Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-21
As TRAINER
OMAHA PASTOR WILL SPAR WITH
CHAMPION NELSON, LIGHT
WEIGHT PueILlsT.
SCIENTIFIC PREACHER
ADVOCATE OF BOXING

Row. z. r. Wedge Believes sparrins
tho Best Way to Reach Young Men
and Make Christians Of Them-Never
Intends, He Says, to Give Up Reli-
rious Work.
When Battling Nelson, champion
lightweight pugilist of the world,
starts training for his next fight he
will have a preacher for sparring
partner The Rev. F. R. Wedge Of
Omaha, Neb., who applied for the Job,
sent Nelson the following letter:
ITO begin with, this is not letter on
the 'mooching' order. like so many that
you and I both receive. Although
minister of the gospel and an Omaha
pastor, felt as though we both have
much in common, for l like a fight as
well as I like to reach down In the
gutter and help poor fellow to bet.
ter life. Although filling pulpit ev
cry Sunday, find time to work out
with the mitts and enjoy roughing 1t
as much as Roosevelt.
I'VE have met, although not person.
ally acquainted, yet we have some OF
the same friends in common and have
fought some Of the same men. This
was before I went to the University OF
Nebraska and finished taking course
in the theological seminary. Bill
Daniels Of Rhilander, where you and
Fails fought ten rounds, started me in
the business. 1t was there l got
draw little over year afterward
Your battle with Fails was the first
ever saw. That put the fight notion
into my head when was tough
young lumber Jack. Thanks for the
Inspiration. After beating fellows like
Jack Glynn and Tommy Wallace,
Colonel Andy Mulligan took me for a
good thing. Well, to make it short
for two years did the fighting. He go
the money; got the exercise. guess
you understand something about that
"But he missed his guess when he
took me for coming champion. Sue
cess took my head, and had to go by
way Of the booze Sullivan pace. With
the help'of whisky they had an easy
time. Beat two or three dubs after
that and decided to get an education
prepared and entered the University
Of Nebraska, finished with an average
Of 80 per cent in my studies, then took
course in the theological seminary
and entered work as regular pastor.
II never became a knocker against
the game. encouraged young men
Of my church to take up boxing. 1t
was crowded with boys and men
Most of them began to lead good, clean
lives. It's the best way in the world
to reach the young men and make
Christians of them Now, in spite OF
all this good work accomplished, lot
Of old cranks have got together and
tried to put me out Of commission ir
my church.; also some Of the preacher
began to roast me for preaching a ser
mon in Omaha from the prize ring.
am no fanatic. I believe in usins
good, sensible methods to help men t,
better life, and believe boxing il
one Of the bestT For daring to stant
for what know Is right these people
have endeavored to hand one over o.
me.
"First Of all, never intend to give
up the religious work. Now, I submit
this proposition to you: That be 81
en- chance to be your boxing partne
l was never brilliant as a boxer o
the Abe Attell order, but can roug
it and take good beating. am no,
only twenty eight, and these years
leading a pure life have made IN
tougher, stronger and faster than evei
If can't stand the work, then l don
want cent, and will pay my ow,
expenses from Omaha to New York
don't mean to say that can stand /;
pace such as you set out in your fights
But in your stage bouts and in train
ing for fights, if can't do as we'll 4
Joe Gilligan, then you can put m
down as dead one. No other preach
err has had to resort to boxing in or
der to preach and help others. Few
have had the nerve to speak in fayol
Of the most manly of all sports. be
cause they know they would get whn
have already received-the condo,
nation Of those who do not know f1gh
ers or the help that boxing will give I
a man."
"This fellow reads like the goods
and am going to give him the job
said Nelson. - New York Evening
World,