The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-09

IPRE,AC Her |. ( LEI J.
TOWN IN HURRY
Blackstone Citizens Did Not Like
His Doctrines.
PREACHED SOCIAL EQUALITY.
One Of His Lady Believers Hung Round
His Neck and Was Dragged
Some Dlstaucc-He Will
Not Return.
PREACHED SOCIAL EQUALITY.
(sncci,I sDispatch to The Times,

rs Especial OlSpatcp llneo.J
BLACKSTONE, VA. Nov. San at
tempt was made by several young men
of the town here on wednesday night 10
horseWhip c. Gideon Hammond, of Bal
srtmore, minister of the Christian,
Roman Catholic. Church of zion,' or more
GENERALLY known as "Dowietites.
The cause of the trouble was reported
to have been his preaching OF social
equality between the whites and blacks.
Notice of his intention to hold a series
Of meetings had been published two weeks
previously by some of the t.-.ievers of
that doctrine here, there being several
in this community.
His first appointment was on Tuesday
night, in the Music Hall. at which time
quite crowd gathered to hear him. Dur
ing his sermon he was very severe on
the Masonic fraternity and the truthful-
ness Of his charges We're questioned pup
licly by a gentleman in the audience.
He replied that he did not expect the
gentleman to acknowledge the truth as to
Masonry Much of his sermon was also
along vulgar lines.
On Wednesday he and his followers
went to a mill POND, few miles dis
tant, for the purposes of baptizing cand-
dates for admission to. his faith. After
babtizing the whites, he is reported 10
have asked if there were ANY colored
persons who wished TO be baptised, -
ing that he regarded all as being equal.
that they would be in heaven, and that
the sooner the whites here accepted the
fact of social equality the better off they
would be.
MUCH INCENsED.
When the report of his remarks reacheo
the citizens here, some Of them became
very much incensed. peution was
drawn up, signed by THE citizens
Blackstone" suggesting that he would
better not attempt to preach any more
and advising that he leave town. rms
he ignored 1t was then that more sum-
mary treatment was determined upon by
/, those Young men who had sent MIN the
notice.
Several of these secured a wagon, and,
collecting outside at the foot of the steps,
quietly awaited the exit of the preach
er, with the intention of giving MIN d
whipping and sending ,lim out of town TO
amor station to take the train. When
he reached the foot of the steps, several
set upon him, in the attempt to put MIN
in the wagon. One OF his lady beleFers
rabbed him around the neck ana refused
to let him go. He was dragged some us
lance with her holding on. Some OF ms
men followers then came up and grappled
with those who were trying TO get holo
of him and, recognizing several OF those
engaged. threatened to report -hem to the
police. He was then let go and permitted
to be carried off by his frienGs.
There were no, blows .struck: during .tns
melee but the preachers clothing was
torn in several places and MS nat anu
nocket-book lost. both Of which were later
found and sent to him.
After this, he was taken by friends ana
driven to MELVILLE, six miles east OF mere
opd thora took the train. d
me feeling here among re better
thinking people that the action OF the
Young men engaged should not be coullts-
nance, although there are some VINO teel
that, on account of his soclal eauaitts
tooob:nos he should have been driven out
of town.
The matter has now quoted down ana
no further comments are heard.