The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-10
Santa Fe Boiler Shops Fore
man Is a Preacher.
Like the Famous Tinker, He Is
Strong in Faith.
HAD A STRANGE CAREER
Preached and Worked in South
and Old Mexico.
Likes the Methodist Faith Best:
FerV0ur and Fundamentals.

Allan r. Hodges, boilermaker fore
man of the Santa Fe shops. and ex-
preacher of Mexico City, is a unique
character. There is such a difference
| between the professions that Hodges is
| often asked which he prefers.
| LAS to present remuneration" he is
pretty sure to say, 81 prefer to be a
| boilermaker, but as to ultimate re-
| wards" he will piously add, IT had
| rather be preacher
Into his secular vocation he carries d
| few clerical characteristics, such as oc-
| casionally wearing a frock coat, and
frequently quoting from the Scriptures.
mot that 1 believe in mixing bust
ness and religion" he earnestly ex-
plains, except in so far as it benefits
business; one must rule ones spirit in
order to rule men. For greater is he
who ruleth his own spirit than he who
taketh a city,"
Hodges is tall and muscular, with
twinkling eyes and rubicund cheeks. 1t
is said that, as a general rule, he does
not believe in prohibition states-what's
the use?-but tolerates Kansas, never
theleSs. He is a native Texan, has trav-
eled near and far, and is still loyal to
the Lone Star State; it was there that
he was converted in 1895. Like Paul.
quoth he. " One born out of due
season."
up to that time I had no religious
training or church affiliations he as
serted. My sole church experience
consisted in escorting the girls to
prayer meeting. My own meditation
and prayer finally brought forth fruit
and salvation
Feeling that he was called upon 20
be preacher, he studied for three
years, while he was perfecting himself
in the knowledge of boiler making.
I was not converted to any church,
understand shouted he, ct was con-
verted to Jesus Christ, but 1 set about
ascertaining the church which taught
the fundamentals as L had experienced
them. After thorough investigation 1
came to the definite conclusion that the
Methodist church, with the doctrines of
ia! but biblical
Having come to this important deci-
sion, Hodges began preaching in his
shop.
"Oh. yes; the boys came all right" he
declared. They came Voluntarily NOT
by coercion. The Lord said. If I be
lifted up, L will draw all men unto
me-"
He made preaching his aim in life,
until 1905, when the yellow fever cpl
summer itinerary was annulled:
hence, said he, "the finances were
not forthcoming, and I once more ac-
cepted position in the shops
Soon after this he left for Old Mex
leo, where he preached in Mexico City
and Pueblo.
Unfortunately, most of the Mexi-
cans are Catholics" said he sadly. "The
majority of them, however, do not
even adhere to that. Sunday is their
gaia day: In the morning some of
them go to mass; in the afternoon all
of them go to band concerts, cantinas
10 In n
suburbs. At o'clock comes the bull
hght-'
Did you ever attend one?' said the
eager reporter.
Il refuse to answer that replied
Mr.. Hodges, severely; "they are very
brutal, and are not received by the
better class, but 10000 people watch
the arena each Sunday afternoon
Hodges stated that Indians, Next
cans, Spaniards. and few whites
came to hear him preach. The Mexi-
cans were the most docile, and prayed
and shouted in Spanish much to his
versions by copious quotations from
the Scriptures.
Saved Man in Jail,
1.-The worst man ever converted |
he remarked, was not a Mexican, but |
an Am erican-a man "A years old, who |
lived in Louisiana. He sat unmoved at |
my revival meetings, but finally asked |
me to pray for him, was saved and |
died two months later. My next hard I
est convert was a man in Jail, SEN
fenced to a term in the penitentiary. I
1 preached often in the Jail; this man
came to hear me, served his time, |
came out, and went to preaching |
Hodges admitted that, as a rule.
men were harder to convert than wom-
en-. "But some women equal any man
I have even SEEM he amended, some
of them are pretty bad
At present Hodges is making good /
in the boiler trade; his early training
fitted him for a competent foreman,
and he is favorite with his en-
ployees. 1t remains to be seen which
spiri. will prevail in the end-preacher
ct bcilermaker. Alb.