The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-06-20
REV. F. A. GILMORE SCORES HERON.
Thinks the Apostle of Free-Love is Coward
and Hypocrite.

and Hypocrte.
1.-The Case of George ID. Herron,' was
the theme of Rev. T. A. Gilmore in the
Unitarian pulpit. Madison, Wis. Sun
day morning. June 2nd. In his sermon
the pastor made beautifully clear
presentation of the facts in the divorce,
and re-malriage the SUNDAY before
yesterday, of the eccentric, brilliant and
sensational socialist and advocate of
free-lOve.
Rev. Nh Gilmore made keen analy-
sis of what must have been the motives
that must have been behind Prof. Her
ron's abandonment of the earnest and
faithful little Ripon, Wis. woman WHO
was the wife of his youth, for the rich
and sentimental Miss Carrie Rand.
Heron placed his action upon the lofty
plane of ideality, and i'll high sounding
words of perfect spiritual unity"
community of companion souls and
such gush declared his separation from
the first Mrs. Heron and his union
with Miss Rand the purest and most
moral course of action possible.
Mr.. Gilmore with Yankee frankness
stated that he thought Heron either a
hypocrite or a coward; that more
plausible explanation Of his acts is that
marriage with Miss Rand changed his
position from one of dependence upon
a small salary with the cares of a
family of four children, to one of wealth
and ease His conscience towards his
wife and babes was quoted by the large
alimony provided the first Mrs. Heron
by Miss Rand.
Rev. Mr. Gilmore in his sermon said :
Last sunday Prof. Geo. d. Heron
and Miss Carrie Rand were married in
New York by their friend the Rev.
W. T. Brown. The event has been
widely published and commented on by
the press. Public opinion, as expressed
in the newspapers and current itera-
ture. has been almost unanimous in
condemning Prof. Heron. In this con-
demnatlon we agree.
Or. Heron, now 80 years old, was
ordained a Congregationalist minister
at the age of %. At that time he mar
ried Mary Everhard of Wisconsin.
They have had four children, the young
est now :. For six years Mr. Heron
preached in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
He then accepted call to the First
Congregational church at Burlington,
Ia, but left the pulpit in 1898 to fill the
CtldlI VI L1pFllCu I'll III 1ONd
college This chair was created and
endowed by Mrs. E. D. Rand, a wealthy
parishoner of Mr. Herron's Mrs. Rand
and her daughter then took up their
residence at Grinnell, the college seat,
and became Prof. Herron's most ardent
supporters. For seven years he lectur-
ed at Iowa college. He resigned his
position about one year ago. His letter
OF resignation was manly production
and elected favorable comment even
from those who were hostile to his
economic teaching. One of the con-
ditions of his resignation was that the
fund of endowment for the chair of APP
piled Christianity should remain with
the college. Last summer he travelled
iii Europe with the Rands: returning in
October to participate in a political
campaign. On March % Mrs. Heron
obtained a legal divorce from him on
the ground of desertion, receiving
large sum of money as alimony and the
custody of the children
This episode has interest for us not
merely because it is divorce and re-
marriage but because it is the act of
persons who claim to be in advance
of their times Both Prof. Her
ron and Miss Rand posed as reform
ers and teachers. They had seen the
evils under which society now staggers,
and they knew the only true way of re-
formation. They claim for their lives
and actions the high sanction of truth
They were actuated only by the Hottest
motives: motives far above those of
ordinary men. They had attained the
heights of moral and spiritual per-
lection and looked down upon the mas
ses of society toiling darkly below them.
There is no yesterday and no to- NOR
row in the married harmony and the
joyous rhythm of two such souls. We
are here to-day to announce to the world
the oneness of two human souls in a
love that reflects and reproduces and
manifests somewhat of the essence of
that infinite love which sways and ami
mates the universe
with such high sounding platitudes
did the Rev. Mr.. Brown officiate and
announce that each took the other for
companion These fine phrases cannot
hide the shabbiness of the whole trans
action. From the time of his going to
Burlington there appears to have been
an attachment on the part of Miss
Rand for Prof Heron. For several
years she lived in his house as the in
mate of his family. What are we to
think Of Mrs. Herron's feelings as she
beheld this and saw where it was land
ing? What unhappiness of mind; what
misery of this daily injustice Then
Prof. Heron and the Rands 60 away to
Europe! They travel about for there
is plenty of money. He remains away
from home long enough to allow Mrs.
Heron to obtain her divorce. Who