Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-08-20

and delivered to the great satisfaction Of tho
presbytery. am also glad 10 be able TO testify
that not only has his moral character been
irreproachnble. but that us n student he was
ever willing to engage In work for the Master,
and was exceedingly popular as preacher
when on several occasions he occupied the
pulpits OF neghboring minister's To your
second query ] am able To nnnwor thht all
his relatives In this country with whom am
acquainted occupy very respectable noAitiOnh;
and by all his classmates, so far rs have ever
heard, and by all tho members OF the presby-
terry Nj. Bell was esteemed as Christian
gentleman |, In common with many others,
| and am persuaded in common with every
! member Of the Down Presbytery, VIII pc
always glad ~ hear Of Mr.. Balls welfare
socially and Of his success as munster OF
| the gospel. You will excuse my writing az
such length In reply 10 your two questions, out
as you have asked my opinion generally was
happy to have the opportunity Of slvingit.
am faithfully yours,
[Signedl THOMAS MAcAPEL,
Clerk of Presbytery Of Down.
| Now, sir even people as resolved to play
the fable of the wolf and the lamb (of
course | am the lamb as my friends on
the left seem to be, might well be satisfied
with what they have already received in
| stead of asking like 80 many Oliver Twists
| for more" but as they do expect more
permit me TO introduce gentleman OF
whom some of them, at least, have heard.
And am sure that my friends on the left
will not object TO drink wine from grapes
of their own growing. Atone of the col
leges which | attended there was student
called McCaughan. He and ! happened
TO have no classes in common, but knew
him az an able man. He has long since
made his mark as u minister, and is in
cumbent of one of the most desirable
charges in the city of Belfast. The fol
lowing letter WAS sent to him:
MAY. 20, is9l-The Rev. w. y. Mccdughsn--
DEAR SIR ! am ruling elder 10 the First
Presbyterian Church, Delaware City, of which
the Key. X. A. McEwen Bell, formerly Of lrs-
land, Ia pastor he Rev. Mr.. Morrison has
kindly furnished your nnine rs of one knowing
Mr.. Belts history and character. feel 1t TO be
very important that should know these facts.
The truth could hurt no good man. II Mr.. Bell
Is not straight 10 know u might serve to pro-
tect innocent and worthy people. kven II
technically ''strAight," yet impracticable and
erralic, 1t would be well to know that. Ny own
judgment IL that he should have remained
school ieachcr Begging pardon Tor 80 abrupt
an entrance and with 40 peculiar demand
las It would almost seem) AMI trusting that you
will believe that am n0tunchristlan In motive
In thus seeking the truth oil you, | remain re-
specially yours,
Signed JoHS C. Higgins.
Mr.. Editor, make no comments upon
this straight letter. |, speaks for itself.
And sir, am much mistaken ii il does
not speak for John c. Higgins many a
year after John c, Higgins has been
laid in his grave. Of course, imply no
collision, but it does seem strange that
this letter should have been written about
the time that ] gave, at his own request,
the address of the clerk Of presbytery TO
the trustee who. so far AS | have learned,
did not write. Kindly permit me TO give
! your readers the reply 10 the above
straight letter. And you will be good
enough to bear in mind that the reply
comes from gentleman whom have not
had any correspondence with for years
az SCI 4 -.
say knew little--and whose name was
kindly furnished by the Rev. William
Morrison as of one knowing Mr.. Bells
history and character"
TUESDAY, rs, July, 1s9i-Dar Sir. ! have
bnen AWAY for TWO months in Germany and
switzerland. ny letters not having been for
whrded, yours of tile 26h Of May, only comes
Into my hands now am very much surprised al
It's contents sir. Bell was at college with me.
lie was generally considered TO possess billy,
aud to be complete master OF English Ian
Huhgc and literature. II by "strnlghtnessn
yon mean moral character hnvc never known
ANYTHING In MIR. Bellsliie inconsistent with his
desire Ia be n minister ct tho gospel. AS to
being cratic at college he was not credited
with any more peculiarities than fell 10 the
average lot OF students, | am exceedingly
cory to hear that anything has aiisen to mar
his usefulness in Delaware City. When in
America last year ! saw Mr. Morrison and he
led me TO understand Tint Mr.. Bell was sue
momentlry difficulty may speedily vanish and
that hy the outpouring Of the spirit upon your
congregation aud city you may be Bile 7sed,
am faithfully yours.
Isignedl W. i. MccAuauAx.
may remark in passing that at the
time the Rev. Mr., Monaghan saw Mr..
! Morrison" the latter had not "dropned
into ,he Episcopal church, but was
preaching in Presbyterian vacancies. 1t
was about this time | wrote Morrison the
note asking him AZ TO vacancies which
circumstance my friends ON the left seem
inclined To make so much of
II might mt be embarrassing TO your
readers to learn Mr. McCaughans view Of
the situation and estimate Of this the Rev.
| Mr.. Morrison who kindly furnished" Mr..
Met oushan's name as OF one knowing Mr..
iiells history and character Let me
then, put it before them
nv Dcar Mr. BTU: 1t strlxes me Morrison
has some spite AZ YOU aud Ia trying 10 ifiuro
YOU. ] was going % tell your "e4teomed elder
thatif Morrison had had as good "A record in
ms country, either morally or theologically,
he would not have required TO gu 10 America
before presenting himself To PREDATORY nor
eventually TO take refuge In tho fpiscopa
church. Kindly lot mo know what is the DIM
guy ana y nan help you in any way to olive
" shHl Do huppy to do so.
Ever sincerely yours
lolHnedl W, j. MCCAuGHAS,
II is needless, sir, to say to your readers
that had nothing to do with the produc-
ton OF these three letters And it is note
worthy that the statement embodiod in the
one Immediately above, viz; that Morri-
son is trying To injure me, is the opinion
gathered from view of the situation, vol.
| unfairly expressed of the clergyman
whose name was kindly furnished by
the Rey; Mr.. Morrison as Of one knowing
Mr.. lielIs history and character In nv
former letter TO You, Mr. Editor, | said
that this Mr. Morrison had been wear in
the Irt4ShHfariun 'hItrsh !, e