The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-11
Review of His Long and Remarkable
Career IN Preacher, Lecturer
and Writer.
DEATH OF A NOTED MANcHU
YUNG LII, CONTROLLER OF CHINESE
FINANCES AND FIRST SECRETARY.
Said to Have Instigated the Foreign
Outbreaks i'm Pelxing-St. Cherbina,
Russian Diplomat, Dead.


WASHINGTON, April lO-The Rev WI
liam Milburn, the venerable blind chaplain
of the United States Senate died to-day in
Santa Barbara, Cal. Word to this effect
was received tonight by Col. d. A Rams
dell, the sergeant-at-arms of the Senate.
Mr.. Milburn, accompanied by his two
nieces. the Misses Timley left Washington
for the Pacific coast about year ago.
The chaplain was in broken health. The
change brought no great Improvement in
his condition, and when Congress met in
December he forwarded his resignation to
Washington, but II was never acted on.
William Henry Milburn was born i'm Phil-
adelphia on Sept. 26 1929 When he was
five years old playmate accidentally hit
him in the eye with piece of glass. Young
Milburn was confined in a dark room for
two years and subjected TO heroic treat
ment, but all in vain. When he left the
dark room he found that he had not only
lost the sight Of the injured eye. but that
the other eye was almost blind, yet he de-
termined to have an education, and for the
next twenty years studied at school and
college. Ultimately he became totally
blind. In 1858 he removed TO Jacksonville,
Ill, where he was student at the Illinois
College. Five years later he became a
Methodist preacher. and entered the Brush
ministry was called then. The work that
ne engaged in might stagger the young
preachers of to-day who are just entering
upon their ministries. Milburn was as
signed to a circuit i'm which he had TO ride
two hundred miles week and preach
thirty or forty times month, with a SAL
But this kind of life presented TO the
young man his opportunity. While travel
Ing on steamboat in Ohio he met some
congressman who were spending their time
on the trip in gambling. drinking and
swearing. Milburn preached a sermon
against these vices in national legislators.
congressman, that the latter started a
boom" for Milburn for chaplain OF the
Twenty-n Congress. He was elected.
years old. This Congress was a memorable
body, and Dr. Milburn later gave many in
teresting "reminiscences of IL, as well as OF
the other houses with which he had been
His first chaplaincy was during the first
part OF President Folks administration.
John Wesley Davis. of Indiana, was speak
of the House. and the most iiiusfrious
member was John Quincy Adams, the sixth
President OF the United States. DIR. Mil
burn read a lecture To the congressman OF
the day on the question OF absenteeism In
his remarks on Mr.. Adams. He was an
old man." said DR.. Milburn, but was rare
ly out OF his seat at the opening of the
Sunday, for the haH of the House was
then used as a national church, the chap
lains officiating. IT is hardly necessary TO
say that Mr. Adams always commanded
the ear of the whole House when he spoke.
His presence was venerable, but not otner-
wise imposing. He had little or no mag
netism, but was an encyclopaedia Of po-
litical knowledge and almost unerring IN
the statement of facts, dates and names"
GREAT MEN IN CONGRESS.
Among other great men In the House
were Robert c. Winthrop. Stephen A
Douglas. Joshua r. Giddings. Hannibal
Hamlin, Allen @. Thurman. Alexander II.
Stephens, Bob" Toombs. william L. YAM
cey and Jefferson Davis. In the Senate
were the senatorial triumvirate, Webster.
Clay and Calhoun. and other great men.
Dr. Milburn formed strong friendships with
many of these men. OF Clay he said:
words fail in the attempt TO convey the
impression made by Mr.. Clay: whether you
heard and saw him In the tournament OF
a great debate, or only shook hands with
him. he affected you one else ever
did or will" You never forgot Mr.. Web
sters greatness. Mr.. Clay at once bound
you to him by links stronger than steel.
Mr.. Webster's speeches are read, and will
be by posterity. with admiration and profit;
Mr.. Clay's became at once part OF the
Nations life and contributed largely to-
ward making the country what II is.
DR.. Milburn was not reelected chaplain
of the House OF Representatives until 1883.
In the meantime he had led an active life.
For one thing, he had TO stand a trial at
Mobile. Ala. for heretical teachings. after
which he served two years as minister Of
free church that was largely attended
by all classes. On resuming the chaplaincy
OF Congress he found I'm the House Cid
dings, Gerrit Smith, Elfhu B. Washburne,
Thomas H. Benton. John c. Breckinridge.
Russell Sage. then OF Troy. and many other
well-known men. In the Senate were Ed
Stephen A Douglas, Hannibal Hamlin. SAL
mon Il. Chase, William III. Seward, Charles
Sumner and William Pitt Fessenden- OF
Chase, Sumner. Seward and Fessenden, Dr..
Milburn thinks that ''the last was probably
the largest minded and greatest man.. OF
Russell Sage, DR.. Milburn says: His tall
ents and industry gave promise or dis
tinguished congressional career, but he
soon after retired from politics and applied
himself TO the creation OF his colossal for
tune.
DR. Mlburn subsequently turned his at
tention TO lecturing. In the course OF time
he had worldwide reputation as preach
er and orator OF eloquence, marvellous de-
scriptive power and rich and felicitous die
ton. He lectured In England In 1881. and
spent five or six years In Europe. HIS visit
to Great Britain caused him TO take orders
in the Protestant Episcopal Church in ISIS.
but he returned TO his first love in ISL, and
ever after remained steadfast In that faith.
Ii is estimated that DIR. Milburn Travelled
over 100000 miles as minister and lee
turer Yet he found time TO publish
au1 number sssSe 81 BAGS Of
Character and Civilization Ten Years
OF Preacher Life: Chapters from an Auto
biography" and The Pioneers. Preachers
and People OF the Mississippi Valley"
In 1885 DR.. Milburn was recalled 10 tho
chaplaincy of the House OF Representa-
tives In speaking OF the changes In Con-
gress since ne was first chaplain Dr. Mill
burn said: while. since my earlier terms
of service the Senate may have fallen OK
in prestige, weight and authority with the
the House OF Representatives. by
the increasing intelligence. the higher NOR
ais OF It's members, their unremittfng in
dustry. closer attention 20 public business
and worth-has earned and should receive
= fuller mesd Of public respect and eennr