The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-02
Major Taylor
Joins Church.
BAPTIZED SUNDAY,
The Colored Crack Applied
For Admission Last Year.

Maj. Taylor is as good a Christian as
he is a, cycle rider and record breaker.
All those who follow the cycling game
know full well Taylor's abilities upon
the cycle track.
The good deacons of the John Street
Baptist Church have full confidence
that Taylor is a Christian young man.
He was baptized and admitted into
the church at the usual service last
evening, and the name Marshall Taylor
is upon the membership list
Taylor, who has lived in Worcester
for several years, making it his home
here when he is not out upon the cir
cult, desired to join the church a year
ago.
AT that time he appeared before the
deacens of the church and asked that
his name be considered for member
ship
! The deacons of the church at that
time were placed in a rather embar-
RAISING position. If the young man
was Christian, and of his own volition
desired to join the church, they could
not conscientiously refuse his request.
On the other hand, Taylor was a cy-
| Gle rider He rode for money and was
engaged in pursuit or d pastime upon
| which the deacons of the church did
not believe they should place their
stamp of approval
The situation was fully explained to
| Mai. Taylor when he appeared before
! the deacons. He understood the deli
cacy of their position. He was not at
all Offended and by mutual agreement
| II was decided that the matter be
! dropped for a year.
The deacons suggested that during
that time Taylor consider the matteH
ana II at the end Of the year he stih
ueslfed 10 become a member they
promised to grant him admission, In
the meantime the deacons would watch
ms career and see if, in their opinion.
ne was leading a Christian life.
me year has come and gone, and
MAJ. Taylor, or Marshall Taylor, is a
| member OF the church. He did not
Iorget the promise that had been made
| 70 him. and as soon as he returned To
/ TINS city from his seasons riding. he
asked If his conduct had been such as
| TO assure the church he was sincere
In his desire to lead Christian life.
he was assured that the church no
! longer had any doubts of mis- Character
/ OF OF MS sincerity of purpose. He was
LoIq mat his behavior during the year
had been thoroughly satisfactory ana
uhat the deacons were unanimous in
| voting 10 recommend his name for
membership.
Taylor is Christian young man be-
cause ne believes in it, He has never
experienced religion, he says. but has
Always tried to do what was right. He
realizes that his riding at times brings
nIln IN contact with associates whose
character is not always of the best. At
ele same time he has avoided every
temptation and believes that his racing
career has not injured him morally
mentally or physically. He pays a com
pllInent to the racing men of this conn
Try when he says that they are a clean
lou Oh Fellows as rule, but that there
are exceptions as in every branch of
human activity. u
The colored boy has always been on
posed to Sunday riding. He has never
lnoulged IN any racing on Sunday him
| sem and Joined the outlaw association
the American Cyclists Union. with tbe
distinct understanding that There
! should be no championship races r n
sundays: That promise was violated
| ana Taylor Immediately returned to the
L. A W., which does not sanction SIN
I --o' ~ 10 idi SCIy On account of
Iaylors attitude toward racing on SIM
Gays that he is known among the racine
men as the deacon"
Rev. Hiram Conway. pastor of the
| church to which Major Taylor was
ADMITTED, when seen by a Spy man
said he did not know as it would he in
very good taste for him to discuss The
matter. "All l can saw is that ss
Wen as my church, have not bit of
ooupt OF Mr. Taylor's sincerity or hon
| eSty We believe him to be a tboroueh
christian, and only wish there we've
more like him."
| When pressed further the pastor
| SAID We We're all very much pleased
with all the reports we have heard of
MN on and off the race track. I can
| not say that personally ] am interest
ed in bicycle racing, but naturally
followed the young man and his ner-
Iormances and was delighted when
read In The Spy that he had refused
/ 10 ride that race at. st. Louis on sun
day 1t took a great deal of coura 90
Tor MN TO refuse, and that is one al
i the things l admire in Taylor.
| He told rue after res return from
! the west that he should never ride on
sunday. AS soon as l do he said. j
know my luck would leave me- He
had an excellent offer to go to Eng
land this year. but as it would require
nm to do much of riding on Sunday,
ne refused the proposition"
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