Baymen Embrace Religion

New York, 1895

Prayer Meetings on Oyster Boats and in Sail Lofts.

A religious wave is sweeping Patchogue from centre to circumference. The saloon trade has fallen off over half in a week, and prayer meetings are being held in oyster packing houses, shipping houses, sail lofts, ship yards and aboard oyster boats. On Friday night forty sinners fell upon their knees before the altar of the Methodist church and proclaimed their conversion. Saturday night a big revival meeting was held in what was formerly the toughest barroom in the place. Until two weeks ago Edward McNulty was breaking the law continually, but the Rev. Mr. Ferguson brought about his conversion, and McNulty removed all his liquors and fixtures on Saturday night, the minister helping in the moving.

Meetings were held in the big sail loft of George H. Miller several times last week, as well as in other lofts and oyster houses, and big bronzed bay men fell upon their knees and begged forgiveness for past transgressions.

The Gordon family, which is a large one, has been converted from the grandmother down to the youngest child.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 1, 1895, p. 2.