The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-10-25
Just Misses Death.

-
Following the meeting the youth told
/ Mr.. MaCkev that he was p years Of age
and that his people we're among the nigh
est respected families of Salt Lake. H,
said he had held a number OF good pO-
sitiOns and had lost them because he
~frequented Commercial street. Finally, he
said. he had come to be one of the lower
five" of the street. The convert says he
will make no complaint TO the lOllce, be-
cause it is his own fault, and he only
! got what was coming to him. He viii
be assisted to a position by the Volun-
teers of America The wound on Eis mead
is not q serious one. although had the
bullet struck an eighth OF an inch lower
il would have penetrated the skull.
This was but one of several interesting
| happenings at the Mackey meetings n
the heart of Salt Lakes red light dis
trict on yesterday and the final days of
/ last Week.
Though he has been for months one Of
| the denizens of the dives in CONNER
become a marked figure in the life of the
lowest element Of humanity in Salt Lake,
until he attended the Mackey meetings,
Omar LladdO, son Of India. carried with
him a small stone image to which he made
his prayers daily II was one of the gods
of his people with an unprOuOunceable
name. Tn s idol in which the Hindoo
placed his faith was in his pocket when
he entered the Commercial street hail.
Lladdo sat near the entrance and listened
intently to the wonderful story told by
the evangelist. For the first time in his
life he was told how the Savior of man
kin had given his life and shed his blood
for the people of the whole world.
Following the meeting Lladdo waited at
the entrance for Mr.. Mackey. He asked
if this story he had heard was true and
if it was meant for the HindoO as well
as the white man. Mr.. Mackey assured
him in kindly tones that there was no
color line drawn in the plan of salvation.
Smashes His Own God,
Simply and as though it were but an
act Of everyday life the HindOo aston
ished the evangelist by drawing a queer
little image from an inner pocket and be
fore he could prevent the small Jug
shaped figure had crashed to the stone
steps in Commercial street.
Me believe" said the Hindoo quietly.
He has since attended the meeting reg
ularly and has consented to speak of his
experience at n of the meetings during
the present week
Working as cook in a notorious restau-
rant in Commercial street, where. Mr..
Mackey says gambling is conducted night
ly, is one man who four days ago con-
fessed that ne had been baptized into
sever religions and that he Lad found
in none of them the power to cure him Of
the drinking habit until he came into
the Mackey meetings, At one time this
man was an influential citizen of Salt
Lake, a restaurant owner and member Of
the Methodist church. For two wears
bLLkk ~ -A1a 49, - a. "a IL Tic IAL =
worst district. His family IS broken IN
and he has been dependent for his living
upon odd jobs picked up around the low
est kin of resorts. He went To the
Mackey meetings with a bottle of whisky
in his pocket, and lroke the bottle over
the altar rail. Since that time he has
attended the meetings regularly and yes
terday he said ne intended getting ou-
of Commercial street and STAYING out.
Big Tom Converted.
"Big Tom," a man who has been a ia
miliar figure in Commercial street for
achievements have won him more THAI
one wager with strangers, is today work
ing at Fort Douglas and he declares he
will never again enter Commercial street.
He has been at the fort for a week and
his closest friends state that he has not
taken a drink.
As Evangelist Mackey drove two sheer
ing ruffians from the meeting yesterday
afternoon he said: This meeting is not
for those with the sneer Upol their lips.
It is for the down and CUTTERS the lower
five the men who are 'up against the
real thing There are men of the highest
order Of intelligence in Commercial street
and men of the lowest. We are here to
save ALL"
How long since you wrote 30 motherY"
is the question that stares the down and
outer in the face as ne enters the gospel
hall, and Mr.. Mackey says that that ques-
ton put in that way has caused scores
of letters to be sent out of Commercial
street during the past few weeks. These
letters rave gone to homes where tho
sender has long been missed and where
mothers hearts ave ached for-no one
can say how many weary months or
years.
Mr.. Mackey announced yesterday that
he would close mis- meetings in CONNER
cial street on next Tuesday. Other mem
bers of the Volunteers of America win
keep up the revival for the benefit Of
those who could in no 9th er way he
reached with the story of salvation.