GEOOOE H. WAlSER

GEOOOE H. WAlSER and

cAn~~~~ ky aopo9!&~4b

U7ElCOME TO LIBERAL

liBERAL, MISSOURI IS A DElIGHTFUL LITTLE COMMUNITY IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI ABOUT THIRTY MILES NORTH

OF JOPLIN. IT WAS FOUNDED IN f 880 AS A SHOWCASE FOR LIBERALISM. THE EXPERIMENT, HOWEVER, WAS A FAILURE.

THE LIBERAL THEORIES, WHICH SEEMED SO PROMISING ON PAPER, TURNED OUT TO BE A DISASTER IN REAL LIFE.

THERE ARE LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM LIBERAL, MISSOURI

GEORGE H. WAlSER

%6[e of Contents

CHAPTER Page

INTRODUCTION 1

I. BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS 6

II. WALSER AND THE MILITARY 10

III. FOLLOWING THE MONEY TRAIL 13

IV. THE FOUNDING OF LIBERAL 16

V. WITH ALL HIS MIGHT 19

VI. WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE CAME? 22

VII. EDUCATION IN LIBERAL 25

VIII. FREE LOVE 31

IX. CLARK BRADEN 34

X. THE FAILURE OF LIBERALISM 37

XI. SPIRITUALISM 41

XII. A MILITARY PENSION? 45

XIII. THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS 47

XIV. WALSER MEETS HIS MASTER 52

LIST OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS 57

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IfiTitODOCTIOfi

A rose by any other name, does not smell the same. Vance Packard in his book "Hidden Persuaders," relates an interesting experiment. Identically the same soap was placed in three different boxes. One box was predominantly yellow. The second was predominantly blue. The third was designed with a mixture of blue and yellow. Women were asked to test each sample. Most said the soap in the yellow box was too strong, and that in the blue box was too weak. Though identically the same soap was in all three boxes, most preferred the sample in the yellow and blue box.

AI Ries and Jack Trout report a similar experiment in their book "Positioning." They said that blind taste tastings of champagne have often ranked California brands above French ones. We taste what we expect to taste. Inexpensive Gallo tastes much better when poured from a bottle you believe is fifty year old French Burgundy. Our perceptions of reality are influenced by our own prejudice and preconceptions.

The same is true of history. The "facts" of history are constant, but our perception of them is not. Americans celebrate July 4, as "Independence Day." This happy occasion commemorates our victory over England in the Revolutionary War. Englishmen look at this same celebration in a much different light. July 4, is not a happy day in England.

The same truth applies to the story of George H. Walser, and the history of Liberal, Missouri. Though the facts remain the same, our perceptions of them may differ.

My first exposure to this remarkable story came through the writings of two men, the Rev. Clark Braden, and J.P. Moore. Their views of Liberal, and their opinions of its founder, G.H. Walser, were quite different. Several things help to explain these differences.

First, they wrote at different times in history. Braden first published his pamphlet, 'The Fulfillment of a Dream," in 1885, and revised it in 1886. This was a particularly trying time in the town of Liberal. During that period, people were leaving Liberal, and property values were declining. There was some speculation that the city may even cease to exist.

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The fabric of liberalism was starting to unravel. Rancor and bitterness abounded. This was the Liberal that Clark Braden encountered and wrote about in 1886.

J.P. Moore did not even visit the town of Liberal until 1896, and did not move there until 1899. By this time, the situation in Liberal was much more stable. The passing of more than ten years brought many dramatic changes. For example, Walser had reversed his position on churches. In Braden's day, he opposed them. In fact, Walser even bragged that Liberal was "the only town of its size in the world without a priest, preacher, church, saloon, God or hell ... " By the time J.P. Moore arrived, however, Walser welcomed churches. The town had also changed. In 1899, Liberal was not as liberal as it once was. The cutting edge of militant liberalism had been dulled, and the radical nature of the great social experiment had been greatly reduced.

Secondly, their historical perspective was different. Braden was an opponent of Walser, and Moore was his friend and former employee. At one point, Mr. Moore even lived with the Walsers. Moore's book, "The Strange Town," was not completed until 1963. By this time, Liberal was just like every other little town in S.W. Missouri. A blazing inferno loses much of its intensity when you are eighty years removed from the heat.

Here is an example of the way Moore's friendship with Walser may have affected his historical perspective. On page 151 of the Strange Town, Moore wrote that Walser "... entered the Union army ... and attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel ... " This was apparently what Walser told him, and he had no reason to doubt it. He should have. Walser obviously lied about his military service. His friends believed him, but his enemies did not. In this instance, his enemies were right.

Walser was not a Lieutenant Colonel, he was only a Captain. Furthermore, he was dishonorably discharged from the military. On May 4, 1865, Captain Walser was dishonorably dismissed from his position as Provost Marshal in St. Joseph, Missouri. The charge against him was "malfeasance in office." Clark Braden knew about this and mentioned it on page 4 of his pamphlet, "The Fulfillment of a Dream." Moore claimed to have read Braden's pamphlet, but obviously did not believe the charges.

Walser apparently never told anyone the truth about his military service, not even his wives. In the course of his life, Mr. Walser was married to four different women. His last wife, Esther, obviously thought he was a Lieutenant Colonel. She proudly identified her deceased husband on his mausoleum as "Lieut. Col. George H. Walser." She apparently did not learn the truth about his military service until 1926 when she applied for

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a Widow's Pension.

Walser died on May 1, 1910. We must remember, however, that early in his life, the liberal Mr. Walser did not believe in God. Consequently, he had little or no incentive to tell the truth about anything.

I have written these remarks to warn you of my own biases and preconceptions. believe in God, and the Bible. The story of Liberal, Missouri, is a therefore a beautiful story to me. It confirms my preconceptions. It is like a parable of conversion. Liberalism turned out to be a failure. That's what I would have anticipated. The town of Liberal changed, just like I hope all liberals will. It is a fact of history that Liberal is no longer liberal. Touche! The story of Liberal is a positive example. Furthermore, Mr. Walser, who once was an unbeliever, came to describe himself as a "converted infideL" Wonderful! This is what I hope will happen to every unbeliever. Some of history's most godly men were also "converted infidels."

I see myself, therefore, as a friend of Liberal. This is, to me, a marvelous story. I wish I could have known Mr. Walser personally. I hope someday to meet him in heaven. When I point to some of his sins, I do not do so in a belligerent manner. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Everyone needs grace and forgiveness. I hope that nothing written here will bring pain to the Walser's family, or anyone else. This is a positive story! May it encourage everyone to faith in God. The great heroes of Scripture, like George H. Walser, were also sinners in need of forgiveness and grace.

I am firmly convinced, however, that Liberalism is wrong, and that Walser was wrong for promoting it. Walser'S liberal theories should not be judged by what he thought, or wrote, but by what his teachings produced. It is undeniable that his liberal theories produced a mess. That is at least one reason, why he changed.

Jesus said: "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thoms, or figs ofthistles?" (Matt. 7:16) The value of a teaching or philosophy is easily evaluated by its fruit. You may be confused by conflicting religious books, and the clash of differing philosophies. Fruit, however, is not confusing. Jesus taught his followers to consider fruit. You may be fooled by the writings of Mao Tse-tung, but you should not be confused by China.

