_Question_. What is your opinion of Colonel Ingersoll?
_Answer_. I do not think there should be any misconception as to
my motive for indorsing Mr. Ingersoll. I never saw him before that
night, when I clasped his hand in the presence of an assemblage of
citizens. Yet I regard him as one of the greatest men of this age.
_Question_. Is his influence upon the world good or otherwise?
_Answer_. I am an ordained clergyman and believe in revealed
religion. I am, therefore, bound to regard all persons who do not
believe in revealed religion as in error. But on the broad platform
of human liberty and progress I was bound to give him the right
hand of fellowship. I would do it a thousand times over. I do
not know Colonel Ingersoll's religious views precisely, but I have
a general knowledge of them. He has the same right to free thought
and free speech that I have. I am not that kind of a coward who
has to kick a man before he shakes hands with him. If I did so I
would have to kick the Methodists, Roman Catholics and all other
creeds. I will not pitch into any man's religion as an excuse for
giving him my hand. I admire Ingersoll because he is not afraid
to speak what he honestly thinks, and I am only sorry that he does
not think as I do. I never heard so much brilliancy and pith put
into a two hour speech as I did on that night. I wish my whole
congregation had been there to hear it. I regret that there are
not more men like Ingersoll interested in the affairs of the nation.
I do not wish to be understood as indorsing skepticism in any form.
--_New York Herald_, November 7, 1880.