The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-14
PETER POPPINGA'S SOUL.
SPECIAL EFFORTS Pot FORTH TO
SAVE 1T BIZ MN. HELLER.

NE Thought He Had Made LodEnent n
the Rampnrta of Doubt and sSin. But
IL RepuIsed-Mrs PoppinEn's Attitude,
For twenty five years Mr.. Louis B. Heller Of
AZ Orchard street. Newark. has been waginE q
relentless battle against sin. He is not a
clergyman. but In early youth he determined
TO devote himself to religious work.
II proceed" he said a few days ago. from
the idea OF love for the whole human race. l
love the Germans very, very dearly: my people
sprang from them but nevertheless think
that America is the greatest country in the
world When l preach do not try to draw
people to one distinct way Of thinking. l tell
them simply OF the love OF Jesus and the church
OF Jesus Christ and try TO have them accent the
Lord in humility and faith. In Mexico L
preached the one God and the love OF all man
kind and the people we're surprised. cannot
help feeling that my soJourn there was pro-
ductivo OF much good In helping on an AMIGA
BILE feeling between the two nations"
Mr. Heller is OF medium eize, with q broad
forehead crowned with COAL black hair. lie
wears long silky beard. His voice is soft
For two months rast he has been engaged. in
addition to his usual round OF preaching and
exhorting in what he describes rs great
work. the most important and interesting OF
his lifo.
There is n snloon keeper" he explained.
at Seubright named Peter PoprinEa He Is q
German. a great traveller well informed, and
once sen captain. For over ten years the
temperance md religious people Of Seabright
have been lighting him, and he has been fight
ing back most stubbornly 1t must be nd
mitted. too. that in all the legal battles he has
been the victor but II has been at an expense
OF $4,000 to him. They could not put him
down. He persisted In his course. donied the
Lord Jesus Christ. and seemed indeed mighty
enemy Two months AGo l thought would
see what could do. l approached him with
out rcproaches but gently, showing him that
loved him and sought to do him good. He
seemed to feel that he had not sufficient, lib
elty in AmeicR 80 l worked upon him both
from the religious and the patriotic standpoint:
In snch matters one has to move carefully and
will say that the result has been that he has
written me to-day to say that may, preach
next sunday in his saloon. That will be n
great triumph 10 have Christian services In the
very PLACE that he has held as q stronghold
many signs of an awakened interest In re.
iGion, and believe that with patience and
love We shall at last conquer and snvc his
soul. have made no special arrAu gements
for Sunday. but shall so down and hold
service SO as to break the ground and in
hope 10 see MIR. Poppinga take UP the cross
and 60 to Berlin o ana ,ba us bs m sr9
Yesterday a reporter went down to Sea-
bright There are two buildings near the
steamboat wharves on the NRvesink River con-
nected by a handsome sign that announces
that Peter J. Popplnga keeus a hotel and sells
the hotel and the other tho saloon. The latter
is q fine affair OF the German pattern. with a
commodious bar; sanded moor numerous ia
is a hall. Mr. loppinGa was strolliug about his
garden watching the gambols of his seven cats.
Heller" he said. and i am entirely. willing
that he should preach In my place He can
hsys es had ns there
until they got money enough TO built church
OF their own. don't believe 1t would be so
iieve am good Chrirtian. Ny religion is
t. ooW but bseve thar
when die that will be the end Of me. have
studied astronomy, and navigation. and his
tory and science too much not TO see that the
Christians fail in one or Two essent iaI features
OF their line OF proof. and one allure knocks
and believe it. yes: prea:h it. no! Still I have
tried to help the churches. as ! do any people
s try a G90d IN enc woa bn
suited the first time. Then sent my children
to SUNDAY school and they we're insulted so
business. though | showed them how TO make
land by building W the rye bank and i'm,
and found that my methods paid. StiIl they
tried to drive me away, SO l bought more
land, and besides that II mas cost me SlU,OuD IN
legal fees to maintain my independence. and
this is the first year that, they have
allowed me- to have hotel license. Yet
i never sell beer on sunday. l obey the law
and try TO he q good neiGhhor | have finally
won. my children are grown up ready TO battle
for themselves and am ready now t" sell out
and retire. | don't like hotel life, for am a
senia ing man. No: / snail not preach Tor Mr.
Heller in Berlin. lie may preach here rs much
a. he likes. We had grea: clam chowder in
the saloon asst night. free 10 all SeahriEht, and
a big crowd camo to eat 1t. | posted a notice
about Mr.. Heller'S services, and all who come
this afternoon will he Just rs welcome US they
were to the chowder."
During the afternoon Mr.. Heller. who in the
had preached for the Congregations
nlists in Long Branch. arrived with TWO ASSOC
cate preachers. They were disappointed at
learning that they could not preach in the SD
loon proper. and before long they felt worse. |
because Mr.. Poppinga decided tnat 1t would be |
best to mold the service In the church parlor. |
Mr.. Heller suspected that family pressure had |
been brought to bear on The goOl-natured |
German. for Mrs. Poppnga WAS not backward |
gious services In tho presence OF bar.
!" The mans heart is all right" insisted Mr.. |
Heller. and on another sabbath We shall |
garry out our plan. We will advertise the meet |
ing and try TO induce the fishermen to come |
m
Seabright in spite Of the many religious en-.
erprises nourishing there, seomS to demand
Mr.. Hellers most arduou- efforts. for by 80
P NJ none OF those who had eaten Mr.. Poppin-
gas chowder ami read the notice OF the meet
nR turned up. and the only attendants at the |
conference service in the church parlor were
/ few religious workers in the village.