The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1918-04-27


panied by his lifelong friend, Rev. FL. j. Brine,
also Of that city.
Judge King is in his Seth year; Mr.. Brine, in
his 83d Both are men Of remarkable vigor and
vitality for their advanced age, and each claims
the unusual distinction of never having been
sick a. day in his life.
Through long public career, replete with
rich and varied experience Judge King has had
the privilege Of being personally associated with
nearly all the men of national repute, in the
United States, from the days Of the Civil War
down to the present time.
At the invitation of the General Overseer, he
delivered brief address from the platform Of
Shiloh Tabernacle last Lords Day afternoon,
and on Tuesday forenoon, he also gave very
interesting and instructive talk before the
students Of Zion Schools in the auditorium of
the College building, in the course Of which he
related many personal incidents reminiscent OF
the presidents Of the United States, especially
Lincoln, and other public men.
During their stay in Zion City these gentle
men are guests Of the General Overseer.
When interviewed at Zion Home by The
Theocrat representative, Judge King related the
following incidents connected with some of the
most important events in American history:
FsMy name is Simeon Woodrow King. On
August Is, next, if God spares my life, will
be Sc years young. | was never sick day IN
my life.
]sI was born in 1882 in the State of Ohio. [
was converted when-I was between IL and Is
years of age at place known as Vinegar Hill,
Cecil County. Maryland, near the Rising Sum-
Notwithstanding the name it has always seemed
one of the sweetest spots on earth to me.
81 was a poor boy, at that time, working for
man by the name Of Edwin Haines. / asked
him, if after had husked so many shocks Of
corn he naming the number, my days work
would be complete. He said it would.
"Well, [ finished my task every day about
the middle Of the afternoon. Then [ had moth
ing to do but go to the house, change my clothes,
and walk five miles to Vinegar Hill where a
protracted meeting was in progress. On the
third night that I went, was converted
GAS [ walked home that night it seemed to
me that had never seen the sky so blue
the stars so bright and never before had felt
so happy.
'sSince then I have always lived Christian
life. was never satisfied, however, to live that
life alone, but began to care for the welfare Of
others with whom [ came in contact and to ask
them if they were leading Christian life and if
they were not [ felt it my duty to do all pos
sibly could to lead them to God Indeed. 7
promised my dear Heavenly Father that during
the remainder of my life there should not be
day pass over my head without my trying to
save someone; and when | have succeeded, there
has been happiness come into my heart and
life that no language could express
ssI knew Abraham Lincoln intimately and
we'll [ became acquainted with him four years
before he became president. The first time I
saw him thought he was the homeliest man I
had ever met. I was staying in Chicago at that
time, and after my first glimpse of him,
thought Is that a beggar? [ well remember
how he looked = tall and lanky, an old, torn
umbrella in one hand, and little, dilapidated
grip in the other.
"He was a lawyer in those days living in
Springfield, and every time he had a case to try
in the Federal Court he came up to Chicago and
tried it before the only federal judge then liv-
ing, Judge Thomas Drummond Always when
he came, he made his headquarters with the law
firm of Goodrich Farwell & Smith
fsThe first time [ met him, he came to the
place where I was working, early in the morn
ing. I spoke to him, asking his name, and he
replied, Abe Lincoln. He looked me over
thoroughly, and then asked me if were good
boy told him tried to be. The next ques-
tion he asked me was, if I loved Jesus, and I
replied that I did.
''Then he opened his large hand this way
demonstrating, and said: my boy, I want
you to promise me today that as long as the dear
Lord permits you to live, you will not smoke
cigar, chew tobacco, drink any liquor, nor tell
an untruth.' I made the promise and have
sincerely kept it up to this hour
ssThe first vote I ever cast was in 1860 to
make Abraham Lincoln president Of the United
States.
81 vividly remember the great Lincoln-Doug-
las series of debates. I heard those wonderful
arguments.
Gone could not imagine stronger contrast
than between Lincoln and Douglas The lat