The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-03-05
A CLERGYMAN eseRseLLER.
Hoboken, New jersey, Presents This Gu
rious Anomaly.

rious Anomaly. |
Classic Hoboken has preaching sa-
loon keeper, or did have until the
church authorities dropped him because
of his lay occupation. In an address in
his own defense before the tribunal of
his church he said in extenuation of his
conduct;
'As the Chassis is already informed"
he said, my family consists of myself,
my wife and FIVE children. The First
German Evangelical Church gave me
salary of 5000 year, and then reduced
1t to 800. Now, you know, gentlemen,
that l could not live on such q small
salary. / looked around for another
church that would give me better sal
ary, but they were worse than my Jer-
sey church.
II did not go into the saloon business
until 1 had carefully talked over this
matter with my friends. Then I de-
cided to embark in the saloon business
In Hoboken. Thank God, have pros
pered. l believe man may lead an
honorable life even If he is saloon
keeper. have tried to SOW good seeds
since / have been saloon-keeper. l
never begin the day without family de-
votions, and we never go to bed without
having prayers. / did what believe to
have been my duty in the matter. /
have done it conscientiously. l don't
sell beer to make money, but to support
my family"
''What about selling beer on Sunday,
brothers" asked the Rev. Mr.. Brett.
81 would be the first to say saloons
should be closed on Sunday forenoon,
but being q German l cannot see why
1t Is not proper to drink beer on Sunday
afternoon. In Germany ministers with
their families go to the public places on
Sunday afternoon to drink beer"
''Yes, but you violate the law by sell
ing beer on Sunday" continued Mr..
Brett.
IT did not want to sell beer on Sun
day, but in the beginning Christian Os-
tendorf, the brewery collector, told me
would be lost if / did not keep open
Sunday. Over in Hoboken, you know,
all the places are open on Sunday, and
we don't have to pay any protection
either. My customers would boycott
me If did not keep open, and I would
not be prosperous. Customers gave me
to understand that if they could not get
beer on Sunday they would not come to
my place on week days. My beer col
lector told me to be sure and keep open
on Sunday afternoons"
did you know that you were violat-
ing the law by so doingY' asked Mr..
Clist.
II knew it was illegal, but over in
Hoboken the Sunday closing law is not
enforced. If l had been told by single
policeman to close up, would not have
sold a drop of beer, but not single
policeman has bothered me. admit it
may not be just nice thing for an Or
dained minister to conduct saloon,
but there is nothing contemplate or
scandalous about the business. While
God gives people beer to drink, surely
there must be some one to dispense the
drinks.
II am prepared to cheerfully take up
the ministry again if l could find a
church that would give me salary
large enough to support my family, but
you can't pay rent and educate five chill
dren on $500 year. One of my sons is
studying medicine, and that costs a
great deal"
The Chassis, after a secret session
which lasted an hour, decided to sus-
pend Mr.. Feicke and drop his name
from the roll. This leaves the door
open for him to return if he should give
up the saloon business.