eye,
a lip and chin that revealed deter
mination nothing could balk. felt
| that he IVES Il man that did not know
fear, but the folly Of the question be-
came NOR; and more amusiT < until
broke out in a merry, mocking laugh.
1.-The face grew stern; the eyes shOne
with Il light Ike the CLEAN of steel; the
| voice hardened TO Il cutting cGrtneSs
almost like anger:
| DCbS II i!iluSS you; NV YOUNG
friend, to have me ask you IA civil ques
! tionT
"IrepIed hastily: beg your pardon,
sir, for my di.courtesv, but the idea of
any body wanting to hold religious
meeting in this town is funny enough
90 make ary one laugh. You might AS
well try to hold meeting il Perdi-
tion.'
II would certainly hold a meetit G
in Perdition if felt it to be my duty
ard could get in; but this town can
be as bad as that
| ] directed him to THE Coyote" the
largest gambling hell in town. Isaid :
1T is large enough to hold good
sized congregation, and it has one ad-
| vantage over any other place. 1t is
always full. You will be sure to fad
Il crowd there, night or day. l do not
believe they will allow YOU to speak.
If One eyed Jack the pro; ret,:r, is
in good humor he may kick you into
the street, if he is cross. and he gener-
ally is, he may shoot YOU.
Il saw the circuit rider fasten his
horse in front OF the saloon and enter. |
| slipped in to see the sport. The preach
err stood for moment, jnst inside of
the door, looking around. At the
furtherest end Of the building pow
erful man with patch over one of his
eyes was swearing at y bartender in "A
most sulphurous manner. The
stranger approached the swearer aid
said, as he removed mis- hat and made
| Il curious bow
" Are You The proprietor of this
PLACER
lone eyed Jack was about to reply
l L. i l..
usual custom, when the peculiar garb
and the distinguished bearing of the
questioner caused him to hesitate.
| With a politeness unusual to him he
said
~ am, sir; what can do for you :?
81 am Methodist preacher, and
would like permission to preach in
your saloon
"'Preach in my saloon When 2
said Jack, IN Il tone of amazement.
Now y said the preacher.
"'Well, I'll be-, | beg NoGr rar-
don. Parson, I'd almost said cuss-
word; but preach in my saloon He
looked about and heard the clink of
the glasses, the banging of cards upon
the tables, the laughing. and the awful
caths, and said
~ think, Parson, you Eave come to
a mighty poor place to start revival ;
mo place needs it more said the
minister, as he looked with respect
ful but resolute glance into Jacks
single eye.
"'Let him preach, said the barten-
der, who was glad to have his employ
er's wrath diverted from him. Let
him preach. 1t will be ii. e fun for the
boys
Fun! roared Jack, I'D like to see
anybody make fun of my guest. Par
son, fire away. I'll be the deacon of
this revival. If anybody dares kick
up a row. I'll be
There, there said the preacher,
| 'Deacons don't swear
Jack rang the huge bell with which
he signalled for attention when he had
an announcement to make or a COM
mand to give. In a few seconds there
was silence. All eagerly looked at the
two men as II they expected to see a
fight. Jack roared out in a voice that
could be heard half mile:
"'Gents, here's Methodist parson
who's honored us by coming to start a
revival. l allus said The Coyote
never follows, she allus leads. We're
| the fust saloon in town to start O. pray.
er meeting as a side show. The Par
sons goin' to hev chance to show his
hand. I'm goin' to be the Deacon of
this protracted meetin'. If anybody
tries any funny business with the Par
son. hell lev to settle with the Dea-
| con. See? When the Parson wants
somebody TO come forred and get con-
verted, I'll make one of my bartenders
go, AMI you can stand around and see
the show. Now, Parson, fire away.
! If you've got any gospel that Ii reach
| this crowd, it'll have to be like whisky,
hot and stroug."
The preacher spraDg upon table
| and began TO sing a opel song. His
voice was full and powerful and the
| air was Il popular ballad. The chorus
was simple and all were urged to Join
| in singing it. In less than five minutes
| half the crowd were singing as Justify
as class Leaders and pounding time
with their fists upon the card tables.
After the hymn was sung, shortpray-
er was offered and the sermon began,
1t was plain, fervent, manly talk,
straight from hn earnest heart. The
preachers face was sympathetic, his
voice was tender IL" times and then it
rose in a ringing tone like the blasts of
trumpet. The words were simple,
bold and true. He plainly told them
of the danger of sin. the certainty of
penalty for the sinner. and ended with
an eXhortation to regain the Innocence
and purity of their childhood days.
He was in ;he midst OF IL pathetic pic
ture of the PARKWAY home, where loved
ones were thinking, weeping and pray
ing for the wicked wauderer, and the
crowd was hanging in breathless