The Washington times., 1920-08-23

rode yesterday into Titusville, N. j.,
10 nnd "crown OF martyrdom" for
his zeal in the cause OF morality and
bathing suit censorship-only the
Rev. kopfman rode in a motor car
attended by Sheriff Reese, OF Tren-
ton. and two deputies.
All night the little crowd OF sum
mer colonists at Washington Cross
ing had waited TO catch a sight OF
the Rev. kopfman as he rode through
on the morning train. There was
some talk OF violence, but IL Is un-
likely that anything more than the
expression of a few jeers would have
happened, unless the pastor took II
into his head TO dismount from the
train to administer his threatened
rebuke to the colonists whose scan
dalous goings on" have impcllcd the
minister TO utter public and private
prayers for their spiritual damnation
and their corporal expulsion from
Hopewell township. The Rev. Kopf-
man himself settled all phases OF this
problem by persuading the sheriff 10
make seven-mile detour TO avoid
the crossing.
Immediately on arrival in Titusville
the pastor went TO his church and
launched into sermon, which, he
said, he had adapted to "A text from
lsaih, paraphrased by the Rev. Kopf-
man as follows:
MAKE DELAWARE STRAIGHT
Prepare yc Washington Crossing:
make straight the Delaware"
! "Oh, Lord said the preacher in
opening his sermon, Thou may know
est that the tides OF sin shall not go
on any longer"
He spoke one moment OF seeking
crown OF martyrdom at the hands OF
lac ~
sheathing the sword of wrath
which God had given him to smite
those who defy the sixth command
ment, so far as TO go swimming with
bare knees and necks."
Don't tell me-" cried the Rev.
kopfman in terrible voice, "thatI
can't change human nature. Don't
tell me-" With "A gesture grown
suddenly tragic, he covered his face
in his hands-and walled "Oh. My
God"
Somewhere in the congregation a
baby started to cry. At the sound the
Rev. Kopfman uncovered his face and
| shouted:
Take this message TO Washington
! Crossing. tell them that-well. my
friends. l have had many soft drink
in my life. but this is the softest that
!, say. call me a modern crusader.
! call me the heavenly servant of the
heavenly father. call me the devoted
religionist, call me what you like
but l say that ask you must God
chastise America with sword of
wrath or must this be the mission OF
some crusader like me? / don't want
| to see America decadcnt. But Ameri-
ca is decadent. If We were to shoot
all the degenerates in America we
would have to Kill half the popula-
ton"
The baby whincd again. The mother
hushed it quickly. There was a dead
silence in the church as the Rev.
koofman went on:
FATE IN THE STARS.
"My fate is in the stars. IT Is
| strange how this summer heat gets
into my blood. On Friday went to
ST. Pauls Church, in New York. and
in George Washington's pew ! prayed
and said to myself, America needs a
| savior-it is true that you, o Cod
have used 'me for some great purpose
as you used George Washington. /
will give up my life If need bel will
| willingly give up my life to stop this.
! 81 believe God Almighty is working
! nightly, and | hope the influence OF
| this section will go on and on until
the Tempter and Temptress arc every
| where vanQuiShcd.
Come what may. I'll be there If
| the lions roaring sboU do not get
| me. Where is the constable? | have
won a place for him in the Hall Of
| Fame of New York University, and
| I'll get him a new pair of suspenders.
Yes, I'll be the game warden. | ac-
cept and I'll promise you that | will
| catch every man and woman who
dares to act as they did in the Garden
| OF Eden.
"1f l were gong to my father con-
! fessor today, / would say that I
never expected to see this thing take
the slanderous course that it has
taken. But ] will be a martyr if need
he. ] will willingly give up my life
to stop this. l believe God Almighty
is working nightly and hope the in
fuence of this agitation will go on
and on until it gets the Tempter and
Temptress everywhere.
"It seems to me that Just as one
! little pistol shot in southeastern Eu-
rope set the world ablaze and drove
the world to war, so has this little af-
fair confagrated until God only
knows what shall happen"
Mr.. kopfman digrcsscd here long
enough to say that he would institute
suit for slander against anybody who
continued to relate stories regarding
his past life.
Not man, woman or child" he
cried, "can defame my reputation as
minister. Since September 10, 1913,
at 945. when ] met my God face to
| face. My God! have | committed
atrocities or have l started crusade
to stop immodesty? America needs
to be saved. America is vulgar.
LETTER DISTORTED.
George Washington started to do
something around this crossing. Ger
tainly have done nothing to dishonor
anything he has done. I'm sorry that
the contents of my letter have been
| distorted. There arc so many who
have placed unwholesome intcrpreta-
tions upon it. But do not take any
| thing back; | know there are hun
dreds of good people there, but ] am
after the young vamps. with their
belladonna eyes, their painted lips and
their cheeks that arc tinted by hand.
Must God visit America with a
sword of wrath or Is this to be stop
| ped through some crusading message?