A Minister's Misfortunes

New York, 1895

The Rev. H. C. Glover returned to his home in Cutchogue Wednesday evening with empty pockets. He was on his way home through Long Island City with $50 in cash and $94 in checks in his pocket. During his journey some light fingered rogue relieved the minister of his pocketbook. To make matters worse the thief also got away with the Rev. Glover's return ticket, and the loss was not discovered until he had reached the depot.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, April 12, 1895, p. 5.

Shoots An Accused Minister

1916

Slayer Is Man Whose Wife's Name Is Involved.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — William Trotter, under arrest at Shady Grove, Ala., charged with killing the Rev. J. E. C. Harrison, according to Shady Grove police, has admitted that he shot Harrison.

According to reports the minister had been suspended by church officials on charges of misconduct with Mrs. Trotter, who is organist at the church.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 3.

The Mission of Christ

1900

EVERY DAY RELIGION

Suggested by Sunday School Topic for March 25th, 1900

"I tell you," exclaimed the Man-of-Spirit, "the trouble with us is that we haven't backbone. We're afraid! Why, we call ourselves a Christian nation; the world calls itself civilized, and look at it! What has the church to do with the ruling of this country? Nothing! We ought to rise in our might and make ourselves felt! But we don't do it! And I'm afraid we won't do it. It's discouraging, the lack of backbone you find in the world. Don't you think so, Uncle Bez?"

"Well, I've found some pretty determined people in the world," replied Uncle Bez. "Some of them determined to do the right thing, and some determined to do the wrong. I don't believe that it's altogether a question of more backbone; I don't think that is the crying need of the church today. In fact, I'm not so sure that we haven't too much backbone, some of us. I'm not sure that we are not a proud and stiff-necked generation.

"I think if you'll get down your New Testament and read a little of the life of Christ, you will very soon see that He does not require us to carry the world by storm. You remember that He warned His disciples against seeking to 'domineer' men; 'for the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.'

"He was born in a stable; no man was crowded out of the comfortable inn to make room for the King of Glory.

"He began busying Himself 'about His Father's business,' when other boys were busy with games.

"His fore-runner was not a knightly herald in purple, but a man in camel's hair from the desert.

"Immediately after His ministry began, the devil began to tempt Him to take the kingdoms of the world for His own, but He would not — that was not the sort of rule He came to establish.

"He called disciples unto Him — that they might care for Him, watch Him and guard Him? No — they slept while He passed through the greatest agony the world has ever seen. 'Not to be ministered unto, but to minister.' He gathered them about Him that He might, with infinite patience and tenderness, teach them the way to live.

"He explained to Nicodemus that the Son of Man 'must be lifted up' — must give His life as a ransom for many.

"To the woman at the well, a Samaritan with whom the self-righteous Jews had nothing to do, and again to the publicans and sinners who gathered at Matthew's house, Christ went bearing the message of eternal life.

"To His friends and neighbors at Nazareth He declared that He was anointed 'to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind' — 'to minister.'

"At Capernaum He healed many, casting out devils, and forgiving sins — healing body and soul — ministering unto poor, sin-sick man.

"But in all of it, there's not a word about rising in His might and taking the world by force.

"Christ never drove any one. The only force He uses is the power of love, to draw all men to Him.

"He came to minister. Don't let us get the notion into our heads that we can do His work for Him. He has work for us to do — work in plenty if we do not turn from it, but it is not His work. We may become co-laborers with God, but only to do our own part. We must leave God's part with Him. 'God giveth the increase.' The results belong to Him, and our faith is very weak if after we have done the best we can according to our conscience and God's pointing and the common sense He has given us — our faith is very weak, I say, if we can't trust the outcome with God, but think we must get our backbone up, and 'rise in our might,' and take a club and drive men into the kingdom of heaven. We are not going to establish any inquisitions in these days; we have learned to know the love of God better than that.

"But, on the other hand, while we are to allow Christ to minister unto us to our soul's salvation; while we are to accept what He does for us; while we cannot 'convert' the world nor a single soul — we must follow in His steps if we are His children, and become also ministers inasmuch as it is in our power. After Christ has ministered to us, we must go and find our brethren as Andrew and Philip found Nathaniel; as the woman of Samaria went to the men of her city, saying, 'Come and see'; as those who were healed at Capernaum brought others to be healed; as Mathew made a feast and invited in publicans and sinners to see and hear the Master. We, too, must become ministers.

