The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-08-28
HE PREACHED
But He Was Not a Preacher
And Was Arrested for Dis
turbing a Peaeeable AS
6embly.
Clarence Merceraux Makes q
Statement and Says He Was
in Earnest.

Clarence Merceraux is the name
of the gentleman who went to In
dian Bayou on the nth of July last
and acted in a manner not at all
pleasing to the Methodist congrega-
ton at the place. 1t appears that
Merceraux represented himself as a
minister to the Rev. Mr.. Began and
to the good people of that commu-
nifty. Mr.. Began, not having any
reason to question the truthfulness
of Merceraux' story and little sus-
pecting that he was an imposter,
extended to him the right hand of
fellowship and bade him a hearty
welcome. Mr.. Began is a very
kindly disposed gentleman and he
naturally treated his guest with the
genuine hospitality for which he is
deservedly known. But when the
time came to preach the alleged
minister was tried and found want
ing. His sermon was widely at va
rance with what the congregation
expected of him. At times it was
profoundly dramatic, and his deliv-
cry bore striking resemblance to
that of the "cow-boy preacher. :"
and the manner in which he
stamped the floor and pounced on
the table signally failed to impress
his audience with the fact that he
was seriously engaged in the noble
calling of showing to repentant sim
ners the right way to eternal hap
piness. So firmly convinced were
they that Merceraux was not re-
gularly ordained minister he was no
longer allowed to enjoy the Privi-
leges accorded to members of the
clergy.
The members of the Indian Ba-
you church at once took the neces-
sary measures to have Merceraux
arrested for the imposition that he
had practiced upon them.
Sheriff Broussard went to Acadia
parish Monday night and came back
|
Jail. A gentleman from Acadia
offered to act as his bondsman, but
as he had no property in this parish
his services were not accepted.
The Gazette man called upon
Merceraux and asked him if he had
any statement to make for publica-
ton. He replied that he was
somewhat of writer himself. and
if permitted, would write his own
story in rhyme and prose. He wa:
given a lead pencil and paper and
few hours later he sent The Ga
zette the following:
| LORD, SET ME- FREE.
| Is it a crime that have done,
That they have placed me here,
Hidden from the smiling sun;
! But yet know my God is near.
| Precious Lord, knowest thou
! That am suffering pain for thee
Smile upon me this lonely hour;
| Come, Obi Come and set me free.
| Take me where the summer breeze
! Once more can smile on me.
Tide me DER the raging seas,
| Oh, precious Lord, and set me free.
MERCEREAUx' STATEMENT.
| "Believing in the callings of thu
spirit, the teachings of the divine
code and that all men are born into
this world equal, and should rise te
a higher and nobler standard of use
fulness by their own exertious, and
believing my vocation sacred one.
I went forth into this unkind worlC
to expound the Gospel of the living
God to the best of my spiritua
knowledge, always following the
dictates of the holy spirit. I ar
rived at the town of Lafayette or
the nth of July and met NJ :
Foote. Although Mr.. Foote &C