Omaha daily bee., 1895-06-07
IN BEH1LF OF Mr.. IRVINE.

OMAHA June 6-To the Editor OF The
Bee: I regret exceedingly that The Bee has
felt called upon to attack the character OF
Rev. Alex +. Irvine without making the in
vestigation I requested and after being
called upon by such representative citizens as
William Fleming, w. II. Alexander and F..
w. Ober, who expressed to you their full
confidence in him.
Many of us in Omaha know Mr.. Irvine to
be a self-sacrifcing Christian man, who is
devoting his life to work among the poor. for
which he receives the meager compensation
of but $500 per year, $500 of this being paid
by the Mission board in New York.
In order to do work upon the bottoms
among the submerged of Omaha he resigned
a position under the Church Extension So
ciety at 81 000 and accepted half that sum.
He also declined call to the Central Pres
byterlan church of New York City as as
sistant pastor at a handsome salary, SO that
your charge that he is in Christian work
simply for the money there is in it is proved
to be an error.
When in New York City recently I took
occasion to make inquiries about Mr.. Irvine
and fully satisfied myself that he is worthy
the confidence and support of this commu>
nifty.
The whole matter gone over in your articles
was fully investigated by committee of
prominent New York business men at Mr..
Irvines request, while he was at work in
that city, who assure me that nothing could
be found to throw a shadow upon Mr.. Ir-
vines character, and that he had done for
his wife and family all that could be ex-
pected of any man.
hV by,
persons comparatively unknown, and in order
to do full justice I urge you to communicate
with the following persons with reference
to Mr. Irvine. and then publish their replies
in full in both your morning and evening
editions.
Morris X. Jesup, banker and philanthro-
pst of New York City; DR.. A. F. schaufler,
superintendent of the New York City Mis-
sion; DIR. Howard Dufield, pastor of the
First Presbyterian church, New York: Rev.
Wilton Marie Smith. pastor of the Central
Presbyterian church, New York; or any of
the officers Of either of these churches
C. A. STARR.
Mr.. Starr and other friends of Mr..
Irvine appear to resent what has ap-
peared in the columns of this paper
concerning Mr.. Irvine as an attack
upon his character. The character of a
man can neither be attacked nor in
jured by anybody. His reputation may
be assailed. but If he has character he
will be able to maintain his reputation.
There has been no disposition to at
tack Mr.. Irvine or to blncken his repu-
tation. If anything, The Bee has been
very considerate in refraining from I'M
favorable comment which it might have
made concerning his peculiar actions as
husband and father. and in suppress
ing some charges that reflect seriously
upon his manhood.
1t was the misfortune of Mr.. Irvine
that he entered the law courts of
Omaha just as soon as the statutes
would permit to seek a divorce from n
defenseless wife 1900 miles away upon
charges that carried upon their face
tie suspicion that they were trumped up
to get rid of marital partnership that
had become dsagreeable. The fact
that Mr.. Irvine gave notice that he
would take dcpositions in the town hall
Of Stamford, Conn, when the mayor
that the town hall was never used for
such n purpose and could not be, only
strengthened our belief that the suit in
stituted by Mr.. Irvine was not n strai hi
deal. The subsequent interview with
Mrs. Irvine by Il perfectly reliable re-
porter and the fact that she was work
ing out as n domestic servant and was
well spoken of by her employers dis
proved, in our Judgment, the charge
that she was disorderly and disSipatcd.
Women of that stripe do not work as
domestics in private families, and could
not remain long in such employment
If so disposed.
After these facts had been published
without coloring or comment they were
further cOrroborated by the letters from
the woman who had nursed and cared
for Mrs. Irvine when Mr.. Irvine's last
baby was born. Her story certainly
would justify the conclusion that Mrs.
Irvine was really entitled to public