North Park union., 1900-10-12
Rev. e. G. Lanes Letter
Boulder, Colo, Sest. 3, 1909,

My DEAR Nix. McCALLuM-
A copy of your paper came into my
hands to-day, and regret exceedingly
that the kindly interest which took in
your boys has been the means of leading
you to make me the subject of unkini
and unjust editorial rcmrrks
In all my ministry it has been my
custom to speak with any at the close of
my services who Were strangers to me,
and to ask If they We're christians, and
if not, to try and lead them TO n careful
consideration of the matter My motive
in so doing has always been Of the pur-
est, and never have "assaul.ed' "lcc-
tured," or "ridiculcd' any one My
explanation of my intention, and the
substance of what l said have been
talked over by us and If you still con
sider-and your article leads me to be-
lieve that you do-that lecturcd your
sons, feel that it would be waste of
words and time in further explanation.
The wording and phrasing of your
editorial would lead your readers to
suppose that attacked your sons and
numerically assaulted them, and then
when you came to their help fcrocious-
ly turned on you to annihilate you.
Calm and deliberate recollection will
lead you to Il different conclusion, rs
every one-and among them some who
have been your fricnds-will testify In
turning to you l simply vindicatcd my
self by explaining that had no intention
of lecturing and had the most kindly
intention in speaking to them, and
sought to impress upon them no more
than you said that you had done, i. e.
| that they should investigate carefully.
For some moments purposely withheld
myself from entering into argument
with you and simply parried your re.
marks, but when saw that you intend
ed to show that | had no rational
grounds for my belief l sought to, and
did, sustain my belief. Through it all
held no resentment toward you, was
not unkind, and manifested no unkind
or uncharita5lc spirit toward you.
cannot recall one word of abuse or ridi-
culc, or single instance in which
showed myself "pugnacious." That
did stand, and stand firmly and reso-
lutely for what believe do not deny
and always will stand against all oppo.
sition for that which has been blessing
to my life, and the lives of millions OF
earth's people. That Jesus died to bear
our SINS in his own body on the tree.
that God so loved the world that he gave
his only begotten son that whosoevcr
belieyeth in him should not perish, bu,
have everlasting life, are facts nuthenti'
Gated By history, aud proven by every
one who has savingly belieycd in Christ
l would doubt my own existence
sooner than doubt those words, for in
doubling would deny my own expert
ence and the witness of my own con
sciousness. 1t is because of what Jesus
has done for me that l am striving to
tell others, and feel I would be more
selfish and un-Christian in refusing to
speak in public and private of that
which has sweetened and saved and
transformed my life, that in speaking
however much it may be misintcrpreted.
In closing, let me say that you have
either wantoniy misreprescrted the
spirit and substance of the controversy,
or you are unfortunate and uulearncd
in the use of words | would rather be
lieve that you were unfortunate.
There was no attack" no lecture
no brow beating" no "tirade,' no
"unfair advantage taken, no effort "to
annihilatc," no war provoked" no
"assaulting," no abuse" no ridicnle."
You yourself admit "the argument be-
tween the parson and" yourself was
Every mild" and the conversation be-
tween myself and your sons was carried
on in such u way that few heard what l
was saying to them
My object in writ ing is not to enter
into controversy or prsiong what would
have never been precipitated had you
not misinterpreted my motive in speak
ing to your sons and resented it; but
simply in fairness to myself, to point
out the injustice of your remarks, and
to ask that you fairly represent the case
as it is, for all who know anything
about the incident will see it rs / see it.
Trusting that your sense of justice
and right, even toward an opponent,
will lead you to correct the wrong i'm
preston which your editorial will most
certainly make among those who did
not witness the scene, or have no means
of hearing from those who did.
remain
Ever Your Well Wisher and Friend,
EDWARD G. LANE
THE UNION will answer the above
letter neyt week Ed