"I wouldn't become discouraged if I were you," Uncle Bez went on. "I know there are a good many things in the world we would like to have different. I know the devil seems to have a pretty good grip on some of the best things in the world, but I've faith enough to believe it's all coming out right in the end. Christ came to minister — and I don't believe His mission will be a failure. Do you?" — JOHNSTONE MURRAY.

Trying to Keep Out

1901

A sick man who was really near to death could not resist the temptation to have a little fun with his spiritual adviser. He had a lingering malady, but his days were certainly numbered by a few weeks at the most. He had not been known as a man of strong religious convictions, and yet there was little if anything which could be said against him. It was one of those delicate cases in which it is hard for the minister to do anything. Some one suggested to Rev. Paul Weyand, then stationed at Morningside, that he make a call upon the patient.

Going to the house, he found the man propped up in bed to relieve a smothering sensation. The sick man could scarcely talk above a whisper, and Rev. Mr. Weyand began to make subtle inquiries about his spiritual welfare. The invalid's answers were all noncommittal and evasive, and finally in despair the pastor asked:

"Do you really want to go to heaven, Mr. Blank?"

"Do I want to go to heaven?" repeated the dying man in a hoarse whisper. "Why, that's the place I've been fighting so hard to keep out of for the last two years." — Pittsburgh News.

Rob a Minister Politely

1901

Unusual Courtesy Shown by Thieves in a Pittsburgh Pastor's Home

An interesting dialogue between a minister and a burglar occurred at 3 o'clock one morning recently, when the Rev. Dr. McClelland, pastor of the Bellefield Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, was awakened from his slumbers and went to the door to behold the muzzles of four pistols leveled at his head. The captain of the gang said: "You will die if you don't hold up your hands." Dr. McClelland relates his experience as follows:

"The fellow kept his pistols within a few inches of my head. He directed me to turn, open the door, and walk back to bed. My wife was sitting up in bed crying, but the trio followed me into the room. There was nothing for me to do but obey.

"'Have you any money?' the captain asked.

"'You will find $5.81 in an envelope on the dresser marked "Presbyterian hospital,'" I informed him. 'If you take that money you are pretty hard up.'

"'How did you come by it?' he questioned.

"'I am a clergyman,' I answered. "When he heard this he seemed to feel sorry and remarked: 'My dear sir," had I known this was a minister's home I would not have entered, but I suppose you can get some more money for the hospital.'

"Then he discovered my watch on the dresser, and asked me if it was of value. I informed him that it was a present. 'If that is so I guess we'll let you keep it,' the captain said. He ordered the searcher to let the watch remain where it was. The door of the children's room was open. Mrs. McClelland asked the burglars to keep out of there as the little girl was sick and nervous.

"'Just to oblige you, my dear madam,' the spokesman said. He kept his word, and the room was not disturbed.

"The chief then asked who occupied the front room. I told him my daughter. He wanted to know if she had any money or valuables. I said no. He also promised not to disturb her.

"I agreed to make no outcry when they left."

Minister Nears Century Mark

Indiana, 1906

Miami County Minister Will Be 100 Years Old April 1

Wabash, Indiana, Feb. 27 — The Rev. Samuel Murray, for fifty-three years a resident of Pipe Creek township, Miami county, will on April 1 round out one hundred years of life. He was born in Lancaster, Pa., moved to Ohio, and later to Indiana on the farm he has occupied since.

Of his sixteen children, twelve are living. Three of his sons, like himself, are ministers. His children are scattered over several states.

The Rev. Mr. Murray is a German Baptist and he retired from active ministerial work eight years ago. He expects to celebrate his centenary by preaching in an Indianapolis church, his birthday coming on Sunday. He is still vigorous, physically and mentally.

—Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN, Feb. 28, 1906, p. 4.

Getting to Know the People of the Church

1905

Whenever Mrs. Joshua Ely declared that for her part she believed in speaking the truth and not mincing matters, her hearers know that somebody's reputation was about to suffer. Mrs. Ely, herself, said that she always had been outspoken, and she intended to be. Her neighbors said various things. The fact of the matter was that as Mrs. Ely was the possessor, in addition to her sharp tongue, of an imposing presence and much force of character, nobody in the village dared openly oppose her.

