Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-09
WRITES INTERESTING PAPER IN
ANSWER TO LETTER FROM
REV. j. M. M'ELRoY.
HOW TO IMPROVE CITY
Follows Up Paper He Read Some
Time Ago Before the Brotherhood
of st. Paul. in Which a Twentieth
Century Departure Was Suggested.

e"This is called liberal Christianity,
the commercialism that brings bust
ness to Ottumwa," writes w. B. Bonni-
field president of the First National
bank and one Of the pioneer bankers
of Ottumwa, in speaking of the "atten-
uated form of Christianity which will
allow church member to petition the
city authorities to remove restrictions"
against vice in Ottumwa in order that
the city may be more attractive to
out of town people.
Recently Mr.. Bonnifield delivered an
address before the Brotherhood of st.
Paul suggesting virtually twentieth
century departure in method from
present day Christianity. The paper
was read by Rev. J. NJ. McElroy, who
found in it many points upon which
he agreed. The question OF how
practically to bring about this depart
ure" suggested lead Rev. McElroy to
for EULER statement from Mr..
Bonnifield. It is in answer to the
query, What shall We do that the
paper published today was prepared.
Rev. McEIroy Pioneer Minister.
Rev. McElroy came to Ottumwa in
184S and was the first regular minister
in the village of Ottumwa. From that
early day he has been one of the lead
ers in ali progressive Christian work
which has been done i'll Ottumwa. Mr..
Bonnifle]d has been for over forty
years, one Of the most. prominent men
in the financial circles and in the ma
terial development of Ottumwa.
At the time recently of the fifty
year jubilee service held in this city
by the First Presbyterian church a
sketch OF the life of Rev. McElroy was
published. In this connection today
a sketch of tue life Of Mr.. Bonnitield
will prove interesting to the thousands
of cytlgans of Wapcllo county who are
numbered among his friends and who
have been interested with him in the
development Of the city and county.
The letter of Rev. McElroy which
called forth the paper from Mr.. Bon,
nifield was as follows:
Mr.. w. B. Bonnifeld,
My Dear Sir:
/ read some months since in the Con-
rier your able and vigorous paper
read before the Brotherhood of St
Paul on a proposed departure for the
church of the twentieth century.
read 1t with interest. finding myself
in sympathy with it's chief suggestions
and yet noting some things a little
out of the common line and in advance
of prevalent thought.
/ have been wishing that you would
favor the public with some further
calculation of your views, especially il
practical line. in answer to this in
quiry, What Shall We Do?" 1t is easy
to find fault, but not so easy to sug
gest remedy!
The architect who pronounces a
building incomplete or unsafe or I'M
slightly will render still greater serv
ice by telling us how to remodel or re
build.
/ hope you will favor us something
further on the same general subject
1 do not speak for others, but can as
sure you OF at least one interested
reader. Yours very truly,
J. M. McElroy.
MIR. BonnifieId's Paper.
In answer to the query Mr.. Bonni
field writes as follows:
There could not be a more import
ant question asked, than that asked
by Brother McElroy. What shall iwt
do?" &c question that has to d.
with time and eternity.
| would preface what l say, with thu
thought that must be candid ant
speak the truth as conceive the trutl
to be.
Sermonizing is not my calling, We
/ think We should be willing to give
reason for ahe faith that Is In as" OIL
ell subjects. either sacred ~ secular
However humble our calling lay be
In speaking Of the church mean tn
Gre church, one faith, or all sects .
rcligioniSts tina. believe in one Co
and His Christ.
On this occasion it wants to b
borne In mind that am to speak o