The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-10
Evangelist Martin CreatesTrOu-
BILE at Florence.
ISLANDERS Citizens in a Reckless
Manner
BESIEGED IN CHURCH.
Angry Men Threaten to Tar
and Feather Him.
Prays Against Time All Night
Long.

Florence. Dec. 1O-Tuesday night,
Guy Martin, a travelling evangelist
who had been holding a revival in the
Methodist church, preached an eX-
tremely sensational sermon. He at
tackled the character of two officials,
questioned the honor of many of the
citizens and made remarks about the
public schools that reflected upon the
virtue of the children.
The bitterness and injustice of the
wholesale accusation aroused the peo-
pie to a high pitch Wednesday after
noon an Indignation meeting was held
to discuss the matter. The meeting
was largely attended, and the discus
sion was marked with excitement The
conclusion OF the meeting was the
adoption of the following:
ITO the pastor and the honorable
members of the board of trustees of the
Methodist Episcopal church of Flor
ence. Kas.. or to any other like body OF
trustees or directors of said communi-
ty: We, the undersigned representa-
tive citizens Of Florence and vicinity,
in meeting assembled, beg of you to
heed the following petition:
Whereas, Since one Martin, self
styled evangelist and an evident SEN
satiOnalist, has come into our commu-
nifty for the 1audable purpose of con-
Quoting revival of religion, and mas
much as he, under pretenSe OF wearing
cloak of the gospel and being a her
aid of the sacred message of Christian
atty, has seen fit upon more than one Oc-
CasiOn-his mission proving less fruit
ful than he would like to have seen it
"F'irst-To malign the good name of
OUT most worthy mayor as being
bribe-talSer.
..sec0ud-To slander the members of
cur city council as being accOmplices to
the charge Of bribery.
"Third-TO abuse the good name OF
our business men, whose reputation for
honesty and good living has ever been
beyond reproach
"Fourth-To vilify our young ladies,
whose purity of life has been of excep-
tional repute-
*'Fifth-To cast approbrium upon our
public schools as being a place unfit
and unsafe for a girl from u to Is years
of age to attend
"Sixth-To UNANIMOUSLY denounce, not
only the principal Of said institution Of
learning as being Goddess wretch,
but also denouncing his fellow in
structors against whom no man has
any right to say a word derogatOry of
character and life.
Seventh-TO Eken the people of our
quiet town to a herd of hogs .wallowing
IN mire and spiny with bristles,' and
Eighth-TO vituperOusly heap insO-
1ence upon all who entertain any other
mind as to religion than that in which
he makes preCense of belief.
do beg of you in the name of reas-
on, and in the support of our own in
sututions of Christianity and religion,
to dismiss said malicious and vituper-
atlVe Martin from your pulpit or pull
pits To dismiss him from you as one
OF your number, or else hereafter we
severally and cOnjOintly agree to re-
1raln from supporting either from the
purse or by our presence, the institu-
ton that cOuntenanceS bv word or
deed, such villainy and insane actions
rejecting upon the good name of a
community of which YOU are a mart.
anG We all believing in decent living
ana a reaSOnabIeneSS of Christianity as
Christ taught it when He was
here among men, do subscribe our
names on this Sth day of December
The meeting also appointed a com
mittee to notify Martin that he must
not tarry longer, giving him until last
evening to leave town.
The committee delivered the message
at 3 o clock Martin refused to leave
and def1antly declared that at Z O'Clock
ne would hll his appointment in the
cnufcn- Martin called on the city au-
thorities for protection, but they told
him nothing could be done for him.
Tar and feathers were talked of free
" and other threats made, but Martin
was game and stood his ground
While most of the people of the town
are against Martin, he still has a small
following of religious enthusiasts who
encouraged him. and toward night he
return.
Martin appeared in the pulpit at Z
CLOCK as he had promised and deliv-
ered a discourse. He said he had moth
ing to retract and that he would give
larger doses later. But his spirit was
not so buOyant as earlier in the even
ing He declared that he would resist
an attempt TO arrest him or to take him
out OF the church
me church was packed, and without
men stood waiting for the meeting to
close. But it was not Martins purpose
10 close the meeting. At 10 O'Clock he
dismissed the congregation in the usual
way, and added that all who desired to
depart might do so, but said that the
sermon would be followed Immediately
with prayer meeting of several hours
duration, perhaps all night, and invited
MS friends to stay. This caused enc
mics to Jeer, but he held the floor
b1nally the congregation began to
dlsperse, and at II o'clock Martin was
IN possession of the church, surrounded
by about twenty sympathizers. Mar
Tin led the meeting with a sensational
prayer, calling upon the Lord to reveal
a way to escape the angry men who, he
SAID, were standing without waiting to
HeNour him. Between prayers Martin
would line a hymn and lead it. his SYM
pathizers joining in the words
AT midnight Martin and few friends
We're still shouting and singing in the
church, and the people had about aban-
doned their proposition to dislodge