Nobody, that is, until the new minister's wife came. The new minister's wife was a slender, girlish-looking creature whom Mrs. Ely "sized up" at once as being one of those women who need somebody to form their opinions for them, and this responsible duty she promptly took upon herself. She was the first to call, and in the course of a long monologue she enlightened the minister's life in regard to the failings of a large number of her husband's parishioners.

"I think it is better to know the truth in the first place," she declared, slowing up a moment for breath.

Then the minister's wife spoke with quick earnestness:

"I quite agree with you, Mrs. Ely, only don't you think that, after all, there is nothing to difficult to know as the truth? Because, of course, the truth about a person means the whole person; it is no more fair to pick out one trait and call that the truth than it would be to define a rose bush as a bush with thorns. That is true, but it is only a part, and very small part, of the truth.

"I've thought a good deal about this since I've been a minister's wife, and I've made up my mind to learn just as much of the truth as I possibly can. This is especially necessary in coming to a new place, where we don't know anybody; and that's why I'm so glad that you came in this afternoon.

"You are just the one to help me, you've lived here so long and know everybody so well. I'm going to ask you, just as a beginning toward the truth, if you won't go over the list of church members with me, and tell me the very finest and bravest thing you know about everybody. You've no idea how it will help."

—Quoted from Youth's Companion.

A Minister's Experience of Big Explosion

1900

Rev. Dr. Luther's Thrilling Story of New York's Big Explosion

Rev. Dr. Luther of the Wilson Memorial chapel, Forty-second street and Tenth avenue, was a block away when the explosion which destroyed Tarrant's drug house in New York occurred. In stopping one of many stampeded horses he was kicked in the head, sustaining a scalp wound.

"My experience," said Dr. Luther to a reporter of the New York World, "was one which I shall never forget. Just before the great explosion came I had been directly opposite the burning building. Had I remained there a minute longer I surely would have been killed. When I first arrived on the scene, there was a dense black smoke pouring out of the windows. I saw men and women assisted out of the building by the firemen. Then there was an unusual noise, which emanated from the interior of the building. White smoke began to pour out.

"As I looked up I saw a man appear at an upper window. His face expressed both agony and fear. The smoke almost shut him out from the view of the people in the street below. 'Go up to the roof. For God's sake go up to the roof!' the crowd shouted to him. The man appeared to be bewildered. I saw him step back from the window. We never saw him after that. A moment later there followed the great explosion which brought the entire building to the ground.

"Before the first explosion the people in the street pushed up toward the burning building in order to get a better view of it. After the first explosion there was a mad rush to get out of the way, and the rush turned into a regular stampede when the second explosion occurred.

"It seemed to me," continued Dr. Luther, "as though the entire building was carried up into the air, only to be thrown down again with all the more force and to be broken into thousands of fragments, carrying death and destruction in its wake. There was a slight sound before the explosion, and then there were a flash and a noise that shook the ground upon which I was standing. The crowd stampeded down the street. Women and men fell over one another, and to add to the excitement and confusion the truck horses stampeded. There were at least 20 runaways at one time. Many of the horses had feed bags over their heads.

"At Greenwich street there was the wildest confusion. Men and women were piled up in heaps, and others crawled over them in their anxiety to reach a place of safety. Many horses had fallen, and they blocked the avenues of escape. I tried to get to one of the horses that had fallen, but was uninjured. I made an effort to get him on his feet, but could not. Fearing that there might be still more explosions. I hurried away and went to John Street church, where I was originally bound for, and gave thanks to God for my deliverance."


Scotch Divine

A Scotch divine took one of his parishioners to task for his non-attendance at kirk; the man said: "I dinna like lang sermons." The parson, with some wrath, replied: "John, ye'll dee, and go to a place where ye'll not have the privilege of hearing long or short sermons." "That may be," said John, "but it winna be for lack of parsons."

Men Try to Beat Devil Out of Boy

1914

Holy Roller Preacher and Two Illinoisans Accused of Assault

Lad Sustains Broken Arm

Cousin, With Club, Ends Attack After He Is Seriously Injured — Fanatics in Jail Try to Pray the Prison Doors Open

Murphysboro, Ill., Feb. 10. — Noah Hickman lies at the point of death at his home in the foothills of the Ozarks, in Jackson county, as the result of flogging and trampling he suffered when he refused to accept the Holy Roller faith. Dolph Hickman, young Hickman's father, Walter Ellis and Adam Cripps were arrested on the charge of assault. Cripps was released on $500 bond.

