Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-04
Especial to Kennebec JournaD

Belfast, Me. Aug. 2-Summer resi-
dents and friends in this vicinity of
Gabriel Raphael Guedj pronounced
article which recently appeared in a
Boston daily. which greatly maligned
him. The young man, an Algerian,
who is wor' ing his way through
Colby studying for the ministry, is
lay preacher this Summer at the
little Baptist church at Saturday
Cove where the city residents have
given him splendid support and have
listened to aome excellent sermons
from this boy preacher of p years.
A short time ago a Boston news
paper man came down to interview
him and the young preacher told him
the story of his life which reads like
a page from Arabian Nights, but
this was evidently not startling
enough and so there appeared an ar
ticle which set forth that young
Guedj was 'bawling out" the city
visitors. Sunday sports, jazz music
and f1apper fads are menacing Am
erica more than the vices Of the
other quotation from this young
preacher which he denies ever to
have made is:
I'm fighting the Devil where he
lives. Fell's headquarters have
plenty of gliding, but here's where
his Satanic Majesty hangs out. He
won't be sitting so prettv though,
when ! get through putting tacks in
his throne"
Mr.. Guedj, although q has worked
long and earnestly for his education,
is earnest in his determination to be-
come a minister and he and his
friends are very much upset over
the article concerning him, for while
he has preached religious living to
his congregations he has not "Bawled
EN- OUT in any respect and the
little church is filled every Sunday
to hear his eloquent and carefully
prepared sermons.
Born in Algeria
Born in Algiers of French parent
age, he first learned to talk In that
language. he has since acquired sew
eral others and today speaks perfect
English. although with a slight ac-
cent. He is very dark with black
eyes and hair, perfect teeth which
enhance his dark skin. He is about
medium height and has an engaging
manner, a forceful and eloquent de-
livery in the pulpit which his earn
estness of purpose emphasizes.
1t is q queer twist of fate that
brought this yonug man to Americas
shores, to the State of Maine, to
Colby College. to the little town of
Northport and the quaint little Bap-
fist church on the hill. 'Tis long
cry from the shore of Algeria and
the Mediterranean, to the coast of
Maine and he went in a round about
way to get here, crossing and re-
crossing the ocean many times, in
his desire to get away from religious
training. for the fact is, this young
mans people were very anxious that
he should so to England to attend
a mission school which would even
tuall" prepare him for the ministry.
He didn't want to be a minister.
didn't even want to go to the school
his mother had picked out for him
and so he became a soldier of for
tune at the age of Is, too young,
even on the other side of the Allan
tic to so to the European continent
and fight for France and his older
brothers.
He shipped before the mast, and
had many thrilling experiences at
sea and in many chimes, making sew
eral trips to North and South AM
ericas and at last found his way back
home again On that last visit, his
mother begged him to make arrange
ments to go to England to school, for
by that time he had picked up some
English from the sailors on various
ships. and it was only by chance.
fate one might call it, that he did
go.
She asked him to go to a certain
man in the city who could make ar
rangements for him to go to the
English school and he promised her
that if the man were at home and
could see him, he would go, but If
the man were not, then he would
once more sign up for an ocean trip
Fate decreed that the man was alb
sent that day, and before returning
to his home that night, the boy had
signed for another voyage across the
Atlantic.
Swan Ashore to Kiss His Mother
On the day he was to sail, his ship
in the harbor. he saw his mother
standing on the pier, waving at him.
She called to him to come back, he
had forgotten something, and so he
swan ashore, knowing in his heart |
that he had forgotten nothing, but |
that his mother wanted to bid him
goodbye once more, to hold him in
her arms and kiss him. This she did |
and he swan back to the ship. That
was several years ago and he has
never been back. His parents are
now living in Paris, where two Of his /!
brothers, discharged from service, !
have married. Some day. in a year |
or two, he is going back to see them !
and there is every reason why they
should be proud Of him for he has !
tulhl'ed his mothers fondest dreams.
Ran Away from Church ard Into IL