The Penn's Grove record., 1904-10-07
A DIYINE's

Lake Como, N. j. September 26, 1904
Dear Brother Summerill:-
l have just finished reading your edi-
torial under the caption, s'Twenty
Years a Scribe" Because | have been
a constant reader of the Record for
twelve out of those twenty years, l am
confident you will permit a word ofcon-
graduation.
There were two statements in your
article which seem to me to be worthy
of more than ordinary emphasis: First,
ave have ~endeavored to publish the
local news with impartial INTEREST,".
True for you. During all the years of
my ministry l never met an editormore
impartial or less given discrimination
against churches other than his own.
Well do l remember that a cordial well
come always waited an item concern
ina cold Bethel"
The other statement: "Our editorial
views we have expressed without fear
or favor" You readers will recognize
this as unditioned truth. 1 very well
remember when you began the fight for
the people in 1896; some who wished
not well to our took OffenSe at
| your editorials and withdrew advertis-
ing from the Record, MOI can | forget
that, regardless of this loss of patron
age, week after you did yeoman service
for the cause of pure Democracy. /
like a man who will sacrifice for liberty
to think and who, has thought, will
make greater sacrifice for liberty tOgive
free expression to his thought.
And yet, / must confess that your
conception of an EDITORS duties and re-
sponsibilities is some what old~-TaShiOn-
ed and out of alignment with the ethics
of ~plutocracy, to whom editorial opin-
ions are simply merchandise, to be
bought and sold like iron, sugar and
flour.
But all honor to you, friendly scribe;
all honor to you as a man with a mis-
sion; all honor to you as week after week,
without applause, you labor in the
cause of liberty and the right. All
honor to you for twenty years of hon
est, faithful service. A service which
cannot be measured by the jingle of a
dollar. All honor to you for the lofty
ideal which measures editorial duty and
responsibility by the right and regards
your position an opportunity to serve IN
the peoples cause.
May the years continue to deal kind
ly with you as n by II they pass.
May the Record grow more and more
like a tree planted by a river of waters
that bringeth forth its fruit in season.
May that kind of Democracy for which
you stand, for which you have sacrifc-
ed, continue to grow, to increase, to
ieaven the whole lump of the American
people, until a genuine Democrat shall
sit in the White House as President;
until at Trenton Democracy pure and
indebted, shall lead the people of New
Jersey into paths of righteousness and
ways of equity.
Here's a cheer for the twenty years
which have passed and a hearty good
wish that you may have twenty more,
and ten after that.
Sept. %, 1904 thank you for your
subscription for a copy of SIN the Sc
cret Place. - and many other kindness
es shown me in the past and shall con-
tinue to number you among my valued
friends. About that letter of apprecia-
ton: 1t was justly your due and l
took pleasure in writing it; / stand to
and abide by every word. | suppose
the orthodox way would have been to
wait until you were dead, but | am
SURE many a faithful worker would
have taken heart if some word of appre-
citation had reached him while yet alive.
Again thanking you for your sub
scription, | am, yours faithfully,
REV. JAMES H. CLARKE, I'd. d.