Our pilgrim forefathers believed the Bible. They had the words "In God We Trust," inscribed on this nation's currency. It is impossible to understand the United States of

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America apart from its rich biblical heritage. This country is the product, or 'fruit," of what they believed and taught. Every nation is a showcase for its own teaching and philosophy. Those who do not like the Bible, should perhaps be as honest as Mr. Walser was. They should emigrate somewhere and start their own country.

Thank you for taking time to read these words. May this fascinating story be helpful and instructive in your life. The older and wiser Mr. Walser said it like this: "I write from the standpoint of a converted Infidel! I have patiently investigated without bias all sides of mental and spiritual philosophies. Alii desire is the truth, whose footprints I will follow wherever it leadeth; for what is truth for me is truth for all, whether that truth be divine or secular."

Boyce Mouton

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CHfiPTEIt I

BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS

Thank you for your interest in George H. Walser. Reading about his remarkable life can be a very positive experience. The inscription on his grave indicates that he was born at Aurora, Indiana, May 26, 1834. He was raised in the Christian faith, but early in life rejected much of orthodox Christianity. After a lifetime of struggles, he returned to the faith of his fathers.

Not much is known of his family. A document dated, March 7, 1895, offers some limited information. The document was certified by John G. Todd, a Notary Public in Barton Co. Missouri. Todd was Walser's son-in-law. He married Lena Walser in 1888. They had six children, four sons and two daughters. Todd said he had examined family records and momentoes in a bound drawing tablet and discovered the following entries.

G. H. Walser's father, Mark Walser, was born on March 21, 1802, and died February 13, 1882.

His mother, Sara Gray Walser, was born July 5, 1808, and died August 19, 1902.

They were married February 1, 1824.

Rannals Walser was born February 7,1825.

Barbara Walser was born November 5, 1826, and died February 6, 1840.

John Walser was born December 28, 1828, and died April 16, 1847.

Liddy Walser was born April 5, 1831, and died December 20, 1836.

George H. Walser was born May 26, 1834.

According to these records, George was the youngest of five children. He was born

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the same year that Cyrus Hall McCormick received a patent for his mechanical reaper. On December 1, of the same year, President Jackson announced that the national debt would be paid off by January 1, 1835.

Robert Owen

Not too long before Walser's birth, an event was taking place in Indiana that may have impacted his life. An infidel by the name of Robert Owen was establishing an experimental community at New Harmony.

Owen's theories were bold and outrageous. He wanted to abolish religion, marriage, and the private ownership of property. He reasoned that without marriage there could be no immorality, and without owning, there could be no stealing. Finally, he felt that the removal of religion would eliminate mental and emotional problems produced by guilt.

Mr. Owen purchased property belonging to the Rappites in 1824. This included the village of New Harmony and 30,000 acres. Several thousand people were attracted to his theories. Owen was so arrogant and confident that he predicted that within three years the city of Cincinnati would be depopulated.

Owen was a man of great wealth and benevolent intentions. Inspired by the notion that his plans would revolutionize human society, he submitted his ideas to the governments of Europe and America. He visited foreign countries and communicated directly with men of prominence. He was privileged to present an explanatory memorial to the Congress of sovereigns at Aix la Chappele, and had extensive interviews with Prince Metternich of Austria.

Back home, the government of Mexico offered him a district one hundred and fifty miles broad to try his experiments on a grand scale. This grant would have included that part of California where gold was later discovered. Fortunately, the California project never materialized.

Some feel that Owen's theories were dealt a death blow by a preacher named Alexander Campbell. Campbell refuted his theories in a famous debate in April 1830. Robert Richardson described the debate in his book, "The Memoirs of Alexander Campbell." On the last day of the debate, Mr. Owen ran out of material, and Mr. Campbell spoke for twelve hours. Richardson felt it was a brilliant defence of Christianity. He wrote that it presented a "cogency of argument, comprehensive reach of thought and eloquence,

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(that) has never been surpassed, if ever equaled."

At the conclusion of his remarks, Campbell asked those who believed in the Christian religion to rise to their feet. There were over twelve hundred people present, and they rose as one man.

Next, Mr. Campbell asked all who were doubtful of the truth of the Christian religion to stand. Only three persons arose.

The acid test of Owen's theories, however, was not to be found in a partisan vote at the conclusion of a debate. The futility of his ideas was best exposed in the laboratory of life. New Harmony, Indiana, did not develop into a great country to rival the United States of America. His theories, which looked so good on paper, utterly failed in the real world. His grandiose proposals which sounded so good in the classroom, produced only havoc and confusion in real life.

Many years later, a preacher by the name of Clark Braden, would also prove a nemesis to G.H. Walser. Braden came to Liberal, Missouri, conducted a series of debates, and attacked liberalism with bull dog tenacity. Perhaps it is not by accident, that Braden was a disciple of Alexander Campbell.

Move to Illinois

At some point in his early life, Walser moved to Illinois. Walser's friend, J.P. Moore, said that he studied law and was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Illinois, and began practicing at Middleport in about 1856. Moore also believes this was the year that Walser married his first wife, Harriet.

Clark Braden, the preacher, was less complimentary about Walser's life in Illinois. He charged that Walser spent time in jail there. He wrote:

"G. H. Walser, the founder and proprietor of Liberal, first achieved greatness in Paris, Edgar County, Illinois, where he was running a store, on which he secured insurance far beyond its value. It mysteriously got afire and was saved several times. The last time Walser was found in bed sound asleep, and hard to wake, though the wick of the candle in his room was still smoking. He was watched, caught in the act of setting fire to the building, and spent three years in jail, part of the time in irons, for an attempt to break

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jail, and escaped the penitentiary by the chicanery of D.W. Voorhees, his attorney. He was dismissed from the army in disgrace for crime and misconduct, and although he has made desperate efforts to be restored he has failed ... "

At this time, I cannot verify either the affirmations of J.P. Moore that Walser practiced law in Middleport, Illinois, or the charges of Clark Braden that he was in jail in Paris, Illinois. I do have documentation, however, proving that he was dishonorably dismissed from the military, and will present it in a later chapter.

Based on the information available to us today, it seems that George H. Walser was born in 1834. This would mean that he was twenty-two when he got married in 1856. Military records indicate that he was mustered into service on June 13, 1861. This would mean that he was twenty-seven when he became a soldier. I have no idea where, or how, he studied to become a lawyer.

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CHAPTE~ II

WALSER AND THE MILITARY

In 1861 the United States of America was plunged into a horrible War. The World Almanac estimates the number of battle deaths at 498,000. The American People's Encyclopedia places the figure at 618,000. There were from 26,000 to 31,000 Confederate troops who died in Union prison camps. The Civil War was America's most costly war regarding the loss of American lives.

Here are some events immediately preceding the outbreak of war, and Walser's subsequent enlistment in the Union Army.

On March 9, 1861 the Confederate Convention at Montgomery authorized the organization of an army.

On April 20, 1861 Colonel Robert E. Lee resigned his U.S. Army commission, and two days later took command of the Virginia troops as a major general.

On May 20, 1861, North Carolina became the 11th state to succeed and the Confederate capital was moved from Montgomery to Richmond, Virginia.

