New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1914-12-23
DR.. J. A. Gray January
9th.

DR.. Johnson Archer Gray is the next
on the program of the Lyceum Course
for the winter and he appears here
January 9th. DR.. Gray's speciality is
lecturing and he has a number of very
interesting topics from which to choose
for the New Ulm date. He has not
yet made announcement of which one
will be given here. "
Some Of the things Johnson Archer
Gray has done in his busy and varied life
make most interesting reading.
He worked his way through college,
and when he had completed the course
entered another and seminary. :, Then
he was called to the pulpit of the Work
ingman's Church, New York City, where
for six years he preached to crowds that
continually taxed the seating capacity
of the church. i
The Workingman's Church was an
institutional work, and something was
going on all the time. They were busy
days for the Minister, who hourly found
work to do and joy in the achievement.
Here the Avenue A Boys Club was born,
with membership of 800, and which
today occupies fine building of it's own
on Avenue A with membership of
thousands. He found gang of sixty
five young men on the streets and formed
them into club. Some of them had
been in jail. and most of them were
loafers. A teacher was found for them
and in less than a year more than half
OF them passed civil examination and
today are policemen, fremen, postmen
or inspectors in the city.
He found club of fifty girls in. his
church-girls who worked in paper-box
factory for $3.50 a week. He fitted up a
room with typewriters, hired a teacher
from one of the business schools, and in
less than year, the girls working at
night only, everyone of them had gone
to Offices to work, cutting their working
hours in half, and doubling their salaries
from the start.
He set apart room every Sunday
morning where little children could be
left in charge of trained nurse during
the hour service, while the mother
worshipped with the congregation, and
the idea was taken up and adopted all
over the world.
Once he found himself on Long Island
over Sunday. He was to preach in one
of the churches, but all Saturday night
it showed and the drifts were in places
ten feet high. It was impossible to
travel, but the intrepid preacher found
out that party wire connected nearly
all the home telephones. The matter
was arranged, and more than 200 listened
while DR.. Gray preached his sermon into
the telephone. The entire service was
conducted, even collection being taken
up. The story was nineday's wonder
in the Metropolitan press, and the New
York Times in column and half
editorial referred to the preacher as the
most up-to-date man in the Ministry
He has distinguished himself in the
literary field as well. He took the gold
prize offered by the Homiletic Review
for the best illustrated sermon, and also
the second on "Church Methods" In
McClure's Magazine, October, 1911,
appeared story from his pen, tsThe
Fate of the Lincoln Conspirators", that
won him an honorary degree from his
Alma Mater.
But his greatest achievement was
few years ago, when he put on an old
suit of clothes in the dead of winter and
went to live among the thousands Of men
who, without homes or work, found
themselves compelled to sleep in the
public parks at night. For three months
he lived with them, studied their habits
and characters, and since then has told
the story more than 1000 times to de-
lighted audiences.
Three years ago he entered a news
paper office'as cub reporter. He began
with q salary Of $1,000 . week. In two
years he was at the local desk, drawing
the largest salary paid in the office, and,
in many respects, debating the policy
Of the paper. .s1s, 4 u, 4 B
/ Announcement 1 will be made later. Of
the subject onlwhich he will address his
New Ulm audience. .51l