The Washington herald., 1908-03-23
ABJURES THE STAGE
Robert Downing Begins Ca
reer as Evangelist.
WOULD REPAY DEBT TO GOD
Has Had Every Wish Gratified. and
Fortune Has Always smiled on
Him-Now He Would Devote Life
to Work for christsanity-Males
Three Addresses During Day.

/
Robert Downing, actor. is no more.
He Is the humble servant of God from
now on"
That he has siven up his profession 20
devote his time to religious purposes was
declared by Mr. Downing in this utter
ance, yesterday, when he spoke at
Pythian Temple, in the morning, at the
Hall Mission in the afternoon. and at the
McKendree NJ T. Church in the evening
At the revival services at the Pythian
Temple in the morning, Mr.. Downing told
OF his recent conversion TO Christianity
and his impulse to actively work for the
faith, He related incidents connected with
his long career on the stage. of his earnest
endeavor to succeed. how he had prayed
10 God to give him success years ago, and
how God had granted everything he had
asked for. Even in his boyhood days, Mr.
Downing said. he had been fortunate, and
fortune had smile on him time and again.
Feared RidicnIe.
He told Of his reverence for the Lords
Prayer, Of his talks with God when a
child. and of his talks with God now. He
had been holding back for fear of what
others might say, he said.
The actor has an astonishing power on
the stage, and a power that could work
worlds of good 1 pray for the same
power in the cause of Christianity"
Mr.. Downing described his sensations
on the stage playing his favOrite role.
in THE Gladiator" when he brandished
his sword above his head, in the play, and
cried out. THE Christian faith is mine.''
Mr.. Downing said thousand times he
has played the gladiator On the stage. pro-
claiming Christianity as his faith in the
play. He now adopted the Christian faith
in true life"
We have faith in things on earth. so
why not have faith in GodY'
Seats Free for His Audiences.
Sincerity In your own work. and ODE
dience TO God are necessary in all efforts
to achieve success in life whether it be
on the stage or off.
II was working for the world at so
much per head. / am working for God
now, and every seat is free every time
I speak. God pays my salary now. 1t
is greater than it ever was before
My idea of theater-going is that when
you have the love OF Lord Jesus in your
heart, you can so 10 the theater If you
wish to: but you will not wish TO. That
is my idea II is the same regarding
drink. gambling. and other worldly vices.
At Hail Mission.
In the afternoon Mr.. Downing spoke at
the Hail Mission. 623 Louisiana avenue
northwest. The services were conducted
as in the morning at Pythian Temple.
by Rev. DR.. George Buckley, also
formerly an actor who was with Mr..
Downing for eight years and achieved
success on the stage. and who has been
devoted TO mission work for several years.
At the Hall Mission Mr. Downing spoke
in a similar strain.
Il spent thirty-odd years accepting
things which God bestowed on me-" Mr..
Downing said. Il was accepting them
without giving anything in return.
Fortune has smiled on me repeatedly.
have had a fortunate career. God has
been good to me.
Il do not come here as a drunkard, or
as a reformed gambler. or anything ike
that have had a lucky life Luck has
shone on me continually.
Il have had the best Of health all nv
life Every wish ever made has been
granted Ny every aspiration has been
satisfied
Il pray to God that He may help me TO
make restitution for the kindness He has
shown me.
Work Is Idea of Life.
ssIVorL- x.,o-Iy ,,-orI- - 49, sz = ne
Work is the best thing on earth 1 am
still working, but 1t is no task. 1t is not
difficult to work for God. Talking for His
sake is no work. 1t is a pleasure.
L want TO reach the unsayed man. I
want to reach the man Of the world. You
do not know life until you have knelt
down to God. 1 shall never regret the day
! when 1 knelt down at the foot Of the
cross.
IF man loves liquor, IF he has the
love of God in his heart. and asks God
to keep him from drink, he viii not take
drink when the burning thirst comes TO
him. So it is with all worldly things.
There is no comforter except Jesus
Christ. He is the only comforter. Here
below there are none
Theology of Love.
He alone can comfort and love Won
He can endow you with the sweetest
love in creation. The giving UP of ones
self 10 God can bring forth the greatest
love that IT is possible to conceive.
! THE real love is gotten this way alone.
/ Throw yourself at Jesus feet and accent
| His love. The more love We get in our
homes the less divorce courts we will
have.
God IS love. He alone can bestow if
on us
"A great wave OF reform and revival
is soon to sweep over the country. In a
few months wave Of Christianity that
is startling in its proportions will work
a great change over us. 1t is inevitable.
My past comes to me as a dream
see things as a baby in the faith. I am
but convert Of two weeks standing.
I'm the d C Class.
Il am not a preacher; 1 am a taIker
am in the A B c class in reading the
Bible. read it every day now. and win
be able to keep up with you in quoting
/ it later on Now you can tell me things
1 do not know about it"
! Mrs. Phoebe Lutren spoke and Rev.
| George Buckler led the singing.
j Announcement was made that yester-
days services are the last that will be