Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-02-16

chufcn ~ nuFu ohN t4~t~r - NJ 7
places Id the county u stirring Up
I Independence The Reporter says
Ii ths cOurss Of bis remarks from ths
pulpit Of the Fret Methodist EPiscc-
pal church last sunday night, Rev. J.
II. Mason, the pastor, 10 reported and
alleged to have slAhdered and MAJ
liRnsd Miss Cora Early who y 2
teaChsr 81 dancing, conducting .
school Of Instruction in the Msars
building At us South Penn Avsnue.
The Indignation expressed over
what ii is claimed was said blythe
preacher has been quite general. The
many friends Of Miss Early have re-
ported to her the substance Of Rev.
MaSon's alleged TRADE Of abuse, and
yesterday she called upon Attorney
7. Il. Stanford and laid the matter be-
fore him. In speaking Of the matter
last evening to Reporter represent
tative Mr.. Stanford said: 4
.Mi6s Early's friends sent her to
consult me. As | understand It she
has been in Independence for several
months, doing sewing, and has made
many friends here. When Prof. Col
vim. the dancing teacher, loft here the
field was in good condition for some
one to continue the teaching Of dane
ing, and it was at the instance Of
friends Of Miss EARLY she took advan.
tAge Of an opportunity to engage in =
legitimate and also respectable busi-
ness that would be more remunefa-
tive, ss she is not rich by any means,
She was not present to hear the
things reported to have been said By
MIR. Mason; she was spared that en-
barrassment, Miss Early said to me
she had no9way Of protecting herself
from public attacks Of this nature,
and asked me what she should do.
After hearing her story l said ! would
Gee Rev. Mason, and II the statements
were true would demand that be make |
a public retractiOa. II called the
preacher up BY phone and made 40
engagement to meet him at Aib. home
at 6 O'Clock Tuesday evening. had
q long talk with the gentleman, and
he made an absolute denial of the
whole story. He said he denounced
dancing. but made no personal ALA
sions to Miss Early that were deroga-
tory Of her character or personal APP
pearance, IS had been reported This
10 the way the case rests. 80 far asa
am concerned, and whether suit
will DO oommenced or net depends
upon the Information we get disProv-
ing Mason's denial.r
The, best people in the city have
been the patrons Of Mise Early's
classes. A lady said to She
Reporter this incoming: n am get
ling tired having myself and childSen
naligned bscaase 4 choose % send
them to dsAcieg school. IL ismy
affair, and 1t 10 asns> Of NJ. Mason's
business whatsoever
Frank Curtis, pharmacists in 9. a.
Eerr's Central drug store, says be
xaS present Is The M q. charCh last
sunday night and heard all that Rev.
Mason said.
II do not khOw Mics Esrly," said
'Gr. Curtis, s'bat drom what ! Leard
Jason say In the pulpit, i y my
opinion eli who are not aOquaintsd
nth Tie lsdy would have LETT the
'hurch with the impression she WAS .
character, united to
'SaoCiate with respectable PeOPls.
lad he been taiking Gbont my sister
n that maunsr believe would hsve
zone forward and have endea*ered to
hoks the words down his throst. ! I
ever heard sueh tiradsOt abnss
rom q pulpit before. Mason said IL
'as true descent girls went 70 dancing
shools. perhaps, but they did aOt
ONE away decent. and he made sag I
sstive sIlusions TO women lying 10
be arms Of men, ETC., at balls. He
leo rsIsrred to Miss Esrly's dancing
shool ss being = hell on earth.' ]
lnnOt recolIset all he said. bat 1t I
Ias . shsmeI and most AbOminable
} ne.r
Thars have been many stories aaoat
/ discussion in the church on ae-
1uat Of Rev. Mason.s policy. At the ! !
nnual congregational meeting Of the /
hurch. held . few weeks ago. for the s