The sun., 1894-12-20
SUES ron BEING PRAYED FOR.
Miss Keise Objected to the Rev. Mr.. Camp
beirs Prayer and wants 5000 for It.

Miss Keise Objected to the Rev. Mr.. Camp
beirs Prayer snd Wants $4,000 for IL.
The citizens of Los Angeles, Cal, are especially
interested in a lawsuit that Miss Tessa L. Kelso,
librarian of the Public Library there, has
brought against the Rev. J. w. Campbell of that
city for publicly praying for her. Sho wants
$4,000 damages for what she considers his un-
Just intimations to tho Deity in the presence OF
large congregation that she was sinful and not
entirely worthy OF her office
For some time there has been some contro-
versy over the character of the books TO be placed
in the Public Library OF Los Angeles. and both
sides have said sharp things. Some books that
the devout members Of the community thought
ought to be excluded were put in the library,
and at once there arose the voice of dlscord. II
was heard in meetings and on the streets, and
finally it became theme for the pulpit. Miss
Kclso has been and is highly esteemed In tho
city. When she was made librarian the choice
was appIauded everywhere as excellent. because
OF her training and her experience with library
Miss Kelso entered into her work with zeal.
and she was consulted to large extent as to the
character of books to be placed on the shelves OF
process, she found herself arrayed against the
Opposition which was making itself felt, espe-
one one Sunday when the rev. Mr. Campbell. who
is pastor OF the First Methodist Church in that
city, found occasion to pray for Miss Kelso in
20 Lord, vouchsafe Thy saving grace to the
librarian .of the Los Angeles city library. and
cleanse her Of all sin. and make her worthy OF
her Office"
Kelso's friends said that she not sinful in
the sense that she needed to be singled out in
the presence OF n congregation, practically by
name, for prayer. aud they also asserted that
she worthy OF her office. They criticised
Mr.. Campbell In private and in public and made
II uncomfortable for him lie protested that no
had n right tn ask God to bless any one espc-
cially public official, and declared that he
meant no reflection on Miss Kelsos character.
Her friends asserted that his prayer was a re
Election on her. something for which Mr.. Camp
bell should make public apology.
so the pot went Oh stewing and stewing and
finally Miss kelso, at the urging Of her friends,
$4,000 for slander against the preacher. The
suit will Boon be decided, and IL will determine
whether II preacher has - right to pray Tor any
person he chooses In public. A local newspaper
In speaking Of the suit had this TO say:
Miss kelso holds that he implication in the
ns she is neither and nothing short Of 900 will
recompense her for the poor opinion that people
and, probably. the Creator. too-wlll hereafter
have OF her. Should she win her suit, the activ-
itieS Of the clergyman In the future will be cir
cumscribed within very narrow limits. How
ever heavily the burden Of individual souls that
need di zine assistance may rest upon his heart,
he will have to speak and pray In such glitter
ing gencralities that both his auditors and tho
Creator will be puzzled 10 tell to whom he re-
fers. or no will be Liable TO n suit for slander.
Then will the prophecy be fulfilled which saith:
Il will give thee the heathen for thine inheri-
tance and the uttermost parts OF the earth for
future will have to confine his prayers, II Tessa
wins her suit"