Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-04-17
SHALL ToLERATIoN BE DESTROYED.
Matte A. Bridge Attacked by an Episcopal
Clergyman.

Mrs. Matte A. Bridge, who is well ano
favorably known in Minnesota, having
been attacked by Wisconsin clergyman
defends herself in her usual able and Wig
orous style We find her reply in the
Appleton Crescent. 1t is as follows;
Mr.. FL. t BRAY--Dear SIR: 1t has
been impossible for me to reply sooner tc
your letter of January 2lst, and leisure
this morning shallIbe used for that pur-
pose.
Your letter tells me that under the idea
that was a ''revivalist'' you objected to
your parishioners hearing me, but did not
Object to ME as "lecturer." | fail to
see the nice distinction.
have not the honor to be one of Gods
chosen teachers, have not risen to the
point Of self sacrifice, nor learned the les
son of remuneration necessary to be what
the world calls s'revivalist, and since
receiving your letter L have wondered
what it meant. Query? what IS the aim
of revivalistf Is it not renovation, re-
generation, redemption, to rectlfy, to re-
deem, to reclaim?
What was John the Baptist, who went
preaching in the wilderness saying, Gre
pent YET" What was he who went up
in the mountain and opened his mouth
saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
they that mourn, the merciful, the pure
IN heart, the peace-makers !" And who
said: "Let your communication be yea,
yea; nay, nay; for whatsoever is more
than this cometh of evil % and "Judge
not lest We be judged ?" He who when
he was come down from the mountain,
great multitudes followed him." and
''who was moved with compassion when
he saw the multitudes scattered abroad as
sheep having no shepherd" saying: "the
harvest is indeed plentious, but the labor
ers are few; pray We, therefore, the Lord
of the harvest, that he will send forth
laborers unto his harvestW
What did this teacher mean by .'la-
borers ?'' Did he mean salaried men,
with vestments alone, when he said:
"Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor
brass in your purses, nor script for your
Journey, neither two coats, neither shoes,
nor vet staves,l for the workman is
worthy of his meat?' And what did he
mean when he said: "Whosoever shall
not receive you nor hear your words
when we depart out of that house or city,
shake off the dust of your feet?'
have failed in my Interpretation OF
that beautiful divine character, if it did.
not partake of the ''revivalist," and your
fimsy excuse and your hasty judgment
do not to me SAVIOR of his teaching, and
/ can but wonder what would be your
judgment if man poorly clad were to
enter your town, saying: "The foxes
have holes, and the birds Of the air have
nests, but / have not where to lay my
head" He would, l fear, be termed a
"revivalist,'' or tramp, deserving no
consideration, and would find closed
ears to the sentance. "And the second is
like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neigh
Dor as thyself.'"
The accusations you brought against
me in your little town, relative to my lee
ture, it has never been my good fortune
to have met before, though the same lee
ture has been delivered to, and the Mss.
read by such men as Powers, of Minneso-
ia, Rev. Thomas, of Winona, and Prof.
Snowden, of Boston, all gentlemen of
Science, History, Bellies Letters and years,
etc. These men were anxious to help
me, and read and listened with a view to
my good Yet the trivial matters that
deserved, in your kind judgment, the ap-
y
tongue to pronounce me 'sliar,'' were
passed over; comment and criticism were
kind.
Perhaps you had been reading, or were
reading during my lecture, (which OBJ
served,) that beautiful little story of the
teacher you represent, in which are the
grandest words that have slipped from
all the souls of all the ages: "let him that
is without sin cast the first stone;" and
this may have biased your judgment and
unbridled your tongue.
Ordinarily would never reply to at
tacks like yours, but this time, as Burke
says, "the insignIficance of my accuser is
lost in the magnitude of the accusation"
And for the sake of my brother Odd Eel
lows l step aside from the pathway
marked out by all that have preceded me
fable attack upon woman who is earn
ing her living in quite as honorable and
conscientious way as yourself.
feel to say with Cowper:
ssHe that negotiates between God and man
AS Gods ambassador, the grand concerns
OF Judgment and of mercy, should beware
OF lightness in his speech. IT'S pitiful
To hurt heart, when you would WOO @ soul;
To throw O stone, when pity would inspire
Pathetic exhortation; and to cowardly
Stab the reputation, when sent
With Gods commission to the heart"
have changed the quotation to suit
myself, and by looking up Cowper's Task
you can see it as it is. 1t can do you no
harm to read 1t.
thank you for the new phase of man
hood and priesthood that found in your
place, but do sincerely regret the knowl-
edge gained there; that in this enlight-
ened age-in the close of the 18th centu-
~, when science is making such rapid
strides and education is to some extent
almost universal-there are human be-
beings so held in the grasp of priestvraft,
that they cannot go to a lecture, or pro-
tracted meeting, without fear of offend
ing priest or preacher 1t all has les
son, however, and che who runs may
read"
AS to your charges against me, will
say that I really fail to see the meaning of
the one regarding Wilberforce, and will
quote your sentence verbatim and then
answer one and all as well as can. You
say:
"You said in yourS lecture that Queen
Elizabeth had her sister put to death.
Also, that in the English coat of arms the
king is represented as ruling for all; the