The Washington times., 1907-11-21
John w. Matchett Dead;
Preached TO MuLtitudeS
Famous Banner Evan
CELLS" Dies Suddenly
of Pneumonia.
Noted Sioux and Coxey
Army Pacifier Lacked
Lies Necessities.
John Wesley Matchett is dead.

John Wesley Matchett Is dead.
To the elect. the fashionable. the
wealthy this means little. OF perhaps
nothing, but TO that vast horde known
as the other half" it signifies much.
Those whose lot it is to live in poverty
and want and know only the dark and
seany side OF life viii miss The Ran
ner Evangelist" and mis- forceful words
Of comfort cheer, and hoPe,
For thirty-seven years. in sunshine
and rain, snow and clustering storm.
John Wesley Matchett preached under
his huge naring banners at Seventh
street and Pennsylvania avenue. His
work was with the multitude" and he
accomplished much good He was an
orator. brave and fearless man. gift
ed with the power 10 hold his listeners
OF the lower walks Of life spelIbound
and IN rapt attention.
The pangs OF hunger. want. and dire
poverty made rapid iuroads on the
sturdy constitution of this tireIess
worker in the interest of salvation Of
his fellow men, and when attacked By
pneumonia in his cold little room at 40
Ninth street northwest. he succumbCd
quickly. Friends Will gather round his
bier in Wright's undertaking establish
ment tomorrow. kind word and per-
Gaps a blossom VIII he dropped. and
John Wesley Matchett VIII be laid 10
rest in GlenwoOd Cemetery.
Called Banner Evangelist"
He was known as the 'Eanrer Evan
gelist" because he painted and used
hundreds Of huge paintings on ale
goricaI subjects to Illustrate his text
10 those into whose brains the sunlight
Of knowledge nad not broken. He felt
and truly SO, that he could reach the
hearts ard intelligence Of the passing
populace with gaudy banners Of NAM
moth proportions, and he did reach
them. He held them after he reached
them and his conversions were many.
In his early manhood John Wesley
Matchett, displayed such courage that
he was appointed by the Government
10 go into the camps Of the hostile Sioux
Indians and pacify them with the word
o. God. He preached the gospel and
reached their hearts. Fighting with Gen
eral custer soon ended, and that gallant
warrior spoke in the most laudatory
siOnary.
II was John Wesley Matchett who was
called upon by the District Commission
ers to drive COxey's army Of hoodlums
=
was Matchett who succeeded in this, as
IN all his other undertakings. Coxey
ana his henchmen were prevailed upon
by the missionary to leave the CITY i'm
inedlately, and they departed on trains
leaving half day after Matchett talked
with their chief
Matchett Barely Existed.
The missionary was dependent upon
collections at his. evangeHstic meetings
for an existence. The collections were
not much. John Wesley Matchett did
not want much OF earthly goods. His
life was devoted Ito saving souls. AN
else he cared for was just enough to
keep his own soul and body together.
IN order that his work might continue
IN 1893 his wife died. and he never
Iully recovered from the shock To
make his burden heavier. the notice
descended upon one Of his meetings in
1903 and ordered him OF the street
Ihere were no more collections and
the missionary was thrown upon char
ny an object Of pity and compassion
a man eighty years old. bent of form
ana am OF eye, cast upon society for
the means Of sustenance This almost
Droke his heart, because he could no
longer preach 10 the multitude as he
always called the public.
he died, a broken-hearted man with
MS son and but few friends by his side