The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-02
CHAPMAN TO MEN
Three Thousand Hear ReyiYalist
at Auditorium.
Says Drunkenness Is Not the
Greatest Sin.
LEADS TO ALL REST.
Pathetic Story Of the Effect of
Drink on a Father.
Night Meeting Attended by
Audience of 1900.

More than three thousand men were
in attendance at the mems mass meet
Ing in the auditorium Sunday after
noon which was one os the series of
Chapman revival services. It was a. re-
uaarkable meeting. Dr.. Chapman said
that he had addressed larger audiences
at times. but in some respects 1t was
one OF the most remarkable meetings he
had ever held. The special services. he
said had barely been started. and yet
the interest was already SO great as
to bring out such a tremendous gather
ings Of the men of Topeka.
d.. ChaDman's subject was Some
Things About Dissipation, Infdelity and
Morality" and his text was the last
clause Of jeremiah 1878: How wilt thou
do in the swelling o. Jordan?"
The river Jordan, Dr. Chapman ex
planned. comes down between high cliffs
in the hill country Of Palestine. Along
these cliffs there are three series Of
i. caves. one above the other, which were
inhabited by wild animals. When the
foods came down the Jordan at har-
vest time each year the waters first
drove the wild creatures from the lower
caves to those high, but as the river
sWetled it eventually filed all the caves
and drove the wild creatures forth into
the UEtQS Mnefe they were at the mercy
of men who were waiting for them.
81 do not consider drunkenness the
greatest sim said DR.. Chapman in the
course OF his address, "but it is the
commOnest and in its wake come all
other great evils I would rather take
into my home a drunkard and allow
him to associate with those under my
care than to take into my home the
great politician, the man who holds his
head high in the community, OF any
NIL he he
clean.
II am glad that you have no saloons
in Topeka, but you have drunkenness
here. ana you have places where liquor
is sold in violation of the law If you
know anything about these you owe it
to yourself and to your city to stamp
them out. (Applause.)
TT is a fearful thing to be cursed
with the drink habit. A few years ago
we had in Philadelphia g. man who was
one of the officers in one of the great
est financial institutions in that city. He
stood high and was respected. But ne
4efi He began to drink. The habit
GEad itself on him. Tt swept away his
property and he had to dwell almost
Sd q howell. One day his baby died. The
family had no money to buy clothes
% bury the little body in. They lived
not FAR from the church OF which
was pastor. and some of the people
took in clothes and put them on the little
form. The baby had no shoes. sand a
So and put on the little cold feet. And
when this was done some of the people
said. Let the father come in and see
his dead baby. Leave him alone with
the little form he loved and fondled.
1t viii surely touch his heart and make
him a better man
1--WE did SO, And the father stood
there with the tears running down his
face, as he looked at his read baby but
notwithstanding his tears his hand
crept under the folds of the little dress
stole off the little white Shoes showed
them into his pocket, and when we
buried his baby that man was in 2
uellrlum brought on by the price of
his baby's shoes. I protest against a
sin that viii make a father forget his
dead baby
Gambling, DR.. Chapman said, is worse
than drunkenness. and he touched on
the social evil in an extremely effective
but delicate way.
Relative to inhdelity DR.. Chapman
said: "I have great respect for the
honest skeptic, the man who says. I
do not believe as you do, but if your
belief makes you better man and if
1t comforts you and gives you peace
and happiness in the hour of death, I
would not take it from you That
sort Of a man L can take by the hand
and respect But there is the inhdel
who struts with his thumbs in the
armholes of his vest and sneers at
every argument in favor of the Chris
tian life. He would rob me of the be
lief that / shall meet my mother and
my baby i'm heaven.
The entire service was very simply
but extremely impressive, and large
number Of men signed cards hapded
out by the ushers signifying their de
sire to lead a better life.
Probably three-fourths of the con-
gEegatIOn remained to the after-neet-
ing, large percentage of them non
Christians, and about forty avaiIed
themselves just before the close of the
service of going forward and grasp
ing Dr.. Chapman hand to express
their determination to become Chris
tians.
One of the most impressive features
of the Chapman meetings is the sing
ing of Mr. Butler and that of the large
chorus under the leadership of Mr.
Allen.
Meeting for Women.
An afternoon meeting for women II
the First Presbyterian church was al.
dressed by DR.. Granstaff. About 10O(
women attended, Mrs. Granstaf rem.
dered several vocal selections. Anoth.
err meeting for girls and young wonner
was held at the First Baptist church
by DR.. c. II. Schaeffer This followed
meeting which the same spealze1
-1eAd for some 400 young men and
eess
Auditorium Is Packed.
The singing of 1000 people, backed
I'D BY good leadership, a great pipe or
san and a skilled choir of $50 voice,
MSS ROSA McAHAN OF BUTTE.