Year: 1868

A Minister falls among Thieves.
| From Sunshine and Shadow in New York; by
| Matthew Hale Smith.


On Broadway, below Fourteenth ST.,


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


bellies of the city, with the young and


the fashionable, crowded the church


when the pastor filled the pulpit. In


the full flush Of his popularity, when a


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 vestry received letter tender


ing the rector's resignation, and an


nounced that he had sailed that day at


noon in one of the Cunard steamers for


Europe. The parish were surprised


and alarmed. The whole affair was a


painful mystery. Here was a minister,


settled over d flourishing and a liberal


charge, with a fine church and parson-
age, a church crowded with the elite of


the city, with salary equal to any de-


mands he might make, with the best


singing in the city, and all the popular


appliances, who had suddenly resigned,


and privately left the country, to 60 no


one knew where.


The story is romance. The explana-


ton came after the minister had COM


pleted his European tour. At midnight


the door-beIl Of his parsonage was vio-


lently rung. Going to the window, the


minister saw a man standing aon his
door-stone, and he demanded his busi-
ness. He came with a message, he said
from dying woman. Hastily dressing
himself, the good man came to the door
and received the message. Just around
the block was poor woman, and she
was dying. Her only treasure was q
babe. She could not die in peace unless
her babe was baptized. If his reverence
would come to her dying pillow, and
administer that sacrament, the blessing
of poor dying woman would be his re-
ward. 1t was much to ask, and at mid
night too, but his great master who
loved the poor, would not have denied
such request as this.


His humane and religious sympathies
were aroused, and the minister followed
the messenger. Common prudence
would have said, "Take a policeman with
you. Call up . friend, aud get him to
bear part in the ceremony" But,
dreaming Of no peril, he went on his
way to do, as he. thought, his masters
will. He was soon in dissolute region,
in street notorious for its uncleanliness.
The messenger knocked alta heavy gate,
that closed up a narrow, dark alley. 1t
opened Immediately, and slammed be-
hind the parties like a prison door.
Through long, narrow, and unwhole-
some entry that seemed to be an alley
way covered, the parties. took their way.
They passed up narrow staircase, bro
ken and rickety. Lewd women were
passed on the stairs. Dark featured and
Misunderstanding men seemed to crowd
the place. With his sacred vestments
on his arm, aud his book Of service in
his hand, the minister was ushered into
a dark aud unwholesome-l looking room.
The door was closed behind him, and
locked. A dim candle. on the table re-
vealed the outline Of Il dozen persons,
male and female, Of the most abandoned
and desperate class. His inquiry for the
sick woman, and the child to be bap-
tized, was greeted by shouts of laughter
He knew he was victim. He demand
ell the reason for this outrage. He was
informed that his friends who had in
vited 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 one thou
sand dollars, all would be well. Ifnot,
his ruin was certain. i instead of DEFY
ing the villains, calling on the police, or
confiding in his congregation, he
IHOuSHO uC COuiu HUSH the matter uD.
He might have known that it would all
come out, and that every dollar he paid
would be used as evidence against him,
or as means to extort more. But he was
thoroughly frightened; would not have
the thing known for the world; his hand
was in the lions mouth, and lie must
draw it out as easily as he could; SO he
gave his obligation to pay the money
at noon the uext day, which
he did. OF course new demands were
made from time to time. He was dog
ged in the streets. Suspicious looking
men stopped to speak with him on the
corners. Notorious men rang his door
bell. Mysterious notes from ignorant,
low bred, and vicious persons, as the
spelling and language showed came to
his HANDS, and into the hands of his
family. The poor man was nearly dis
tracted. He paid away his own money.
and borrowed till his reputation suffer
ed. The threat of exposure hung ever
him like an Ominous sword held bv n
hair. In Il moment of dpsnaratinn 10