Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-01-20
Truth Stranger than Fiction

s'ore on Main street, in this city, last
Saturday evening, for the purpose of
reading certain documents CONCERNING
the Rev. IRA Smith which had been re-
ceiVed from the east, l take this oppor-
tunIty to say few words in regard to
them.
Considering the unsettled state Of
public feeling in this place, at present,
IN regard to the Rev. Ira SMITH, have
taken the pains 20 procure copy of the
proceedings Of the citizens of Seneca
FAILS, New York, at the time of the al
legged misconduct of Mr.. SMITH at that
place.
Alter careful perusal I think the read
Ter will observed that his accusers had
no evidence there to sustain them. and
the vindictiye disposition of few dis
cordant spirits there, has followed him
to this place, where by secretly sowing
the seeds of SANDER they have found
kindred and friends This is a course
that is not only doing great injury to
the credit of our own community. but is
doing an almost irreparable injury to a
well disposed and truly Christian man.
am truly sorry to see our professed
Christian people running wild in this
manner with scarcely a shadow of evil
dence to sustain them.
The following is the copy of hand
bill which was circulated about the
streets Of Seneca Falls ...r.sa.
a Public Meeting.
Whereas, grave and serious charges
having been made public, of gross I'M
morali' y, having been practiced by Rev.
Ira Smith since he came amongst us
And whereas, certain responsible mem
bers of the Baptist Church have labored
with said Church and the said Smith to
have the matter investigated, but have
been repulsed and vilifed And where
as, while these charges were pending
before said Church they have granted
the said Smith letter of recommends
ton and dismis.iOn, 'Iased
Therefore, the undersigned, believing
that the public have an interest in the
conduct of public religious teachers,
would call a Public Meeting, at Union
Hall, on Tuesday, July 28th, at o'clock
L. M, for the purpose of hearing the
evidence Of said Smiths immoral con
duct, and making an expression con
corning the same.
BY order Of B. S. Nichols,
Otis Dye, L. G. Nichols,
William Day, Asa J. Van Cleft,
Seneca Falls, July 81, 1857.
The following are the proceedings Of
the above meeting rs published by the
Seneca Falls Courier.
Public Meeting.
Pursuant to the call, public meetino
was held at Union Hall on the 28th ult.,
tor the purpose Of examining into GER
tain charges preferred against the Rev.
Ira Smith. 1ai
A committee was appointed to draft
resolutions expressive of the sense oil
the meeting. The committee presented
the following report, which was adopted:
Your committee on resolutions. ex-
Pressive of the sense Of this meeting in
regard to the conduct of the Rev. Ira
Smith, would respectfully represent,
that IN view of this matter the CHARGES
OF immortality made against said Smith
have not been sustained III the proceed
lngs of this meeting; and further that
we believe the subject to be Incapable
of fair treatment by this community.
owing to the strong personal 5feeljag ex,
hibited both by the accusors as we'll 90
the friends of the said Smith. And we
would further suggest that the matter
be referred back to the whole Baptist
Church Of this village where it properly
belongs.
ResO1vea, That the proceedings oil
meeting be published in the village pa
pers. GARRY BELLOWS, Chm.
H. a. ingalls, 'iis' Secretaries.
The following remarks relating to the
above meeting 1 fluid in the Rochester
Union. -
A HUss IN THE CHURCH. A MINIS
TER Examined. "A friend who was at
Seneca Falls this morning, reports that
much excitement prevails there in con-
sequence of charges of immoral conduct
made against Rev. Ira Smith, pastor of
the Baptist Church. It is said that the
reports prejudicial to Mr.. S. did not in
any way implicate him with the other
sex, but he was charged with holding
improper conversation with boys. The
church investigated the charges and did :
not attach much Importance to them. = :
1t gave Mr. S. letter of dismissal and
recommendation. This offended GER
tain gentlemen who signed and issued
hand bill calling q public meeting at ;
Union Hall, to consider the charges :,
against Mr.. Smith. The meeting was
largely attended, and passed resolutions $
exhonerating him. Mr.. Smith was once, t
we believe, resident of this county, and i
Is sad to be gentleman Of ability.
The above is plain statement of the
facts. w P
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURES.
Both Houses of the Legislature being fnlI,, d
organized the business the session is proceed c
ng' The following are the officers of tina A. =
,embly = Il. II. d. CRANE, Chief Clerk John 2
5. Dean, Assistant Clerk, Geo Burnside En
crossing Clerk; Geo. w. Stoner, Assist a
5lbbs DR., TRANSFERRING Clerk E. MINK Co.