The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-09-06
GOSPEL ON WHEELS.
Rev. DR.. Wharton Soon To Begin Uuioue
Revival Tour-Will Live Ina
Private Car.

The gospel ear Evangelist. which Rev.
Ut: IL. NJ Wharton, and Mr.. Horace
leIger the singing evangelist. will use ON
their revival tour through the country il
on side-track in Chicago receiving
unal touches for occupancy.
The car was to have been turned over
to Rev DIR. Wharton several davs ago.
out more time was needed to complete
the luxurious furnishings: and mean
whiie, the preacher and his melodious as
sistant have gone to Winona Lake to Gll
an engagement. after which they will re-
turn 10 Chicago and start upon their pro
posed unique soul saving expedition.
it Is far cry from the days OF ofLorenzo
Dow who evangelical the mountain dis.
tricts. TO the day of DR.. Wharton and Mr..
'ieiger who will tour the entire country
IN a palace on wheels, the building and
furnishing of which has cost more than
Sln.Ooo. Lorenzo Dow aud his early
conireres travcrsed the Virginia and Mary
land mountains on horseback often
through driving snowstorms or burning
summers days, and preaching in a rude
cnnrch or some campmeeting grove. Dr
harton and Mr. Gciger will be whieke1
about the country in their mahogany
finished steam heated and electric lighted
ear their every want carefully looked
after, and transporting with them an
immense tent to be erected at any point
they may elect to stop and prosecute
their calling.
The ear Evangelist is DIR. Wharton's
idea, and the funds for it's building were
supplied 10y Mrs. Mary ; Geiger of John
stown, Pa. the mother of the singer. Its
mission is to provide home on wheels
Tor Dr. Wharton and Mr.. Geiger during
their long trips. Bad hotels and poor
accommodations on railway trains are
said to have suggested the idea.
When the Evangelist leaves Chicago a
campaign Will be inaugurated that will
end In the fall of 1904. The East will be
thoroughly campaigned, and then the
party VIII head for the South aud West
Most oi the railroads over which the
Evangelist Will be hauled have agreed to
make no charge for their service.
Although DIR. Wharton and Mr.. Gel
ger work under the name of the National
Evangelization Society they are indepen-
dent, and Mr.. Geiger carries not even the
name oi an ordained minister. The Il
nances OF the ear are managed by a com
mittee made up OF representatives of
each OF the Protestant Evangelical chur-
ches. but the actual management rests
ON MIR. Geiger. He il is who directs the
stops and arranges routes for the party.
lhere Is expected to be considerable pro
mt IN donations and collections. and
they are 10 be devoted to the support of
the two orphanages. one located at Lu-
ray, Va, the other at Charlotte. n. C. In
these homes many children are cared for.
the annual expense being in the neighbor-
hood OF $40 600. The evangelists be-
lieve they will be able TO meet this de-
mand and even make possible their en-
largement
The Evangelist is ~ feet in length
over all, In the front of the car is n
drawing room or observation room.
Back OF this comes Mr. Geiger's office
with desk, extension sofa and an organ.
Here the purely business matters will be
attended to. Apriyate secretary accom-.
panies the evangelists, who attends to
all minor details
Next comes Mr.. Geiger's private sleep
ing room, of. which there is a bath room
Dr. Nharton's sleeping room and Office
follow with SIMILAR furnishings. In the
rear oil the car are the kitchen. refrige-
rators and magnifcently furnished di-
ming room.
No public meetins are to be held in the
ear, IT being simply the home of the
gospel advocates. No stop of less than
week will be undertaken Arrange
ments are made weeks ahead and when
the Evangelist arrives at city or town
where meetings are to be conducted the
car Is switched TO side track, the big
canvass tent unrolIed and placed in po-
siuon, when all is ready for active ope-
ratiOns.