The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-11-24
Clericnl Scnnhni In Nnrmnn,-

1874" gives startling disclosure Of an
Iirrepressiblc imposter 10 clerical clothes,
who has been deccviug the brethren ond
sisters ia Vermont, and has now fed to
pastures new We give the substance of
the correspondence:
"Some time In August last we'll dress.
ed, fair appearing, clerical looking fellow,
claiming to be Methodist minister, cal.
led on your correspondent, asked for an
hours conversation, and got, doubtless,
what he more desired, "parsonago din.
ner." He gave MS name as Rev. l.. L.
Copeland His own account OF acquaint-
ances and personal experiences was in.
teresting and given with apparent caudor.
The substance Of his story was: That he
was native of Western New York con.
verified young studied for the Methodist
ministry exercised his gift and gracss
as local preacher became acquainted
with young lady, the fair daughter of a
wealthy Missouri planter Col,
1.-THE name forgotten) followed her to her
home and married hor Joined the Geor.
gia conference of the southern Methodist
church preached several years-always
a northern man in his sympathies and
sentiments, though silent on political
questions, but tolerated in neutrality be.
cause of the social position and political
influence of his fathor-in.lav. He said
his wife died last January; he located
and left for his friends in the north. lie
came to Vermont, being so advised, as he
said, by Bishop Jesse T. Peck, hoping to
| find some place where he could preach
till spring, and then join the conference.
Your correspondent directed him to Pre-.
siding Elder Gregg, at Brandon. To him
said Copeland presented certificates OF
location from the venerable Bishop kav.
anaugh OF the Southern Methodist church,
and also letters from Bishop jesse T.
Peck To other ministers he also showed
these, with letter of reccomS. odatiou
from Bishop Peck. Elder GregS sent
him to Panton, near Vergeunes, to SIMPLY
tho pulpit just then made vacant by We
transfer of Rev. G. II. Dunton to profes-
sorship in the Troy conference academy
In Panton Copeland at once made sen
sation as wonderfully smart preacher
he was a modern Paul in the pulpit
in fact he was Il great gun" lie
preached at Burlington, Montpelier and
Spring Grove csmpmeeting and other
places, aud with the masses was 'seven
days wonder" Of originality and oratory
Now this same Copeland, that Gu. such
snobbish swell and made SO many saints
90 wild with his vulgarisms, pulpit pcdan-
tics and volublc periods. turns out to be
an irrePressble impostor and one of the
vilest villains that goes unhung. Bishop
Foster says OF hir He is one of the
biggest scoundrels that is on this cont
nent." OF this there is more than pre-
sumptive evidence-there is proof posi-.
tive. Certain parties Unexpectedly came
in contact with him at preachers meet.
ing in Pittsiord the last CT October. and
recognized him as an impcstor who had
prevously created sensation as u camp
meeting preacher and as n lecturer Oh
'Snoos and snobbery," in aud about
Olean, n. Y. There he went as the Rev.
Mr., Warren, unit! the detectives, who
greatly desire his person, discovered his
whereabouts, and he fled for other fields
more fair and pastures green. He was
advertised in the Buffalo and other papers
as an inposter. About the time Of the
discovery Of mis- character at Pittstord,
presiding elder Gregg had received let.
ter Of inquiry as to this Copeland, and
was corresponding with parties in West.
ern New York and Pennsylvania. The
presiding elder Of Banvile district, Cen.
trail Pennsylvania, conference wrote par.
ticulars, and sent a photograph Of said
Copeland, as true likeness as light can
make of him, and had it not been for the
too premature discovery at Pittsford, and
his consequent alarm, doubtless he would
have been in the keeping of the officers of
the Law before this writing, With Il
pathetic farewell sermon, he left the peo-
plc Of Panton in tears at the severance Of
strong ties, and in great indignation that
any one had, las he charged on your cor
respondent especially, injured his good
name and fine Christian feelings by ques.
tionipg his honesty and facing him with
the charge OF unchristian conduct, As
soon as convenient he again sought safety
in flight.
Here are u few Of the unlawful sins
that are everywhere finding him out
Bigamy-iustead OF being sad widowcr
he has two wives living. Forgery, in
various places, and at sunlry times and
ways; at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he
had for time been preaching to the peo-
pie with great favor he forged securities,
drew ten thousand dollars. and then fed
with his money and another mans wife.
Dr.. b. J. Ives, OF Auburn, who dedicated
new church at Cedar Rapids soon utter
the above crime, and while it was the
seDsation of the place, is personally the
authority to your correspondent for these
facts, In indianapolis, where for a time
he preached for Unitarian society and
was the star preacher of the city, he at
tempted murder, aud holy pursued by
detectives he fed for safety and avoided
arrest, A few months after he Wn- dis.
covered preaching to Methodist oon3re.
CATION at ParkerSbure, Penn, aud was
exceedingly popular as pulpit orator.
| Inc ue'ccliFc uRaln tuuShl hlIhi dhH Shlu
Bishop Foster to your correspond at, As
the officers entered one door he departed
from another and again ned from justice.
lie has preached for a time at Fall
River, Mass, in Delaware, etc. His zeal
name is S. f. Copeland, but it has been
Rev, L, l.. Copeland alias Rev. Cope.
land, alias Rev. Warren, Rev, Ware and
other aliases. lie is about 80 or IS
years of age; says he has preached nine
years; has told some he has been presi.
dent Of u female college seven years, and
says he had Spent two years and half
in Europe aud Oriental countries. In
height be is about five feet and eight
inches, sandy complexion, hair and whis-
kors nearly red and quite curly, full but
not long beard, grey eyes, erect in car