Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-07-22
INGERs0LL IN KANSAS CITY.
Had Many Friends Here-Dr. j. E.
Roberts Looked Upon as His Le-
ultimate Successor.

The news of Colonel .Ingersoll's death
caused much comment in Kansas CITY,
where he had spoken and lectured many
| times and had many personal friends. On
the occasion of Colonel Ingersolls last ap-
pearance here, which was January y, he
delivered his latest lecture on ''Supersti-
tion,'' to an audience which crowded the
Coates opera house from the ground floor
to the dome. At the close Of his lecture
he delivered a remarkable eulogy upon
Rev. DIR. ]. E. Roberts, pastor of the
Church of This World, who has been
Colonel Ingersolrs personal friend for
years, and who is looked upon as mis- le-
gitimate successor. DR.. Roberts has
preached-or perhaps lectured-along lines
which in his latest movements have more
and more closely followed Colonel Inger-
soil. In his eulogy, Colonel Ingersoll, TO
all intents and purposes, though in a
manner devoid of all egoutism, placed his
manner devoid of all egotism. placed his
erts. Colonel 1ngersol declared DR.. Rob
erts to be the ablest man in an American
pulpit.
Colonel IngersolTs visit at that time was
made notable by another very unusual Incl
cident. He delivered the funeral oration
over the body of Mrs. W. G. Bowman, the
widow of man with whom he had been
associated for many years in the early days
of Shawneetown, Ill. Mrs. Bowman was
sick when she heard the colonel was ex-
pected in Kansas City. She expressed the
wish that he should call to see her, as he
usually ulu. ana II Sne SnouiO Ole DetOre
he came, she earnestly requested that he
make a few remarks at her funeral. When
this wish was communicated to the colo
mel, Mrs. Bowman having died the day of
Colonel IngersofiS arrival, he willingly con-
scented to say few characteristic words at
the grave. - 80 ~'---- :
Below are given some of the comments
made upon Colonel Ingersolfs death:
Rev.Dr. II. d. .Jenkins-"No one questions
the ability and few the sincerity of Mr. In
gersoil. Nevertheless he has. done meal
tions of belief upon which law, order and
morality all rest. Within the past few
days. have had this said to me in a letter
by one seeking the way back to the blessed
faith of his childhood. AS to his successor,
hope he may have none L can imagine
| a man ambitious to succeed to his position
as an orator, but / can not suppose there
lives the man anxious to continue the
work he undertook of uprooting hope from
the heart and depiiving sorrowfng souls of
the one single consolation that can be Of
fered the mourner. faith in Immortality and
in reunion of those who love and are
loved .-.,.-,
Gardiner Lathrop-"The sudden nature
of Colonel IngersolFs death is greatly TO
be. deplored, as it deprives the world of
| learning what the great agnostic would
have said had he known beforehand that
he was facing inevitable death. While Col
onel IngersoIl was a very great and very
brilliant man, it is a pity he did not turn
sought to tear down the worlds best re-
ligion without attempting to offer sub
Sttute- HIS ridlcuie was applauded, but ii
did nothing to make the world better
AS to DR.. Roberts being his successor,
had considered our DR.. Roberts as a man
without religious rudder. but / had never
thought he would ever adopt the extreme
Ideas OF Colonel Ingersoll.''
Major William Warner-"AS lawyer,
orator and scholar Colonel Ingersoll was a
| commanding figure. / have never heard
a better platform speaker. His knowledge
of men and affairs wide. and In his
personal life, SO far as can learn, he was
| clean, honest and kindly"
:.'How about his religious yiews?" asked
the reporter.
well. now, I am short on religion my
self, and so am not qualified to Judge of
him. 1 will say, however, that In nv
opinion had he quit his antf-religious cru
sade and devoted his abilities and energies
to the law exclusively, he would have far
excelled his present legal reputation. high
as it is.
'T consider DR.. Roberts one of the most
finished scholars and brilliant word paint
ers it has ever been my good fortune to
hear, but I am not posted as to his quail
ifications or inclfnations to succeed Inger-
soll."
Mayor Jones-"Ingersou was the peer
less orator and the master word painfer
of this country Those who agree with his
religious views and those who differ with
them can all unite in regret at the death
| of a brilliant man" 81