Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-12-10
A Muscular Preacher.
From the Altoona Tribune.

L rom LllG ALTOONA 1rlDune.
The late Rev. Cambridge Graham
WIS noted not only for the excellency
Of his Christian character, kindness
OF heart and forbearance ofspirit, but
for his great physical strength. This
latter charac seristi c was never brought
out in his ministry except when no
other remedy was left him in dealing
with disturbars of religious meetings
which ne was conducting. It is moth
ing to the dlsparagement OF his men,
DRY, either as true Christian gentle
man or a minister, that the anecdotes
told of his physical powers should now
appear in print.
In his early ministry he was sent
to Hancock circuit, in the Balti-
more conference. There was at one
OF his appointments a family father
and sons) who were noted as DULLES,
as disturbers OF Methodist meetings.
While Mr.. Graham was holding meet
ing on one occasion there, two of the
mans sons began their usua! series Of
interruption. No rebuke had any ef-
feet upon them and finally the preach
er elected them from the house. They
went home and told their father of
the treatment they had received at
the hands OF the new Methodist preach
er. The old man was terribly indig-
nant at Mr.. Graham and vowed to
chastise him the next morning. Bright
and early, gun in hand he appeared
at the farm house where the preacher
was stopping. Mr.. Graham was out
on the proch performing his morning
addition (the man OF the house being
over in all adjoining field, when he
was saluted by the irate father:
You are the new Methodist preach
err"
eyes, SIR replied Mr.. Graham.
He then narrated what he had done
to his sons the previous evening,
winding up with the declaration that
she had come over to whip him."
"Whip me-" said the preacher, in a
tone OF surprise.
"Well,' said the preacher, 'wait
until ] get through washing"
In the meantime the old man had
set down his gun, and prepared for
the struggle. Mr.. Graham approach
ed him in the kindliest manner, re-
peating, "Oh. you don't want to whip
me- and with a manner that prac-
ticaIly disarnled his antagonist. Draw
ing close up to him he placed his hand
on each of the old gents arms. 1t
was like the grip of q wise.
$50 you want to whip me-" as his
grip frightened, and he began to sway
the old man back and forth He was
Ike an infant in the preachers grasp
and writhed in mortal agony as the
grip frightened on his flesh and the
shaking became more vigorous to the
| chorus: $50 you want to whip me!
| Why, III shake you to shavings''
The fight was all taken out of the
man and he begged to be released,
promising for himself and sons that
! there should be no further molesta-
ton of Methodist meetings in that
neighborhood. The preacher accept
ed his promise and released him and
gave him some kind and good advice.
The old man, thoroughly crest-fallen
passed the man OF the house, whowas
out in the field trembling for the safety
OF the preacher, and saluted him with
the remark: II believe that preacher
would fight" There was peace at
that preaching p lace thereafter.
During his ministration on Perry
county circuit he was annoyed by q
s'bully" at q camp-meeting which he
was holding. The fellow, confident of
his physical proves, thought he could
run the meeting pretty much as he
wished, all unconscious that in the
preacher he had a foeman worthy of his
steel. He persisted in crowding him.
self Extensively into the altar among
the mou1ners and worshipers:: Mr..
Graham kindly demonstrated with
him until forbearance ceased to be a
virtue. Then in the. .twinkling Of an
eye he seized the rowdy by the cuff OF
the neck and the nethermost garment.
and the next instant he was lifted in
the air and sent flying out over the
railing, sadder if not wiser man-at
least he was when the court rot
through with him. There was no dis.
turbing of any religious meeting after
that held by Mr.. Graham. One ex-
hibition OF his physical strength was
q salutary lesson to all who made it
a. practice to hinder and annoy other
people in their religious devotions. 81 B:
l