The sun., 1895-01-22
He INSULTED HIS HEARERS.
Evangelist Nickerson Raises = Rumpus II
the PatchoGue Baptist Church.

PATCHoGUE, l.. l., Jan. 21.-The revival mee,.
ing at the Baptist Church last night nearly
ended in free fight The church has been with.
out a pastor. the Rev. l.. Evans having resigned
as pastor some time ago. Mr.. Evans smokes,
and this fact is said to have had something
to do with the original trouble in the church.
Many of Mr.. Evans's friends and supporters
left the church when he resigned. Among them
was Isaac Stagg and Deacon Clinton Half. Wien
the opposition hired Evangelist Nickerson TO
come to Patchogue to holdGrevival meetings.
Mr.. Evans and his friends held prayer meetings
at each others houses.
Mr.. Nckerson's addresses since his arrival
here have contained many sarcastic allusons
TO persons who smoke. Last night it was
pected that there would be trouble and the
church was packed to the doors. Soon after
opening the meeting Mr.. Nickerson said: by
the way, brothers. there is to he a smokers
meeting at the residence Of the Rev. Mr.. Evans
on next Tuesday night. Don't forget my
smoking friends, to be there. There will be
Christians meeting here on the same evening.
All Christians are invite to come to the meet
ing here. We are to have opposition meetings.
Go there or come here; Just as you like"
Then he proceeded tolhit at some OF the Church
Evans. y Wife e Of the form former pastor. jumped up.
She branded what the evangelist was saying as
oS ton sG and begged her friends to bear with her
The evangelist continued in n fighting strain,
and succeeded in bringing Mrs. Isaac Stagg TO
her feet. She is big woman. and when She
arose the congregation expected to sec her walk
TO the pulpit and tackle the evangelist. She
edged toward the aisle, but stopped. She went
for the evangelist. and told him he did not know
what he was talking about. She defended the
section OF the congregation who had left the
church with the late pastor. When she had
finished her face was red and she was almost
breathess.
Her speech did not take any of the fight out OF
Mr.. Nickerson. He tackled the liquor question.
and hinted that q certain deacon OF the church
had taken too much on Christmas Day. This
brought Deacon Clinton Half TO his feet; The
Deacon defended himself and denied the in
snuation. Evangelist NickersOn then walked
to the pulpit railing and squared off.
III you have come here for fight, we can ac-
commodatc YOU" he shouted.
In an instant the church was in an uproar.
Several men arose and spoke wildly but forcby.
The evangelist sang sweet Marie" using ths
tune to words of his own, accompanied by
banjo.
At this point the smell of smoke became no.
ticeabe. and there was excitement Over in the
corner JanitOr Albin's coat was attire. With an
alacrity hitherto undreamed of in Brother Albln
he jumped to his feet and fought the fire. When
ii was put out he admitted that he thought hs
had emptied his pipe just before entering
church. The incident caused a general smile 10
play upon the cOuntenances OF foes and friends.
Continuing the evangelist said:
who go in tiashy clothes; They smoke cigar
cites and have a little black moustache and curly
hair. In the summer they go looking for fi!eS
on the country girls oh, they are the gay de-
Ceivcrs o fwOmen. Were any of you ever de-
ceived. girls"
At this remark several young women got up
and went out As parting salute the eNang,l-
ist shouted, IF you throw stone among lot
OF dogs and some OF them yelp, they are the ones
who are hit, The rest Of the congregation lad
better sit still"
They sat still.