Here is the account J.P. Moore gives of Walser's military service. As I have said before, it is not accurate:

"He entered the Union army on the first call of President Lincoln for three- months' volunteers, and reenlisted for three years. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the 20th Illinois volunteers. Basing this statement on the understanding of a very close relative, and as related to this writer in a letter: When the war was over, Mr. Walser felt the purpose for which he had gone to war was accomplished, disliked to serve in the occupation of the South, had no grievance against those people, had plans of his own for life, so simply got on his horse and left the army. He had wished to be released and was probably tired of waiting on technicalities. This action, of course, was against regulations, and probably involved him considerably with the

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army; but he evidently won his point and no punitive measure was applied. He was a purposeful man and must have had his own ideas, then as well as later on." (The Strange Town, p. 151)

George H. Walser did enlist in the Union Army. He was "mustered in" on June 13, 1861. The next day, June 14, 1861, he received a commission as Captain of Co. I, 20 Reg't Illinois Infantry.

He was only in the service for a few months, but this was not because he was a "three months' volunteer." It was because he was sick and apparently couldn't get along with his fellow officers. The following information is taken from military records:

He was on the sick list from September 1, 1861, to October 11, 1861. On October 16, 1861 he applied for a "leave of absence" because of "remittent fever," and "diarrhea."

Also in October 1861, Capt. Walser was "placed in arrest by order C.C. Marsh for refusing to leave his Co. and return to Cape Giradeau just before the battle of Fredrickstown, ordered into arrest Oct. 19."

On November 3, 1861, he tendered his resignation because of "iII health, to take effect immediately."

On November 4, 1861, he changed his mind, and wrote to Col. C.C. Marsh: "I do hereby remand the resignation sent in by me on yesterday. I have every hope of a speedy recovery of my health and do not wish to leave the service "

His commanding officer sent an accompanying letter with his attempt to remand his resignation. He wrote: "I inclose the withdrawal of resignation of Capt. G. H. Walser of the 20th Reg. III. Vol. I beg leave to state that I deem that the best interests of the regiment require that his resignation be approved and accepted and would respectfully request that his withdrawal thereof be disapproved." Capt. Walser was not allowed back into the service at this time.

REENLISTED - 1864

On October 10, 1864, G.H. Walser was mustered back into the military as a

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Captain. This time he was serving with Co. I, 43 Reg't Missouri Infantry.

On November 25, 1864 he was assigned as Asst. Provost Marshal for the District of North Missouri.

On May 4, 1865 he was dishonorably dismissed. The dismissal letter read:

"By direction of the President on the recommendation of the Commanding General Department of Missouri, Captain George H. Walser, 43d Missouri Volunteers is hereby dishonorably dismissed from the service of the United States for malfeasance in office while Provost Marshal at St. Joseph, Missouri.

By order of the Secretary of War W. A. NICHOLS Assistant Adjutant General"

Please note that G.H. Walser began, and ended, his military career as a Captain, and not as a Lieutenant Colonel. I am told it is quite common for men to lie about their military exploits. These fabrications are commonly called "war stories." In this regard, it seems that Capt. Walser was quite common.

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CHAPTER III

FOLLOWING THE MONEY TRAIL

The Scriptures teach that the love of money is the root of all evil. When you "follow the money trail," it helps to understand many questions regarding man's behavior. G. H. Walser came to S.W. Missouri in 1866. I do not know why he made this move, unless it involved money. Somewhere, and somehow, he got his hands on a lot of money in S.W. Missouri. His friends, of course, would assume that he got it honestly. Clark Braden charged otherwise. Braden wrote:

"While living in Carthage, Mo., he concocted a railroad bond fraud. By hiring villains to hold a pretended bond election in thinly settled towns, by perjury, forgery, and fraud, he loaded the towns with fraudulent bonds, sold them, and escaped the penitentiary by compounding his villainy. He next took part in a gigantic land steal, in which the United States Government was defrauded out of tens of thousands of acres of the best land in Southwest Missouri, at a few cents per acre, as worthless, because 'swamp lands.' He has swindled scores, in disposing of the land he stole from the government. A common piece of villainy was to show a purchaser, an excellent piece of land, giving as its number, that of a worthless piece. The purchaser soon found that he had paid the price of good land for worthless land, and without remedy, for Walser was careful that there be no witnesses ... " (Taken from the Fulfillment of a Dream, pages 4 - 5.)

Swamp Land

I do not have any documentation regarding a railroad bond fraud, but documentation about swamp land is available.

On September 28, 1850, Congress approved:

"An Act to enable the State of Arkansas, and other states to reclaim the swamp lands within their limits, it is so provided that all the swamp and overflowed lands made unfit thereby for cultivation within the State of

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Missouri which remain unsold at the passage of said act, shall be granted to said State. And whereas in pursuance of instructions from the General Land Office of the United States the several tracts or parcels of land hereafter described have been selected as Swamp and Overflowed lands enuring to the said state under the Act aforesaid being situated in the District of Lands subject to sale at Springfield, Missouri ... " These hand written words are then followed by the legal description of lands which were designated by the state as "swamp lands." The Act was then signed by President James Buchanan.

Defrauding the Government?

There are no swamp lands in S.W. Missouri. Yet, thousands of acres were "declared," or "designated," as swamp land.

The generally accepted theory of how this happened, involves fraud. Enterprising land dealers were said to have placed a boat in the back of a wagon. Then they climbed in the boat and drove over large sections of rich farm land. Then they signed affidavits that they had been over the land in a boat. In this manner large sections of land were purchased from the government for pennies on the dollar.

I have no way of proving that G.H. Walser partiCipated in the "boat scam," but court records indicate that he did buy a lot of land, and that a considerable number of these purchases were designated as "swamp land," also known as "patent land."

Barton Co. Court House records verify that Walser, or his wife, bought "swamp" or "patent" lands on:

November 9,1866 March 12, 1867 July 16, 1867 August 31,1867 November 21,1867, Etc.

In fact, they bought sixty-three farms, or parcels of ground from March 19, 1866, to May 3, 1870. Not all of these were "swamp" lands. Some were acquired at sheriffs' sales, and others were merely on the market at what Walser thought was a good price.

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Philanthropist?

Walser's friends saw him as a philanthropist. Perhaps at some point in his life he was. In the 1860s and 70s, however, he seems to have been characterized by greed. Many of the old silent movies featured a wicked landlord who would take away the family farm. Walser would have been perfect for the part.

Purchasing farms at Sheriffs' sales caused him to evict a great many people. Take, for example, page 216 in the Circuit Court Records of Barton County. Twenty-six law suits are listed on this page, and Walser filed fifteen of them. Here are the people listed on this single page. Walser sued them all for eviction or collection of debt:

Robert and Charles Olive D. H. Bowers Abraham Nigh R T. Cartmul F. E. Reynolds C.B. Couch, Hoyt, J.J. Humphreys, AG. Wray, Lee Chiswill, J.H. Neal, and Charles VanPelt David A Olds John Couch and Joseph A Watkin Phillip Hamir Thomas G. Harvey Barton Co. and M.B. Earll F.D.W. Arnold J.M. Travis and D.A Olds Chas. Newberk Edward G. Ward, James T. Ward, RJ. Tucker and wife

If this is philanthropy, it is a different kind than I am familiar with. We must remember, however, that Walser was in a period of change and development. Later, he would be more generous. Billy Graham once observed: "If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life."

