A most ridiculous scene occurred at a church in Newcastle, Penn.,
one Sunday, a short time ago. A policeman was passing the church as a
gentleman came out. The man jokingly accosted the policeman and said he
was wanted inside meaning that he would be glad to have him turn from
the error of his ways, and seek the truth and enjoy a peace that passeth
all understanding. The stupid policeman thought there was some trouble
in the church, so he went in.
The sexton, seeing a policeman, was anxious to give him a favorable
seat, so he said, “Come right in here,” and he took him into a pew and
waved his hand as much as to say, “Help yourself.” There was another
man in the pew, a deacon with a sinister expression, as the policeman
thought, and he supposed that was the man they wanted arrested, so he
tapped the deacon on the arm and told him to go into the aisle. The
deacon struggled, thinking the policeman was crazy, and tried to get
away, but he was dragged along. Many of the congregation thought that
the deacon had been doing something wrong, and some of them got behind
the deacon and helped the officer fire him out.
Arriving at the lock-up, the policeman saw the man who told him he
was wanted in the church and asked him what the charge was against the
deacon, and he didn't know, so the sexton was appealed to, and he didn't
know, and finally the prisoner was asked what it was all about, and he
didn't know.
The policeman was asked what he arrested the man for, and he didn't
know, and after awhile the matter was explained, and the policeman, who
had to arrest somebody, took the man into custody who told him he was
wanted in the church, and he was fined five dollars and costs.
He says he will never try to convert a policeman again, and the
policeman says he will never go into a church again if they get to
knocking each other down with hymn books.