The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-04
A WRESTLING PARSOH.
Jersey Clergyman Who Believes
In Muscular Christianity.
HARD MAN TO BEAT CON THE MAT"

Rev. Archibald b. McLaurin of Al
Iantic Highlands Can Throw Ia,
biggest Members OF His congrega.
tfon and Takes on Outsiders Cheer.
fulIy-Has started FootBam Team
How He Downed n ''Rinxer."
/ Muscular Christianity is having {
most strenuous inning at Aaantl,
Highlands, N. j., where the Rev. Archi
bald B. McLaurin, pastor of the Cen
trail 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
s--haye 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 5 feet 4 inches high and
weighs 80 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 preached by the
enthusiastic young clergyman. Against
such opposition Mr. McLaurin used
great tact.
One Sunday morning, after he had
particularly good time preaching,
little wrinkled faced farmer came to
the pulpit, pulling savagely at his stub
bly, beard.
1--WE heard, said lie, that you gave
my son a gol darn bad licking in the
class room the other night He says
you're peach, but / think it was
outrageous for you to act as he said
you did That kid of mine is strong,
but be 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 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 suspicious beginning about two
months ago.
Every Thursday night The chairs are
piled into corner Of the basement lee
ture room, where the athletes and the
parson hold their athletic exercises.
There are wrestling mats a medicine
bali, flying rings and parallel bars.
Mr.. AIcIaurin can show the way to
his young followers all along the line.
All have joined his Sunday Bible class
because they are afraid he win take q
fall out of them" On Thursday night If
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 q game on their lender by running
in a ringer on him. 1t Is always
some young fellow who has d reputa-
ton as q wrestler round about some
post Office and general
store. All lads look alike to the domi-
ME, however, and some Of them who
had an idea 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 CLAIMS all day and
losses his companions about
in a billiard parlor III the evening. He
laughed long and loud when the par
sons record and his pretensions were
disclosed TO him. "Ill fold him up like |
a jackknife," he said sarcastieally.
There were fifty lanky natives
into the lecture room the
night the big fellow tackled the minis
ter The visitor, looking down from
his six foot elevation. grinned as be
the compact bunch Of hui
manity before him. ct seems like q
sim he muttered, as with lunge he
closed his arms about the little man
with the intention of keeling him over
In hurry. TO his surprise the dornl-
ME was about as yielding as a bronze
figure. With a crash the husky youth
struck the mat just a few seconds
later. He found wiry arm wrapped |
about his neck, and his breathing APP
paratus soon began to squeak painful
". Then he got mad, kut with every |
axertion more air scented to be shut
out from his lungs, and he began to
yell for help This young fellow join
cd the Bible class on the next sun
day. In explanation he said:
"The devil has been getting into me
lately, and il 1t comes to q hand to
hand struggle | want the dominic
around TO get in his strangle hold on
him
Mr.. McLaurin's latest move is the
of a football team. Many
~ 4ba hnvc cannot synf o,rf foY. tsy,aa