about
twenty minutes to one
They had read the superintendent 's notice which he had posted up in various places , and came largely out of curiosity . They were favorably impressed . The room was large and airy , free from smoke and dust , and well warmed from the steam pipes . At about twenty minutes to one Mr. Powers told the men what he had in mind . He spoke very simply , like one who understands thoroughly the character of his audience , and then introduced the Rev. Henry Maxwell of the First Church , his pastor , who had consented to speak a few minutes . Maxwell will never forget the feeling with which for the first time he stood before the grimy-faced audience of working men . Like hundreds of other ministers , he had never spoken to any gatherings except those made up of people of his own class in the sense that they were familiar in their dress and education and habits .