The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-20
OUR LOCAL DR.. PARKHuRsT.
Great Interest Excited in the Crusade of
Rev. S. G. Ross.

| "Our local DR.. Parkhurst," is what
| South Portland man called Rev. I. G. Ross,
| yesterday, and it may we'll be doubted IL
| there was more talked about man in this
| section of the state. The-people of South
| Portland were wondering, as one Hald'
What will the parson do next?" and there
was decided curiosity manifest concern
| ing his next sermon. 1t was generally I'M
derstood that he would not approve OIL
dancing, but as was remarked in store on
Commercial street. "What social excesses
| will he find to take exception to IN the
| quiet community of South Portland!
The people of the village, ana in fact the
| citizens generally seemed inclined yester-
day to take sides with Mr.. Ross at least to
| this degree, that the so-oalled sparrlng ex-
hibition ought not to have been given.
| There was one exception, that of man
who said that it was a good thing to have
| Terry-the- Mick" licked, no matter under
what circumstances, and that the scrap"
| of the other evening. very likely saved the
| town the disgrace of another scene like
| that of last summer, when Terry the
| Mick" won sort of series of fights in the
| same day.
It was admitted that Mr.. Ross had at least
k1lleQ SUCH 6AulblhioIo III Sop0 11lAbah0OiA.
and that will perhaps satisfy the reverend
gentleman, who protested against it from
the first when it was proposed to grant the
asked for license. The bold position
assumed by Mr. Ross if well sustained, will
be likely to end all taking of chances no
matter what the occasion may be. ON this
point Mr.. Ross holds very strongly that the
idea of getting something for next to moth
ing, is in reality all there is to gambling.
and that it should be frowned down, not
encouraged by the church.
Mr.. Ross said yesterday that he had no
idea when he preached his sermon of Sun
day evening. that it would be widely
noticed. His idea was that it was his duty
as pastor to.warn the young men of his
congreg alton of what seemed to him to be
real danger. He said he was not called
to preach of the horrors to be found in
savage communities, or to abuse the Jews,
but simply to present what seemed to him
to be living truths regarding practical and
living issues that and nothing more.
He disclamed any IDEA of holding up
South Portland an example OF how bad a
place can be. His idea was exactly the re-
verse. South Portland is delightful place
in which to live, and the people are good
and kind, but he felt that it was his duty to
warn them that it might not always be as 1t
is at present. unless care was taken to keep
temptation from young men.
The Indications are very strong that the
| church will stand back of the pastor. and
| that if he keeps within Lounds, and he
probably will, that he will receive a very
cordial support in his efforts to keep GEL
| tain things out of the place. There is
| probably not aresident of South Portland
who is anxious to havathe class SO vigor.
| ously described by Mr.. Ross in his sermon
| sunday evening. get in the habit of going
| there to hold exhibitions of the sort that
| ended in the defeat of ''Terry-t Mick,
| but the question is where the earnest
| preacher will stop in what he regards as
| work of reform. AS was remarked by &
| bright girl to companion as they waited
for the boat yesterday, ''Of course we dom
want to go to slugging matches. and O.
4 course we don't want liquor sold in oul
place, but dance once in a while is nice
| and how can we have progressive euchel
| parties without prizes?''