The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1902-04-03
Stirred up the People.

/ Rev. J. Bruce Goddard, a sky pilo;
OF some considerable pretentioD, has
stirred up the people OF Stafford with a
red hot poker, and is now the chief
| topic Of conversation in the valley. He
stated in very plain language that be
r considered Stafford about the hardest
formation" he had encountered in ali
OF his travels. He had heard some
glowing reports from Solomonville and
Clifton, but when il came to down
right sin he thought Stafford entitled
to the greatest distinction.
John Birdno, editor OF the Guardian,
| who is known as very pious young
man, seems TO have taken the remarks
OF the sky pilot in earnest, and on be-
half OF the people of Stafford, whom he
considers deeply malignsd, he roasts
the sky pilot in four column editorial
OF which the following is an excerpt:
People belonging to every church
in the valley went to hear him and
nearly all were more or less impressed
and it appeared at one time that all
the Rev. j. Bruce had to do would be
to put ring in the DEVILS nose and
tie him up, then Safford's petrifed
sinners, who have stood in with the
devil 50 long would be compelled to
lay down their hands and get into line.
But on tho last night the devil was
either too willy, or our sinners pulled
too strong or else the Rev. J. Bruce let
his foot slip; at all events the 'old
boy" got loose and the old sinners
grinned with delight. On this night
The Rev. j. Bruce Goddard seemed to
be somewhat put out" Some said
because his $50 per week had not been
raised. He took the different religious
sects, that do not believe as he does,
right down the line, reserving the
chief place for the Mormous. although
the Presbvterians, BaptIsts and other
people came in for their share, tie
Methodists not escaping. He said he
had received letter from Bob Inger-
soil, direct from hell. Some are I'M
kind enough to believe this, saying if
anyone is in q condition to communi-
cate with the Internal regions he is the
Rev. j. Bruce. But we are more
charitable. We think he was merely
displaying a tigurative picture, for if
ever a man was prepared for heaven,
he is certainly Rev. j. Bruce Goddard,
and by the start OF q very small spring
board he would undoubtedly land be-
yond the borders OF temptation. We did
not attend the last night, understand
ing that the devil was to be ringed and
tied, and we feared, per chance, we
might get tied to the same post.
But to get back to the first part of our
subject: The people of this valley,
whose homes and business are here,
must live together in harmony and
tolerate each other as neigh bOrs. We
do not believe any man, whether he be
clergyman or not, has the right to sow
the seeds OF discords amongst us aud
then go away. Let him come in, be-
come familiar with local conditions,
and il he finds any who are straying
from the best paths of life, let him
bring them back by showing them
their error. No man was ever brought
TO see the error of his way through
abuse or ridicule, and we understand
that Rev. ]. Bruce Goddard used both
in connection with a large number of
Safford's people, asserting at one time
that more people from Stafford, accord
ing to population. were in hell, than
from any other place.