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The Butte Miner OPINIONS OF MARY M'LANE What Some Clergymen Think of Her Sensational Book. FROM A PERVERTED MIND She Has Talent, but Is Not a Genius -- Her Purpose May Not Be Mercenary -- Attended Sunday School. A Miner reporter interviewed a number of people yesterday, mostly pastors of the churches, with a view of getting from them opinions of Mary MacLane and her sensational book, which is a general topic of conversation everywhere. Some of the pastors refused to express any opinion. Some of the expressions of those interviewed are as follows. She Is Not a Genius. "I would prefer to read 'The Story of Mary MacLane' before passing judgment upon it" said the Reverend John Hoking, "but I am satisfied that if the book is as represented by those who have reviewed it that it will have anything but an elevating influence upon those who read it. Mary MacLane may have talent, but I do not consider that she is entitled to be called a genius. If the published extracts of her book are true, she has perverted her talent so that it has become low and coarse. Persons with only ordinary talent may say or write sensationalisms, but it requires refined, superior talent to produce that which elevates and ennobles the people. "Genius is superior and lofty. It soars above the lower strata, and never descends to the degenerate. Therefore, I say that Miss MacLane is not a genius, for if she were she would be incapable of producing a book of the sensational and risque character which all reports represent, her work to be." "Ravings of a Perverted Mind." "I have not yet had.an opportunity to read Mary MacLane's book," said the Reverend Mr. Gibble, who is occupying the pulpit of Saint John's Episcopal church during the illness of the Reverend Mr. Blackiston, "and, therefore I am unable to express an opinion of it. If, however, the published extracts have been made with fairness and not with the intention of merely condemning the work, I must say that it shows a most perverted talent, and the ravings of an Immature mind. It does not seem possible to me that a girl with the true instincts of womanhood could honestly give expression to the sentiments which this book is said to contain, and it appears to me that only with the idea of accumulating money she permitted such a work to emanate from her." Treats Her Charitably. "I have not read Mary MacLane's book," said the Reverend E.J. Groeneveld last night, "and I have no comment to make upon it. I have known the young author for several years, and she was a member of the Presbyterian Sunday School. I have always known her as modest, thoughtful girl, and as one who bore the best of reputations. The harsh criticisms that have been passed on her and her book may not be just, and when the book is taken as a whole it may appear in a different light to those who have read but extracts from different portions." Is Unfortunate. Reverend J.E. Noftsinger, pastor of the First Baptist Church, said that he was not very well prepared to give an opinion on the work of Miss MacLane, as he had never seen or talked with the young woman. He had, however, read the extracts from the book published in the newspapers and had also taken note of the criticisms. "From what I have seen of [the book] as per the extracts published in the papers, I can only say that there are some things in the work which should have much better been left out. There are statements which I could not for a moment consider elevating or showing any particularly deep thought. "There is but little to say in regard to the book except that it is an unfortunate thing all the way through. It is unfortunate that a person's thoughts should follow in those channels and that is about all that I can say. "As to whether the book should be allowed in the library I am not prepared to say. Perhaps if I had read it in its entirety I might have an opinion. I will say, however, that if a copy was allowed on the pages of the insitution it would undoubtedly prevet a sale of many copies. "This is about all I wish to say. And I simply wish to reiterate my position that the publication of such a work, if it is all of the same class as the extracts published, is unfortunate." A LAWYER'S OPINION "No, Miss MacLane is not crazy," said Thomas Campbell yesterday. "I doubt that she really believes a single thing she has written. It occurs to me she is not sincere, especially when she declares without a blush that she is a liar, a thief and not virtuous. I assume that she uses these as figures of speech ... [transcription to be completed]
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