The independent-reporter., 1910-12-08
CHAPMAN ALEXAN-
DER CAMPAIGN
Converts Noted Gambler
In Chicago
Has Conseerated the Remainder of
His Life TO the Truth.

Among the incidents connected with
the Chapman-Alexander evangelistic
campaign in Chicago, which came to
a close recently, there has been none
that has occasioned more interest
than the statement of Harry Patter-
son, who has spent Is years of his
life at the gambling table. He was a
faro dealer, a poker player. rou-
lette wheel manipulator. He has
handled hundreds of thousands of dol
lars on the green cloth and knows
the ropes of gambling.
One day recently Patterson walked
into the Chicago Opera house where
DR.. Chapman had charge of the meet
ings, at one of the midday meetings.
He followed the crowds. perhaps
thinking that within h. would find a
game What took place is interest
ingly described in the Chicago Inter
Ocean as follows:
And he did find a game. DR.. ].
Wilbur Chapman was dealing 1t
was "on the square" So Patterson
sat in" and took a hand" When
it came to the draw" he called for a
king. 1t was dealt to him, and it
pIONtu 10 De HIS SdsiOui'
He was converted.
Forgetting those things which are
of the days agone in the activities of
the present he will look to the future
in the hope that the wrong he has
done may be undone. He will preach
the gospel If it is Gods will, he says.
Patterson declares he will do every
thing within his power to blot out
the hideous past and to make restitu-
ton for the wasted, miserable years.
The other afternoon at the Austin
tabernacle at the close of a remark
able meeting Patterson mounted the
newspaper mems table and stood at
the side of his dealer to tell his
wonderful story of conversion. But
his voice was choked with tears. He
could speak no word His eyes were
dimmed with tears of genuine repen-
tance. His lips trembled with re-
morse. A sob which came from the
depths of his heart shook his frame.
And then the dealer played his
hand" for him. DR.. Chapman told the
mans romantic story-the story of a
typical professional gambler-which
ended with a striking climax.
1t is a far cry from the green cloth
to the clergyman cloth of somber
black There is a most decided con-
trast between the life of a faro deal
er. a professional poker player and
the life of a minister of the gospel Of
the NaZarene.
CONSECRATES LIFE TO TRUTH.
But Harry Patterson has consecrat-
ed his future years to the cause of
the church He will live, as nearly
rs human weaknesses will permit, the
life of the lowly one of Bethlehem.
And he will strive to bring men to
this Savior.
Steamboat Harry" he was called
for nearly 20 years. He is known
far and wide as an invincible, invet-
crate gambler. He would take 2
chance at anything. never counting
the odds. For 1S years he has piled
his trade-for it is that--on the
steamers of the Great Lakes. He has
played various games of chance in
nearly every gambling hell of Chica-
go. There isn't professional gambler
II the Middle West who doesn't know
Steamboat Harry
But now. henceforth. the old
haunts will know no more-unless he
goes seeking lost sheep which have
wandered far from the Shepherd S
fold. Never again will he handle the
pasteboards or the little ivory rou-
lette balls. The game is ended He
has "ceshed in"
Holding up his right hand in the
presence of more than 5000 men he
took a solemn VOW to make the best
of every opportunity to convert men
TO Christ and to cling ever to the
Rock of Ages.
Tears streamed down his face as he
said, Il will" That face which has
remained as immovable as that of a
sphinx at some of the most exciting
moments any man ever lived through
That face which has been for Is
years a mask of stone, through which
peered at you two piercing eyes of
cold steel
His heart seemed all but broken by
the weight of his misspent years
deep contrition was written in every
line of his face. in his every action
in the contour of his shapely shoul-
ders. If he Is not converted. one
may be pardoned for questioning If
there is any such thing as conversion