The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-07-24
HON. N. R. PATTERSON
FORMER TENN. GOVERNOR
Visits California as Evangelist ol
Civic Righteousness.

A1ANo ~fNAAAOA@AA0 90 eCAASe ~
Civic Righteousness.
Never to be fully estimated nor dimin-
ished was the work accomplished by Ex-
Gov. Malcolm R. Patterson, Of Tennes-
see, during his recent itinerary in South
ern California. All too brief was his
stay among US, and never sufficiently
extended were the addresses with which
he stirred the hearts Of our people as
they seldom have been moved.
Only six times did be appear before a
Southern California audience, and never
did he cease speaking without a yearn-
ing desire upon the part Of those who
heard him for him to continue the re-
cital of his wonderful and fascinating
story.
Governor Patterson was with us be-
fore he came. The story of his accep-
tance OF Christ, Of his wonderful deliv-
erance from the curse OF strong drink,
and Of his courageous espousal OF the
cause Of temperance reform had been
told and retold at every hearthstone and
wherever two or three were gathered to-
gether until the subject OF our animat-
ed conversation seemed to be present
with us. Such story could not be
told often enough to answer the de-
mands of the deep interest which it had
awakened.
Hence, when the hero OF so many
hearts and hopes was really in our midst
the welcome accorded him could not be
estimated by any human measurements.
The immense throngs that gathered at
halls and churches where he was to speak
indicated depth Of interest which was
more fully expressed by the rapt atten-
tion with which his story was heard.
Not like the sweeping fury Of cyclone,
not like the roar and tumult Of the
thunder, not like the beating Of the
waves upon the shore, but like the in
fluence Of the still Small Voice at the
hearing Of which the prophet wrapped
his face in his mantle and stood at the
entrance OF the cave, was the magic
OF this mans marvellous
message.
Soft and mellow as the music OF the
flute, but thrilling as the vibrations OF
the electric current was the voice which
we heard as we listened to the recital Of
a story SO pregnant with significance
that it left its impress upon all who
heard it. And from the heights to
which he lifted us we shall never sink
to lower level, but eyermore and con-
stantly move upon higher plane and
to more exalted achievements.
What a sweet and lovely lad this
trim, cultured gentleman must have
been. How glad and gleeful in his boy
hood sports, how full OF life and vigor
must have been this shapely, compact,
mature mani What mothers pride,
what a fathers hope and glory must
he have been when diligently pursuing
the paths Of development and culture
which led to the strength and refine
ment now so manifest in his entire be-
ing and bearingI
Who could look upon that slight but
sinewy form that moved with such grace
and dignity upon the platform as he
spoke, without seeing in imagination the
exceedingly handsome and promising |
young man who completed his college
course and entered upon the study and
practice Of lawl How impressive must
nave been the scintillations OF light
which sparkled with the aspirations
and confidence OF vigorous youpg man
noodl And what a hideous monster |
was that foe to God and man which |
pursued this rare specimen
II human kind and spread its snares
along all the pathway these unframed
Ieet were destined to pursuel How
leartlessly cruel were the customs OF
Iociety. that wrought such havoc in
ife SO full Of the brightest prospectsl
Never did we hate the infamous traffic
n strong drink and the social customs
which make possible that traffic. as
M0NE -. ..