The Democratic advocate., 1907-01-18
Made Love To All His Parishioners

New York, January 13.-The Rev.
DR.. VIM. Perry, of Montclair, N. j., in a
heap of trouble, and all because he has
decided to remain bachelor. He might
be in more trouble, though, if he got mar
ried. Ifhe took only one of the two dozen
or more of his parishioners that claim he
has promised to marry them the others
might be in his wool, and if he took the
whole number the police would be likely
to interfere. He was until lately pastor
of congregation of 200 or more colored
woman, all desirous of becoming his wife.
The fracas was precipitated a few nights
ago, when meeting of the church society
was held to consider plans for completing
a new church started last summer. The
Rev. Mr.. Perry had acted as treasurer Of
the building fund, a position coveted by
every one of the comparatively few male
members of his congregation, and an accu-
sation was made that some funds had been
collected and never accounted for. The
sisters were all on Dr. Perry side until
one of their number, Miss Arabella Jeu-
kins, arose and said:
"Breddren and sisters in de Lawd, DR..
Perry amt no business man. He's a
preacher. Maybe he can't account for
ebery penny OBJ dat money, but he ain t
done stole it. He used it in de Lawd' s
work. You all knows Use got money. |
kin build dat church myself widout any
help from anyone, and I'll do it, too, jest
as soon as de Doctor and me is married.
He's promised to marry me. -
During the sister speech she had been
frequently interrupted by cries of "Bless
de Lawd," " "Gawd bless Sistah jenkins, !"
''De Lawd bless Brudder Perry" and
other interjections Of like nature, but
when she ceased pandemonium reigned.
Had an explosion occurred in their
midst it could not have created greater
uproar. Women all over the church were
on their feet in moment, shouting, ges-
ticulating, fighting The cries were
changed to ''You' Sc liah,'' ''Put dat
woman out, - ''Tll scratch her eyes out, !"
and others equally violent.
''Dr. Perry promised to marry me,
shouted one of the reverend gentleman S
latest converts, light colored damsel from
North Carolina, who had gone to Mont
clair to be kitchen lady for banker wife,
The next moment she was lying on the
floor, while astride of her sat another
kitchen lady, who was trying to impress
her that she was DIR. Perry's only choice
This she was doing by beating the rival
claimants head up and down on the hard
floor. Fully two dozen other rivals for
DIR. Perry affections were scrapping all
over the ROOM 1t is said that the cause
of all the trouble made his escape through
rear window.
After the much-appreciated pastor was
gone the fighting was finally stopped and
the business of the meeting resumed.
Right then and there, by unanimous vote,
it was decided to dismiss DIR. Perry from
his pastorate and to sue him to recover the
church fund if he didn't turn it over in
full.
DIR. Perry has obtained another building
Just over the Glenbridge line for church,
and many of his parishioners have followed
him there. He says he does not fear the
threatened lawsuit, and, as for the sisters
who claim that he promised to marry them,
he asserts that the promise meant in the
next world, and not in this.