The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-16
lECTURE BY REV. Mr.. LEE
ROME SHARP THINGS ABOUT
THE SALOON POWER.
AND THE STATE FAIR MANAGEMENT
An Anti-Saloon League Organized--mr. Nichols
Heard His Picture Was to be Displayed
on the Rostrum With The
Big Three"
Big Three. F"

Big three.
an the language Of the diplomatists,
Me- controversy between Mr.. Lee and
avself is "a closed incident MIR. John
Nichols in an interview yesterday.
Rev. ]. w. Lee, the Irish evangelist,
sect,,red to crowded house at Metro
politan Hall Sunday afternoon. ON 1.-THE
Saloon Power"
At the close of his lecture he formed
an Anti-Saloon League of several hun
ared members.
True to his promise the evangelist read
The threatening letter written him by
Mr.. John Nichols, secretary Of the State
Fair, and made some spicy comments
xpon it. And Mr.. Nichols, true to the
promise in his letter, was present to-
Aear them.
looking over the crowded hall, be-
Gore beginning his lecture, the preacher
aaid:
..Now we are going TO have prayer.
No doubt there are many in this audi
once who have not attended divine
service in long time. We are glad to-
have YOU here this evening. | hope
we can do you good. Personally | have
nothing in my heart against any living
man-only the kindest feelings for all
humanity and a sincere desire to lead
men to God. My wish and prayer is that
men may be sayed-led to God and
made better men and better citizens"
After the prayer, and before announc-
ing his subject, Mr.. Lee said, referring
TO the large crowd present, that it was
not for him to question the motive that
brought the people out-euriosity or
desire to be benefited. Il welcome you
all the same. Indeed, if you disagree
with me / welcome you all the more
gladly. 1t is my life work to make con-
verts rather than entertain those who
agree with me-
Announcing his subject-"The Saloon
Power''-he waded into the Nichols let
ter incident at once. He said he was in
q good humor, even though Mr.. Nichols
Aad called him san Irish tramp"
s'As for that Irish tramp business he
added, 'there happens to be two Irish
ramps engaged in this controversy. This
tramp is going to do the talking and
let the other tramp do the fighting"
He said he feared that there had been
. good deal of gossip and exaggeration
about what Brother Lee had said about
Mr.. Nichols Until he found out, by a
personal interview, just what grievance
Mr.. Nichols had against him, the preach
er said he was going to be very conser-
vative. He had always been very care
full in talking about a mans private life;
had always tried to draw sharply the
line between a mans acts as private
citizen and as public official. He had
always exercised the right to criticise
those in a public position and he ex-
pected to continue it. He said he had
. warm and tender heart, but that there
were not enough men in Raleigh to in
timdate him.
He denounced as unmanly and under
BANDED the action of certain men in
meeting together and laying plans to in
jure and attack him: writing him a let
ter and giving it out to the press and
the public before it was sent to him.
s'Now | want you to understand. /
have attacked and | shall, with all my
power. continue 10 attack the action of
Mr.. Nichols. as secretary of the Fair,
In going before the Board of Aldermen
and asking them to allow the bar-rooms
TO be kept open all night. | shall attack
the Board of Aldermen for granting the
request.
81 don't intend to attack Mr.. Nichols
In the capacity of private citizen, but
I'll attack that State Fair wherever
go. It's Il fake concern, and If | can
prevent it, it'll never again get that
State appropriation of $1,000. If
can prevent it my State shall not con-
time to thus encourage and foster gam
bling and fraud"
Here the preacher read the following
letter TO him from Mr.. Nichols, pub
hshed in Sundays News and Observer:
personal.
Raleigh, N. c., Nov. 10, 1897.
s'Rev. Mr.. Lee:
Il bave never seen you nor heard you
preach, but / have heard of your re-
marks about me and your illusions to
me as secretary of the State Fair. No
one has more profound respect for
the Christian religion than myself, but
permit me to tell you that no IRISH
TRAMP will be allowed to traduce my
good name.
''If you dare allude to me in your re-
marks on Sunday afternoon I shall
hold you personally responsible for
what you may say. You shall not take
refuge behind the sanctuary of God
nor plead persecution. / shall hold
you responsible as a man. I shall at
TEND your meeting ON Sunday after
noon, and you are at liberty to read
fh1s letter to your audience, if you see
proper. Very respectfully,
John NICHOLS,
Secretary State Fair"
You shall not take refuge behind the
sanctuary of God" repeated the preach
er. why, bless your heart / was never
!. mean enough for that. I was on the
Train sometime ago. In seat next to
me sat drummer. used to be a drum
mer myself, and as a rule think they
are the best, most whoe-souled fellows
on earth. But there are exceptions to
all rules. and this happened to be an
exception. The fellow was talking