The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-05
IN BEECHER'S PULPIT.
DIR. HILLS SUCCESS as A PREACH
FER AND ORATOR.

Been Called to the Most Distin-
guished Pulpit in AmerIca-An
Iowa boy, Born PoOr-TnuGht
school AT I7-Idved ON Oatmeal.
Supported Himself in College by
Doing JRnitOr WOrk-orsanized
Hundreds of sunday SchooIs-Nlin-
ing Camp Adventure.
Chicago, Feb. 3.-To grip the hand of
Newell Dwight Hills. to meet his alert,
kindly eye, to talk with him, to know him
as he is, as he gives himself unreservedly
TO his closer friends, is to so away con
WINGED that he is not only great man
among men, but that he Is a genius. Those
who have heard him preach have felt the
intellectual, the spiritual man; those who
have met him in quiet discussion of books
or Of social conditions have seen The keen
ly alive, the broad-thnking man; but
those who know him best. who understand
what life means 10 him. who know of his
early struggles and Of his later responsible
tiles, who are in touch with him as a
charitable. loyal warm-hearted friend
have seen the man himself, and they know
that he is greater than any quality or quail
tiles which may have brought him fame,
To be called at 80 years of age 10 occupy
a pulpit that is larger in tradition and in
requirements than any. other in this coun-
try, if not In the English-speaking world
is a rare distinction. DR.. Hills will step
into the place built up by Henry Ward
Beecher ana added to by Lyman Abbott,
with the authority of a man who has sue
ceeded already far beyond the dreams of
the country boy who struggled hard for an
education. and who denied himself many
comforts that his little library might grad
ually expand,
Man of the West.
DIR. Hillls-the degree OF ID. d. was con-
forred by Northwestern University In 1894
is an Iowa man, so far, that Is, as
birthplace and early education go; the
son of a preacher. but after his 18th year
his circle of work was broadened SO ma
terially as to make him rather q man of
the West than of any single state. He
was born of good old Puritan stock, in
Magnolia, whittier HRS parents had migrat-
ed, the father to devote a rugged life TO
spreading his own conception of education
and of religion. Thus the boy was brought
up In home which, though plain and bar
rem of Injuries, gave him the impetus to
follow the scholars life. He began life,
real life much earlier than Is usually the
case nowadays. When but H. after teach
ing a country school and managing to save
pitiful little cum, he left home for Grin
nell College and an education. How he
strove and struggled and all but starved
how he pinched and worried Is known 10
few; the fun story may some day be told
liz may not. DR.. Hills himself IN in
clined 10 pass over this period of his life
with a reminiscent smile.
Yes" he said, In reply to a question,
"it was a little hard at times, but it didn't
last long. Oatmeal gets monotonous for
a steady diet, you know"
Began Organixing Sunday Schools.
1t Is with considerable quiet amusement
that he tells of hard knocks and odd ex-
periences. While at Grinnell, hanging to
to life and work by sheer nervous persist
ence, he interested himself in organizing
Sunday school Though but boy he show
ed such marked aptitude, and his labors
brought such immediate success, that the
attention Of a man of means was focused
upon him. An offer was made him to
leave college and to drive through the
West organizing Sunday schools, at a sal
airy of $50 month. This would give him
double opportunity, 70 gain experience
in his chosen ned and to enable him 10
start a library, so he accepted
From the start he was successful His
zeal and fervor, his magnetic personality.
his remarkable gift of eoquence, all were
concentrated apon this work. He drove
from village to village in covered buggy,
stopping each long enough TO get the
new institution fairly under way before
driving on. From the Middle West he con-
tinued into the mountains, mingling with
all kinds of men, sometimes Identifying
himself with the lowest grades of society.
One incident in particular he likes to re-
cali:
Preaching I'm n Miners Saloon.
'In one mining settlement / had a
strange experience. Probably some one OF
my former pupils had preceded me, for on
entering the village / was hailed by a bee
tle-browed villain who announced him
self as the Mayor and tavern keeper He
asked me If / was the preacher. As / had
not been ordained, ] said no.
" You do preach sometimes, don't your
he insisted. told him that talked on oc-
caslon.
"'Wen.' he said, III tell you, we haven't
heard any talking for q good WHILE and
the boys would like 1t II you'd preach to
them
1T was a little outside the line OF my
experience, but / agreed. The tavern
keeper entertained me until the appointed
hour, when he led me TO tho bar room.
Seats had been made by laying planks
across beer kegs. The room was dmly
IEHtG1 Win hcfOstH1 ana AHe HIt
was heavy with tobacco smoke and the
odor of liquor Cowboys had been sent to
scour the near country, and everybody had
come. The room was packed with men;
and two or three women were In the rear,
one of whom held a baby.
Il talked as informally as / could, and
apparently was holding their interest
somewhat, when the baby began TO cry.
The mother was crowded too closely to
be able 10 move at once, SO / waited while
she tried to soothe the child The fact
that was compelled 10 wait seemed TO an
ger one of them, for he sprang up and
demanded that the child be removed. An
other answered him hotly and In a mo-
ment the crowd was divided and the situa-
ton began to get exciting. had no idea
of what / should do TO quiet the disturb
ance, so / said the only thing that came
into my head:
" Boys / like to hear that child cry. II
reminds me OF my little niece at home,
I'd give s. right now 70 hear her cry"
"For some reason It seemed TO touch
them. for they stopped almost Immediate
". IT has since occurred 20 me that my
accidental remark probably aroused mem
cries Of better days in each of them
After fhq meeting as / stood outside fha