The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-11-23
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4azIKEasM CHURCH II EAIR
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Several prominent members Of the
| M ~ Church have called upon us to
ascertain the names Of the authors. Of
the two communications in 4 recent
number Of tile ADVANCE which ap-
peared over tile signatures Of !" A Far
mer: and of Methodist 8 They
wanted the names, they said, because
they wished to reply and could not do
go without the names Of the authors
We replied that SO far as the commune
cation of : Methodist twas concerned,
it merely commented on facts in Prof.
1lumiston's statement; that they knew
the Professors name and that lie was
responsible for Ills statements. Fur
Their, that if any false statements had
been published, the ADVANCE was re-
sponsible. The gentlemen then, said
that " Farmers - statement concern
ing the alteration at the Colony Office
was false. We referred the gentlemen
to the sworn testimony, as published
from the Justices notes. One Of the
gentlemen then intimatel that the &C.
count was garbled, and they retired.
Now, so far rs the printed testimony
is concerned, we lave this to say: that
we printed it rs nearly word for word
10 NDcciI,1o ouI fl,,k mn ,>.;,, Aol +1,o e,r
report wherever it was possible to get
the sentence. The Justices notes were
taken down for his own guidance and
occasionally there were abrevi.tions
which we could not make out. But
upon the essential points, and especial
ly upon the points in dispute, the tes-
timony is so plain that he who runs can
read. Those who question it can have
access to Justice McDowell's notes at
any time.
AS to the two communications re-
ferred to, both the publication of the
articles and their tenor have been very
generally commended by our readers
The only exceptions we have heard <of
are a few gentlemen who are directly
interested and who would much rather
have the matter husl'ed up.
In this. matter, the ADVANCE has, as
is generally the case, stood between two
fires. We did just what any fair-mintl~
ed journalist would have done, viz:
gave all parties fair hearing. We
published the facts in one of The most
exciting local affairs which has occur
red i'll the place, refraining from any
extended editorial comment, but still
expressing our opinion of the matter.
And, on the one hand, we have been
taken to task and a prosecution for IL
bel has been talked Of because we pub
lished the facts; while, OIL the other
hand, we have been severely criticized
by many of our readers for not denounc-
ing the whole conduct Of the NJ. E..
Church Trustees in unmeasured terms.
Now, our readers know the ADVANCE
is not in the habit of mincing matters.
We have given no uncertain sound up
OH this as upon all other matters. We
believe that the forcible entry Of Prof.
Humiston's office during Ills absence at
st. Paul, and the removal of his furni-
ture into the street, was a cowardly
outrage, and that the violence used up
on young Humiston was disgraceful.-
We believe also that the communica-
ton of & Methodist upon the manner
in which certain individual members of
the Board of Trustees of the NJ. E.
Church obtained possession of DR.. Mil.
ler's notes, is just III it's comments, and
we agree with him that an act of that
kind would destroy the business stand.
ing of any business main in any commu.
nifty, if done i'll his own private inter.
est.
We know good deal Of the history
of this whole transaction, and it wSs
the unkindest cut of all to DR.. Miller
that his own brethren in the church.
(for DR.. Miller is all enthusiastic, whole
souled Methodist, after he had thrown
off from $500 to 1000 when he SOLD
them the Hall, and intended, us he re-
Gently informed us, to throw of 81 ,OO(
more when the notes came to he paid
we say il was the unkindest cut OF
all that his own brethren i'll the church
should take this advantage of DR.. Mil
ler's business embarrassments, and ell
deavor to cancel the debt by paying
about one-third of it.
This, however, was largely private
wrong. We think further that thu
NJ. +. Church Trustees have done the
public wrong in depriving Worthing
ton of a public hall. DR.. Miller built
the Hall in order that WOrtlingtor
might have place in which to hol(
public meetings of all kinds; and thos'
who have been here from the first, viii
bear us out in saying that no one thing
ever done for the town has contributed
so much to the enjoyment, the comfort
and the organizing of the community
taken as whole, as the building Of Mil
> Ter Hall.
Before dis missing this subject, w
ought to say word or two concerning
DR.. Miller's relations to the communi
} ty. He has been so much misrepre