Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-31

Tale Of Moral Heroism In Overcoming the World
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS r4,a,ons Observation-Disclosures
BY CHARLES M. SHELDON
Author OF In His Steps," Crucifxon Of Philip Strong
Hardy's Seven Days"
coFYRIaHr, 1900 BY THE ADVANCE puBnsnrNa o.


what he felt and thought can per
maps Dest be told In letter which he
wrote home two days afterward while
sitting in the guest chamber Of the
parsonage. The letter threw much
light on the events of the past 20
years and is Of value as coming from
one who saw Malcolm Kirk and his
1amlly at this time, both as q friend
and also as an intensely interested
spectator Of very remarkable life.
Il am sitting in Malcolm Kinks
house," the letter began, "and it is
difficult for me to realize all that that
fact means. There is no question In
my mind that Kirk is in some WAYS
one of the most remarkable ministers
IN this country, and yet he and his
talented wife have remained in this
comparatively obscure place for over
~ years, working quietly and without
ostentation, with some most astonish-
ing results until lately unheard of by
the churches in the east.
Since was in Conrad about 20
years ago great changes have occurred
In the state. Perhaps the greatest
change of all has been the prohibitory
amendment to the constitution. Every
one knows that the election on the leg
islature's act to submit the amend
ment resulted in an affirmative vote.
Every one also knows that the people
have never reversed that decision, and
1t seems probable that they never will.
You will also remember what an ex-
citement was caused by one event in
Conrad at the close Of that famous
election day. I listened to the story
from Kinks own lips, and it was as
exciting as any novel ever read.
HE had been called out of town on
the afternoon of that day to see a
young man who died of the effects OF
a drunken debauch, and as he came
back TO Conrad in the evening his wife
was knealing in the center of group
OF other women, holding prayer meet
ing In front of one of the most notori-
GUS saloons then in Conrad.
He had only just come to the place
when great disturbance broke out in
the saloon behind him. Some one broke
through the crowd and attempted to
throw a bottle Of vitriol at Mrs. Kirk.
1t was afterward shown that the man
was crazy with drink and awfully ex-
cited by the events of the day. He was
only partly successful in his horrible
attempt Mrs. Kinks face was burnsd
on one side, but man of the name oS
Carver, who had been drinking, but
was sober enough to realize what was
going on, grappled with the other and
took away the bottle, receiving dread
full burns In doing so. This man Is now
the sexton in Mr.. Kinks church, de-
vout, sincere Christian and good ex-
ample, SO Kirk says, of hundreds Of
men who will remain sober if the sa-
loon is taken away and the constant
temptation to drink is absent. And so
far as l can observe he is decidedly
right in his belief.
well, Mrs. Kirk has recovered from
those injuries, and her beauty of face,
which is still remarkable, is marred
only by scar which gives her, to all
who know her history, an added inter-
Soes LIZ oLAdA SlCdISu Ill lutCuSS lGcl-
Ing here for long time. Nothing so
terrible had been known since that at
tempt to disfigure Mrs. Coleman Of
Maryille, Canada, while marching with
other women in temperance process
sion. The event opened many peoples
eyes to the satanic power Of the drink
evil. 1t was only one out of countless
events where the whisky element has
stood for the greatest crimes and for
which it must answer heavily at the
judgment bar Of long suffering God.
ut is difficult for me to write of NAL
com Kirk without seeming to exagger-
ate and overemphasize his work.
want to speak of his beautiful family,
which is part of the best part of this
western town.
Mrs. Kirk has developed into a wo-
man of rare power in all the church
and social life of the place. Years ago
the women here recognized her ability
as leader by making her president of
the Christian Temperance union. 1t
was largely through her efforts that
the township polled very heavy vote
for the amendment. She has thrown
all her rare talents as a gifted musician
also into the redemption Of the town,
with the result that no woman has
such an influence as she has on all the
young, thoughtless life that has crowd
ed in here during the towns rapid
growth in the years Of eighty-six and
seven.
"There are three children, two boys,
named Gilbert and Hermon, and a
girl, the oldest child. named Faith. The
boys are bright, handsome fellows and
take after the mother. Gilbert is II
and Hermon 10. Faith, who is nearly
10, is like her father. / have not yet
been able to tell whether she is what
you women would call pretty or not,
but she is one of the most interesting
Individual girls l ever met. She is
fond of trying experiments and resem-
bles her father in that respect. She
wants to know and feel things for her
self and is passionately fond of doing
for other peop'e ! begin to pet the