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CHAPTEitlV

THE FOUNDING OF LIBERAL

The original plat for the town of Liberal, Missouri was dedicated and entered into county records on October 26, 1880. This cite had the advantage of being located at the convergence of two railroads, the Frisco, and the Missouri Pacific. The property was originally purchased as "patent" land on June 10, 1859. Twenty-one years later, Walser purchased it, and other lands, from W.C. Davis and W.H. Parker, for $5,650.

Information obtained from the Western Historical Manuscript Collection in Columbia, Missouri, provides the following perspective.

"George H. Walser, a lawyer and prosperous business man, had lived with a colony of free thinkers at Paris, Illinois and at the close of the Civil War moved to lamar, Missouri. land was cheap in that territory at the time and he bought up several sections, paying as low as 12 1/2 cents an acre for some of it. Walser gradually organized a settlement about 15 miles west and four miles north of lamar and called the new town liberal. The original motive for the town was announced as follows: 'To give an asylum for those noble men and women who are willing to sacrifice the comforts of life and joys of social intercourse, rather than live a life of deception and falsehood, was the incentive which actuated us in starting the town of Liberal, where we could enjoy the full benefits of free American citizens without having some self-appointed bigot dictate to us what we should think, speak, write, print or send through the mails.' II

Streets in the new town were named for men whom Walser admired, like Ingersoll, Darwin, and Paine. It needs to be remembered, however, that Ingersoll, Darwin, and Paine had never seen the havoc which their social theories would produce. These men lived, wrote, and died in the midst of Christian influence. They never really tested their theories. They founded no cities or countries for liberalism alone, as Mr. Walser did. They were only theoreticians!

Walser sent out advertisements for his new community with this bold and optimistic

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proclamation:

Liberal now has such an impetus that it can smile at the combined powers of priest, preacher, church, saloon, God or hell; and they are the happiest and purest people on earth. The only fit home for liberally disposed persons. Liberal is in a good country, rich in all the needs of life usually found it good countries.

Address G.H. Walser Liberal Barton, County, Missouri

Charles Darwin, for whom Walser named a street in Liberal, was not totally opposed to Christian influence. In fact, he presented this compliment to Christian missionaries in his Journals of Research (pages 414,425, and 505.)

"They forget, or will not remember, that human sacrifices and the power of an idolatrous priesthood - a system of profligacy unparalleled in another part of the world - infanticide, a consequent of that system - bloody wars, where conquerors spared neither women nor children - that all of these have been abolished; and that dishonesty, intemperance, and licentiousness have been greatly reduced by Christianity. In a voyager to forget these things is base ingratitude; for should he chance to be at the point of shipwreck on some unknown coast, he will most devoutly pray that the lesson of the missionary may have reached thus far . . . The lesson of the missionary is the enchanter's want. The house has been built, the windows framed, the fields plowed, and even the trees grafted by the New Zealander ... the march of improvement, consequent on the introduction of Christianity through the South Seas, probably stands by itself in the records of history"

Walser, however, seemed determined to avoid the influence of Christianity. Sadly, at this very time, his marriage with his first wife, Harriet was falling apart. The Scriptures teach that God is a very present help in time of need (Ps. 46: 1.) Walser, however, would not admit that need. Both he, and his family would suffer because of his unbelief. Many years later, Walser's fourth wife, Esther, would write that his marriage to Harriet P. Cunningham was "consummated in 1880." Since Walser already had two children by Harriet at this time, I am assuming she meant that their marriage ended in 1880. They may

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have stopped living together in 1880, but divorce papers were not filed until March 17, 1883. The divorce was granted on October 20, 1884. Their son Mark was twenty-three at the time. He was born March 30, 1861. Their daughter, Lena, only fourteen. She was born September 14, 1870. There is an old saying: "When momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." Obviously, Harriet wasn't happy. I am assuming that nobody else was either.

Their family problems may have impacted the life of their son, Mark. Clark Braden charged that Mark ...

"Spent a part of his promising youth in a house of refuge, for crime. In Lamar he ran in debt, wheedled friends into going his security, and ran off in the night with his goods, and left them to pay $4,000 for him. He forged the names of two friends, as securities to the notes, on which he borrowed money at the bank, and his illustrious sire had to buy him off to save him from the penitentiary. His last exploit as far as heard from, was to draw out of the bank in Ft. Scott between five and six thousand dollars, as his father's clerk, and use it - overdrawing his father's account and embezzling the money ... " (The Fulfillment of a Dream, p. 5)

Someone has observed: "If your philosophy of life does not work at home, don't export it." At this time, however, Walser was in the "export business." No matter how many personal problems he was facing at home, he was confident that his philosophy of life could solve the problems of the world. When the blind lead the blind, however, both fall into the ditch.

Walser's personal frustration with religion must have been intensified by the presidential elections of 1880. James A. Garfield, a Christian minister, became the twentieth President of the United States. As you know, Garfield was killed by an assassin in 1881.

1880 was also the year that Thomas Alva Edison was granted a patent for his incandescent electric lamp. Unfortunately, George H. Walser was still walking in darkness.

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CHfiPTEit V

WITH ALL HIS MIGHT

The book of Ecclesiastes offers this sage advice: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, no device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest" (Eccl. 9:10.) The point of the Scripture involves action. When you die it is too late to pursue your dreams.

Whatever criticism we may level at G.H. Walser, we can never accuse him of being lazy, lukewarm, or indifferent. He was a man of action. Even though he was wrong, he deserves some credit for not sitting on the sidelines.

Wise King Solomon reminded his readers that when you die, it is too late to do anything. There is no work, device, knowledge, or wisdom in the grave. These four different words describe a wide variety of human activities. Many come down to the last days of their lives regretting the fact that they had been too restrained, cautious, and careful. Their major theme is "if only." George H. Walser never had these regrets.

There is another passage in the Bible that offers some consolation to people like Walser. The following words were written to the church at Laodicea. "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou are neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth II (Rev. 2:15-16)

It seems that God prefers people to be anything but lukewarm. Hot is best, cold is next best, lukewarm is last. Walser's coldness to Christ may have been an advantage. Like Saul of Tarsus, he was an opponent to Christianity. It seems, however, that opponents to Christ are easier to convert than those who are not opposed to anything.

It seems that Walser was opposing God with "all his might." He was risking everything. Proving his liberal theories seems to have been the all consuming passion of his life.

Among the town's first buildings, was a small frame structure that Walser constructed for his law office.

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE H. WALSER

The first newspaper in Liberal was initially called "The Liberalite." Its Publication started within a year or so after the town was founded. G.H. Walser was the first owner and editor.

The first hotel was called the "Ozark House." It was also started by Mr. Walser.

Liberal's first park was called "Catalpa Park." It also was Walser's project. Ruth Black Aten describes Catalpa Park on page 163 of her book, "She Kept Men Standing."

''This Catalpa Park, a thirteen-acre plot a half mile south of town, was designed and built by Mr. Walser, Liberal's founder, at a cost of some forty thousand dollars. He maintains it at his own expense for the public's enjoyment. It surely is beautiful. It has many flower beds and ornamental fountains; twenty latticed, vine-covered pergolas; an artificial lake that is used by bathers and boating enthusiasts in summer and ice skaters in winter; and a wonderful picnic area in a grove of catalpa trees. Nobody seems to know why Mr. Walser chose the catalpa, but he ordered a thousand from a nursery and had them planted in his park in his town.