Friday night the Holy Rollers held an all-night meeting at the Hickman home. Young Hickman, who is an epileptic, was told that he was possessed of evil spirits, and the Holy Rollers said they would trample the demons out of him.

Cousin Halts Attack

Hickman's father, one of his sisters, Ellis and Cripps bore their victim to the floor after flogging him and trampled on him. He sustained a broken arm, a dislocated shoulder and several internal injuries. The arrival of Tom Hickman, the boy's cousin, with a club ended the attack.

The Holy Rollers have held all-night prayer services at Macedonia, Dutch Ridge, Poplar Ridge and other remote centers in the hills. Some of them have killed off swine and let them die in the woods as things unfit to touch. The district is aroused and will try to stamp out the faith.

The Holy Rollers in the Jonesboro jail are attempting to pray the prison doors open.

Minister Took Look at Gambling Rooms

Illinois, 1914

Alton Parson Strolled to the Gambling Rooms

Now They Are Wondering Just What The Answer Will Be

Alton residents are wondering what a minister from that city will do with his recently acquired knowledge. He spent an evening this week in one of the so-called resorts of the city. Many think he may appear before the grand jury. The Alton Times tells of the visitation as follows:

"One of the Alton ministers spent last evening — or a part of it in a gambling house on West Second street. He is a young man and an innocent looking chap. He put a pipe in his mouth, wore a pair of boots in which his trousers were tucked at the top of the boots, had on an old rain coat, pulled his hat so that it gave his a rakish air.

He did not consider himself disguised but he made himself look like a young man who makes money and lets go of it easily. So he went down to the building on West Second street, walked up to the rooms above Ballard and John's restaurant and walked right in. There was a good sized crowd of players and the silver dollars were strewn about in an abundance that surprised a man who had heard that there is a money stringency in Alton. He took no part in the play but he saw the others rolling dice. He states that at one time there was at least five hundred dollars on the table. In the same room some players were playing poker. He says they were playing cards and he believes the game was not 'flinch or five hundred.'

"The roulette table was in the same room with the crap table, but 'craps' was the most popular game. The roulette game was not running.

"The minister looked on until he had seen enough and then walked out. He will deliver an address at the Baptist church next Sunday and tell all about what he saw.

"The silver dollars were in stacks of twenty each and he counted the stacks until he had reached a total of $600 and then quit though he did not inventory the smaller coins."

—Edwardsville Intelligencer, Edwardsville, IL, Feb. 10, 1914, p. 1

Dr. Aked Resigning Under Fire, Bible Snatched and Torn

1914

Dr. Aked to Resign Under Church Fire

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 5. — As the result of criticism directed by the Presbyterian Ministers' Association of the San Francisco Bay cities against the declaration made Sunday by the Rev. Dr. Charles F. Aked, a clergyman of international repute, he probably will resign as president of the San Francisco Church Federation, according to announcement just made by Doctor Aked himself.

A communication has been prepared by the Ministers' Association asking for Doctor Aked's resignation because of utterances from the pulpit of the First Congregational Church last Sunday.

Doctor Aked said he would not support the doctrine of the miraculous conception and birth of Christ. "My conclusion upon this question," he announced, "is that the faith of Mark and John and James and Paul is good enough for me. It is good enough for any Christian. These men say nothing about Jesus having come into the world in a miraculous way. I prefer to stand with them."


1914

Minister's Bible is Snatched and Torn

Unknown Man Shows His Hatred for Dr. Aked's Doctrines

SAN FRANCISCO, March 1. — To show his disapproval of an unorthodox minister, an unknown man interrupted the ceremonies of the laying of the corner stone of the Congregational church in this city today, and tearing the Bible from the hands of the Rev. Charles Frederick Aked, who was speaking, tore the book to pieces and denounced the minister.

The occurrence caused much excitement, but the man turned quietly away, after he had torn the Bible, and walking into the crowd disappeared. His identity is still unknown.

Dr. Aked was formerly pastor of the church of John D. Rockefeller, and resigned from it some, years ago, issuing a rather caustic charge against the rich and their religion at the time of his resignation. He has been in San Francisco for the last ten years and has written quite extensively for the press on moral and social problems.

