The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-15
Great Temperance
Orator at His
Best.
PATHOS AND HUMOR
\ DIVIDE HIS TALK
Francis Murphy Finds Sympa.
thetic Audience Last
Night.

night. While the big pipe
@ organ pealed forth the
strains of "I Am Coming, Lord" to the
accompaniment of a hundred voices,
streams of people flowed down the
iaisles toward the little tables whereon
were among them trim soldiers in close
fitting jackets of government blue, brass
buttons a-glitter, and with heads car
Iried proudly on straight military shoul-
ders-rough, unkempt men with un-
shaven chins bowed low on bosoms of
coarse shirts, carelessly dressed young
fellows with hats in hand, looking as
if they had just stepped in, carrying
wet umbrellas under their arms, and
with trousers turned up from mud-be-
spattered shoes-old men, young men,
boys yet in their teens and all kinds of
men, each one eager to sign name to
the pledge while Yet the courage lasted.
There were many affecting little
scenes; mothers weeping softly beside
big stalwart sons, father and sisters
gathered around some reclaimed prodi-
gal, and sometimes a lonely one who
came from a quiet corner with a lump
in his throat, signed his name and
|crept back out of the crowd until
|sought out and congratulated by soft
hearted strangers.
Francis Murphy was everywhere,
shaking hands and giving his blessing.
At the back in one of the aisles two
boys hesitated. "1n sign if you will,
said one; you know we don't haf' to
stand for any of that religious business;
come on, let's put our fists to the
pledge"
The other hung back. mot tonight,
kid,' said he; 1--WE can tomorrow night;
let's wait"
mo, you won't do anything of the
kind" said big, good-natured voice
behind them; you'll come right along
now, fellows" and Francis Murphy
took them both by the hand and
marched them up to the front.
Mr.. Murphy's sermon followed no
particular line of thought or logic. 1t
was characteristically abrupt, but with
| that particular magnetism of warmth
and sincerity which is entirely his own
he appealed to his audience and moved
them to laughter or tears as he changed
| from wit to pathos. He took for his
text the story of the prodigal son and
| his lecture was as follows:
II am going to read to you about a
| beautiful picture, one that is hung In
the gallery of pretty nearly every hu-
man life. 1t is the picture OF the prod
igal son. 1t is ohs such pitiabie taie
| of the sweetness of home and the Dit
terness of things when it all goes
wrong with the home. God help US all
to keep our homes filed with the spirit
| of love and confidence. A certain man
in the Bible had two sons: on! l
could talk of these two sons all night!
how to love them and to guard them,
the sons. fathers, think of them-the
| girls, somehow, are all right-and the
| Younger of them said to his father,
/ give unto me the portion of thy goods
that belongs to me-. All! my fr1ends,
! can't you just see that headStronS
boy? He got mad-mad with his poor
old dad, and he was going away. He
wanted all that was coming to him
all the youngest boys of the family get
everything they want-they get two
pieces of pie, and everything else that
the older ones don't get.
And not many days after the young
man together all lIidl pS-
i longed to him and went into a far
country, where he spent his money In
riotous living oh! can't you see what
a headstrong, wilful boy that was?
Can't you see him going about the
house and gathering up his things; anG
his poor, timid, sweet-hearted mother
following him about, and maybe she
said, Say, Jack, dear, wouldn't take
that, or this Mothers do that-they
i. always want their boys, to stay, and
the boys say they would stay with
! their mother, but it goes wrong with
their father, and they get in a huff
and away they go. They wouldn't stay
at home when they are big and strong
. and they don't have to depend on theil
father. oh, no; they can take care
of themselves, and they start out.
. "Oh! what an awful thing it is fol
it to go wrong with the father Faith
ers. can't you study your boy, and love
him, and let him know that you love
A him. If YOU will do this he won't gc
e away in a huff and suffer all the bit
n terness and humiliation that comes t.
8 a poor wretched runaway boy in
Y far country God pity him And whe1
e he had spent all there began to b,
+ a great famine in that country Oh
You see it wasn't so easy. The bo.