In the park there are summer cottages, an excellent boarding house, and an ice cream and lemonade stand. For indoor events there's what is called the 'Celestial Dome.' It is a large octagonal building, complete with stage and moveable seating. Three public lectures are held each Sunday. On Wednesday and Saturday afternoons there are band concerts, and at night there is dancing. Lighted by kerosene lamps, this place is large enough to accommodate as many as twenty-eight sets or 224 square dancers at one time. The caller is a Freethinker by the name of Guffy."

The Liberal City Cemetery was Walser's project too. It was fashioned in a circle, and every person buried there is facing the center. The center lot is a perfect circle, ninety-eight feet in diameter. It is neatly bounded by a concrete retaining wall about six inches high. This, of course, is where Mr. Walser planned to be buried. It was commonly believed that he designed the cemetery so that should there be a resurrection, his followers would rise to hail him as their leader.

As I have said before, Walser was wrong! His great gamble did not work! His theories failed! At least, however, he had the courage to try. His long and difficult pilgrimage brought him at last to faith in Christ. At the end of his life, when his health was

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GmRGE B. WAlSER

gone, and his money was gone, he changed. He deserves credit for this too. In his last book, written in 1909, he described himself as a "converted infidel."

The late Jim Elliot observed that a man is not a fool for giving up those things that he cannot keep, to gain those things that he cannot lose. We cannot take it with us, but we can send it ahead so that it will be there when we arrive.

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE H. WAlSER

CHfiPTE~ VI

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE CAME?

Howard R. Russell, in his book, "A Lawyer's Examination of the Bible," provides this interesting quotation from James Russell Lowell. When Mr. Lowell was Minister of State to England, he rebuffed critics of Christianity with these pointed words:

"I will challenge such skeptics to find a place ten miles square on the globe, where a man can live in comfort, security, and decency, where he can find education for his children, reverence for infancy and old age, honor for womanhood, or any sacred regard for human life, where the gospel of Christ has not gone and cleared the way, laying a foundation for such a condition of affairs. If they can find such a place, it will then be in order for them to emigrate thither and advocate their unbelief. Scoffers against religion are dependent upon the religion they discard for every privilege they enjoy as citizens of a Christian community." (Pages 191-192)

In this regard, we must admire Mr. Walser for having the courage to put his theories into practice. He didn't like Christianity, thought it was wrong, and therefore tried to improve on the efforts of the pilgrims. Unfortunately, things did not go as smoothly as he had planned.

Again, I quote from Clark Braden. Mr. Braden visited Liberal during those early turbulent years when liberalism was unalloyed by the moderating influences which came later. These words were written in 1886:

"No doubt there are infidels all over the United States and Canada, who long for a sight of this infidel land of Canaan, and its new Jerusalem, as devout Mohammedans long for a sight of Mecca, and for the same reason, they have never seen it. Hundreds have been duped into making the pilgrimage to this Infidel Utopia, only to waste time and money in the journey, or worse, to be swindled and losing all they invested ... there was no lack of free love ... Liberal was famous for its lawsuits. If an infidel got mad at another, he rushed before a magistrate or to Lamar, and charged his enemy with some

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE H. WAI.SER

crime or misdemeanor There was no trouble to get men and women to swear what was wanted perjury was gross and infamous . .. profanity has ever been the commonest form of speech in Liberal."

Braden alleged one particularly distressing incident that involved Mr. Walser himself:

"The town was notorious for its rows and scrapes. We have mentioned the brutal assault of the Walsers on Grayson. Walser tried to swindle Gilmore, the man who opened his mines. In a suit Gilmores evidence was believed ... the cowardly Walser ruffians followed him into a store, and while old Walser stood before him and abused him, the cowardly ruffian, Mark Walser, sneaked up behind him and knocked him down with a weight. Then, the two ruffians stamped and kicked their helpless victim, splitting his ear, his lip, and fracturing his jaw. Old Walser tauntingly yelling at him, 'God damn you, why don't you lie stili?'"

If you think Braden was wrong, or that he overstated the sad state of affairs in Liberal, why don't you try the same experiment on your own? First, either move to some remote place on the globe where there is no Bible or Christian influence, or start a city on your own as Walser did. Make sure you emphasize that you do not want the Bible and Christian influence. Do not be surprised if such a community becomes a sewer, filled with the dregs of human society.

J.P. Moore regretted Braden's approach, though he did admit that there were a ''few rotten apples in the barreL" Moore cited Mr. and Mrs. J.K. Belk as an example of people whom he considered to be "an honorable and highly respected couple, and useful citizens." He said they would have "abhorred any thought of Freelove" though some accused them of being "votaries of that cult."

Alii know about the Belks is related by Moore in his book, The Strange Town. The essence of what he told about them, however, defeats his own arguments. The history of the Belks actually substantiates the theory that people came to Liberal to escape the responsibility of moral restraints.

On page 135 Moore relates that:

"Mr. and Mrs. J.K. Belk came to Liberal from northwestern Kansas in 1881.

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE B. WAlSER

They were Freethinkers, and because of that they were attracted to Liberal. They were wealthy, and through their daughter, Mrs. Lillian Myrtle Belk- Branson-Sibley, the city of liberal and the Liberal school district came into a considerable portion of their wealth, by bequest."

On page 160 Moore informs us that Belk had two sons by a previous wife. This information was obtained "by chance." It seems that a resident of Liberal, Mary Burgess, made a trip to California. While she was there, she just happened to meet a woman by the name of Belk. It turned out to be Mr. Belk's first wife. The first Mrs. Belk was amazed to hear that her husband was still alive. Belk was a stage coach driver, and when he didn't come home, she assumed he had been killed in an Indian massacre. She had no idea that he had a new "Mrs. Belk" and was living in Liberal, Missouri.

Moore continued the story on p. 161:

"This story was corroborated by one of these sons, who came here after his father's death in 1917, on behalf of himself, his brother and their mother, and demanding a share in their father's estate. He found that title to the real property had been transferred to the daughter. But he did receive a substantial cash settlement. In proof, this son, who was a frequent visitor in my office while here, exhibited to this writer a check and a bank draft, totaling $20,000, that had been given to him by Mrs. Belk, to satisfy his claim without litigation. If there was to be more, he did not say."

I think it was Ross Perot who said: "If a man's wife can't trust him, why should I?"

Liberal, Missouri

PClge tlambvr 25

GEORGEB. '" AlSm

EDUCATION IN LIBERAL

One of the first laws regarding public education in the United States was enacted in 1642. It was called the "Old Deluder Satan Law." The principal reason for this law was to make people literate so that they could read the Bible. Our ancestors in Europe were persecuted for possessing, or reading the Bible. The founders of America did not want to repeat this error. The Bible was, therefore, an integral part of their educational philosophy.

The first college in America was Harvard College in Massachusetts. It was established by the Puritans less than ten years after their arrival in America. The official motto of Harvard was: "For Christ and the Church." One hundred and six of the first one hundred and eight colleges in America were founded on the Christian faith.

George H. Walser had a different philosophy of education. He founded "The Freethought University," which would pursue education without the Bible. I obtained a catalog to this university from the Western Historical Collection, of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.

