ANGELIC APPEARANCES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2369, 20 October 1880, Page 4

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 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 “angelsis 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 boy named George Blodgett—all three summer visitor’s from Boston. The next evening Master Blodgett, having borrowed three of his sister’s nightgowns,arrayed himself and the two Masters Roberts in these garments, on which he had stitched chickens; wings, and folded white hankcrchiefs round 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 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 snould 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 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 White, whose auger 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 of 2 dol. 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 Whites’s visitors were genuine angels, and should have received better treatment.