The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-11-07
To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL
Dear Sir.

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL
Dear Sir:
With all due allowance for the poets
license, and the professional story tel
ler's liberty of telling rs truth what he
knows is not so, and for the oonse-
quent expectation of liberal interpreta'
ton Of statements that may not be test
ed too rigidly with the straight edge of
robust truth speaking" is there not,
seriously, danger OF misinterpretatlon
by casual readers of some OF the state
men,s made in u certain biographical
article by well known local contribn.
tor last week. | have no desire 10 take
personal issue with the author Of the
article which was, in the main facts pre-
scented, very interesting. But any one
was not acquainted with the author
might take too seriously certain state
ments and differences made, doubtless,
with no evil intent.
would not raise the subject were it
not for the fact that there are, unfor-
tunately, readers who are so indlscrlm-
mating that like those, il there were
any, who needed the absurdly ridicul-
GUS claims Of Edgar Williams, they
swallow whole just such insidious in
situations without stopping " recog'
nize their absurdity. And there is the
danger. No thoughtful man would be
hurt, by taking too seriously such
statements. He knows better than TO
do so. But il is those who do not think
things through for themselves who
must be put on their guard and who
must be protected from such half truths
or false statements. Furthermore it is
easy to sneer, and sheer sometimes
seems more effective than logic. A
sheer can do more harm than much
careful statement of the truth will
sometimes undo.
The statements 70 which refer par
iicularly are these:
Like most prophets and saints he
was lazy and thought the world owed
him living, etc." Yes. like most
prophets" and saints OF his breed.
Joseph Smith. the apostle Of Mormon
ism twho by the way was also Yer
mont boy.-born at Royalton, near
Sharon, in 1900, was another Of the
same stamp. exactly. The main differ
ence was that Joseph was sharp enough
and found enough dupes so that be
easily gained substantial following,
and comfortable living, whereas Ed
gar Williams apparently had msager
success along that line.
"Hc believed in signs andhad mul
titude Of charms and feticbes and car
med gu, the miraculous religious doc
Urine with as much zeal and fervor as
any of the higher apostles OF the Chris
,ian faith, and what is more be prac-
iiccd what be preached, etc" The i'm
plication that be was really an "apos
lie Of the christian faith, OF simply n
lower order. and that the zeal and
ferYor" Of those who were in reality
apostles Of the christian faith" were
OF essentially the same nature as his,
simply shows lack OF understanding
A. 10 What the christian faith" is.
Doubtless be was in earnest, as the
author recognizes the true apostles
were. Bui any comparison Of their re-
syecliye zeal and feryor, in the way
81 indsniihca,ion. IL, judging from
their lives aud actions which are the
true index Of their bear, emotions, ut
,efls absurd.
"He would not work neither would
be steal except when hungry, The same
as The disciples. who. ii il said, took
wheat The writer refers. suppose,
10 the occasion when the Pharisees
the disciples for plncking the
kernels Of wheat, and eating them on
The Sabbath. lMAii. II; /. ?, eic). The
criticism Of The PhaFisees vas moi that
they we're taking what did not belong
10 them. there MAS no real charge in
solved al AL. For the Jewish las en-.
pressly provided ihA, waytarsu might