The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-20
THE PECK TALKFEST is OVER,
THE REV. ROiiI VI. RAYMOND
FINISHES HIS MARTYRDON.

Lot Apostle III Thcism Oratc At Hin, for
Eleven Hours In Return for $3.50 Worth
OF Land tho Church Nccdcd-Thrcw
In Three Hours for Good Measure.
The martyrdom Of the Rev. Royal NJ.
Raymond is over. The last spark OF the
fagots has burned ont. the rack las taken
it's last twist at him His great work Is
done. The Methodists Of Stratford, Conn,
own their land and never. never again, 80
long as he lives, will the Rev. Royal 81.
Raymond have to listen to the talk OF Thad-
deus X. Peck, apostle Of theisn.
The Rev. Royal NJ Raymond, as all the
world knows Is the pastor who agreed TO
listen to Thaddeus X. Peck for eleven hours
return for $3.50 piece OF land which the
church wanted. Thaddeus K. Peck had been
trying and trying for years to get clergy
man TO listen to his hateful heresy; he
adopted this measure In tho belief that he
had only to show the goods to make con-
vert out Of the Rev. Royal M. Raymond.
The clergyman paid in instruments, but
when he left Stratford to accept call to
Brooklyn a. year ago one hour was still
credited to Thaddeus X. Peck.
Yesterday Mr.. Raymond went back to
Stratford to settle up the SCORE. Thad-
deus was waiting at the station his side
whiskers bristling with enthusiasm. his
eyes glittering.
How do you do?" said Mr.. Peck. Ready
to listen to reason this timer I've got
powerful lot Of arguments to finish you
on. I'm going to get you
Brother said the reverend doctor,
you could argue with me through eternity
and never win me to your false doctrine.
To prove it and to clinch the title of the
church land forever am willing to throw
in three hours Talk to me for four hours.
lam feeling strong'
-Halleujah," said Mr.. Peck Then III
sure get you. Come on, for Pm aching to
wrestle with you"
Rock Park. They went to the pavilion,
where Mr.. Peck nailed the martyr with his
glittering eye and proceeded to burn him up
with the fire Of his enthusiasm.
AN humanity" began Mr. Peck, with
his customary opening formula, further
than which no clergyman ever listened to
him free, "all humanity could not create a
single segment Of the hai r on a m onkev's
tail without the help Of the infinite. How
do you account for that?
The Rev. Mr.. RAYMOND didn't attempt to
account for it. He merely set his teeth.
clenched his fists, and, with pale. drawn
face, prepared to stand it IKE man,
For the first hour Mr., Peck stuck to nat
ural history. The relation of the Abyssinian
ibex to the plan Of creation and the link
between the mastodon and divinity occu-,
pied a quarter Of this period: In the second
hour, going easily and without ehort-for
he was trained to the mnute-Mr, Peck
tagged onto chemistry and elucidated the
relation between asbestos and original ain.
In this period tho Rev. Mr. Raymond was
groggy His Bible holders the Episcopalian
rector and the Baptist preacher, who stood
behind him with stopped ears, thought he
would never last out the round.
He came up pale and smiling in the third
hour, however, and stalled cleverly while
Mr.. Peck tried to pin him down to an adj
mission that the nebule of Orion disprove
the theory Of infant damnation. The fourth
and last period found the parson ling
gamely while the apostle OF theism talked
like dem on trying to whip in fnisher
Dusk had then fallen.
"Time!" cried the Episcopal rector,
consulting his watch and pulling the plugs
into the pavilion and overwhelmed with
congratulation their plucky little champion.
Aren't you converted?" cried Thaddeus
r. Peck, aggressively, but little an
MOI" cried the Methodist martyr of
Connecticut, Never"
Thaddens X. Peck twired side whisker
and heaved a sigh
i WISH, Saln ne, mao JuSt one more
hours chance at you. had you going
could see it in your eye; Besides. had
Q fine argument about the behemoth of
Holy Writ"
Brother" said the Rev Mr.. Raymond
man, was born to suffer will give you
that hour"
"No!' cried the Episcopalian and the
Baptist. together.
Yet the Rev, Royal Raymond was firm.
II was getting late. however, and even
martyr at the Ike gets hungry.
They adjourned, therefore, to a restau,
rant Ewhere the Rev. Mr., Raymond ate and
kept up his strength while Mr.. Peck talked
When the clergyman had finished his own
clam chowder he reached over and annexed
Mr. Pecks. The apostle of theism never
noticed
Time" cried the Episcopaian, clicking
his watch and removing the plugs.
The Rev Mr.. Raymond rose and slapped
legal document and fountain pen before
Mr., Peck.
Sign" he said The apostle OF theism
signed.
Aren't you converted?" he asked.
NO" cried the Rev, Mr.. Raymond
Il suppose, faltered Mr. Peck that the
Episcopal Church would like some land?
Lots Of it going on the same terms.
NO thank you." said the rector.
Nor the Baptists?" asked Mr.. Peck.
NO, indeed" cried the disciple Of i'm
merson.
"Anvhow he said n believe he's con-
verted think he's just stubborn and
etif necked
Next week the Methodists Of Stratford
will place Mr.. Peck's deed Of gift, with all
due ceremony, among the archives OF the
church.
HITCHCOCK'S NEW ROLE.