Store Wedding a Happy Affair

Iowa, 1914

Justice Kuhns performed the ceremony in the happy event that united Mr. John Hutchinson and Miss Emma Steinke in the bonds of matrimony yesterday afternoon in the Paul Davis store, and, when he had concluded Dr. A. J. Northrup, pastor of Grace M. E. church, gave the young couple a few words of good advice to guide them on their way, and offered a short prayer.

An Edison phonograph played the wedding march, the selections being "In Happy Moments" and "Hearts and Flowers." The bridal couple was attended by Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Steinke and the Misses Jorgensen, two pretty young lady employes of the store, acted as ribbon bearers.

The ceremony was witnessed by something like two hundred people and at its conclusion many of the spectators went forward and offered congratulations. Before the wedding party disbanded, a flashlight picture was taken of the group, including the minister and justice of the peace.

—Waterloo Evening Courier, Waterloo, IA, Jan. 1, 1914, p. 8.

Adventurous Minister Shows Bull Who's Boss

1904

Taming a Bull

The Rev. Elijah Kellogg was a most unconventional minister. There are many stories of his daring on sea and land. So undaunted was he that his influence over sailors and other men of adventurous life was very great.

When he was settled at Harpswell he had on his farm a bull that had become exceedingly trying and even dangerous to visitors, who liked to take a short cut across the pasture. The bull, said Mr. Kellogg, must be disciplined and taught some slight respect for humankind.

He therefore harnessed the animal to the front wheels of a heavy cart, preparatory to driving him over the road and showing him who was master. But before the guiding ropes had been adequately arranged the bull took to the woods in a mad rush, leaving fragments of the cartwheels and harness on his trail.

The little minister was not to be outdone. The next day at flood tide he lured the bull to the end of the wharf by a tempting display of fodder and, watching his opportunity, shoved him into the hay. Then he jumped astride his back and with the prowess of a "broncho buster" thrust his head under water until the creature was conquered. Thereafter he was a law abiding beast.

Eccentric Minister Lengthens Services if Weather Bad

1913

Unconventional Minister

A Missouri man tells of a somewhat eccentric minister in that state who is most unconventional in conducting the services of his church.

It appears that, from his pulpit, this clergyman can, through an open window on his right, command a clear view of the fields stretching off in the distance. One morning instead of beginning the service as usual he announced: "As I observe Sister Anna Morgan, somewhat late, approaching the church, I shall postpone the commencement of the service until her arrival."

On one occasion he made this announcement to his congregation: "As the weather is still so inclement, I will, my dear friends, lengthen my discourse somewhat in the hope that it may clear later."

This Pudding is Hot-Hot-Hot!

1874

An anecdote is told of Parson Shute, the first minister settled at South Hingham, which for ready wit ought not to pass unrecorded.

It appears that the reverend gentleman was very fond of pudding, so at a ministerial meeting one day the hostess in order to gratify the taste of her guest, had pudding for dinner. Unfortunately it came very near the fire while it was cooking, so that when it was served it was extremely hot. The parson, without allowing it time to cool, placed a piece at once in his mouth, and then followed the usual contortions incident to such an occasion, but all to no purpose.

The pudding would not go, so the parson, who was a polite gentleman, quietly slipped it out of his mouth and into his coat pocket, all of which was observed by his brother ministers, who for the purpose of a joke said, "So you are putting the pudding in your pocket, are you?" "Oh, yes," said the parson, all unmoved; "I put a little piece in there merely to light my pipe with after dinner." The explanation, it is needless to add, was sufficient.

Why Young Men Do Not Wed

New York, 1903

Due to Their Own Extravagance and Young Women's Love of Luxury

Dr. Louis Albert Banks spoke by way of prelude before his sermon in Grace Methodist Episcopal church, West One Hundred and Fourth street, on "Some Reasons Why Young Men Dodge Matrimony." He said in part, according to the New York World:

"My observation as a minister in large cities for many years convinces me that there are two reasons more powerful than others which lead young men to shun marriage. The first is extravagant habits of living on the part of young men. They live up to their income, whether it be small or great. The majority of young men with whom I have been acquainted in the last 20 years were living so extravagantly that they dared not contemplate marriage.