Walser wrote in this catalog:

"THE FREETHOUGHT UNIVERSITY offers to the Freethinkers of America the advantages for which they have so long waited. Here the growing, inquiring minds of innocent children, just merging into manhood and womanhood, may be trained and educated free from the chains of superstition and mental slavery that have weighed so long and heavily upon our entire educational system. Here, untrammelled by bible, creed, or ism, the truth will be sought for the truth's sake alone, and the warfare upon error be unflinchingly and unceasingly carried out."

"Liberals of America, for years you have been looking forward to the inauguration of a Freethought institution of learning where creeds and dogmas would cease to wield their poisonous influence over the world ... Therefore, by all means, let every Liberal who has children to educate send

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE H. WAlSER

them to the Freethought University ... Liberals, let us not delay our efforts to advance this enterprise. Whatever we may be able to do let us not wait until next month or next year, but let us act immediately ... "

Walser continued: ''The citizens of Liberal are honest, sober, industrious and moral as a class. They are free from religious dogmatisms of every kind. Every person here is esteemed for his manly bearing rather than his religious faith ... We expect Liberal to become an educational point, and to that end we invite to our midst all lovers of learning ... "

O.E. Harmon said that the first educational institution was the "Instructional SchooL" This developed into the Liberal Normal in 1884. Later this merged into The Freethought University. This educational experiment began with seven professors but went down hill almost immediately. In 1886 Clark Braden wrote: ''The school never had more than fifteen pupils ... " Obviously, the Freethought University did not develop into a great center of learning to compete with the Christian colleges back east.

The University of Mental Liberty

O.E. Harmon also described the U.M.L. Hall in his book "The Story of Liberal, MissourL" This book was published by the Liberal News in 1925. Harmon wrote:

''This building was erected for public purposes; the main object being to provide a place where any person could come and speak on any subject providing he kept himself within the rules of parliamentary decorum. It was to be to Liberal what Faneuil Hall was to Boston in old New England days. U.M.L. Hall was the scene of many a fiery debate; and we can easily imagine the diversity of views that would be expressed when Free-thinkers, Spiritualists, and Orthodox Christians aired their opinions.

There was one occasion that deserves notice. It was the Sunday evening before the Presidential election of 1888. The meeting was held in the hall, and the usual liberty of speech was to be allowed, only the speakers were to be limited to ten minutes' time. Mr. G.W. Baldwin was chairman of the meeting. Various persons had spoken, and it came Mr. G.H. Walser's time to speak. He was brim full of ideas, and when the ten minutes had expired he found he was not nearly through of what he wanted to say; so he kept on talking. Mr. Baldwin called him to order, whereupon Mr. Walser talked on,

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GEORGE H. WAlSER

and Mr. Baldwin reminded him that his time was up. Mr. Walser finally quit under protest, but with the deep feeling that liberty of speech had been suppressed.

This was the last public meeting held in the venerable U.M.L. Hall. In the next issue of the paper was the following notice: 'U.M.L. Hall closed for repairs.' The building was soon after sold to the Methodists and used as their place of worship until the new church building was erected a short time ago. The new church was dedicated in 1923.

The above incident is interesting from the fact that Mr. Walser and Mr. Baldwin were leaders in their respective fields of thought. Both were well read men and good speakers. Mr. Baldwin was a strong Agnostic, while Mr. Walser was a strong Spiritualist. Baldwin was a Democrat, Walser was Republican. So it is easy to see that when they came in conflict, either in debate or otherwise, something was doing." (Pages 25-26)

It needs to be noted that the sale of the U.M.L. Hall to the Methodists was a reversal of Walser's previous position. Some attribute this change, not only to a moderating attitude toward Christianity, but also to his arrogance. Mr. Walser owned the hall. The very idea that he would be limited to only ten minutes speaking time in his own building was not to be tolerated. Since the Methodists had been the most evangelistic in attempting to convert the infidels, the sale of the U.M.L. Hall to them, may have seemed a good way to get even.

Freedom of Speech and Thought

The St. Louis Daily Globe Democrat featured an article about Liberal on May 2, 1885, p. 10. It is titled: "An Infidel Experiment." Here is a brief excerpt:

"'What do you think of Walser?' Mr. Adams was asked. 'I think,' said he, 'he is a man who wants to rule or ruin. He is the worst fanatic I ever saw.'

'But don't you think he is honest in his intentions?'

'No; he is a man who is richer than anybody else around here. He owns the land the people live on, and he has it in his power to make things lively for anyone he doesn't like. He is a lawyer and involves everyone he has a

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE H. WALSER

quarrel with in a lawsuit, compelling them to pay attorney's fees, costs, etc., even if they don't lose the case.'

'But he invites everybody to speak in the U.M.L. Hall.'

'Yes, he invites preachers to hold forth in his hall, but when they attempt -----------zt-=o~dlcooc-cs~o~hr=-=e interrupts, bullyrags, contradicts and controverts them until life is a burden to them. Walser, when anyone goes to preach, jumps up every ten minutes and fires questions at him ... '"

The same article related that Walser had interrupted a religious meeting outside of the U.M.L. Hall:

"He insisted on criticising and controverting the various points in the sermon of the day, justifying the imposition of his views on the people with the statement that the town was a liberal one, that free speech was accorded everybody, and that he owned one twentieth of the church ... "

"Nearly one third of the inhabitants of Liberal have moved off of Walser's land and established a town of their own, called Denison. The history of this schism is interesting viewed from any point, and goes to show that men who profess to be infidels and Liberals can be as bigoted and fanatical as the men who in olden times applied rack and screw to those who would not believe and practice with them ... "

Waggoner's Addition

O.E. Harmon relates this story on pages 15-16 of his book:

"In 1881, one H. H. Waggoner made an addition to Liberal with the view of getting a place where Orthodox Christians could live to themselves. Here they could live unmolested and watch with contempt the doings of their infidel neighbors. But alas! Their joy was to be short lived. A wicked barbed wire fence did the mischief. An account of the building of the fence is given in the newspaper, 'The Liberal,' of April 18, 1883, and is as follows:

'G.H. Walser has bought the Waggoner's addition to the town of Liberal. The readers of the Liberal two years ago will remember that this addition

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE H. WAlSER

was the great bone of contention between the Liberals and the Christians. The addition was laid out by Mr. Waggoner for the purpose of inducing immigration of Christians who would be strong enough to out number the Liberals and defeat the enterprise. That was prevented by a high post and barbed-wire fence which was immediately put on a strip of land adjoining the town which had been laid off into lots, which they mistook for a street. By this fence they could neither get ingress nor egress. They could not climb over the fence because it was too high; they could not crawl under it because it was too low; and could not crawl through it because of the stickers on the wires. So they just sat down and swore that we were the meanest set on earth, and we guess we were. We saved the town by it and now we are happy."

Clark Braden wrote:

"When some persons who would not submit to the infidel bulldozing began to settle on the lots that Mr. Walser did not own, outside his town plot, the infidels of Liberal actually undertook to build a wire fence around Liberal, across a public highway so as to prevent Christians from entering the town, even to go to the depot. One Monday morning all Liberal could be seen at work, digging holes, carrying posts and wire and putting up this evidence of infidel 'tolerance' and 'liberality.' Walser's wife and other female infidels were driving down stakes as ostentatiously as possible. The railroad authorities telegraphed that they would remove the depot if the lunacy was not abandoned, and that freak of infidel lunacy removed."

