The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-26
To the Editor of The Spy


1 do not wish to hold any controver-
sy with a man of the stamp of the
Rev. James Boyd Brady, but his open
Misrepresentation in the pulpit Of
what I said in my paper, read last week
before the Worcester League of Unlta-
rian Women and printed in full in The
Spy of Nov. Il, impels me- not only on
account of truth but in behalf of those
cultured and thinking women who lis
tened to me, to ask you to give me
little space for explanation of my posi-
ton and to emphasize the fact that |
was not unfolding CzolgosZ and MS
vile deed, but was looking into the
causes that produced the man and
his deed. and using the word martyr IN
its strictly dictionary sense-a man
put to death for a cause" either
Christian or otherwise.
How many of the martyrs of old died
for what we would now consider mis-
taken and wrong causes, but neverthe-
less were martyrs, because they were
brave enough to- die for their beliefs
Was there very much that was Christ
like in the inhuman religious persecu-
lions of the times we are accustomed
to think of as the days of the mar
tyrs?
1t was the divine pity of William
McKinley's forgiveness of his assassin
his God-like words of care for the
man who made him a victim If the
concentrated evil of anarchists and
traitors that first caused me to see
there is a higher plane to be a,1en
than that of vituperation and exciting
the evil passion of retaliation in the
minds of those who mourn.
May we not study causes to arrive at
a remedy? And is the world so very
far away from the spirit of Christ It
the man or woman who expresses a
divine pity for the sinner is 70 be
stoned? Has policy so firm a hold on
the people that they are shocked at
anyone who steps ever so little out of
say it is high time for another John
the Baptist to appear in the streets of
Worcester crying Repent We, for the
kingdom of Heaven is at handI'
I have been told from the pulpit. and
had it reprinted in the morning papers
under large captions that Mrs. Cunning
should study the sermon on the mount"
have done so today and find they
must have accidentally advised me &c
read the wrong passages for this is
the very text 1 am preaching from.
Listen; eye have heard that it hath
been said. an eye for an eye, and a
that We resist not evil; but whosoever
shall smite thee on thy right cheek,
turn to him the other also" Could
there ever be a stronger sentence
framed against retaliation and re-
venge? Again-"Ye have heard that
it hath been said. thou shalt love thy
neighbor, and hate thine enemy,
but I say unto you, Love your enc
mics. bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate YOU, and pray
or them which despitefully use you,
and persecute you; that we may he tn
children of your Father which is in
Heaven: for He maketh His sun to
rise on the evil and on the good, and
sendeth rain on the just and on the
unjust
For if We love them which love you.
what reward have We? Do not even
the publicans the same?
And if We salute your brethren only.
what do We more than others?
DO not even the publicans so?
BE We therefore perfect, even as
your Father which is in Heaven is
perfect-Matt. ": 3S-39-43- A 40 46-47-
49,
This is the very text I have been
preaching from, and l do not object to
the source being known.
MRS EDWARD o. CUMMING.