The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-06-20
"BACK TO THE FOLD"
a Thrilling Scene in One of Francis MUIR
phys Meetings.

cSCho III Che VI
phys Meetings.
''Don't sign it, Fisher, l tell you dom
put your hand to that PEN"
''Be man, Fisher, and follow the
promptings of your own conscience. In
the name of your good Creator, L say,
sign that pledge"
The above exchange of opinions took
place last evening at the Murphy Tenn
perance meeting in the Methodist Epis-
copal Church on Liberty street, amid
the most intense excitement. Mr.. Muir
ply had been making a most earnest
appeal to young men to join the Tenn
perance cause. Three young men sat
in the rear end of the church a little
under the influence OF liquor Mr.
Murphy personally appealed to them to
walk up to the table and sign. Il
haven't courage, I'm too full, y shouted
one. This encouraged the energetic
Temperance worker and he went to the
trio. After much persuasion one of
them walked to the table with him.
The young mans name was j. c..
Fisher. He was a bright, well-edu-
Gated and Well-dressed young man.
His appearance at once gave the
audience the idea that there was some
thing out of the common connected
with him. He stood at the table, but
refused to take hold of the pen. He
stood as if riveted to the spot in the
deepest state of abstraction.
in response to the pleadings of Mr.
Murphy and other friends he rushed
out his hand to take up the pen, when
up reached his companion, barber
named Mike Brannon. and accosted him
with the in junction with which this re-
port opens. Fisher at once threw down
the pen, but still seemed chained to the
table. The choir sang, women prayed
and men eXhorted and the young man
stood as motionless as a statue. His
face gave evidence of internal mental
conflict of the severest kind His past
- life and the probable result of the action
he was so strongly urged to take
seemed to be passing through his mind
in panoramic order. Again he essayed
to take up the pen, but failed. Four
more times he repeated Intellectual at
tempts. Shouts of encouragement
echoed from all parts of the building.
Fishers friend Brannon still prevailed
on him to wait until tomorrow
night"
He was willing to do this. but Mr..
Murphy kept him at the table. He
again lapsed into melancholy thought,
and again took the pen in hand, only
to throw it down. "No, not tonight,
tomorrow night" he said, with tear
full eyes.
my young friend Fisher, You'll
break my heart if you don't sign to-
night" said Mr.. Murphy. The ex-
element among the audience was now
at its widest pitch. Some great con-
fict was going on in the young mans
mind. Every one present except Bran
non was shouting: "Sign, signn'
Finally he dashed tear from his eve,
took the pen, wrote his name on a
pledge and took a blue ribbon. The
shouts of praise were deafenng Mr.
Murphy at once knelt down with the
young man and prayed fervently. At
Mr.. Murphy's request Mr.. Fisher made
a few remarks. He labored under
much excitement as he said:
Friends, you don't know my case,
and | can't tonight fully explain it to
you. My heart is too full and the time
too unreasonable for me to talk much.
There are many here who know me,
but hope none will think unkindlv of
me. Until two years ago l was good
and earnest Christian minister. | had
good Christian home in the East and
received an excellent education. In
1879 l graduated in the Morgan Park
school of divinity, and was called to
San Francisco in 1880. | did not 90
there, but | accepted call to Bunker
Hill Church, Boston. | resigned that
pastorate two years since and came to
Pittsburgh. | have gone from bad to
worse. | have lost everything and am
only very young man. / have signed
the pledge and mean to keep it for life.
] hope you will all pray for Mike Bran
non."
The meeting was resolved into a
'love-feast," and various members re-
lated briefly their experience. Among
others was William White. He stated
how he had almost cut a policeman to
pieces, and escaped from the open.
Also, how he had nearly killed a
Squire" near Washington, ID. c., for
which he received cruel Imprisonment.
Mr. Murphy made some short and
effective addresses, and Mrs. Duffy sang
some pathetic solos. Mike Brannon
and Fisher met after the meeting but
the latter refused to 90 with his com
panion and accepted the invitation of
some Temperance friends. During the
evening Mr.. Murphy stated that some
friends had secured two little rooms for
White, who, with his wife and family,
again had a home, Pittsburgh Conn
nlerciaL Gazette.