J.P. Moore wrote:

"Knowing Mr. Walser as I did, it is my opinion that he alone conceived and financed the building of the fence; and that it was built in a gesture of contempt, and more as a psychological than a physical barrier. As to how well it actually worked, we now have as evidence only the conflicting stories of Mr. Walser and Mr. Braden on which to base our judgment. Anyway, the fence is long since gone and so are the principals involved."

It appears that there was not as much freedom of expression and thought in Liberal, as liberal people might suppose. Dean Rusk offers this insight:

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE H. WAISER

"Free speech and free press are not based on the notion that everyone is going to tell the truth. From John Milton through Thomas Jefferson, and up to the present time, the right of free speech and free press is based upon the notion that if everyone is free to say and write what he pleases, then the truth has a better chance to emerge than if these processes were subject to some sort of external control, particularly control by the government."

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE H. WAlSER

CHfiPTEIt VIII

FREE LOVE

Everyone seems to agree that some people came to Liberal feeling that freedom of thought meant free everything. Walser himself was accused of advocating "free love." This is not too surprising. At this point, Walser did not believe in God, and his wife had not been with him for months, or years. He did not marry his second wife, Hannah, until about 1887.

Clark Braden wrote:

"In a speech in the U.M.L. Hall, in April 1884, Walser declared before a crowded audience, that he was a 'free lover,' and that he established Liberal to make it a free love town. The Lyons woman, President of the Sunday Evening Entertainments, declared in Mr. Cumins Meat Shop that she was a free lover in belief and practice. Mrs. Belk, the Postmistress, the Replogle woman, the Yoemans girls, and others have made such statements repeatedly ... "

"The following facts are well known and will not be denied in Liberal and vicinity. There lives near Liberal a farmer named George Boulware. He is a sceptic, but a man whose word is good. He tells openly and boldly this story. His hired man attended Sunday Evening Entertainments in Liberal. He told Mr. Boulware that while the dancing jamboree that always follows the Sunday Evening Entertainment was in progress, boys, young men and old men, were allowed, after paying a dollar each, to go behind the scenery on the stage and commit fornication with a female who was there for that purpose ... "

The St. Louis Daily Globe Democrat, May 2, 1885, published a lot of charges, even though the reporter felt that most of them were untrue. Here is a small sample:

"The freedoms and unrestraint of the Liberals, human nature being considered the same everywhere, have given rise to scandal of the most

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE .1,WAlSER

unsavory sort, and charges of free love and mixed relations between the sexes are freely made. Young girls and young women in all the enthusiasm of their Liberal belief, use cuss-words that would stagger a sailor. Books which are generally kept under lock and key are read freely by the young, and 'Plain Facts,' by Dr. Kellogg, and 'The Science of Prevention,' by another medical quack, have been seen in the hands of young people who would never have the opportunity see them except in a Liberal town. The charges include foeticide, and the statement is made by a Denisionian that but three children have been born in Liberal in five years.

Clark Braden vowed that such charges were true. He said they were "iron clad," and "water proof." Regarding the charge of "foeticide," he wrote:

"Foeticide is the prevailing practice in Liberal. There have not been as many children born in Liberal, born of infidel parents, as it has been years in existence. Mrs. Rosenkrantz, the wife of a hotel keeper in Liberal, told Dr. Bouton, when dying of foeticide, that it had been performed for her in Liberal sixteen times, and that the ground around the hotel was full of murdered foetuses. Van Law, the marshal, dug up a half developed embryo in digging a drain for the hotel."

When J.P. Moore wrote ''The Strange Story" in 1963, the earliest resident of Liberal, still living, was Mrs. Bertha Palmer. She was born June 6, 1875. She moved with her family to Liberal in 1880 when she was only five years old. Her little brother, Claude Bouton, was accidentally scalded to death in the summer of 1882. He was the first person to be buried in the Liberal Cemetery.

Moore notes p. 98:

"As to freelove, Mrs. Palmer believes that there were definitely some votaries of this cult who found their way into Liberal, in the town's very early days, seemingly believing that 'Freethought,' meant 'free everything' - which it definitely did not. In respect to this she recalls attending a public meeting at the opera house, when a speaker asked all who believed in freelove to stand up. She says there was quite a sprinkling who did stand up. According to the best of her memory, one of those who stood up was a young man named Sam Suydam. The young man's mother, who was a Christian, was present. When she saw her son stand up she was so

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GEORGE H. WAlSER

disturbed that she cried and said, 'Why, Sammy, I didn't know you believed that awful way.' "

The frank presentation of these unpleasant facts needs to be tempered by the realization that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." David is described in Scripture as a "man after God's own heart." Yet, David was a sinner. Here is a portion of Ps. 51: David is thought to have composed this psalm after committing adultery with Bathsheba.

"Have mercy upon me, 0 God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash methroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For Iacknowledgemy transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee,thee only, have Isinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, Iwas shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and Ishall be clean: wash me, and Ishall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee ... " (Ps. 51:1-13)

Every generation develops certain "sayings." For example, almost everyone has heard that a stitch in time saves nine. The early church had "sayings" too. Paul wrote one to Timothy:

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners: of whom I am chief' (I Tim. 1:15.)

We must never become so focused on the sins of others that we forget our own.

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE H. WAlSER

CHAPTEItIX

CLARK BRADEN

Since I have quoted so extensively from Clark Braden, it is appropriate that you be more familiar with him.

O.E. Harmon knew Braden personally and provides this information on pages 17 - 19 of his book, "The Story of Liberal, Missouri."

"As the writer knew Braden before his visit to Liberal, a few words about the history of the man may not be out of place here. Clark Braden was a native of Ohio. He received his early education at Hiram College in that state. This is the same school President Garfield once attended and where the martyred President was at one time a teacher. In his younger manhood Braden was an infidel. Later he became converted to Christianity and entered the ministry of the Christian church. At the same time he was a teacher, and according to reports of pupils who attended his school he was a teacher of considerable ability. When the writer first knew him he was at the head of a school at Carbondale, Illinois, known as Southern Illinois College. About 1869-70 he came to Anna, Illinois, where the writer lived and preached once a month, delivering three sermons at each visit. Most of the time during his ministry he was a teacher and he organized the first teachers' institute ever held in Southern Illinois. He was a great controversialist, and not many months passed when he was not debating either with some infidel or some preacher of another denomination ...

Braden was a fighter and sometimes an intemperate one. He seemed to glory in controversy, as the people of Liberal learned on his visit here. He debated with C.W. Steward ten times in Liberal, and there are some still living here who remember Braden's visit to the town. This was in February 1885. He was placed under arrest while here, and as the writer understands it, was arrested on a charge of embezzlement from a firm in Nebraska. Braden's pamphlet recites his arrest on a charge of libel, in which he was acquitted.

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE B. WAlSER

Braden's pamphlet is a severe reflection on the character of the people of Liberal. The writer does not express himself as to the truth or falsity of these charges. The fact is, the pamphlet was written and caused a big stir at the time."

J.P. Moore acknowledged the notoriety of Braden's pamphlet and tried to blunt its influence by pointing out errors.

When Braden visited Liberal, for example, people were leaving and property values were declining. Braden assumed this would continue. Based on his observations, he predicted that Liberal would fail and be swallowed up by the neighboring town of Pedro. Braden was wrong. Pedro failed, not Liberal. It should be remembered, however, that after Braden made his prediction, Liberal changed.

