The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-18
AGED EVANGELIST
IN DIRE POVERTY
John Wesley Matchett
Lacks Necessaries of Life.
FAMOUS BANNER PREACHER
Missionary Among the Sioux Won
Thanks of CusteT-Routed Coxey's
Army of Tramps.
FAMOUS BANNER PREACHER

loAiNc pAA a sLnp 10 MS street meetings,
which used TO attract great crowds on
account Of the picturesqueness Of the
speaker and the remarkable collection Of
Scrlptrral banners which he used.
Formerly a missionary to the Sioux
Indians for the Government. and later a
specially employed missionary Of the
Alstrict Commissioners to drive Coxey's
army out OF Washington. Matche(t has
inquired in the public eye more than once,
ana was one Of the best-knoWn evangel- /
lists In this vicinity He is now eighty
years Of age. still upright and hearty,
out able 10 accomplish very little I'm the
upRolslerer's trade in which ne was en-
gagged, on account Of the feebleness nat /
oral To one OF mis- years
No Source of Income.
As result he has absolutely no
source Of income and is in dire want.
not knowing from whence his next days
meal will come
Matchett has a little shop at 7O2 NJ
street northwest. In the single room
ne manages to combine an upholsterers'
shop, sleeping room, kitchen. and a
pace for mission meetings There is no
one 10 look after him. his wife having
uieq ten months ago and his only sur
wing daughter several years ago.
Hls pitiful circumstances have attract
60 the attention Of neighbOrs buf the
Oh evangelist does not care to inn
pose himself upon the charity Of his
Helshoors. and their assistance is little.
Can No Longer Preach.
What particularly preys on the old
mans mind is the fact that he can no
longer preach the Gospel TO the multi
tude, as he calls them. meaning the
crowds which he used TO gather at mis-
0id meeting place on the corner Of
Fennsyivania Avenue and Seventh
Street
Every Sunday for nigh on fbirt,.-
shfee years, said Matchett, with a sob
~ MS throat, u have stood there b,,
9c lSS fountain preaching the word of
9ou- ana nShting the good fight for
Jesus Rain or shine; in snow. or bIust-
eILhB storms. IL made no difference 10
~ would always gather some OF
me -aithIul about me, and with my
banners which / used 10 Illustrate nv
teNt, ana with good. wholesome words.
sbiris s{ol ,S,ed IN His holy name. and wo1-
sHlPed Win all due reverence.
The Police Came.
At last enc day the police came That
was four months ago 1 had Just lnfurI-
ed my banners and mounted the stand
10 begin my sermon when an officer
stepped uD and tapped me on rbe
shoulder. You'll nave to Cleo on o., ne
ms. he said we won't stand FOR II
ftFtff
ders was OF
After that I have never been allowed
20 preach on the streets aga.n. WhT
they object TO my services 10 No. ~
KNOW. but II Is a hard cross to bear and
tries my patience soreIy.'
There Is no plausible exnlana flor, of
the action OF the Commissioners IN mr.
ing a stop to Matchett's meetings. IN
less II was that his signs incumbered
the streets They We're nothing more
than banners. however and offered no
obstruction. The painting Of the han
n,sers mas practically been Matchett's
ne ne "ork. lie believed that with these
huge PICTURES Illustrating startling
events In the Bib.e he could rivet the
attention or the crowds and iulDresg
upon their minds with hts sketches
more than Gnything else the truth and
meaning Of the Gospel.
Not Work of an Artist
Though the workmanship on the signs
Is not thHt Of a skilled painter. the sub
Jects are usually we'll chosen. and are
depicted in realistic fashion
One Of the evangellst's most priced
banners is that showing the picture Of
wrecked ship broken In half This Is
supposed to represent a lost soul. and
out OF the clouds the evangelist-artist
has cross descending touching the
ship. meaning that even in darkest dis
tresS the love Of God is omnipresent /
Veil. the ladder, and the serpent in the
wilderness, and other allegOrical sub
Jects.
Founder Of City Missions.
Evangelist Matchett was the founder
Of city missions FOR jails. and has done
mission work at many army posts. He
is known In Boston. Philadelphia. Bal 7
timOre, and other cities
When COXey's army OF hoodlums and
crRnks was encamped on the other side
OF the Aqueduct Bridge and were be-
siesing Washington, the District Com !
missioners personally called on Matchett
TO help them 20 solve the difficulty OF
getting the EONeyltes 70 move on
knowing the influence which Matchett
welded among the masses they count
ed on him 20 get the tramp army [
away from the Capital, which they were
oyerrunning.
Matchett was empowered to write 10
the governors Of Maryland and Virginia.
branch armies being scattered I'm those
States, 20 obtain their aid IN the matter
he old so ana was so successful that
the 800 CONeyites camped in this Vicin-
lily were marched 20 the depot and sent
out by trainlOads.
Early I'm life Mstchett went out to do
missionary work among the hostile
Sioux Indians. who were at that time
attacking General Custer. He showed
great bravery In going among the red
skins. preaching IN the very midst OF
their hostile camps. General Custer
wrote letter highly praisinp him for
his work.
Under present conditions Evangelist
Matchett cannot take care Of himself
and his restitution IS q matter Of dis &
tress 10 those who know him. Unless 4
some substantial aid is given MIN ne I
viii be IN abieCt poverty and already 4
the pangs OF hunger and want have
made inroads ON his sturdy constitution. |
The case IS one which might well de- ]