Year: 1868

On Broadway, below Fourteenth
street, stood church that at one time
was one of the most fashionable in the
city. The congregation was wealthy
and large the minister eloquent and
popular The bells of the city, with
the young and the fashionable, crowd
ed the church when the pastor filed
the pulpit. In the full flush of bis
popularity, when pew could not be
hired at any price, when any salary
would have been paid to him that he
demanded, the minister disappeared.
Quite late on Saturday night the yes
try received letter from the rector,
dated off Sandy Hook. The letter
rendered the rectors resignation, and
announced that he had sailed that day
at noon in one of the cunard steamers
for Europe. The parish were sur
prised and alarmed. The whole affair
was painful mystery. Here was a
minister, settled over a fourishng and
liberal charge, with fine church and
parsonage, a church crowded with the
elite of the city, with salary equal
to any demands he might make, with
the best singing IN the city, and all the
popular appliances, who had suddenly
resigned, and privately left the coun-
try, TO go no one knew where.


The story is romance. The expla-
nation came after the minister had
completed his European tour. At
midnight the door bell of his parson-
age was violently rung. Going to the
window, the minister saw man stand.
ing on his door-stone, and he demanded
his business. He came with a mes
sage, he said, from a dying woman.
Hastily dressing himself, the good
man came to the door aud received
the message Just around the block
was u poor woman, and she was dying.
Her only treasure was a babe. She
could not die in peace unless her babe
was baptized. If his reverence would
come to her dying pillow, and admin.
lister that sacrament, the blessing of
poor dying woman would be his re-
ward. 1t was much TO ask, and at
midnight, too, but his great Master,
who loved the poor, would not have
denied such request as this.


His humane and religious sympa-
thies were aroused, and the minister
followed the messenger. Common
prudence would have said, "Take a
policeman with you. Call upa friend,
and get him 10 bear part in the cere-
mony." But, dreaming of no peril,
he went on bis way to do, as he thought,
his Masters will. He was soon in a
dessolute region, in street notorious
for its uncleanness. The messenger
knocked at heavy gate, that closed
up a narrow, dark alley. IL opened
Immediately, and slammed behind the
parties like a prison door Through
a long, narrow, and unwholesome en-
try, that seemed TO be an alley.way
covered, the parties took their way.
They passed up a narrow staircase,
broken and rickety. Lewd women
were passed on tho stairs. Dark.
featured and Misunderstanding men
seemed to crowd the place With his
sacred vestments on his arm, and his
book Of service in his hand, the minis.
ter was ushered into a dark and un.
wholesome looking room. The door
was closed behind him, and locked.
A dim candle on the table revealed
the outline of a dozen persons, male
and female, of the most abandoned
and desperate class His inquiry for
the sick woman, and the child TO be
baptized, was greeted by shouts OF
laughter. He knew he was victim.
He demanded the reason for this out.
rage. He was informed that his
friends who had invited him there
wanted money. His standing and
character were well known. He was
in one of the most notorious houses in
New York; his midnight visit to that
place was we'll known, and could
easily be proved. If he paid ono
thousand dollars, all would be well
If not, his ruin was certain. Instead
of defying the williams, calling on the
police, or confding in his congrega
tion, he thought he would hush th,
matter up. He might have knowr
that it would all come out, and thai
every dollar he paid would be used al
evidence against, or as moars to extor
more. But he was thoroughly fright
ened would not have the thing know
for the world his hand was in th,
, lions mouth, and he must draw il ou
as easily as he could 30 he gave hi
obligation TO pay the money promptly
at noon the next day, which he did
OF course new demands were mad
from time 70 time. He was dogge,
in the streets. Suspicious looking
men stopped to speak with him ol
the corners. Notorious men rang hi


door. bell. Mysterious notes, from is
norant, low bred and vicious person
AS the spelling and language Shove,
came to his hand, and into the hand
of his family The poor man wa
= nearly distracted. He paid away hi
own money and borrowed till hi
reputation suffered. The threat Q
exposure hung over him like an omin
GUS sword held by hair. In me
ment of desperation ho decided :
leave the country, which he did TO th
astonishment and regret of his fIiend


On his return from Europe, the re,


tor settled in Massachusetts,, over


small rural parish. He was 800


tracked to his country home. Black


mailing was renewed. His old terro
came upon him. Again he acceded {


the extortion. The police of No'


York at length came TO his relief !


searching for other game, they cam


upon proofs that this minister was !


the hands of black-mailers Letter


were found containing information {


his whereabouts, how TO tcrrify hin


what sums to demand, and at wbl


time his salary was due. He was r.


lieved from his pursuers. The larp