This day in Norment-Ward-Beall history 29 Jul 1877 Rev. A. R. Winfield, husband of Susan Norment (of William), didnt take kindly to the response poking fun at his Sabbath letter in the Arkansas Gazette, and sent this sulking reply. He should have taken a step back to gather his wits and written a droll riposte. Im including all three letters here, in reverse order, for continuity. Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, AR) 29 Jul 1877 LETTER FROM DR. WINFIELD EDITOR GAZETTE: Some weeks since I sent a communication to the GAZETTE, A Plea for the Sabbath, with no thought or motive in view but to lead our people to a proper observance of that holy day, never dreaming that I should awaken the ire of the Jews to such an extent that their Rabbi should come forward as their champion and rudely pour out their wrath upon me, without once attempting to show upon Christian principles the position he takes. Now, Mr. Editor, I should have been very glad for an opportunity to have given thy sentiments, as gleaned from the word of God on the proper observance of the Sabbath, but in the same paper that contained Rabbi Blochs notice of my article, a request was made that the Sunday question be laid aside. Recognizing at once your right to make this request and the rules of journalism, I submitted. But, sir, to my surprise, I find in your paper of the 22d a more abusive fling at myself than the first - from an anonymous correspondent, signing himself Nhocam, who is no less a personage, I believe, sir, than one M. A. Cohn, of Little Rock, Ark., who has been permitted through your columns not only to abuse your humble servant, but also to slander all Protestant denominations of New York. Now, I know nothing of this M. A. Cohn, except that I have understood he has published an infidel work - what we rarely see, an infidel Jew - hence he is not a proper representative of either Jewish or Christian faith. I could not be induced to hold a newspaper controversy with him or any other correspondent who would stoop to fling an insult or injury upon any one aiming to benefit his country or his race. But I simply ask why this article was permitted to appear in your paper, when silence had been asked? This uncalled for attack on an unpretending minister, an effort to do away with the laws that ought to govern our holy Sabbath? You seem in your partiality to favor the Jews. Let us know, and if, as a denomination, your prejudice to us will not allow us justice through your organ, why then the forty thousand Methodists of Arkansas can take care of themselves. Hitherto, for twenty-five years, it has been my pleasure to have enjoyed a long and altogether a pleasant intercourse with the GAZETTE, and nothing, Mr. Editor, has been, or shall be, done on my part to disturb it. Our acquaintance has been short, and limited, but I trust that my humble name is sufficiently known in Arkansas as one of her champions for right, to entitle me to a hearing when the rude hand of injustice is thrust at me. With great respect, sir, I am your obedient servant, A. R. WINFIELD HOT SPRINGS, July 25, 1877. Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, AR) 24 Jul 1877 FROM OUR PILGRIM. A New Field for the Labors of Rev. Dr. Winfield. NEW YORK, July 15, 1877. EDITOR GAZETTE: ... Mr. Editor, for the sake of the poor lost souls of all the dwellers of this modern Sodom and Gomorrah please do induce Rev. Dr. A. R. Winfield to make New York his future field of operations for converting the Haythens and Turks, as Corny Delaney (a creation of Charles Lever) says. O what a glorious field is here open for the eloquent and celebrate divine just above mentioned and I do sincerely hope that the spirit, I mean the Godly, of course, will move him to act on this suggestion. I am thus moved by compassion for my benighted and lost fellowmen (and women, too) by seeing, while here, on Sunday - the Sabbath - Dr. Winfields special and sanctified day of rest, every denomination go on picnics and excursions, not only the unbelieving Jew, but Roman Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, societies - charitable and otherwise, all go on their Sunday excursions - go to the health inspiring seashore, to the Central park, to neighboring villages or woods. O, it is horrible to think of it, but I presume they have never heard of our Reverned Doctor, and hence they grope thus in darkness and to certain perdition. Mercy on them. NHOCAM [M. A. Cohn backwards] On this letter, I wonder if the irony strikes Rev. Winfield regarding the late arrival of the letter despite mail being transported on the Sabbath: Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, AR) 14 Jun 1877 [poor image; if the web site can get a better one, I will post a new transcription, but the gist is certainly evident] A PLEA FOR THE SABBATH. Owing to the irregularities of the mail service the following letter from Dr. Winfield, evidently intended for Sundays GAZETTE, did not find its way to this office until yesterday [Wednesday]: HOT SPRINGS, ARK., June 9. EDITOR GAZETTE: While I greatly admire the GAZETTE under its present administration, still I am no part of a politician, and take but very little interest in any thing that concerns party politics, except the real welfare of our people; but there is such a growing tendency in all parties and all people to ignore the moral weal of the community and so much in all the party press of the day that is corrupting in its teachings, that I must ask permission to thank you for the many hard hits you have given the advocates and leaders in the great social and moral sins of the present demoralized time. I thank you for the hit at the attempt to have a public picnic on the Sabbath, near your city. Surely our country is not ready for the total desecration of the Sabbath. During the last few years railroads have run their train in the interest of their Sabbath desecrators, and thus, while they were improving the financial condition of the country, they are actually injuring the morals of the people and tearing down the very bulwark of our safety. In this brief article let me appeal to all parties concerned to cease this fearful desecration of the holy day. our Sabbath is the one recommended by our laws as the Christian Sabbath, and in this Christian country, where all the people are protected in their rights by the civil law - men of all religions ought to respect our Sabbath. [illegible lines] all our people as a religion, but as a civil institution. For instance, our Jewish friends hold that Saturday, and not Sunday, is the real Sabbath. Now we would not by any legislative enactment force them to observe the Christian Sabbath as ___ of the resurrection of Christ and a religious festival, but they can, and certainly ought to, observe it as a civil institution, recognized by the laws of the land; and in this respect, we would have all nations represented on our continent, or in our country, respect and reverence it. It is one of the fearful abominations of this demoralized age that all our railroads are running trains on Sabbath, and our Government is a violator of its own laws. Our President would not take the oath of office on Sabbath, but still our mails are transported every Sabbath, and the telegraphic communication of the whole country is kept up, but we are not responsible for these National sins - only so far as we aid them by our individual sins and countenance them by electing ungodly men to office. Society needs the Sabbath, and will not survive its distinction. France ignored the Sabbath and the Bible and embraced infidelity, and the bloody revolution that followed has left its __ impress upon her, from which she has never recovered. Surely, our people are not ready to convert the Sabbath into a day of metropolitan vice and folly. Let me call the attention of the Young Mens Christian Association to this matter and let them have a large meeting for considering the proper observance of the Sabbath. Now, Mr. Editor, I suppose I have written enough for this time. I am thoroughly in earnest about this matter. I am thoroughly in earnest about this matter. The Sabbath is very dear to us as a Christian people, and we must protect it. Surely Little Rock, nor this wonderful Baden of America, are neither ready for lager beer saloons and gardens on the Sabbath, and our fashionables will not turn this holy day into a day of recreation and pleasure. Let us observe the Sabbath. If you are not disposed to attend worship at any Protestant or Romish church, why go to your home, and, with your wife and children, worship God among your household deities. Enough for the present. Stick to the fight, Mr. Local, without regard to friend or foe. A. R. WINFIELD
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 20:30:13 +0000
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