The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-08-18
CONVERSION!
OF A NOTED INFIDEL AT TOLEDO
OHIO.
He Burns His Library of Infidel Books
in Front of a Church.

Toledo, August Probably for the
first time in history private library
will be burned in the presence of
multitude August Is. The confagra-
tion will occur in the city in front of
the Memorial United Brethren Church,
with the full consent and approval
of the pastor, Rev. F. P. Rossellot.
The books to be destroyed are the
property of M. o. Waggoner, who is
seventy-four years old, and a prominent
lawyer and real estate dealer of this
city. His library originally consisted
of $50 books treating on criticisms of
the Bible and scoffing at religion, but
he has loaned many of them which he
never expects to be returned.
Mr.. Waggoner has decided to destroy
these books because he has been con-
verted to the Christian faith. He
wishes to, as far as possible, remove all
| things that have been associated with
his unbelief for at least half century.
His library originally contained nearly
all the books written which were cal
culated to antagonize the teachings of
the Bible. The list was selected with
great care, as he is connoisseur in
books and a deliver in historic lore. He
was Bible student and read the work
to revile it.
Marshall o. Waggoner is lawyer, a
student, bookworm, and philoso-
pher He has been editor in his time,
and has written for many of the leading
journals in this country and in Europe.
He has been called an agnostic, but he
says it is a misnomer as applied'to him.
He prefers the name materialistic
infdel, for he always believed in evolu-
tion. He differed very materially in
his views from Ingersoll, whom he dubs
an agnostic know-nothing, for he
believed in nothing, and could give no
valid
REASON FOR DISBELIEVING.
For many years Mr.. Waggoner was
a familiar figure on the streets of
Toledo. He was wont to congregate on
the street corner near his office and
harangue crowd for hours. He had a
parrot, beautiful bird, and with it
perched on his shoulder he would hurl
the most scathing denunciations at the
Bible and all Christian believers. He
was a terror to ministers and especially
evangelists. He would take especial
pains to involve a divine in an argu-
ment, and it was his boast that he was
never worsted, and those who knew
him best say he was able to cope
Bible student. He proclaimed his
infidel beliefs not only from the street
corners, but from the rostrum, and was
much sought after by men of his belief.
AS a result he was Stunned somewhat
by society, and his law practice suffered.
He was honest in his convictions, fear
less, and ever ready to stand by his
colors. He is an uncompromisine
democrat, and during the campaign Of
1896 he was so actively engaged that he
had several personal encounters in
which he came out first best.
Mr.. Waggoner's open and public
avOwal of his conversion was made
July %, when he made an open confes
siOn of the faith and was taken in as
member of the United Brethren Church
According to the statement made by
Mr.. Waggoner, his conversion date:
back just eight months from his uniting
with the church. The manner of hi!
conviction is probably the most unique
and strange in history. The truth die
not come to him as the result of exhor
tatiOn. He was not moved amid tn,
excitement of a revival. No one wa
! present to offer him words of encour
, agement or counsel. He says that sine,
? the death of his wife several month
, ago he has thought continually of hi
past life. He was stricken witt
remorse, but could not find solace
, He was struggling between two emo
, tions. He was seriously in donbt il
regard to the stand he had taken il
regard to religious matters. This s
preyed upon his mind that he was o.
the
VERGE OF COLLAPSE.
The incidents connected with his con
version are dramatic in the extreme
He retired, but not to sleep. His min
was disturbed. His brain, thoug
e tired, refused to be at rest. He tosse
1 on his bed unable to obtain the repos
S which nature required. He was in tn
: throes of battle. the better agains
:. the worst, and his agony was intense
IS When the midn ght hour approache
e his mind was in turbulent state. H
t arose, donned dressing-gown, an
repaired to his office, which is on tn
same floor with his sleeping apartment
Mr.. Waggoner is the possessor of
gramophone, valuable instrumer
with which he whiles away man
pleasant hours. He is passionatel
devoted to the instrument from the faC
that the inventor journeyed many mile
to consult him on some of the details {
the work. He lighted lamp an
arranged complete religious serviC
for the instrument. Screwing down
disk, the record produced in tones bot