The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-22
'DEvERIDGE WRITES LETTER
ONPROB|NG OF MORMONISM
1t Explains His Attitude in the
Smoot Case, Now Before SEN
ate Committee.
WOMAN MAKES CHARGES
Mrs. McCrea Before Methodist
Ministers-Letter Puts Senator
in Right Light.

The weekly meeting of the Methodist min
listers at the Meridian-street Church yes
terday morning was one of more than ordi-
nary interest in many respects. By pre-
vious arrangement DIR. Gray. the evangelist
who has been interesting Presbyterians
two weeks or more. was present To give a
lecture on the value OF expository preach
ing in the proper work of the ministry,
which was listened To with much interest
BY hundred or more pastors from the sew
eral Protestant churches in the city. and
cordial vote of thanks was given him. But
from worldly point of view the prelude
had elements OF interest both to the preach
er and the public not in the least secondary
to the lecture itself By request Mrs Nc
Crea, talented woman, president OF one
or more of the many valuable woman's as
sociations, was permitted to call attention
of the ministers present to the Nor
mon question as ii is represented by
Senator Beverage, a member Of the Senate
committee now investigating the right OF
the Mormon Smoot to seat in the Senate.
She assumed that the report put in circu-
lation that Senator Beverage had said that
the Mormon question would cut no figure in
the election this year was true. adding that
the senator would find IL quite otherwise If
Mr.. Smoot is seated through the report Of
the committee, adding that the questions
put from time to time 10 the witnesses
were more of the character of questions
from a paid attorney than from an Impair
tial inquirer after truth. Under the elo-
quent appeals of the speaker the case
seemed decidedly against the senator, and
the speaker, conscious of the impression
she had made upon the preachers, left after
suggesting that every pastor present me-
mortal 10 his respective congregations next
Sunday asking the Indiana senators 10 re-
fuse TO admit Mr.. Smoot 10 seat in the
Senate on account OF his Mormonism.
Proyidentially or accidentally, no matter
which, there was at hand satisfactory
explanation of Mr.. BeveridgeS attitude
where it was little looked for. 1t hap
pened that DIR. Stansfield, the pastor
of the Meridian-street Church, had in his
pocket private letter received only few
days ago from Senator Beveridge explain
Ing his relation TO the case. He said that
in an important sense such a committee Is
q judicial tribunal and that he would be
unworthy his place on the committee or in
the Senate If he expressed an opinion upon
the merits OF the case OF even made up his
mind before he had heard all the testimony,
and that every question he had asked as
a member of the committee was intended
to get at facts appertaining 10 IL that had
not been brought out, and that no one who
knows him will expect or even desire him TO
vote contrary TO his convictions after hear
ing all the testimony and listening TO the
arguments.
The effect Of the letter was instantaneous.
Its purely personal and confidential char
acter was at once in the senator's favor.
Neither he nor DIR. Stansfield had ever
thought OF its being used in such a place
and for such purpose. Indeed, DR.. STAINS
field assumed some responsibility in thus
making public what was intended for pri-
vate use only. Evidently this turn of the
allegation and the ill-concealed threat that
the women of Indiana would show the SEN
ator that Mr.. Smoot was very much in In
diana politics was not expected by the elo-
quent speaker. But 1T took even a wider
range than Or. Stansfield intended, or thu II
the senator himself would have looked fol
or asked If he had been present. After the
adjournment groups OF preachers who are
all anti-Smoot suggested that instead OF
voting for the censure of the senator they
owed him a vote of thanks, because the
questions he had propounded the witnesses
had drawn from them the most damaging
testimony as TO the true inwardness OF
Mormonism that has yet been brought out