The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-06-24
AN EMINENT DIVINE
. Cosby and Interesting
Chat With DR.. DitZler.
RACY O
The Good Preachers Relations With
General Grant and the Great
Martyr, Lincoln.

The Rev. DR.. Ditzler, who has been in
Butte for the past week, and has preached
and lectured half a dozen times to large and
delighted audiences, will leave this morn
ing for Whitehall, in company with Rev.
j. B. Whitford; from Whitehall he will 60
direct to Bohemian, there to debate with
the Rev. DR.. Ray of St. Louis, one OF the
most eminent divines in the Baptist church.
Yesterday a MINER reporter called on the
good doctor, at the residence of A.. H. Bar
rett, whose guest he has been during his So
journ in Butte. The newspaper man was
very kindly received, and requested of the
eminent divine some facts regarding his
| public career.
EARLY CAREER.
"After going through a college course"
| said DR.. Ditzler, my first appointment
was in st. Louis, Mo-, in 1856, and
then by an earnest petition l was put on
| the st. Louis circuit. l was sent back to
! the city of St. Louis again for two years,
| during which l held many extended revi-
walls, taking hundreds into the church,
built several fine church edifices in the
country, and labored at camp meetings,
preaching twice every day. l had the larg-
l CoO lCt4N C1 w III wv @DSAo
that time. Thousands went away, because
the church could not contain them"
1.-THE "reminiscences OF such days." said
the reporter, "must be a perennial source
of delight to you, for such memories must
be indeed sacred, and sacred memories are
links in the golden chain that connec the
ages"
''Such memories are indeed sacred to me.
They are not only a source OF pleasure
amid the lights and hadows OF this life, but
they will enhance the ~felicitios of heaven"
what followed next in your history"
VERY ACTIVE LIFE.
81 became chaplain of the Legislature at
the commencement of the war, and both
parties urged me to run as a senator
also Governor, which honors I refused. At
this time 1 had prepared a history OF the
Preservation Of the Bible and the Philoso-
ply of History of the Christian Church,
and also published in a poper OF no ordl-
nary celebrity twenty-five articles, giving
a history of the literature, commerce and
politics of France, Spain, Portugal and
Italy. And, amid the ravages OF the war, L
organized in Indiana and Illinois the Chris
tan Union, a ron-political church. This
brought about the debates. l am a lover
of peace. love order and unity, and those
grand principles that make for righteous
ness. To show that I nave unity and the
l DEllCADlCS vi AAU L " IAN VAN
advocated fraternal messengers to the var
ious conferences and synods, and that no
one should be refused even if he was re-
garded as semi-heterodox. Intolerance ana
fanatacism are to me exceedingly offensive
81 am fully apprized of that, Doctor, Tor
while reading your Philosophy OF Church
History l find some OF the most eloquent
pages are brought forth against intolerance.
How many debates have you held?'
AS A DEBATER.
"Twenty-six. One lasted seventeen days;
another fourteen days. These debates were
held in Alabama, Kentucky, Texas, Illinois,
Missouri and Tennessee. l was the first
that lifted debates out of the old ruts In
in quoting from original authors and not
secondhand ones, and treated questions
from a scientific standpoint. Two OF my
debates are in book form, one numbering
1854 and the other 7OS pages"
"Who were some OF your leading op-
ponents?"
"Wilkes, Graves, Ray, Sweeney, Jameson
and Underwood. Sweeney had held more
than q hundred Debates
"Who do you regard as the ablest and
fairest debater OF those you m~entioned?'
81 regard L. B. Wilkes, now OF Stockton.
California, the ablest and fairest OF them
all. Mr.. Underwood is an able man and
made on one occasion such an ingenious
speech that elected much attention, not to
say admiration"
fare you the author OF any other literary
works."
II went to London in 1864 and prepared
a work on the causes OF the late war;, but
the manuscript was placed in the hands o
DR.. Bledgoe, who died, and thus the book
never saw the light OF day"
care your lectures largely attended in
the States?'
sMy audiences number from 1000 to
1000 people"
FRIEND Of GRANT.
"Did you ever know General Grant per
sonally, Doctor Ditzler?'
81 knew Grant from 1857 to 1859, and
was with him in his family night and day
both in St. Louis and on his father-in-law'
farm. His wife was a member OF my
, Church. Grant was kind-hearted and
| my warmest friends. His politics hav'
been misstated. He was an old line South
: ern Wing, and voted for Fillmore. He was
not a man OF fine business qualifications,
: and was easily imposed on."
. "Were you acquainted with LincOln?'
81 knew Lincoln in 1860. His heart was
as tender as a wOman's. His favorlt,
; works were Shakespeare and Burns, ant
l with their tender and most sympathetic
parts he was laHlllldr. IL Wdb d Sdu udy
when Lincoln fell"
OBJECT IN VISITING MONTANA.
'Had you any principal object in view
, in coming to our Territory"
, my visit to this Territory was solicited
: l came here to hold a debate and deliver
, some religio-scientifc lectures, and from
! here l expect to go to Oregon and Callfor
MIA"
81 have heard some intimations tina
! your debate with DR.. Ray is likely to be re
produced here in Butte. What say you tt
. the foregoing?'
e at can be reproduced here, if the Baptist
\ of this city will petition for Ray to com
$ here. am perfectly agreeable that sucl
y should be the case"
"How are you pleased with our city,
81 had no conception OF seeing such
e city. It's magnitude and development
have astonished me-"
The Doctor then delivered some ulogie
on the magnificent stores OF this city, tn
. virtues and merits OF the daily papers, an
X other things pertaining to the interests c
K this city.
II ADJUSTMENTS.