Angelic Appearances.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 165, 13 October 1880, Page 2

Angelic Appearances.

A very disagreeable affair recently occurred at New Hampshire, and has created an exceedingly painful sensation there. The Rev. Mr. White is the minister of a sect known as the “Angelic Believers,” and preaches every Sunday to his congregation in the village of Passamawachburch, New Hampshire. The Angelic Believers hold to the opinion that enough attention has not been paid to angels, who, if properly treated, would pay occasional visits to respectable believers. Mr. White, in a sermon which he preached one day last month, remarked that “ angels is liable to turn up anywheres,” and stated that he should not be surprised at receiving at any moment a visit from these celestial beings. Amongst those present when this sermon was delivered were three boys—two of them brothers, by name Roberts, and the other a boy named George Blodgett—all three summer visitors from Boston. The next evening Master Blodgett, having borrowed three of his sisters’ nightgowns, arrayed himself and the two Masters Roberts in those garments, on which he had stitched chickens’ wings, and with white handkerchiefs foldedround their heads, to make the illusion more complete, the three unprincipled youths proceeded to Mr. White’s house and knocked at the door. The reverend gentleman at first requested his visitors to go away, but on being . informed that they were angels who had called to thank him for his complimentary remarks, at once admitted them with a warm welcome. Master Blodgett then suggested that either a kid or a fatted calf should be killed and roasted for supper. Mr. White expressed his profound regret that he had no kids or calves on his premises, but brought out some cold pork from his larder. The angels, however, indignantly refused to eat the pork, upon which Mr. White killed and prepared to broil a chicken, and produced a bottle of cider and some dough-nuts. Mrs. White entered the room, and was introduced to them with much pride by her husband. Being struck, however, by the smallness of their wings, she examined them closely, and discovered on each of their garments the initials of Master Blodgett’s sister, she indignantly exclaimed that she had herself washed “ all three of them nightgowns,” and immediately locking the door, proceeded, with the assistance of Mr. Wl\itc, whose anger was also aroused, to administer a sound thrashing to the angels by means of a stout broomstick. At the end of about 15 minutes the broomstick broke, when Master Blodgett and his companions were allowed to depart on payment $2 each, the estimated cost of the supper. A schism has since arisen among the Angelic Believers, some of whom fairly believe that the Rev. Mr. White’s visitors were genuine angels, and should have received better treatment.