The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-02-11

ron as one OF Americas two repre-.
senattves at the meeting which is
planned to advise the world peace
conference regarding Rfssia's future
necessarily recalls the sensational
chapter in Herron's career which
was characterized by his expulsion
from the Christian ministry and his
ostracism from decent society in the
land Of his birth.
Ripon, Wis. where he. met Miss Mary
Everhard. q fellow student. They
were married and five children were
born to them At college Miss Ever
hard was brilliant student Heron
had weak eyes, and the girl helped
him even then by reading his lessons
to him. She graduated, but he did
not complete his course.
Mrs. Herron's Devotion.
In the report of the church coun-
ctPs investigation OF the Heron case
which preceded the mans expulsion
from the ministry. this reference to
the conduct Of the first Mrs. HERON
appears:
Mrs. Heron has been faithful
and hard working mother, taking
upon herself many Of the home cares
usually shared by husband. She
was always solicitous for her hus-
band and for his comfort When
visiting or receiving calls her con-
versation was always sure to turn to
him and mis- work. When he was
present at home everything was
planned for his comfort and convent
ence. Mrs. Heron was much inter-
ested in her husbands work, believ-
ing that he was a man with special
mission. During his long absences
from home she went into society but
little, spending much time in reading
the books he recomme ended and
taking up new studies in order that
she might be able to enter into his
life as much as possible.
During the last few years, when
1t became apparent that Mr.. Heron
was seeking companionship and
affection elsewhere, Mrs. Heron
showed no signs of resentment or
jealousy, so far as her neighbors
could Judge, but only the burden OF
sorrow, and tried to retain her hus
bands love by serving him more
faithfully The statement OF a wit
mes that she did everything but
breathe for her husband when he
was at home raised smile in the
council but it was the expression OF
an honest conviction.
Mrs Heron had said little about
divorce except under the seal of con-
fidence, but enough was known to
convince the council that she was an
applicant for divorce only in tech
meal sense, not consenting to be-
come such until fully convinced that
it would be impossible to maintain
the integrity of her home"
Home Is Broken Up.
1t was in the later nineties, when
the Herrons were living at Burling-
ton and Heron was pastor of Con-
gregational church there, that he
conceived an attachment for Carrie
ID. Rand, daughter of Mrs. E. ID.
Rand. one of the members of his
church Mrs. Heron and her chill
dren lived at Grnnell when the hus-
band and father occupied the chair
of applied christianity" N Grinnell
College as the protege of Mrs. Rand.
1t was because of his personal life
and his revolutionary teachings that
he was expelled from the faculty OF
the college and from the ministry of
the church.
Mrs. Heron, it appears, never
abandoned her effort to maintain her
home and protect her children until
! her husband, a'betted by Mrs. Rand
I and her daughter, pressed her to
/! apply for a divorce. sum of money
( was settled on Herron's deserted
family. and there was no effort to
!! conceal the fact that he obtained 1t
from the Rands. An extensive for
! eign trip with Miss Rand and her
! mother preceded the divorce, and
| comment was extensive at the time
! on the fact that the itinerary OF the
party included visit to the Holy
Land Heron was in New York when
/ the divorce was granted, in March,
J 1901, and in July Of that year he and
! Miss Rand announced their unity
OF life" at an unique socialist we'd
ding" at which Heron addressed the
dozen spirits of socialisms inner
! circle who were the invited guests,
saying in part, For many years this
/ unity of life has made us one in fact.
| but now we wish this unity to be-
! come manifest unto the world"
| Renounces Marriage Vow.
| In May of that year Heron wrote
! a long letter to the church council
!, which had been called to investigate
| his case, refusing to appear before
! that body and accepting in advance
the judgment which he knew it must
/, pass on his conduct. In that letter
he set forth in startling detail his
! typically socialistic contempt for the
marriage VOW and those other funda-
mentals which men regard as the
| foundation stones of decent, God
fearing society. Some passages from
/ his letter follow:
81 could not hope to include a
friendly church in the council, for,
however sad the reflection on my
( self to say so, have no friend that
I know OF in the Congregational
| church or ministry of Iowa.
/ 1.-THE life of man given to the
! socialist revolution cannot fail to be