The sun., 1888-06-17
TIE REV: MR.. CANDLES CONSCIENCE
It IL Such Active Organ that PEI Call
him Eccentric.

~ - cuon an Acuvc Orgnu thnt FeSpl0 CalI
him Eccentric.
MONTICELLO, N. Y, June 1G.--The Rev. j.
Leo Gamble. an eccentric preacher who has
ministered for number OF years in the region
hereabouts. is stirring I'D quite a commotion
among tho orthodox churches In the Delaware
River valley. He was formerly attached to
the Methodist communion. but he cut loose
from UNCONVENTIONAL restraints and engaged
on his own hook in the task Of evangelizng tho
world after his own peculiar methods. In his
present work in the Delaware valley he IN
dulges in unsparing denuncations Of tho sins
and shortcomings OF processing Christians and
the spiritual deafness Of the orthodox churches.
He teaches that baptism by immersion is es-
sential to salvation. and where one OF his fol-
lowers has only been Intellectually sprnkIod
he insists upon a formal rebaptism by his own
hands in the deep waters OF the Delaware In
spite oi his eccentricties OF belieT and the op-
position OF the orthodox chu, chcs, he is popu-
lar preacher and Is gaining many converts.
saps, 9d Ss is Pehrhaps the Oy pen
ment for disabilities incurred in the war Of the
rebellion rebel! who for conscience sake. peremp-
While he was in charge OF church at Par ks
ylie' tbne this county several years ago. he being
count OF disabilities incurred by long coniine-
ment as a. Union captive In Anderson
vile prison, his conscience became awakened
was. the. product OF Government tax
OF, the sinful traffic in whiskey and tobacco.
Whereupon he notified the Pension Depart
ment that he would not accept another penny
so long as 1t came from such a sin polluted
source. and this principle he has stuck to,
he Is radical and erratic on other points. He
preaches against raising money for religious
purposes by church fairs and entertainments,
against secret societies. and against tho use Of
spirits or tobacco. In fact. he Is so radical on
the latter question that he will not accept a
penny toward making up his meagre salary
from any one who deals in tobacco or liquors
His views on contracting marriage relations
are oven more peculiar He holds that pro-
fessor OF religion cannot wed n non professor
without danger OF falling into worldly md sin
fu ways. and he therefore refuses 10 Join any
member of his flock In wcdocll with Il person
who Is not also achurch riember.
He proclaims himself profound believer of
the doctrine OF the cure OF disease by faith
personal experience In this direction Ten and
half months confinement" he says. in An
dersonville and other rebel military prisons
brought on mo physical disabilities from which
constantly suffered for more than twenty
years subsequently, and had no hope of de-
liverancG from my suilerings this side OF the
grave. But | finally put my case entirely in
entlrey healed"
Ho insists that his converts shall live. as far
rs practicable, apart from the world. and that
the mon shall more especi tally .abJurc secret
societies and liquors and tobacco, and that tho
women, shall qbjure all jewelry and .yanitles Of
apparel. He Is finding many compliant disci-
pos. and Is, In fact. making good progress to-
ward establishing now religious sect. which
may be properly styled" Gambleites."