The Republican journal., 1902-06-05
REV. RALPH GILLIAN
To supply the PulrIt of the First Cnngreg".
tional Church of Lowell, Mas. His salary
will be $4,000.
From a Lowell Paper.

From Lowell Paper
Rev. Ralph Gillian, the subject of
this sketch, was born in Belfast. Me.
about "a years ago. His mother was
an earnest Christian from his earliest
recollection. but his father failed to
make the wise choice until later in life
about two years before his death. He
left home at the early age of II years
and come to Boston, the mecca toward
which many Youthful New England
feet turn, with the expectation of max
ing his fortune. Here he served a
clerkship i'll retail shoe store for a
time, and later, in Providence r. l.. in
the same business. Unfortunately the
adverse influences of city life had been
allowed to exert greater power over
him than the influences for good, and
he soon became careless and indifferent
to religious things, and at the age of 20
was pronounced ndel i'll sentiment
and the president of a Young men 5
intidel club. About that time. Rev b.
Fay Mills held his noted eyangelistic
meetings in Boston. and young Gillian
was invited to attend. Here his atten-
ton was aroused. and by the earnest,
telling appeals of the preacher he WAS
led to see himself Il lost sinner He
then and there renowned his infidel
views and accepted the Lord Jusus
Christ as his personal saviour. His
first impulse was to turn his attention
/ toward the saving of others whom he
had influenced in the wrong direction
10y his aggressive infldelity Eeali2ing
has needs OF a better education. to lit
him tor the work To which he WAS clear
~ called, MI. Gillian decided to enter
some training school as God should
open the way. The door at length
opened at the Law college. Revere,
Mass, Where he spent one year protita-
bly,. He then entered Moodv's Bible
Institute at. Chicago. where lie prose-
cuted his studies for two years, gradu-
ating i'll 1>g2 with an excellent record.
During his course at the Bible lnsti-
tutt, he showed a special gift for edi-
the "lnsutute Tie. monthly paper
published III the interest OF the insti-
tute. Immediately after his gradual
ton, he entered upon evangelistlc work.
which seemed to be the special field of
labor to which he was best adapted,
both by natural and acquired talents. He
labored independently for six months,
and then was called by Rev. b. Fay
Mills to be his assistant in evangeGstic
work. He labored in this capacity for
more than two years, travelling over
many States together with Mr.. Mills
aud with signal success. He also assist
ed Evangelist Dwight L. Moody fire.
quently during his ministry, Lowell
being one of the cities where Mr.. Gill
lam conducted the overflow meetings
during the great evangelistic campaign
prosecuted by Mr.. Moody in this city
few years ago. Mr. Gillam's evangel-
istic career has covered period of ten
years, during which time he has labored
in 81 different States of the Union, and
has also travelled extensively in Eng
land, Ireland, Wales and Canada, con
Quoting evangelistic meetings. Since
September last MI Gillian has visited
y fields in eight different States; has
preached Ash times, to over 100 900 peo-
PIE. About six years ago he conducted
successful series of meetings in the
M. E. Church, Centralville, this city,
| and will be pleasantly recalled by many
who We're identified in that work. Mr..
Gillian is a regular Congregational
clergyman. having been formally or
dained in his home church, the Union
Congregational, Boston. during the pas
torate Of Rev. Nehemiah Boynton, d.
D., Rev. Smith Baker, d. d., preaching
the ordination sermon. Mr. Gillian
comes to Lowell as stated to supply
for the First Congregational Church
throughout the summer, or until furth-
er notice. He will also conduct the Fri
day evening prayer meeting and attend
to all necessary pastoral work during
his stay. His coming to Lowell is from
a sincere desire to help this honored
church, choosing this field in prefer
ence to other larger and more remuner-
ative ones to which he has been called.
MI. Gillian is at present conducting the
the Boston daily noon meeting with
most gratifying results.