Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-04-03
A Sneak Answered.

- SilSaN fItSW6I
The following communication ap
peared i'll the Detroit Tribune OF Monday
March 30. We republish it, togethel
with Prof. Ely's reply to the same:
To the Editor: / like the tone of Tn,
Tribune and am led 10 think that as it,
circulation is state wide reasonable pie;
for local interests will not be rejected
though such interests do not he within
the great city of Detroit want to pro
test, through your columns, against Ger
tain travelling lecturers.
One of these visited this town recently
and lectured in the opera house. Very
little was said Of an edifying character
and his jokes, so-called, We're atrocious
Ribaldry would be no name for his bias
Iphemous mockery This was the last OF
a course of lectures that have been given
this winter under the auspices Of the
high school. AS parent and ii tan
payer, | submit that if the members OF
the high school or those who advise
them cannot procure for their lecturer 5
men of common decency-with at least
a Semblance of respect for religion, they
had better devise some other means OF
raising money. PROTESTANT.
| anna hlNI.s +hdlNIl -.
| The writer of the above was certainly
| lll-infOrmed as TO facts and seemly
prompted by malice With the latter |
! have no concern, although it is plain
that | am the target aimed at as the one
| ''whO advised" the school III their selec-
ton of lecturers. AS to the facts III the
rnottar bowaVor Josi,.. ., c1oo,. cto+o
ment to our people and Will trust to
their Judgment as TO the good faith of
protestant. "
To begin with, the lecture course
was not attempted as "means of rails
ing money" The last attempt of the
| sort resulted III Il loss of over forty dol
lars, and gave us no reason TO hope for
great returns. This year forty-seven
gentlemen and ladies Of the village who
believe these things to be profitable.
signed guarantee pledge and many
confidently predicted deficit as here
tofore. Last week both of our local
papers were kind enough TO say that the
fact of our meeting our expenses was
due to the good management and dill
gence of the pupils in conducting the
course. The course was largely doomed
outside of school and there was no
financial responsibility on the part of
the district. As tax payer, there
fore, there was no reason for anxiety.
AS TO the common decency'' of the
lecturers, their "blaSphemous mockery,"
etc, It Is only necessary TO say that one,
Mr.. Macdutf, is in charge of the Episco-
pal church at Flint and is Dean Of this
Diocese; another, Mr. McClary, is the
pastor Of il leading NJ +. church in
Minneapolis. Mimi, and the third had
been for years Congregational clergy
man in New Jersey before he went upon
the platform. Mr. Miller personally
needs no defense. He lectures every
year under the auspices of ali the lead
ing sects, is eagerly sought for at Chau-
tauqua, and advertised as "A leading
attraction at Bay View, where the best
of people annually assemble One might
rs well call Oliver Wendell Holmes
jokes "atrocious" as his; for there is il
marked resemblance between the two.
One need not necessarily endorse all his
views but he is certainly winning in
deed, has won high rank among the
great men on the American lecture
platform.
If this high-minded parent and
generous tax payer" had really desired
to benefit the people he would not have
hesitated to name the "blasphemous'
lecturer or lecturers, who, without
common decency,' are going about
demoralizing the people with their
''mockery' and their "atrocious jokes
He might even have signed his name to
lend weight to his warning. unless,
indeed, ne felt that it carried no weight
with it. 1t might at first appear that
one who is so anxious about the "local
of our community would be
among the first to recognize and com
mend "A disinterested effort on the part
Of the seniors and myself to do some
thing which might be expected to help |
on by a little the general pleasure and |
profit of our people. Possibly he has
been engaging his spare hours in sim
liar pursuit, but ! very greatly doubt il,
for if SO he would have no time TO be |
around endeavoring to injure |
others by scurrilous and untruthful
communications to which he is
to sign his name.
| am sorry that have taken so much
Df your space and trespassed so long
upon the time of the reader; but this is
the first really public spirited act of the
lass of 96. and it seemed desirable that
-he ardor Of youth should not be damp
ened too much by an unanswered attack
which is otherwise too contemplate to
warrant attention. The odium of the Sc
lection of the course rests upon me. hope
may never do anything less worthy
Worry rpznpctf,11lv No,,rl