The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-27
|g)ILT IN THE PULPIT
!. Evangelist Maligns the Girls
of Fresno, Cal.
~~cruzEns GROW iNploNAMr,
-. Compel the Clergyman 70 Apollo
-. to Admit That He spoke
FALSELY and to Leave Town.

sns. Cal. March 3.-The people Of
- we're aroused TO a state Of warm
.x~.at,on this morning by the pubIica-
= = the Morning Republican OF an ar
n. s.uguncing Rev. T. T. johnson n
sss.x evangelist, who has been hold
= nestlngs in the Methodist Episcopal
-sres for rome weeks. for having re-
80 from the pulpit a statement which
I. ..A;aed had been made 10 him. that
-,.,h.r,ls o. the girls OF this city were
srsrs before they reached the age OF IL
- The paper also contained al, inter-
y, with the preacher, In which he ad-
~.y,ss having repeated the statement, but
sriyxed 10 give the source of his informa-
~
4 son a. the people Of the town had
- tie article in the paper they began
xzfher 10 groups and discuss the q,ies-
- AZ taking some steps 10 bring the SEN
n,ssnsI preacher TO realization Of the
sscrnify Of his ofIense in having repeated
Oth preposterous statements and in
anoas SANDER from the pulpit. IL was
% decsded TO hold meeting OF business
s-r to consider the matter. and also 10
"a mass meeting in the evening TO ex-
~ the Indignation of the community.
| xssssng Of the directors Of the church
| ~ sis5 called. The latter had been In
~ made for their attendance at the
| ,saseretce OF business men, which was
snplled with. and consequently no de-
sssn vas reached by the church officials
Tss business men also called before
asn the reporters who had interviewed
a. preacher, and after hearing their
kzismenis the evangelist was sent Tor
~ APPEARED before the conference. He
q hfS made general denial OF the cor
witness Of the Interview. and expressed
10 determination TO make IL warm for
" paper Which had attacked him. When
9ansd down 10 the details he finally adj
xfist that re had repeated the Islander
sriba;ed 10 him. and upon demand Of
~ committee conducting the investiga-
100 signed the following categorical ad-
rission and apology;
DO you believe that the statement made
" you regarding the chastity Of the girls
Il this city, which YOU claim was told
Yss By friend. was untrue, and tina. you
zaae mistake when You repeated that
s1temsnt7''
I DO. and that / viii apologize to the
snmunity for having made the same /.
: Johnson
Il was soon noised about the street that
~ preacher was before the meeting. AMI
quite a crowd gathered about the build.
~ for the purpose OF getting a sight OF
tse Individual who had stirred up so
such feeling After the confession was
agned he went to the door 10 take his de
tsrfare but. seeing so large crowd
waiting his appearance. become alarm
4, and quickly drew back into the com
zifse room. This started the report that
he crowd was bent upon lynehing. but as
matter Of fact nine-tenths of those who
sanposed II were pesceably disposed. and
reacher any harm. At this juncture kr-
bur r Briggs came out OF the bank
tuiiding at side door and made few
fsmarks TO the crowd. stating that the
srtseher had apologized and would prohA-
ay leave town at once While the crowd
vas listening to Mr. Briggs the evangelist
hurried out at the front door and took his
iepatture.
The conference then appointed a com
-ifiee 10 wait upon Mr.. Johnson and In
'orm him that hts own interests would be
observed by leaving town Immediately;
hat in case he did ~ immunity from dan
sr would he assured. hut otherwise he
F0uld have 10 take hts chances, The com
ait,ee than visited the evangelist at his
ssidcnce and expressed the sentiments OF
h. citizens meeting 90 him. lie strenuous
= objected 10 leaving town. hut when
be- pastor of the church Joined the COM
liitec In advising him to 20. he became
,ore pacific but made no definite state
rent rs to what his course would be. The
lass meeting ir the evening was held AZ
he city hall which was packed with peo-
le many being unable to gain admittan-N.
'ha spirit OF the meeting, however. was
ntirely peacssble the sentiment being
hat OF great resre, that such an occur
enoe should have taken place
Pulpit sensatlonaiism was roundly de-
iennced. and this Islander WAS cited as IN
pample OF the depiorahle results hat
blow the reckless rpcuthinss OF timer
70, irresponsibies Tho meeting was pre-
aied over by Arthur Y. Briggs. and per
let iecorum was maintain 81. Addr asses
we're made by prominent citizers. and tho
blowing resolutions we're adopted;
"Whercas. Certain siandorous AMI I'M
sarrauted statements rejecting upon cur
community and our public school and
,aaracterg have been given circulation
isrough the local press that are admitted
- have been made nv Rev. |. r. Johnson.
n evangelist conducting meetings In ore
y oar churches:
Resolved That Ne. the citizens Of FIRES
-. IN mass meeting assembled do most
n.iirnantly resent tho wholesale Islander
AN has heen thus east upon our com
aani,y orr churches and orr public
shoots ard 10 denornce IN unmessnred
isyns Rev l. T. Johnson for giving pub
scsiy 20 such siandcrous reports as have
Asn admitted by him. and pronounce hem
"a absolutely false and without any foam
Aton whatever. and do advise that said
hhason Immediately depart from our city.
AL further suggest that he never return,
Ala late hour tonight q MAS ascertasned
IA Johnson had left the city, hut hts
ksunstion - not known.