The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-04-10
WEEKLY BAZOO.
TUESDAY, APRIL 10. 1888
RELIGIOUS FRAUDS.


committing al manner of villainous
acts under the guise of religion, does
not diminish, but rather seems to be
On the increase.
No small proportion of these hypo-
critical scoundrels are either bona-fde
or self-Asserted leaders In the church,
and not q few of them are found in
the pulpit itself.
This is no wild assertion, but
statement based on substantial facts,
and one which only requires a perusal
Of the daily newspapers to substanliate.
The Cases are 50 numerous and varied,
that is is entirely unnecessary to cite
any particular instances.
That this unfortunate state of affairs
exists. however, should not and does
not diminish the reverence of any in
telligent thinking man for the church,
the word of God, and pure religion as
it is sought to be inculcated by the
many noble and pious ministers of the
land.
The only object of this article is to
endeavor to point out if possible, some
means by which this rapidly growing
evil can be abated or at least diminish
ed.
One of the principle causes of the
existence of so many religious frauds
and mountebanks is the thoughtless
manner in which ministers and church
people welcome to their homes and
fresides. and to their confidence,
every fellow who comes along, with
q pathetic story to relate or who
carries letter from some church,
or is in the possession of testimonials
from some minister or other well
known Christian man. While there are
many worthy men and women, who
call upon preachers and church men,
bers and present such documentary
evidence of their good character,
there are hund reds of others who are
veritable wolves in sleeps clothing.
These interlopers are taken by the
hand and invited home by some of
the good brethren, who are in blissful
ignorance of the fact that they are
entertaining devil unawares. He is
introduced into the very best of socie-
ty, and for a while he revels in lux
urious ease. In all probability he
is strapped and secures small loan,
which of course he promises to remit
as soon as he gets home, but he never
gets there and therefore he don't re-
NIT. He never fails to secure letters
of instroduction from the good people
he has so successfully deluded ,andwith
these letters he manages without any
trouble to enact the same little game
1t tie next town he strikes. After
awhile he makes q bad break, the
wicked newspapers show him up, and
the good minister, or elder, or deacon,
rs the case maybe, learns the he has been
most cruelty deceived and grievously
imposed upon. His little experience,
does not, in many instances,
seem to teach him caution and the
next slick talking, pious fraud, who
comes along takes him in.
Every now and then we'll dressed,
ylib-tongued, progressing looking stran-
ger arrives in town, and after calling
upon the clergy Of the various denom-
nations, announces that he is an
evangelist, gospel dispenser and soul
saver, or perhaps, a temperance lect-
arer of more than ordinary ability.
He is at one received with open arms 8
by the unsuspecting brethren, and
with the assistance and cooperation of
the ministers Of the place, he inaugu-
rates series of revival meetings or q
temperance lectures. His fame goes g
throughout the country round about, I
Ind the people flock to hear him. He I
mas methods which are successful in