The Sun

THE REV. DR. KIMBALL.
He Desires to Hear About the New God and See what he Can Do In Baxter Street.
To The Editor of The Sun—Sir: On the 28th of May last I sent an invitation to Robert G. Ingersoll, respectfully couched in proper terms, to meet a few missionary workers, the least of whom I was, at 3 o'clock P. M. on any Sunday in June or July, at the foot of Baxter street, or what is commonly called "The Five Points," there to look into the faces of some thousands of our fellows, brethren of Mr. Ingersoll as well as our own, who are in great distress of mind, body, and estate, lost men and women, dear little children sporting upon the very brink of a representative New York hell. We have pledged ourselves to protect Mr. Ingersoll's voice from all injury. True, we can offer him no money, but, as we get no salary for doing what we can to save these men, we have presumed he would take his chances with us. We understand by Sunday lectures, orations, sermons, or speeches 'that Mr. Ingersoll is himself a preacher, or at least, the son of one. It has likewise been gathered from these works of Mr. Ingersoll that Mr. Ingersoll has found a new god, has learned what he shall or will do to be saved." In that god's name, then why does he delay? Come, dear brother, for all things are now ready. Five thousand, yea, tens of thousands, of as sin-sick souls as can be found out of Wall street, Washington, or in a hundred million-dollar Fifth avenue church, will greet his answer to this call to preach any gospel of salvation that saves in Baxter street. Perhaps it is our obscurity which renders us worthy of no notice by this great prophet of a new way of salvation. If so, we will become a very Nicodemus and go by night. If Mr. Ingersoll chooses the evening, agreed. All we ask as substitute for ourselves is the vote of Baxter street when Mr. Ingersoll has announced to the denizens of that locality his plan of salvation. Let the Five Points speak after Mr. Ingersoll is through—not we. We consent to any obscurity which may suit this apostle of a new god, a new gospel, and a new Bible. "Per-haps it is too insignificant business for the great word marshal of modern times to condescend to address such a wofebegone crowd as surges around that triangle called a park. If so, we find that the House of Industry, incorporated by our Astors and our Jesups on one side, and the Five Point Mission rooms on the other will be filled with as fashionable an audience as intelligent and as numerous an audience as greeted the brave Colonel on Decoration Day. Perhaps the great orator prefers to meet that Christianity which is founded on the almighty-dollar. If a foeman worthy of his steel is a one caparisoned in gold and sequent glory of the modern church militant, is some sound, fat, and oily man of God, some Reverend holy, unctuous saint of the historic r, then, indeed must we hang our heads in disappointment, for we are tent makers, fishermen, Galileans of old. We make no disguise. Jesus of Nazareth is our God, and we abide in Him short. If Mr. Ingersoll regards us as beneath his notice then must we go without his god, his plan of salvation, and his Bible. Well, we can survive—probably. But how about our brethren? Still the question remains unanswered. "What shall Baxter street do to be saved?" We trust the courageous Colonel will pity us and show us how we may flee the wrath to come. Perhaps a week's reflection may cause Mr. Ingersoll to relent. Yours for humanity and salvation that saves.
BROOKLYN, June 9.
HENRY KIMBALL