The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-23
Old tom KEENAN,
TALKS TO SINNERS
Veteran Railroad Evangelist
Addresses Gathering at
First Baptist Church

Lord. mean business, I'm going to
clean housei
With these words. many years ago.
Tom Keenan,, the veteran engineer
evangelist, known as the Moody of the
Rails, relinquished his course upon the
ways of sin and set about the saving of
his wayward fellow men. keenan, was, by
MS own showing, as hard-bitten a railroad
man as ever handled a throttle, but says
that it is possible for man to live as
honest and earnest a Christian life in the
cab OF an engine as in the pulpit of a
church.
Those who heard the man speak yester-
day afternoon q the First Baptist church.
Wacouta and Ninth streets, must be inn
pressed with his earnest sincerity, no mat
ter what. their belief as to his creed. An
old man, nearly seventy years of age, with
close cropped white hair and, rough hewn,
solid face and frame. stood up and adj
dressed a mixed gathering of men, and for
nearly two hours spoke the great faith
that was in him.
Seek the Narrow Path
Feeiingiy he called upon his hearers to
quit the way of unrighteousness and to
seek the straight and narrow path. His
address was honest or it was nothing. He
freely admitted the many obstacles in the
way of following the mandate of his call,
but pictured his own struggle at the part
Ing of the ways as evidencing the ultimate
ease of such a course He told of the many
whom he had known who had refused
the Word. but at the end were glad to
reach for the saving hand. OF one, at one
time his closest friend he said, that he
was wont to say: When die all want
is good engine to pull straight. through
hell. but at the last even he had turned.
The discourse was most interesting in
that it told of times when railroad men
Were the forerunners of civilization and
outcasts even from such rough society as
they carried to the new lands. keenan,
told how upon one occasion he and his
chum had decided to take a brace and pull
and how he had therefore dressed up and
gone to a boarding house to seek a ROOM
Have you rooms. ma am? % said Tom.
Yes from the landady.
May see them. if you please?'
BE you railroad man?'
Yes
Bang, went the door in poor Toms ex-
These and many other tales of interest
both to the railroad man and to the un-
Initiated were told. and all with the
to the story and force to his appeal.
Jim Burwick Speaks
AT the close of the address, during
Which many eyes were wet, Jim Burwick,
also veteran railroad man, and an ear
meet advocate of the gospel, urged an open
SOIicSStO4 Oh d d6S1T6 10 1OilOW Lie tSdQ
of Tom keenan, which was responded
to by many Mr.. Bufwiclx also asked any
who desired to remain, and considerable
number ayailed themselves of the priv
iiege of grasping the sturdy engineer by
the hand and listened to his untaHght
words of encouragement.
The service was frightened by the sing
ing Of several hymns, and Jim Burwick.
who introduced his brother engineer, also
gave short, feeling address. Mr.. Bur-
wick will hold meetings every night this
week at the First Baptist church, and
next Sunday will close the present series
of services which are under the auspices
of the ST. PauLY M. c. A., with serv-
ice similar to that of yesterday, at which
he will tell his own story.
Keenan, Grand Old Man
Tom Keenan, is a genial and kindly
old man who is completely imbued with
the feryor of his one great work. He
has toured the greater part the country,
the finances for the tour being furnished
by Helen Gould, and he states that where
his hearers have been the toughest the
results have been the most gratifying.
and that the theater has proved a better
place to spread the gospel than the church,
as many who could not be brought with
in the doors of a house of worship have
been reached In the house of amusement.
Mr.. keenan, says that he has often seen
vindicated the truth of the words Fools
who came to scott remained to pray