Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-03
A MINISTER'S EXPLANATION.


tuhcu WI huttOf DiiWOrth ana Wnnt
Transpired During the Interview.
Editor Gazette. Since the crimi-
nal libel suit was brought by the Rev.
j. A. B. Wilson, D. D., against James
II. Dilworth, editor of the DotaWare
-Noaos, my name has been made to
figure very prominently in connection
with the said suit In view Of the UNI
warrantable and untruthful statements
OF various papers. deem it just to
myself that have hearing through
the columns of u paper that does not
smack of the Police Gazette type, which
is the glory Of those papers that have
taken such liberties with my reputation.
A correct statement of the facts in the
case, will, think disabuse OF unfavor-
able impressions the minds of honest
people who may have read, and been
surprised and shocked by such state
ments as y my manliness and Chris.
tan integrity.
j. am represented as going to Dill
wortl's office as q spy, at DIR. Wilson'S
request, to get evidence TO punish Dill
worth. | went to Dilworth's Office on
the 3Oth OF November ct DIR. Wilson's
request to get the back numbers Of his
paper, that is the November numbers,
in which were published sundry damag-
ing statements against certain pre-
siding elder" Dr. Wilson did not ask
me to subscribe for the paper, or TO
pump Dilworth or to deceive him in
any way whatever.
=. Dilworth says | came to his office
and represented myself as an "anti- Will
son and anti-Corkran man, and the
friend of the Rev. Mr.. Ayers, whose
memory he proposed to vindicate." He
said further that asked him Il "Wilson
was the man he meart?n Neither Of
these statements has a shadow of truth
in them
was the friend of Brother Ayers.
This Dilworth had reason TO know, as |
had visited Brother Ayers often at his
parsonage, both before and during his
sickness, assisted at his funeral, and
went, at my own expense to Smyrna
and helped lay him in his last resting
place. | told Dilworth that was the
friend of all the preachers, that nv
relations with all my elders had been Of
The pleasantest character, tina. | had
been on Wilson's district three years,
and never had tho least unkind feeling,
Does that sound like deception Did II
sound like anti-Wilson doctrine Again
Dllworth speaks of the Rev. Ralph
Coursey and myself as "whitctied
hypocritcs," who came to his office as
friends in order to betray him. Mr..
Gonrsey is known all over this confer
ence as the warm friend of DIR. Wilson,
ana | introduced him to the editor of
the Delaware Neics as the Rev. Mr..
Coursey Of Harrington, Del. Does that
look like trickcry? told the editor, on
my first visit, and so did Mr.. Coursey
and myself at our visit together, that
we wanted tho truth, and / especially
told him that | was tired Of those con.
ference troubles, wanted them ended.
and wanted no guilty man TO cscape.n
Never intlmatcd that any particular
persons Were guilty, either Wilson, or
his enemies? That there was monu.
mental blunder made in our interview, /
VIII not deny. Because | was known
to Dilworth as Ayers friend, and be.
cause number of Wilson's enemies
had been making hasty pilgrimagcs to
that Obscure loft, to ill the capacious
maws OF their credence with such stuff
as emanated from it. he jumped to the
conclusion that 81 was from down the
river" that / was sleuth. hound on
Wilson's track, and without waiting to
be pumped" stopped over with infor-
nation or declarations most damaging
to Wilson, If true, and that could be
used against Dilworth, If false.
When ! went into his Office was
guided by this principle: If any or all
the statements found in Dilworth's
paper about my friend, DIR. Wilson, are
true, and he could prove them, as he
stlil boasts that he can, my knowledge
from Dllworth's lips that DIR. Wilson
was the certain presiding elder" he
meant would never do the editor any
harm. If they were true, and he could
prove them, he would not only not care
who knew that he meant Wilson, but
would be anxious 10 let all his renders
Know that he was the man. II they
were untrue-pure fabrications-my
knowledge, from Dilworth's own lips.
that Wilson was the man, might HELM
IN innocent and injured man against
the Vaccinations of his enemies. With
this view of the subject, / determined to
gain as much as possible without in any
wise compromising my manly honor and
Christian integrity.
am not on Wilson's district. have
never asked any favors at his hands.
am not his "henchman,' am not in his
pay; but | want to serve notice on Ill
whom It may concern, that so long as /
believe in DIR. Wilson, shall stand BY
him with II devotion born of deep
sense of justice, and when the opposi-
ton succeeds III establishing their
charges | will drop him so quickly that
his colossal spinal cord win be ruptured
BY the shock. Meanwhile shall think
Of some Of his enemies as the Irishman
spoke Of the conductor who drove him
oil the platform, where lie essaycd to
steal ride: "Who are yc, and what
are ye anyhow? If it wasn't for the
likes OF yees Jesus Christ would be
Twin and dom we'll"
| will be heard again at conference if
not sooner. G.. j.. HAHDEsTy.
ST. GEoKGEs Fob os,b 1900