The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-29
THE PROVIDENCE NEWS
MRS. ELLIOTT
TELLS OF
DR.. IRVINE

Huntingdon Pa, Dec. 29.-Mrs. Emma
u. Elliott. source OF the troubles OF Rev.
Dr. Ingram f. W. Irvine and of Bishop
Ethelbert Talbot, broke her silence yes
terday. She nailed Irvine upon GROSS
Of contempt avowed she was afraid OF
him, admitted she wore purple sometimes
when Bishop Talbot visited town, and
generally told her whole version OF the
story.
Her hair is gray. almost white Cold
trimmed spectacles. behind which large,
full. black eyes sull undimmed by age
beam kindly, complete the impression
OF a motherly. good hearted old soul,
grandmother She said:
II told DR.. Irvine In my own house and
in the presence OF two other women MEM
bers OF our church that / was a divorced
woman, and ne offered no objection, He
and | were OF the friendliest OF terms
after that He often dined at my house.
and whenever he needed money for the
church | never hesitated 10 give him any
amount he desired.
SHEER MALICE
such cruel. unkind things have been
said about me. IL Is 80 difficult for
woman 20 prove that her skirts are clean
once the tongue OF scandal has taken
liberties with her name.
81 have hesitated TO reply 10 the base,
false. cruel insinuations that have been
levelled against me by n man whom be-
friended. who broke bread a my table
and who took money from my hand
How can the world have anything but
pitiless scorn for such a man. He has
ma nv tat
that wore purple when Bishop Talbot
visited me. Suppose I did I frankly
admit that I wore a gown OF purple on
several occasions when Bishop Talbot was
n visitor n my house.
"He liked purple n is true. but T had
had the gown made I'm Philadelphia long
before I ever met or knew Bishop Talbot.
My wearing It had nothing to do with his
coming. and DR. Irvine knows II.
my relations with Bishop Talbot have
been simply and only those of friendship.
II was my duty when the bishop OF this
diocese came to Huntington 10 receive
him and entertain him. and other mem
bers OF the church here did so. ! was
innocent OF any wrongdoins and no one
knows n better than Dr. Irvine. He has
acted all along through sheer malice.
HOW -REGAN
THE trouble began with the coming ~
choirmaster from ST Buke's church at
Altoona 20 instruct the choir az our
church. When the time came for pay
ing the choirmaster DR.. Irvine appealed
to me. | gave him the needed sum.
which was not quite $50 and | thought
no more OF the matter until one day.
greatly 10 my surprise received letter
from the choirmsster. who had returned
to Altoona. who informed me that ne
asked me 10 send him the money due
him for his services al our church.
That was the first opening OF the
breach between us and one thing led
to another. until finally DIR. Irvine start.
ed the present trouble by refusing me
communion at our church because I was
divorced woman
Can you imagine anything more con-
temptble? To deny the privilege of being
communicant on the grounds that |
was divorced woman, long after | had
informed him OF that face.
"You asked me- for the truth. and there
you have it That is the explanation of
this whole controversy Of course. when
Bishop Talbot learned the truth he took
DR.. Irvine 10 task about IL and later took
my side In the matter.
Il have too much self-respect 10 say
any more. Tho whole truth has not been
told. no not n little OF II. | don't wish
TO become involved I'm A controversy with
DR. Irvine, that would he descending %
his level
why. | am grandmother and
have three grown-up sons. Isn't II per
fectly absurd" Mrs. Elliott laughed, as
she concluded the Interview.
--~--------
Didn't you 80 10 sleep during the clas-
sical program?" asked Mrs. Cumrox,