Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-29
BROTHER BOWLER


Brothers and Sisters of st. Paul and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT and Collects,
and Steals and SEips.
About a month since prepossessing colored
individual calling himself Rev. P. w. Bollins,
made his appearance among "de bredren and
sistern'' of Minneapolis and st. Paul. and be-
gan the work of organizing Free-will Baptist
congregations simultaneously in both cities.
The following was one of his credentials,
though as will be seen it had neither date nor
local habitation.
David Walker, Esq:
GENTLEMAN: The bearer of this letter is the pas
tor Of the First Colored Baptist church of this town.
and ID fully respected by people worthy of his
high calling. The object Of his visit to Franklin is
to procure assistance in paying off the Indebtedness
OF his church, and any money donated to the church
and received by the bearer will be appropriated to the
purpose named. Yours respectfully,
This was pretty good testimony, and yet the
lack of locality and date was unfortunate. On
top of this. however, the reverend gentleman
could and did lay the following:
ELDERS LICENSE.
STATE OF ARKANSAS, County of Pulaski, June 7,
1876 At council of regular Baptist churches held
at Jacksonville, Pulaski county, Ark. it having been
fully manifested and shown that our beloved elder,
and Christian pety, having been called to exercise
his ministerial gifts, and having sound knowledge
OF divine things, he having been regularly ordained
an elder at Belfountane, Logan county, Ohio, on the
18th day OF June, 1855, by the laying of hands
Baptist elders,
THEREFORE, He is found worthy and we hereby
give him God speed with full authority to preach the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to baptise, to per
form the rites of matrimony to administer the sacra
ment of the Lords supper and to fulfill all the d
ties of a minister of the gospel.
nor hxr0r <3n.D {1a0
Rev. Dr. j. F. F NJ. FnLMER, D. D.,
Moderator of the Council
Rev. HARRISON FAY, Clerk.
To Rev. Israel Brown.
This was frst-rate, only the name was not
exactly right but still that might be mere
slip of the pen.
At any rate the Rev. Mr.. Bollins commenced
the duties of his passionate, and true to his
clerical instincts, at once began to lift col
lection. AS preparatory measure he armed
himself with the following document:
This is to certify that Elder Bowlins has been
called to the pastorate of the Free WI Baptis
church of ST. Paul. and is soliciting aid to assist hin
in getting his family here. We are poor and unable
at this time to do MUCH but we hope that all upo1
whom he may ca, will aid him. We therefore com
public.
Done by order of the Free Will Baptist church O.
st. Paul. FALIN COMBS, Deacon.
JEEF RAFFoRD Treasurer.
ELDER BowLINs Pastor.
Subscriptions come in, see the cash collected:
Free Wiil Baptist church of ST. Paul ST OF
friend. Observation-Disclosures. l OF
This started him sailing in the right direc
ton, and then he came to Minneapolis, and a
once provided himself with the following from
Deacon Keith of the Freewillers (white) in THU
city:
BRO. LEIGHTON:
would be glad to grant the request of Brothe
Bolns if it was in my power to do SO, for thinl
him worthy and doing good work.
Yours, &C.,
II. c. KEITH.
Bro. Keith to do does not appear, probably t,
subscribe 1--WE judge from the opening stanzas
but at any rate the context was full endorse
ment of Bro. Bollins.
Armed with these documents Bro. B. collected
few dollars, preached a sermon or two in botl
cities, told pitiful story Of a sick family il
Des Moines, Iowa, and took up collection
promptly after each sermon. Here is full,
given the heads of his last sermon
Second Corinthians, l: "a. By faith ye stand.
First-The nature of true saving faith.
Second-Faith in God is to the Christian what tn
wheel is to the potter.
Third-The grand victories of faith.
F1rst-To doubt is equivalent to being condemned
second-Brother and sister doubtful, are Away
weak and sickly.
Thrd-Faith is the key arch of Christianity.
Fourth-It is the grand round in Jacobs ladder
the chariot in which we ride the skies.
great aims at 6rea
achievements. Brother and sister, little faith neve
accompanies anything
Sixth--H we stand the storms incident upon tn
Christian life, we must stand by faith.
Seventh-O Lord, increase our faith. Amen.
But life is too short to dwell. Last Sunda,
the reverend borrowed furniture worth $50 O
$40 from a sister in the East Division on tn
plea that his family was to return in two o
three days. He also borrowed various small
sums of black and white Pensioners. o.
Monday he brought the sisters household
goods to secondhand store on the West side
sold them for $18 and skipped the country.
In the stolen bureau was found a complet
history Of the pious fraud, including
pawn tickets from Kansas City, Fort Scott
| Omaha, and other places. Also one from hi
! wife in Des Moines, Iowa. which she opens vi
by saying, 81 have staid here and lied for yo
before your friends in the church till In
tired Of it," There were left behind, also
various other trinkets which prove Rev. P. W
| Bollins-Boliver, ETC., bad lot of damages
! colored piety. The police are on his track
with fair prospects of capturing HIM.