The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-02
A DAY or PRAYER
FOR The MAYOR
300 Ministers Plead for John
Weaver Of Philadelphia.
SINFUL JOHN" he IS CALLED
Woman's Christian Temperance Union Also
Fasts and PrNs Want City Redeemed
From Vice Control
SINFUL JOHN" He IS CALLED

Philadelphia March z.-Nesrly 20
preachers met in Holy Trinity church on
Tuesday and prayed that ''the shackles
OF the gang lie stricken from our sinful
mayor" and for the redemption OF the
city for the machine and vice. One thous-
and had been invited. OF those who
kept away from Holy Trinity. 800 held
services in their own churches and sent
UP similar prayers or moved around
among their congregations stimulating
the supplications.
At the same time 10 o'clock in the morn
ing about 1000 women met in the Twenty
ninth Street NJ. Il. church. The ministers
got through prayiny at noon,but the
women prayed and faseted until O'Clock.
The ministers were scorching and the
women were plaintive- While these two
meetings were going on, in hundreds
OF homes similar pleas were being made.
Up 10 midnight there seemed to be no
response Mayor Weaver, Director OF
Public Safety Smith. and even council
who were :Llso prayed for. confessed 10
being still unregenerate. Mayor weaver
sinful John" he was called by one min
lister, however was perturbed'
FELT NO DIFFERENCE
"No don't feel any different" he
shouted "VVhy should I feel any DIFF
ferent? How dare you ask such aues-
tion"
Pressed to describe his feeling during
the praying bis honor grew inartculate.
Director SmySr said he didn't reel any
curious sensation. nor did he feel any
uplift.
There must have been thousands upon
thousands OF prayers made during the
hours OF 10 and 4. Holy Trinity is the
abode OF fashion and high pew rents. The
Rev. Floyd Tomkins, formerly or Provi-
dence. who is Holy Trinitys rector. Is
behind the ministers crusade MI
Tomklns called the ministers 10 order.
lie said there wasn't any use praying for
the mayer and his director, but they
might "a well try 1t.
Then a negro minister got up and SAID
the city was like ancient Sodom and Co
morrah. Unless the mayor and his oni-
cIals repented within week, fire should
descend upon them and upon the city
There was stir OF protest at this. Some
OF the ministers didn't think the innocent
should be burned up with the wicked
Then another minister thought IL would
be a good thing to hang the mayor III
efrigy. This didn't seem to be much IN
the nature or n prayer, anu tio NV
Dr. Kerr Royce Tupper rebuked him.
Some things are being said, ne
thought, that Jesus would not say.
MR.. ToMKINS' ATTACK.
Then the Rev Mr.. Tomkins attacked a
business man who he said had sent him
letter saying that he had been with
the reform party until the call for the
prayer meeting. That. the man said, re-
duced tho reform movement To an ab-
surdity. Mr. Tomlxins grew quite excited
over this. Then for another hour and
half the prayers flowed increasingly.
The women al their meeting wept a lot.
Even Israel Durham, boss OF Philadel-
phia, was prayer for Before the meet
ing several sandwich men paraded
through the centre of the city. They bore
banners Pray for the Mayor" They
had carried these banners yesterday and
were routed by the police. The police to-
day let them parade.
IL was reported that the reformers and