"A second reason is that the young women of today in towns and cities, many of them, fail to fit themselves to be fit cooks and dainty housekeepers. Furthermore, if they marry, they are anxious to marry so that they may have hired help and begin about where their parents have reached after a generation of economy and hard work.

"A young woman would rather go into a store from a good home and earn money enough to secure the luxuries in dress she desires than to marry and have the burden of home life upon her shoulders."

Minister Denounces Secret Marriages

1903

Secret Marriages

Custom Is Denounced by Minister

There seems to be a prevalent and growing custom in some localities for persons who intend to marry to go away from home to a place where they are not known, and, with none of their friends present, to be clandestinely married by some total stranger, who, for a small compensation, is willing to be the instrument of their union, even though he has no assurance that the parties have a right to marry.

Some actually appear to think that they have accomplished a very brilliant maneuver and that they are to be complimented for their smartness in keeping the news from their friends until some time after the event, or until the fact leaks out through the list of marriage licenses granted, which appears in the newspapers.

The time was when a secret marriage was either a direct indication that the consent of the parents had not been obtained, that the parties were under legal age or that there existed some other very good or, we might say, "bad" reason why they should have "loved darkness rather than light."

In the eyes of those who look on such matters in a reverent and sober way, secret marriage is considered to be shameful and improper; yet it is claimed that there are reasons of another and different sort which make secrecy desirable and in some cases almost necessary. It is said that in some communities a "public" marriage, done in a stylish way, is attended by such expense that it is greater than circumstances can afford. Also, that the thoughtless ridicule and horseplay of friends is so unbearable that the only remedy is to escape from them by flight.

The way to correct such a condition is to have the marriage performed in so simple, unobtrusive, modest, and devout a way that the expense is of small consequence and the ignorant lack of consideration and propriety of one's friends is avoided.

As long as the present state of affairs is allowed to continue, when one hears of a secret marriage, while not wishing to be harsh in his judgment, he cannot but feel distrustful of the cause; for, if all was right, the marriage ought to have been done in an open and fearless way. — The Rev. Arthur Gorter in the Living Church.

Rev. Tom Jimison "Fired" Himself

North Carolina, 1924
Lumberton Robesonian

Rev. Tom Jimison, who is better known as an agitator and politician than as a divider of The Word, was told by Bishop Denny at the Western North Carolina Methodist Conference at Greensboro last week that his political activities made him unacceptable as a pastor; that he could not send him anywhere where he would be acceptable, so the Rev. Tom asked to be located, which means that he was not given an appointment.

Jimison issued a statement in which he said that "if religion is to be unrelated to the great questions which are agitating the world today, then I do not care to be a minister of religion. If I must sacrifice my liberties as a citizen in order to be a Methodist preacher, then I do not care to be a Methodist preacher."

Things seem to be sadly jumbled in Rev. Tom's head. He is a preacher who seems to think that the salvation of the world lies in politics rather than in religion, while politicians who have attained the heights of statesmanship concede that the salvation of the world depends upon religion rather than politics. There are hundreds of preachers in every denomination who "relate" religion to the great questions agitating the world today, but who make preaching the gospel their chief concern and who never dream that they are sacrificing their "liberties as a citizen" in order to be a preacher.

The Rev. Tom is candidate for the Senate on the LaFollette-Wheeler ticket and advised third party headquarters after his connection with the conference as an active pastor was severed that he was "free as a bird" and said he could now devote his time to canvassing the State. Wherefore it seems that he is and has been a stranger to the freedom that makes a man free indeed. He seems now to feel much like the school boy who rejoices that the hated restraints of school are ended.

Of course effort will be made to make it appear that Mr. Jimison is a victim of persecution because of his radical political views; which, of course, had nothing to do with it. No man has any business in the active pastorate who shows by his activities that he is more concerned about some other line of work than he is about the ministry.

The Rev. Jimison "fired" himself.

—The Landmark, Statesville, North Carolina, October 27, 1924, page 2.

52-Year Pork and Bean Desire to be Satisfied

1921

SAN FRANCISCO, May 17.— With a 52-year-old appetite for pork and beans, the Rev. W. D. Marsh arrived today from Australia, en route to Boston. He has been in Australia as a minister and Y. M. C. A. worker since 1868.

"I'm just going to fill up on Boston baked beans and then go back to Australia," he said. Marsh is aged 80.

—Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, May 17, 1921, page 32.