ct in the Methodist
denomination. He seems to have what is generally understood as a
Christian spirit. He has always treated me with perfect fairness,
and I should have said long ago many grateful things, had I not
feared I might hurt him with his own people. He seems to be by
nature a perfectly fair man; and I know of no man in the United
States for whom I have a profounder respect. Of course, I don't
agree with Dr. Thomas. I think in many things he is mistaken.
But I believe him to be perfectly sincere. There is one trouble
about him--he is growing; and this fact will no doubt give great
trouble to many of his brethren. Certain Methodist hazel-brush
feel a little uneasy in the shadow of this oak. To see the difference
between him and some others, all that is necessary is to read his
reply, and then read the remarks made at the Methodist ministers'
meeting on the Monday following. Compared with Dr. Thomas, they
are as puddles by the sea. There is the same difference that there
is between sewers and rivers, cesspools and springs.

_Question_. What have you to say to the remarks of the Rev. Dr.
Jewett before the Methodist ministers' meeting?

_Answer_. I think Dr. Jewett is extremely foolish. I did not say
that I would commence suit against a minister for libel. I can
hardly conceive of a proceeding that would be less liable to produce
a dividend. The fact about it is, that the Rev. Mr. Jewett seems
to think anything true that he hears against me. Mr. Jewett is
probably ashamed of what he said by this time. He must have known
it to be entirely false. It seems to me by this time even the most
bigoted should lose their confidence in falsehood. Of course there
are times when a falsehood well told bridges over quite a difficulty,
but in the long run you had better tell the truth, even if you swim
the creek. I am astonished that these ministers were willing to
exhibit their wounds to the world. I supposed of course I would
hit some, but I had no idea of wounding so many.

_Question_. Mr. Crafts stated that you were in the habit of swearing
in company and before your family?

_Answer_. I often swear. In other words, I take the name of God
in vain; that is to say, I take it without any practical thing
resulting from it, and in that sense I think most ministers are
guilty of the same thing. I heard an old story of a clergyman who
rebuked a neighbor for swearing, to whom the neighbor replied, "You
p