The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-19
ABOUT MR. SHELDON.

In recent issue of the Atchison
Globe the following editorial paragraph
appeared:
mo Topeka newspaper man ever
dared to make fun of Rev. c. NJ Shell
don, except in private"
Why should Topeka papers poke fun
at Mr.. Sheldon? What has he done to
deserve being made an object of ridi-
cule or held up to the public in a TACTICAL
or scornful manner? Isn't he a good
citizen, man of worth. charitable, un-
ostentatious and unassuming? He
loves study and retirement and has
made little effort to popularize himself.
He is kind and gentle in his intercourse
with all who come in contact with him
but he possesses none of the arts
which men SO often employ to win pop
ular favor.
Mr.. Howe is unjust to Mr.. Sheldon
Possibly unintentionally so but neverthe-
less unjust.
The State Journal has no authority
to defend Mr. Sheldon. but a few lines
of explanation why those who live in
Topeka and know his life work thor
oughly. do not laugh, may not be out of
order
Mr.. Sheldon never has the appearance
of a man working for applause or re-
ward; on the contrary his efforts
towards the betterment of his fellow
men are conducted in a quiet modest
manner. He does not seek wealth,
though he is not by any means rich
man. But after all wealth is only
relative term. One man may be passing
rich on $500 year and another may be
miserably poor on $1,000. Mr.. Sheldon
would never be in the latter class. He
has battled with the world and worked
his way up by hard knocks and per-
sistency-
AS a pastor and Christian worker, ne
has presented religion and the teachings
of Christ in such a simple, homely, yet
enticing manner, that he has won him
self the esteem of not only his congre-
CATION but the entire community Mr..
Sheldon has a peculiar style of his own
and has blazed a pioneer path in the
fields of morality that he is conscien-
iously treading and daily .endeavoring
to widen.
His constant endeavor is to aid and
brighten the lives of the poor and aid
them in their betterment. A specimen
in his Tennessee town mission and
worthy matron in charge to care for
the forsaken and friendless brought in
by the police. Many a bushel of coal
that has been left at the back doors of
poverty stricken families on a wintry
night might be traced to the humanity
of Mr.. Sheldon.
Once following the baneful effects of
a great strike in Topeka work was
scarce and many people were unem-
ployed and unable to secure positions.
Mr.. Sheldon pleaded with corpora
tons and business N en- for the laborers
to be given employment sufficient to
keep their families from suffering. But
he was told that there was plenty of
work, that the men We're only lazy and
didn't hustle for places. The pastor was
not so well known in the city then as
now and so putting on an old pair of
overalls and other clothing in keeping
he went all over Topeka at shops,
foundries, stores and back doors ask
ing for any kind of work but he was
invariably refused and in many instan-
ces given very curt replies. On a Sum
day shortly thereafter he told from the
pulpit his experiences. Topeka avenue
came in for it's share of the revelations
and the city was shaken to its founda-
lions. From that time on Mr.. Sheldon
became power and the working man
lost nothing by the incident, AS an
editor Mr.. Sheldon may not have reach
ed the highest pinnacle of fame; but as
a good citizen, an honest, courageous
Christian gentleman there are none bet
ter. Topeka has no cause nor desire to
laugh at Mr.. Charles Sheldon