Pope Vs. Hildreth

To the Editor of The Rigibter : Sie: - A note which reoently appeared in your widely-read paper, concerniDg these two well-known divines, is capable of producing much irjury. Will you please give me brief space to state a few plain facts? I would not, if I could, open a controvesy now finally and 80 strangely concluded. The Rev. Mr. Pope, as is well known, has been for many years the open antagonist of the Rev. Mr. Hildreth, whom he deolared unfit to be a minister, and whom he would sooner or later came to be expelled from the Methodist Episcopal church, of which they were both leading members. The time came at last, commencing in November, 1887, and Mr. Hildreth was brought to trial at the instigation of the Rev. DrPope. This trial continued several weeks! every scrap of hi-tory in Mr. Hildreth's long service in the chureh was admitted, ii needed, as testimony. No limit was made in evidence from the earliest days of Dr. Hildreth's presc'.ing djwn to the time of the beginninsr of the trial. The most intense and wide spread interest, especially throughout Onio and Michigan was feit in this trial. Tbe results of tbi long and bitter trial, which occured at Cleveland, where botti these ministers were stationed, are genernlly well known. Th Rev. Dr. Hildreth was ur.aniinously acquhted of all charges brought against him. Iq about two weeks irom that time the Rev. Dr. Pope went insane and h now confined in an insane asylum. Experts have assured me that this insanity was the direct reenlt of his disappointment in failing to convict bis brother minister, whom he had so long and bitterly persned. The.e a-e, however, those who know that Mr. Pope's unsettled state of mind reaches back for several years. His well known position on the temperance question which he held during his last pastorate in Ann Arbor, was believed by competent observen to be due to a latent form of insanity. His many friends who loveü Dim aa a man Dut, strongly opposea his position on the temperance question, may here find consoling facts which will explain Mr. Pope'a strange career. Mr. Popeisdeclated tobe hopelest.ly insaue. Mr. Hildretb tms been callad to take charge of one of the largest congregations which meets in Music hall in Cleveland. It is not trne tbat later charges have been brought against Mr. Hildreth as stated in your paper. Hig withdrawal from the Methodist church was on account of many urgent calis from leading churche?, and he finally accepted the evangelical work so long fostered by Mr. üoane, of Cleveland, who is wel known throughout so called evangelical circle. Cleveland, O., üct. 1888.