Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-11-06
A WRESTLING PARs0N.
Jersey Clergyman Who Believes
In Muscular Christianity.
HARD MAN TO BEAT ION TIE MAT"
lantic Highlands Can Throw the
Biggest Members of His Congrega-
tion and Takes on Outsiders Cheer
fuIly-Has started Football Team.
Now He Downed a .Ringer."

Muscular Christianity is having a
tlost strenuous inning at Atlantic
Highlands, n. j., where the Rev. Archi-
bald b. McLaurin, pastor Of the Cen
tral Baptist church, is champion wres-
tier, says the New York Commercial
Advertiser. He has thrown all the
members of his congregation who have
dared to meet him on the mat. and
many young men-big, rawboned
farmers boys living in nearby towns
have Joined the church just to be
eligible Ito tackle the parson."
The dominic graduated from Colgate
in 1894 and was the best wrestler in
the university during his sojourn there.
He stands 3 feet inches high and
weighs 100 pounds. His shoulders are
broad, and his arms are steel muscled.
From the day that he became spiritual
adviser of the Baptist flock two years
ago he favored the establishment of a
gymnasium in the church so that the
young men might be developed phys
ically as well as spiritually. The older
members of the church shook their
heads obviously when the question of
church athletics was broached by the
enthusiastic young clergyman. Against
such opposition Mr.. McLaurin used
great tact.
One Sunday morning, after he had
a particularly good time preaching, a
little wrinkled faced farmer came to
the pulpit, pulling savagely at his stub
bly, beard.
I've heard" said he, that you gave
my son a gol darn bad licking in the
class room the other night. He says
you're peach but | think 1t was
outrageous for you to act as he said
you did That kid of mine Is strong,
but he tells me you tied him in all
kinds of knots and told him you would
be pleased to entertain any other mem-
Der of our family in the same way.
Now, look here, parson, want you to
understand that l don't favor a minis
ter carrying on so, but-but say, par
son, I've got another boy bet you can't
throw"
A half Nelson settled the other son,
and the parsons athletic club" had
an auspicious beginning about two
months ago.
Every Thursday night the chairs are
piled into corner of the basement lec-
ture room, where the athletes and the
parson hold their athletic exercises.
There are wrestling mats. medicine
ball, flying rings and parallel bars.
Mr.. McLaurin can show the way to
his young followers all along the line.
All have joined his Sunday Bible class
because they are afraid he will take a
fall out Of them" on Thursday night IL
they don't Nobody can say word
against the parson without dozen
dangerous looking chaps stepping out
to defend him. There were never more
young people at the Sunday services
than at the present time.
Once in awhile the boys try to put
up game on their leader by running
in a ringer on him. 1t is always
some young fellow who has reputa-
ton as wrestler round about some
neighboring post office and general
store. All lads look alike to the domi-
ME, however, and some of them who
had an f1ea they knew thing or two
about wrestling have been very scarce
since they closed with the little clergy
man. The last victim was six footer
who dredges for clans all day and
playfully tosses his companions about
in billiard parlor in the evening. He
laughed long and loud when the par
sons record and his pretensions were
disclosed to him. "Fll fold him up like
jackknife," he said sarcastically.
There were fifty lanky natives
crowded into the lecture room the
night the big fellow tackled the minis
ter. The visitor, looking down from
his six foot elevation, grinned as he
surveyed the compact bunch of hui
manity before him. at seems like a
sin," he muttered, as with lunge he
closed his arms about the little man
in hurry. To his surprise the domi-
ME was about as yielding as bronze
figure With crash the husky youth
struck the mat just few seconds
later. He found a wiry arm wrapped
about his neck, and his breathing ap-
paratus soon began to squeak painful
ly. Then he got mad, but with every
eXertion more air seemed to be shut
out from his lungs, and he began to
yell for help. This young fellow join
ed the Bible class on the next Sun
day In explanation he said:
"The devil has been getting into me
lately, and If it comes to hand to
hand struggle want the dominic
around to get in his strangle hold on
him."
organization Of football team. Many
Of the boys cannot get out for prac-
tice in the daytime, SO they run
through signals In the lecture room aft
er prayer meeting Considerable blood
has been spilled through contact with
pillars and other things, and the DOM
inie has received his knocks with the
rest of the boys. When the old folks
see suspicious spots on the floor they
remark:
"Some more of the dominie's pranks.
This newfangled IDEA of religious
training is certainly return to the
days Of martyrs"