The Globe-republican., 1898-01-20
THE FLORENCE EPISODE.

THE FLORENCE EPISODE.
The following article was sent to the
Kansas City Star, but that paper refused
to publish it. The article has never be-
fore been in print. 1t is signed by the
resident ministers Of Florence:
SENSATIONALIsM.
FLORENCE, KAs., Dec 10.
Two sensational articles appeared in the
Star Thursday and Friday, headed re-
spectively, "Besieged in His Church. .
and, MARTINS prayer ended" require
that for the good name of our town, and
the sake of truth and justice, the false
impressions caused thereby should be
corrected.
Evangelist. Guy Martin is we'll recon-
mended, being strongly endorsed by the
presiding elder of his own and of this
district; by many prominent Methodists
and ministers of other denominations,
and by the resident pastor in Florence,
and is too we'll and favorably known to
need yindication through the newspapers.
The imputations in the dispatches against
the character of our town and citizens
ought not, however, to pass without a
protest.
The undersigned pastors Of the Metho.
dist, Presbyterian and Baptist churches,
with their people, are engaged in union
revival meetings, in which no sensational
has been preached by Evangelist
Martin, or anyone else. In hisannounce-
ments last Tuesday night the evangelist
used some strong but guarded express
sions, which, passing from mouth to
mouth amouhg non church goers indam-
ed the passions Of some of our people,
and to which reference is made in the
first six charges against him in the Pc
tition printed in the Star. The other
charges are absolutely untrue in every
particular.
A number of inaccuracies slipped into
tine dispatches sent by the Florence cor
to some of which we call at
tention. For brevity we ask the reader
to compare the following which we per-
sonally and certainly know to be correct
with the articles in question.
sTATEAENT.
A number of citizens, under a missrep-
of facts, held an indignation
meeting w ednesday afternoon but neither
he evangelist nor the pastors were in
vited, requested or notified to be present,
nos were they represented at the meeting.
When waited upon in our presence by
he committee and deputation of citizens,
he evangelist made no threats of retail
ltion or Of resisting arrest, nor did he at
my time in public or private. On the
he proposed to them to submit
@ process of law and meet the accusa-
ions in a court of justice.
Evangelist Martin did not call upon the
;ity authorities for protection, nor did
he pastors after consultation with citi-
ems deem it necessary to do so. The
elegram to the sheriff at 8 Pm said moth.
ng about ''howling mob"
During the day it had been decided to
lold an all night meeting, not to protect
he evangelist, but for the purpose of the
eyival work. At 1890 M Thursday,
60 and 20 persons were still at
he meeting, which closed AN hour later
With numbers slightly decreased.
The evangelist did not pray for way
o escape, and no such thing was thought
4. in fact, until We saw it in the Star we
lid not know the church was besieged,
r that mob was waiting for them. The
loors were open to all and people passed
q and out without question or restraint
Turing the entire service which was Or
|erly and deeply impressive. When
be meeting closed at 80 M We were
be last to leave the house, with the evan |
'elist, who went directly to his room on
lain St., and remained there undisturbed
Turing the remainder of the night. l.
The allegations against Evangelist
dartin in the petition are as unreliable |
s the vagaries of your romancing cor
no one, SO far as we know.
Who participated in the Indignation meet |
ng having heard him utter the words
which, misunderstood and misconstrued.
o aroused the people. We also wish to
az that so far from his being compelled |
o leave Spearville, he was detained there |
q . revival meeting two weeks after he |
vas expected here.
No committee was sent to make an |
pology, and no apology was made for
be evangelist. He expressed his will
ngness to meet the aggrieved persons;