New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-27
ENERGETIC PIETF.

break of muscular Christianity in several parts
of the country. That peculiar and powerful
element in the character of the processing
Christian, known as the Old Adam, appears to
be temporarily in the ascendancy. In Goshen,
as our news columns have shown. it has
melted meek and lowly Sunday-school teacher
to seize his beloved pastor by the throat in the
presence of the school and shake him so vio-
lently that the law was invoked to restore the
holy calm which was wont to brood over the
church. The throtting incident was only the
| final demonstration in series Of Old Adam
performances. The Sunday-school teacher has
suffered himself to be led up to it gradually.
He has been in the habit of annoying the
pastor by walking out of church regularly just
before the sermon began, and by instigating
his friends and even the servants in his family
to do the same. Then he has been instructing
a class of young ladies in the mysteries and
beauties of the Christian religion, and at the
same time iDstigating them to make fun OF
their pastor. We are not surprised to hear that
this energetic Sunday-schOOl teacher is a "gen-
tleman Of responsibility and high social stand
ing" in Goshen. His style shows him to be
gentleman. No one but perfect gentleman
would think of ending q dispute with his pas
tor by throttng him in the presence OF the
Sunday-school. We are surprised that after
the scrimmage was over. and the pastor had
been rescued by his friends, the teacher
did not request the children to join him in
singing some such familiar hymn as " Blest be
the tie that bindsr That would have deepencd
the moral influence which the scene must have
had upon the impressonable minds of the
pupils.
The second outbreak which we have to con-
slider occurred in colOred church in Phila-
dclphia on Thursday evening. The church
Lad recently been enjoying a revival, under
the quckening influence of which fifteen con-
verts had been made. A meeting was called
on Thursday evening for the purpose Of hear
ing the Testimony" of tho converts prem-
mary to their admission to the church. The
Old Adam influence came to the front early
in the proceedings The first convert called
upon was young woman who was diffident
about giving her Experience" Brother Wal
lace tried TO help her along, and in the gen.
erous kindness of his heart not only asked her
questions, but also answered them for her.
This met the dlsapprobation of Brother Fisher,
who arose and objected. "Yar, yarW rOared
n big voice from the centre of the church. 1t
was that of Sister Moonly, whose 200 pounds
of person lowered into the air AZ she con-
tinued "Bruder Wallace doan you listen to
de voice Oh de debbiw To enforce her views
upon Brother Fisher, she started over the
backs of the pews in his direction. "Yar
sister, roared dandy disciple, Eyer foot am
in my hatp But Sister MoOnly was not to be
stopped by hats or any other impeachment. She
came into the immediate presence of Brother
Fisher, and exclaimed You debbil, why
cam you standin' in do way OBJ de work oh de
"church 7" Brother Fisher, rot at all dismayed,
retortod: "Sister Moong, f you are comm
"here to turn water into wskey by breathing
con it you'd better go home and try it there"
There was breatbisss pause, then Brother
Fisher turned on hls h % and retreated.
Sister MoOnly started over the pews in hot
pursuit. A stout brotief stepped in front Of
her and said "Sister forbear Shut up do
"violins of yer wrath and forgit as yer
"wud be forsalsen!" Sister Moonly surveyed
the peacemalker for a moment, poised herself
on pew seat, aud then the same foot which
q moment before had demolished hat and
made nothing of it flew into the air and found
a resting place upon the spot covered by the
He was picked up from the neighboring aisle
In a breathless condition. "Bounce the sister
till she coo!s down." shouted one of the
deacons, and the order was obeyed. She was
borne struggling to the sidewalk, and an at
tempt was made to proceed with the meeting.
We know nothing of tho social standing of
either Sister Moonly or Brother Fisher but
judging them by the Goshen standard she
must be lady and he gentleman.
We approach now with due soemnity the |
final outbreak which we have space to consider. |
Ii is by all odds the most momentous of all. |
The Rev. Joseph Cook, of Boston, was dining |
IN a Chicago hotel on Wednesday evening, |
when commercial traveller named Gill, who |
was dining at the same table, ordered piece |
of raw meat. The Rev. Mr.. Cook was aston |
ished and delivered with customary emphasis |
his opinion of man who would eat raw
meat. Gill replied that the Rev. Mr.. Cook
would do better to mind his own business, and
intimated that he must be an Eastern dude,
his remarks with vigorous
profane calculations. The Rev. Mr.. Cook
reprimanded him for swearing, whereupon
Gill called him liar, shook his fist
in his face and told him he would see him
later. The Rev. Mr.. Cook understood the
threat to mean that Gill would attempt to
shoot him, and therefore sought police
protection in going to and returning from the
hall where he lectured in the evening. The
Rev. Mr.. Cook is reported as saying of the
incident; "In fair fight l can knock that
' man to pieces, but l am not prepared to be
" perforated with bullets. I could thrash five
" such men as he." It will be seen that the
Rev. Mr.. Cooks piety is Of the most muscular
order. Knowing his unfavorable opinion of
American journalism wc venture with some
reluctance to offer him piece OF advice.
Don't thrash Gin, but get him in secluded