Stories from the First Cathedral 32: A Master at Evangelism

Bishop Whipple's church before he was elected as Minnesota's first bishop was The Free church of the Holy Communion in Chicago. They rented the Metropolitan Hall for worship. Bishop Whipple visited every shop, saloon, and factory within a mile of the hall. The church was close to the railway yards. So the bishop went to the chief engineer of the Galena railway for his advice on how to reach the men who worked in the railway yards. Mr McAlpine, the head of the railway, asked Bishop Whipple what he knew about steam locomotives. The bishop said he knew absolutely nothing about steam trains. So Bishop Whippled secured a copy of Lardner's Railway Economy. Here's what happened next. This excerpt is taken from Bishop Whipple's autobiography titled Lights and Shadows of a Long Episcopate (1899).

"In due season I went to the roundhouse of the Galena railway, where I found a number of engineers standing by a locomotive which the firemen were cleaning. Observing that it was a Taunton engine with inside connections, I asked at a venture, "Which do you like the better, inside or outside connections?" This followed by about steam heaters and variable exhausts, and in less than half an hour I was taught far more than I had learned from my book. In leaving I said:"Boys, where do you go to church? I have a free church in Metropolitan Hall where I shall be glad to see you, and if at any time you have an accident or need me, I will gladly go to you." The following Sunday every man was in church!" 

Bishop Whipple was a master evangelist before becoming our first bishop here in Minnesota.