THE BOXING CHAMPION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2400, 15 January 1909, Page 2

THE BOXING CHAMPION.

JO'HNSON ON METHODISTS. FAVORITE BOOKS. .Jack ' Johnson, the avoi lcl J s boxing champion, left Sydney last week for Melbourne. Prior to his departure the champion expressed his views relative to the ethics of Ilia profession. “Since I beat Burns,” he observed, “the people of New South AN ales have suddenly'ta’ken a great dislike to mo. Though he got a great walloping. Burns is more popular here than I am, all because lie does what you Australians call the ‘penitent smoodge.’ However, I never expected to find sympathy here, as my color is against me. AVlien distressed by criticism of this sort I simply turn up two of my favorite books. Shakespeare’s ‘Titus Amlronicus,’ Bunyan’s •Pilgrim’s Progress.’ or Milton's ‘Paradise Lost’ and there 1 find plenty of consolation to soothe away anv irritation. “You may be surprised that I should turn to literary work when annoyed instead ol : seeking sympathy from the Church to which I belong. Of course, you know I am a Methodist, and our Church is regarded as second to none anywhere in America—or in the world. It is the world’s champion Church. AY hen I arrived hero in Sydney first- oi all X expected to be well looked after by mv fellowreligionists in Sydney. Veil, do you believe it. not one of the Methodists called on me. At first I resented this very much, and I fretted a lot, -so that my manager had fears lest I should go back in my training. However. ajvci; or so convinced me that the Methodists over acre arc quite a dilf ere lit crowd to what I have been accustomed to, and 1 feel glad now I had brains enough to find consolation in reading a few chapters ol ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ instead of publicly rebuking the sect to which I belong. “Outside the conduct of the local 'Methodists in not inviting me to church, there is not a single one, so far as I can" learn, signified his intention of witnessing the fight. In America., whenever I had a scrap, I could always count on solid support from my denomination. However, I am not going to bo nasty about Sydney’s people. The majority of you are all right; but. .as I am a descendant of Ham, I must bear your reproaches because I beat a. white man. “C'o.uld any Christian nation have extended a more inhospitable welcome to a victor in a great contest? AVhon I Avon. I hilly expected to he feted. That was my due. However, you spurned me.” The Rev. AV. G. Taylor, of the Sydney Central Mission, seen in reference to Johnson’s statements, said he had no idea that Johnson Avas a member of the Methodist Church. He was not debarred from attending the services of the church. In fact, he believed that Johnson, shortly after Iris arrival in Sydney, did put in an appearance once, and was seen engaged in earnest prayer. Asked if it was a fact that Mr Johnson was not welcomed on arrival, Mr Taylor said; “Certainly not;, how were avg to know that he Avas a. Methodist at all? Every Methodist when he leaves ono place gets a letter, which ho presents at the next place he visits. Jolmson did not present his,credentials to us, and we took no more notice of him than of any other stranger but did not draAV the color lino at all. AA r c have men of many colors in' our Church.”