The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7. 1889. WHO IS HE?

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2220, 7 September 1889, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7. 1889. WHO IS HE?

For some months past a Mr G. T. ftullivan has been taking a prominent part m evangelistic or as it used to be called " revival " work, under the auspices of churches of various denominations, m different parts of the colony. Ihe mission began m Auckland, where Mr Ballivan professed to have been converted, and is now being carried on m Christchurch. A sort of halo has surrounded Mr Sulliven, on account of its being stated that he was a brother of J. L Sullivan, the American prize-fighter, and this, together frith his being the possessor of musical talent of no moan order, attracted many to the services m which he took a prominent part, who otherwise might not have attended* Two or three weeks ago his relationship to John L. Sullivan was questioned by some individuals who had met Mr G. T. Sullivan m Australia, whore he was one of a party of American athletes, and went under the name of Arthur Clamfct^. Suspicion being aroused it waß natural that some attention should be given to Mr G. T. Sullivan's account of himself, when it was observed that he was remarkably reticent as to his early history. Further enquiries by that persistent character, a newspaper interviewer, revealed further grounds for suspicion, and Mr G. T. 1 Sullivan was invited to favor the journal which had taken up thematter w'th so much I of his family history as would prove bis right to sail under the colors of a mem--1 ber of the prize-fighter's family. This j invitation not being responded to, cer* ( tain categorical questions were put to . Mr G. '1. Sullivan, who peremptorily refused to answer them or to recognise the right of anyone whomsoever to ques- | tiou him on the subject. The Christchurch Ministers' Association then called j upon Mr G T. Sullivan to set at rest the doubts that had arisen as to his bona • fide*, but he refused to attend the meet- » ing of the ministers, and repulsed the B deputation sent to him m a manner of r which two widely different accounts have been published. Mr G. T. Sullivan was 3 at last brought by the earnest solicita- ~ tions of some of his best friends to write t a long letter to the v Presß " (of which b we published the gist on Thursday) - which was read to the Ministers' Assoc iation, but did not entirely satisfy that 1 body, seeing that no explicit denial was 1 given to certain allegations which had c been made through the press, and which, 6 unless refuted, were likely to destroy - his usefulness as a Christian worker. !. Mr G. T. Sullivan was accordingly >, asked to meet the Ministers at a »' friendly conference, but he declined to r attend saying that he had already pub--5 liphed all that he intended to say upon ~ the matter. A deputation of Ministers was appointed to auk Mr G. T. Sullivan a few questions which if satisfactorily ir answered would have cleared away the c doubts, but he absolutely declined tp *; meet them, and they have come to the ; conclusion that they cannot give him 18 their confidence and support. "We have 8 given this muchot narrative as the question has excited some interest throughout the colony. The conclusion of the * Christchurch Ministers will be that of all ,t who consider that one who professes to li guide B r naerB into the way of Salvation I should himself be able to prove that he p }B what he assumes to be.