The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-08-19
Iryine's Curiosity.
Editor B. F. Irvine In the Corvallis

Editor B. F. Irvine In the Corvallis
Times:
SAN FRANCISCO Aug. ., 1898.
Curiosity 10 one Of mAnkind's notable
characteriatice. II isnota fault, unless too
strictly developed. 1t is curiosity that
takes the stranger In San Francisco to
the church where Minnie williams and
Blanche Lamont tragically died. 1t wac
my curiosity that took ms to religious
service there Sunday night. was not
the only one that went on the same
erTAnd, for all around me sat people who
during the service and aiterward eyed
cnriously the door TO the noted vestry
room, thN church organ at which Organ
ist King sat when Durrant entered to
ask for bromoael,zsr, the stairway lead
ing up to the dark church tower, and all
other objects made familiar during the
progress OF the awful trial. They looked
too with mingled curiosity and awe at
Rev. Gibson, who was pastor OF the
Emanuel church when the awful crimes
were committed and who is pastor Of
the same church still. The lattsr's ehrill
metallic voice, pitched in high key and
abort, jerky sentences as he pushed
the service Was different from the voices
usually heard in pulpits and It aided the
auditor in keeping in mind rather more
of the details OF the crimes and fate Of
Murderer Duriant than the points Of the
sermon.
The auditorium was crowded with
people. I am told it never lacks tor
congregation. One lady said, "Oh,
everybody wants, Of course, TO zee Rev.
George Gibson, and hence the church Il
filed" 1t is . large brick structure oi
very substantial appearance. The visi'
tor enters Q vestibuls, climbs . broad
stairway and enters the auditorium
Straight ahead is the pulpit, with the
y door to the vestry room on one side, and
the choir box on the other. Above i
the gallery aud the stairway leading Il
. the shadowy tower. The man in th,
J pulpit was ANAL in stature with Q dArl
j mustachs and closely cropped beard
] He made no allusion in his sermon Il
the horrible scenes enacted within
. few feet Of the pulpit smG.n which b
stood, a. the visitor hoped he would
He pleaded earnestly. and donbties
!, sincerely, bat IL all the visitars weE
like those from Oregon. they though
more Of Durrant's sins than they did {
their Own. During the service he san
In Q voice that sounded better in son
than in sermon, q baritone sclo, and q
the close OF the service, in big tan
just back Of the pulpit, he baptized
lady. During the exercises the sopran
in the choir sang pathetic solo. and th
:, white haired old basso, In . magui 6esl
voice sang another. The personality (
the singers enlisted the kindly feeling (
the visitor. bot 10 spite OF the fact ther
would mingle with she notes OF th
songs and the baptismAl ceremony Ii
thoughts Of the shrieks Of the two girl
Do what be may, fight against it q
: much IS he will, the thought OF th
stranger As he ats in the Emsnu
church is more of the blood of the dss
girls than il B Of the risen Chris
There are imaginary blood stains c
= every brick in the building, and an in
aginary feeling Of horror rather this
sanetity is ever present. The membe
Of the congregation may in . measul
have overcome this sense OF horror, b'
= that they want release from worship
= blood blighied church is proven By Il
fact tt at they are raising an ediSee iur
for the erection Of new buiiding.