Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-23
A Card.

The citizens Of Chester and vicinity have re-
Gently had the privilege Of reading certain
pamphlet published by Rev. E. s. Foster, entitled
" The Complete Discussion of the Question of
Endless Punishment" etc. All those who have
read said pamphlet are desired to read the follow
ing statements
LIST. He says that in publishing my pamphlet
entitled "The Entire Correspondence" etc.,
dishonesty withheld my first letter in order to
make him appear the challenging party.
The proposition to engage in discussion with
Mr.. F. was first made to me on April 2lst, 1869,
at which time the conversation took place which
is spoken of in my first letter to him published in
both pamphlets. On May sth, 1869, I was told
that Mr.. F. had been informed of my willingness
to discuss with him in writing, and had replied
that as soon as he had leisure should hear from
him. On May 2lst was asked if MIR. F. had
yet written, and on replying negatively, was told
that he would soon, as he had promised certain
parties that his people should have the benefit of
the discussion.
Having contemplated holding private discus
sion only, this step, taken without my consent
surprised me, and making some remark to that
effect, was advised that if had any conditions
to make had better do SO then. Agreeably to
this advice made two copies of the "Agree-
ment," which signed and enclosed with a note
to Mrs. W. This note (Which is the letter Mr..
F. accuses me of withholding contained simply
the request, pencilled in three four lines that
she would hand the copies of agreement to MIR.
F, desiring him to sign them and return one to
me-. So far from its being the initial act of the
discussion, the truth is that the discussion had
been negotiated, and consented to before it was
written, and would have taken place had it never
existed
End. Mr.. F. says that was but the instru-
ment of the Orthodox ministers in town who had
combined their efforts for the special purpose of
fastening " obloquy" upon him that I wrote
| under the direction and instruction of Others. l
wrote the letters which bear my signature myself,
unassisted by any one, either minister orlayman,
except that once when suffering from intiamed
eyes, friend looked out single passage for me
in the Greek Testament.
My letters are far from having any claim to lit
erary merit, but such as they are, they mine.
My reasons for permitting their publication are
understood by my friends, who know the disad-
yantages under which wrote and will be charit-
able in their Judgment. There was combina-
ton against Mr. F.. The discussion was negoti-
ated by members of his congregation. No one ex-
| cept my parents knew that had written until
after the discussion was closed. No one would
have known from me that any discussion was in
progress had not Mr.. F. s refusal to grant the
quest expressed in my letter of June 4th, con-
corning the use of Greek Lexicons, compelled me
to ask the use of library larger than my own.
| That am not a Greek scholar is no secret. l
know the Greek alphabet, and can spell out SEN
fences in the Testament, and find the meaning OF
words in the Lexicon. L used this knowledge as
we'll as 1 was able whether was incorrect in any
| Or Crock scholars nd M Mr. f
| to decide
3rd. Mr. = charges that employed help to
copy and correct my letters for printer, and sent
them secretly with his uncopied and that l
withheld the proof-sheets from him. contrary to
agreement.
Appended TO my letter of September 18th, 1863
is a Postscript in which are these words: 81 will
g myself assume the labor and responsibility OF
publishing, and will cause the work to be COM
'menced immediately" l waited for a response
to this, which came under date of Sept. oath, and
informed me that he was willing to do nothing
further with me. Being at that time unable tc
use my pen, 1 employed Mr.. D to give me an
extra copy OF the entire correspondence, correct
ing bad spelling wherever found for l noticed
that not all Mr.. F.'s errors of this kind had re-
ceived his pen-mark correction. Grammatical
errors We're not corrected. l deemed it to be the
business Of a man who is a member of a learned
prof ssion and was writing avowedly for publ
cation to write good English. Having all the
original letters still in my possession, 1 am able
to prove that my pamphlet is a faithful copy Of
| them.
| Mr.. Fosters pamphlet contains true copy Of
my letters, and revised edition of his wherein
he has caused to be made one hundred and thirty
six alterations nearly all being grammatical ina
provements, with few places rewritten, so as tC
| change the sense more or less. The entire proof
of my pamphlet was corrected by myself, without
assistance from any one. There still remain
twentysix printers errors, of which nineteen are
in my part, and seven in Mr.. F.'s. 1 offered
Will offer IoGe &c hi}sava &tf d66epFed.
4th. Numerous witnesses are mentioned by
their initials 1 am unable to guess whe are
meant in some instances, but, feeling that have
nothing to fear from the testimony of any honest
person, would refer the public to the individual:
mentioned, who are all able to speak for them
selves and some of whom desire it to be under
stood that they prefer to do so.
me remainder of Mr.. F.'s statements are left
without comment for the public judgment. Mel
Their will any reply be made to his arguments, a:
might have been, had they been written in a diff
ferent style.
1 am Well aware that these statements do not
place Mr.. Fosters character in a very enviablt
light, and will therefore grant him my full per
mission to waive his charitable scruples, and with
out being discouraged by the failure of his last
attempt in that line to proceed at once to secure
all the legal redress to which he is entitled.
LuCYA. PRoUTV.
Chester vt June 18th 1870,