The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-03-04
ARRESTED At THE ALTAR.
An Exciting Scene at a Revival Meet
ing in Reading, Pa.
Special to the World.

ItAes IAA 4
Special to the World.
READING, Pa, February 28.-For some
weeks past a religious revival has been in
progress at the United Brethren church,
on Ninth street Meetings have been
held nightly and the excitement has
sometimes been very great, The ser
vices have been of the usual revival
character-a short sermon or exhortation
followed by prayer and singing, during
which all those who desired to do so
were invited to come forward to the
anxious seat and be prayed for.
The meeting last night was one Of the
most exciting since the revival began.
The sermon had been an unusually
effective one, and at the close several
persons event forward" Among the
latter was a young woman who first wept
almost convulsiveIy for a few moments,
and then began to pray with much fer
vor for conversion. Her actions were at
times almost hysterical, and the audience
in consequence became very much excl
ted. This excitement was soon very
greatly increased by the appearance of a
sllghtly-built young man, accompanied
by an elderly woman, who made their
way with some difficulty up the crowded
aisles to the altar, where the sobbing
woman was still kneeling, surrounded by
a crowd Of other people, kneeling and
standing. all of whom We're either stand
ing or praying. and too deeply interested
to notice the intruders. The slightly
built young man was recognized by
many in the house as Mr.. Schleit, hus-
band of the kneeling woman, and his
companion as his mother-in-law, and
instantly there was increased confusion
Many sprang to their feet and others
climbed upon the seats in order to get the
best possible view Of what was to be
done. Fifty voices were heard uttering
all sorts of exclamatiOns, as many pres
ent knew the object of the visit.
The confusion that followed was very
great. The ''mourners" continued their
prayers and the young woman who was
wanted besought those around her not to
be taken away because she wanted to
continue in her efforts to be converted.
At this juncture another intruder
appeared. He was in the full uniform
of a policeman and easily made his way
to the front where he took Mr.. Schleit
and his mother-in-law into custody and
marched them out, after which the
meeting proceeded, and the excitement
which had been Of the most intense kind.
gradually cooled down. Mayor ROwe's
courtroom was crowded this morning
when the case was heard. The accused
Mr.. Schleit, is a respectable and peacea-
bic young man. He said he had not
gone into the church to create a disturb
ance, but simply to prevent his mother
in-law from making a fuss. The mayor
administered a severe reprimand and
fined the prisoner So. so, which he paid,
and was discharged. Joel Ganser, one
of the leading members, said /: "When
the mOurner's mother went up the aisle
and wanted to pull Mrs. Schleit from the
altar, [ was at the door, and after she
came in ! locked it. Then in response
to loud hammerings l opened it and Mr.
Schleit entered. He rushed up the aisle,
attracting the attention of every one. I
went after him, met him, and asked him
for an explanation of his conduct. He
refused to say anything, and then, as
the excitement increased, we called the
the officer and had him arrested