The sun., 1879-02-23
TO JAIL EROM THE TABERNA Gle
A. Colsred 0trI who Tried 20 Tell Her Expe-
rience In TnInsaee's Prayer Meetinas

Mary Medley, quick witted colored
woman. 90 years OF age. is serving out n SEN
'tence Of 20 days. in Raymond street jail. on q
charge of being a vagrant. On Feb. o she went
to Talmage's Sunday night prayer meeting and
devoutly joined in the exercises. singing In n
clear, melodious voico the spirited hymns In
use In the Tabernacle. When DR.. Talmage
gave n warm invitation to any sinner in his
congregation 10 stand up for prayers and for
any Christian to relate his or her experience,
Mary Medley jumped to her feet. and began TO
tell her experiences. She was told by nm usher
near by to sit down. but she insisted on her
right to speak. A hymn was started while sho
was yot standing. and. ms she tried to make her
self heard two ushers caught her by the shoul-
der and led her out The ushers left her clOak
in her scat. and when she got outside she in
s.stod on going back 10 get the cloak. but the
young men aud boys surrounding her SAID That
she shouldn't return. one usher SAID mat shc
wns u poor cruzy thing" She denied this ON
phat!cally, and said that she WINS as sensible as
any ono in the Tabernacle, and that she was
only trying to tell her religious experience, and
to ask for the prayers Of the church, when she
AS sue was stll hindcred from going back for
her cloak, Mnry dashed at the men and boys
surrounding her. struck right and lett and
dartcd into the Tabernacle. The ushcrs again
tricd to Interfere with her. but she darted hy
them. and gaining her former sent selzed her
cloak. and then passed quietly out. An ohcer
NJ the door arrested her for being dlsordory
and for disturbing public worship. and SHE was
taken to tho Bergen street police station. where
she spent the night. The next day Justice
Bloom heard the complaint against Mary, and
as he could not hold her on the oiiicer's Charge
committed her as a vagrant
When n reporter asked to see Mary Medley in
the jail Yesterday. she came down smiling good
naturally. Il 'clar' TO goodness" she said.
" dat Fin mover gwne to speak in meetln ng'in
and dey'il never ketch mo near dat Mr. Tam
imige ag,in; I'm honest girl and l hates
tIse got good References. and II wasn't sent
to Jail Ia ba mt saryice now, for had plnce to
20 To thnt very Monday. ia been Roin TO
prayer meetin'sa good deal. and alwave speak
out. for I'm a seeker arter liRion. and was
rwino to get Immersed TO- long, and jino
Js Hanna, thurrh Dat night went 10
hear MIR. Tammige. Now don't like Mr.. Tam
mige. think he's the fQolisiesis mnn dat ever
lived but you know de Bible says Every fool
to his folly When Mr.. Tnnmige said, Let
all dc sinners VINO want To be prayed for get
up IJumps To- my feet. and list begin to say
put ont. They took hold of me list rs
rough; suppose did wrong in porseverin'i
but thought THAI had right to stan up and
ask for prayers il was a sinner. and to tell my
sperienco II was n Christian. as thero was in
vtations for bof But Lordy, dat didn't seem
TO be the thing to do dar. and 1 les find myself
says |. De Lo'd. fits de burden TO do
bars fought OF de book my young
mssus used & to read to me, where
were burned Ike II steak for ovin' Christ. and
says to myself. says |. Mary Medley youse
no mudder. and no sisser or no brofer, and all
| got to love is little chil'n and my Lord an
Saviour. Now. II | was here because I'd stole
anything or beehuse | got drunk. couldn't
look n Twin bcn' in dc face: but I'm here be-
cause wanted To tell what de Lo'd had done
Tor me. ] never no mo expected to h. locked up
for tellin my speriencc than | 'spectcd to 20 to
hebbin wiiout dyln'. | never WIS locked up
before and when get out | u nevertryto speak
out in meotin' agin. unless | find out fust dat
won't bs handled rough"
The girl was born in slavery in MARYLAND.
and she live, for me years with one family in
State street. brooklyn. She quilted her place.
she says. because she was denied the privilege
OF going to church.