Penloe's mail increased in size rapidly, and he was now receiving twenty
times more letters than all the other mail in Orangeville combined. It
was amusing to see how the letters were addressed. They read, "Dr.
Penloe, Rev. Dr. Penloe, Rev. Penloe, Penloe, Esq., Prof. Penloe, D.D.,
and LL.D." Letters came to him from every state in the Union. Here is
one:
"MR. PENLOE:
"DEAR SIR:--I am shocked and disgusted with you. You
never ought to be allowed to talk from the pulpit in
such a way. The people of Orangeville ought to tar and
feather you and ride you on a rail out of the county."
Another letter was as follows:
"CRANK PENLOE:
"Of all the cranks I ever did read about or hear tell
on, you are the darndest. The women folks in my house
are as hot as hell, ever since they read in the paper
what you talked in church. My wife said, 'What a crank
you must be,' and my mother-in-law said hell is too
good for such as you. What a rumpus you have made all
over the country; it seems as if hell is to pay for all
this."
Penloe also received some powerful scorching letters from orthodox
ministers, while on the other hand the liberal and radical elements of
society poured forth eulogies and commendations for his bold original
utterances, for his fearlessness in treating the subject in the
courageous way he did; calling him a brave pioneer and they themselves
would start Penloe Clubs for putting his ideas in practice. He received
many letters from churches in some of the large cities, like the
following:
"REV. DR. PENLOE:
"DEAR SIR:--Our church in this city is an elegant
structure and will seat twelve hundred persons. For
some months we have been looking for a popular young
man to fill our pulpit. It has been very difficult to
find an up-to-date man, one that will draw a
congregation to fill our church, for the audience keeps
growing less every Sunday, because we have not got a
real, live smart man to preach to us. We think if we
could secure your services you would draw the largest
congregation in this city, for your popularity has
swept the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and
we feel sure you are the right man. Our people are very
sociable and well to do, many of our members being
rich. We are willing to pay you a salary of seven
thousand dollars a year, and the use of a handsome
house elegantly furnished, and will allow you two
months' vacation, besides paying your expenses to come
here. We will say that, should you accept our offer,
our people will be glad to receive you into their
hearts and homes."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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