The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-05

Years of a Preachers Life was writer.
at the instance of his friend, Henry w.
Lon.fellow. and abounds in many rem
iniscences of the good old days when
Illinois was a part of the western from
t:e-.
He himself tells of how he became
chaplain of congress the first time He
was appointed to travel east to collect
funds for western college While on
board an Ohio river steamer he CHANGED
to meet some congressman their way
to Washington. "As several of them, he
says, were men known to fame, whose
names had been familiar with for years,
L took great interest in observing them
and listening to their conversation, when
as is often their manner in such environ
ment, they talked for the benefit of the
company l cannot say how much
was shocked, nor how indignant I became
at discovering that not few of these rep
resentatives of the sovereign people of
the United States swore outrageously
played cards day and night and drank
Vliia1nous whisky to excess. I expressed
my surprise and chagrin to my friend
Sunday morning came I was asked to
preach to the pa sSfngers, and never did
answer more gladly. At the close OF
the discourse proper 1 could not resist the
impulse TO speak In a straightforward
way TO the congressman who were gather
cd to my right and left, which was to
this effect: I understood that you are
members of the congress of the United
states. and as .suchd you should be repre-
sentativeS not only of the political opin-
ions. but also of the intellectual moral
ana religious condition of the people AS
nad rarely seen men of your class 1 felt
on coming aboard national interest
in you But if 1 to judge the nation
by you L can come to no other conclusion
tnan that it is made UP of profane swear
ers. card-rlayers and drunkards =
must tell you that. as an American
citizen 1 feel disgraced by your be-
haVlor As preacher of the gospel Z am
commissioned to tell you that unless vo1,
renounce your evil course. repent vo1,r
sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
With hearts unto righteousness, YOU will
certainly be damnedr
At the close of the service 1 retired to
MY stateroom to examine my f-npromDtll
sermon, and if there was ANYTHING IN If
I, ought to retract. came to the con-
ever the issue. While cogitatipg there
was tap on my door. A gentleman en-
half of the congressman. and rendered
me through them a chaplaincy of con-
gress, TO which place 1 was in due time
From Congress. Mr. Milburn in 1876 wen.
to be married. After his marriage he
went south to locate in a mild climate
among the Methodists of Alabama In
1853 he returned to New York where h.
lived for several years, after serving as
chaplain of CONGRESS in 1853 in 1855 he
was, was elected chaplain of the house OF
- !. - sslO AeSdIAe cIla pam OF
since held.
Mr. Milburn is connecting link between
the old days and the new ones. The gen
Grafton of the Bentons Clays, Calhouns
and Stephens and Websters heard his
voice lifted up to God. working his benedic-
ton upon the nation and the people II is
over half century since he first came to
Washington. and he is of the links of
the past and the present in the public life
of Washington.
Mr. Milburn is a prolific ana beautiful
descriptive writer His Ten Years of a
Preachers Life Rifle, Axe and Saddle"
and Lance. Cross and Canoe" entitle
him to a place in history one of the
historians of our prairie domain.