Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-31
A WRESTLING PARSON.
Jersey Clergyman Who Believes
 Tn Muscular Christianity.
HARD MAN TO BEAT ION THE MAT"

Rev. Archibald B. McLaurin of At-
 1antic Highlands Can Throw the
 Biggest Members of His Consrega-
 < tfon and TalSesson Outsiders Cheer
 fu1Iy--Has Started Football Team.
 How He Downed s"Ringer.o
 Muscular Christianity is having a most strenuous inning at Atlantic Highlands, N.J., where the Rev. Archi- bald B. McLaurin, pastor of the Gen. 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 "to 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 inches high and weighs 15o 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 gymnasium in the church so that the young men might be developed phys icaily as well as spiritually. The older members of the church shook their heads dubiously when the question of church athletics was preached by the enthusiastic young clergyman. Against such opposition MT. 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 gol darn bad licking in the class room the other night. He says you're a beach, but I think it was outrageous for you to act as he said 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,sI 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.,',
 IA half Nelson settled the other son, and the parsons athletic club" had an suspicious beginning about two months ago.
 Every T Thursday night the chairs are piled into cornersof the basement fec ture room, where the athletes and the parson hold their athletic exercises. There are wrestling mats, a medicine baIls flying rings and parallel bars. Mra Mckaurin can show the way to his young Followers all along the line Al have Joined his Sunday. Bible class because they are afraid he will "take fall out of them on Thursday night if they don't. Nobody can say word against the parson without a dozen dangerous looking chaps stepping out to defend dgbim. There were never more young people at the Sunday services than at the present time.
 Once ifSaMliile the boys try to put up a game on their leader by running in "a ringer, on him. It is always some young fellow who has reputa- tion as wrestler round about some neighboring post office and general store. All lads look alike to the domi- nie, 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 clans all day and playfully losses his companions about in a billiard parlor in the evening He laughed long and loud when the par sons record and his pretensions were. disclosed to him. .I'll fold him up like a 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 hu- manity before him. Ut seems like sim" he muttered, as with a lunge he closed his arms about the little man with the intention of keeling him over in hurry. To his surprise the domi- nie was about as yielding as a bronze figure. With crash the husky youth struck the mat just few seconds later He found 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 heln This young fellow Ninin-