The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-06-28
Character Herelity.
minneapolis Journal.)

minneapolis Journal.)
Today there Is in progress an inter-
esting celebration, of interest to reflect
ing people; to all. in fact, who rejoice
in the highest types of character and
their benefcent influence upon the
world. It is the recognition by the
community of Northampton, Mass, OF
the great worth of the character of
Jonathan Edwards, who, $50 years ago,
was declared by a council of church
(CongregationaD to be unfit to serve
as pastor of the church there, of which
he had been pastor since 1727. This
man, with the greatest original initial
lectuai power in all New England, was
dismissed. because he had made mex
cusable war upon the corruption NJ the
young and loose ways of some families
who were influential enough to have
him removed, and he went to Stock
bridge. The Northampton community
today would formally atone for the in
justice done the great man in 1850.
Jonathan Edwards had been scoffed at
for his sermons touching the justice Of
God, which had the severity of the
Geneva reformers; but the Intelligent
student of his works will find that he
was by no means a one-sided delineator
OF the divine character as he conceived
it. Edwards came of a great line of
strong and good men, and he was the
progenitor Of worthy line OF intel
iectually strong men and women, most
OF whom have been and are noted for
the sterling traits which DISTINGUISHED
Edwards as a preacher, the head OF q
family, a citizen and a factor of right
eousness In human society.
It Is interesting to note in this con-
nection that D. e. Winship, in contri-
button to the Christian Advocate of
June IA, on the descendants of Edwards,
presents study in heredity OF decided
interest. Taking the well-known case
of the Jukes family, nearly all paupers
and criminals, imbecile, insane, Hcen-
tious since their projenitor lived in the
Eighteenth century, DR.. Winship con-
trasts the quality Of Jonathan Edwards
and his descendants during the same
period Of our $50 years, showing that OF
the $500, not half dozen could techni-
cally or morally be put in the criminal
class. Aaron Burr, the most prominent
of the latter, was never convicted. of
any crime, and he had not the benefit Of
good early training, as his parents died
when he was very young. The Jukes
contributed in the same time 1000
paupers and criminals to the worlds
population. The Edwards line shows
sturdy and splendid array of college
professors and presidents of great uni
versities, like the Dwights and Woolsey,
and Gilman, Gates and Park, and found
ers OF great educational institutions and
scholarships. Some OF them were MEM
bers of the continental congress, dis
tinguished judges, clergymen. physic-
ians, surgeons. legislators, state Of
1cials, state governors, makers OF con-
situations, diplomats, senators and one
has been vice-president
The Edwards line has been long-Iived.
healthy, vigorous. More than so have
been prominent in literature and Jour-
nalism- The family have been factors
Of progress in nearly all the states ~
the union.
Certainly the contrast is Instructive.
Blood will tell through the generations.
Poison the source and the stream is ant
to be poisoned through many windings.
DR.. Winship rightly says that a great
gulf Is fixed between degeneracy. in !
by the momentum nf heredity. /
ignorance and communicating compan-