The Saint Louis Daily Globe Democrat had this to say about Braden:

"Preacher after preacher has been here and has been downed by Walser, whose sharp tongue, power of ridicule and invective have been too much for them. I must except one, though, a man named Braden, who is in Dennison now. Braden is a Christian preacher, who would just as lief fight as eat, and he lost no time after being interrupted in his lectures at the U.M.L. Hall in telling Walser so. Well, Braden is the only man who ever shut Walser up. Walser would just sit right down all through a meeting and never say a word. But Walser wasn't altogether defeated, for one day Braden was arrested and taken to Nebraska on a requisition. He has since returned and you may look out for something to drop before long."

Braden had this to say about Walser and lawsuits:

"The writer was interviewed in Lexington, Mo., April 22, by Sam Keller, a correspondent of the Globe Democrat of St. Louis. This interview was published in the Post Dispatch of May 2, a most damaging report of affairs in Liberal. The writer returned to Liberal April 23, and delivered six lectures in Liberal. In these lectures he ventilated Walser, Fishback, Yale, and the parties who had been covering him with defamation for months. He was arrested for criminal libel in his statements, published in the Post Dispatch, and was tried before Judge Hall in Lamar, May 18. After the prosecution had presented their evidence, the case was submitted to the jury without any

Liberal, Missouri

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GEORGE H. WAlSER

rebutting evidence by the defence, and the jury speedily brought in a verdict of 'No cause for action.' Then the Post Dispatch, R.F. Holland and the writer were sued for twenty five-thousand dollars damages, in a civil suit. Learning that the defence were thoroughly prepared to prove that Liberal was a den of infamy, and its hotels brothels, the prosecution asked that the suit be dismissed their own costs. Infidels are lying, claiming that the writer signed a libel. It is a lie made out of whole cloth. The writer defies the Infidels to face him in any court in the United States."

Braden concluded his pamphlet with this statement:

STATE OF MISSOURI, COUNTY OF BARTON ss.

Clark Braden, was tried before me, Justice of the Peace, in and for Barton County, state of Missouri, on the 18th day of May, 1885, for criminal libel, in certain statements he was charged with have made to a reporter for the Post Dispatch, a paper published in St. Louis, Mo., and which appeared in that paper of May, 2, 1885. After the prosecution had presented all their evidence, the case was submitted to the jory without any rebutting evidence by the defence, and Clark Braden was acquited by the jury.

A. HALL - Justice of the Peace

Liberal, Missouri

Page tlambvr 17

GEORGE H. tvAISER

CHfiPTEit X

THE FAILURE OF LIBERALISM

The previous chapter makes reference to the St. Louis Globe Democrat, and an article which became the focal point of a lawsuit. That article was written in 1885, and alleged, among other things:

"Now, at the end of five years, and at a time when one should be able to determine pretty accurately the value of such an experiment, the great religious daily sends a missionary into Barton County to ascertain how grows a town under a liberal influence and the best of natural advantages. The missionary remains in Liberal for a day and a half; mixes thoroughly with the people, and, after a due consideration of everything heard and observed, is compelled to say that the experiment is a failure; that the town, instead of keeping pace with other towns of the same age, has fallen far behind them, and instead of being the happy, prosperous, community it promised to be, is shriveled, contracted, torn into by dissensions, and is in a condition where only prompt actions in behalf of its friends toward a complete reorganization will save it from disintegrations ... nearly one third of the inhabitants of Liberal have moved off of Walser's land and established a town of their own, called Denison ... "

The St. Louis Post Dispatch of May 2, 1885 concurred:

"Nine tenths of those now in town would leave if they could sell their property. More property has been lost by locating in the town than has been made in it. Public schools and infidel meetings have been held in rented buildings, except what were held in the Universal Mental Liberty Hall, the stupendous title of a building about the size of a smoke house, which it clearly resembles. The 'lively paper' is a four column sheet, printed one page at a time on a ram shackling old job press that looks old enough to be contemporaneous with the discovery of printing. The type had been condemned for the foundry when Walser purchased it years ago. The paper is about as legible as if it had been printed on a curry-comb. The matter is

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cheap, low flung abuse of Christianity. The paper is a fair specimen of the public spirit, liberality, intellectual and educational condition of the place. The town is as badly collapsed as the printing office. Property cannot be sold for near its cost. There are many vacant lots from which buildings have been moved, fifteen having been moved at one time ... "

Clark Braden added:

''The bonds of the town and its warrants are offered at fifteen cents on the dollar and without purchasers. The marshal, in November 1886, sued the town for the eighty-five cents he lost on each dollar of its warrants issued to pay him. The coal mines, of which so much was said in the paper of Liberal, have not averaged a car of coal a day during the time they worked. The miners were idle three fourths of the time, and Walser is preparing to close them. The paper has suspended and the office material is for sale. The public school has no building to meet in, the partly finished school house is locked up, and loaded with debt, business men are moving their goods, people are leaving, and those that are left, look like mourners awaiting a funeral, of criminals awaiting the penalty. So stands Liberal, December 1886 "

There can be little doubt that things were not going well for Walser. In addition to his business and financial problems, his twenty-seven year marriage to his wife, Harriet, ended in divorce on October 20, 1884. Though Mr. Walser was the plaintiff, the court required that he pay Harriet seven thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. Apparently, he did not have the total amount in cash. He therefore agreed to pay twelve hundred and fifty dollars cash, the rest in various notes at 10% interest. He was also required to pay for the care and support of his daughter, Lena.

Someone has said that we do not see the light until we feel the heat. Walser was feeling plenty of heat, and the light was beginning to shine through. This famous Freethinker, was in the process of becoming a believer.

Symbolic of this change, was the sale of the Freethinkers, U.M.L. Hall, to a church. As we have mentioned before, the last meeting of the "Freethinkers" in this hall, was the Sunday evening before the Presidential election of 1888. This was the meeting where Walser was silenced by a ten minute limitation. The building was sold to the Methodist Church on September 16, 1889 for four hundred and eighty-eight dollars. Then, other

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churches came. In due time there was a Christian Church, Baptist Church, Church of Christ, Church of God Holiness, etc. Soon, Liberal was just like every other small town in S.W. Missouri.

The Globe Democrat predicted that the town would disintegrate unless there was a complete reorganization. The town did not disintegrate, and this was apparently due to considerable reorganization.

From our present vantage point in history we have seen other failures of liberalism. Take, for example, the recent collapse of the U.S.S.R. They didn't believe in God either. They even put into practice some of the same erroneous theories that Walser tried. The cynic said it best: "One thing we learn from history, is that people do not learn from history."

Again, it is comforting to remember that Walser changed. When he realized that his liberal theories were not working, he had the courage to abandon them. Biblically speaking, there is something good and wholesome about the confession of sin. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9.)

The citizens of Liberal should therefore not feel badly that the original inhabitants of their town were sinners. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. No one can be saved without the grace of God!

John Newton wrote the beautiful hymn, "Amazing Grace." Newton was a much more famous sinner than Walser. He was born in 1725, the son of a sea captain. His mother died when he was only six. After two years of formal education, he joined his father's ship at the age of eleven. The early years of his life were spent in immorality, debauchery, and failure. He even sold his fellow human beings into slavery and spent time in jail.

Newton was converted to Christ during a violent storm, and at the age of thirty-nine, became a minister of the Gospel. He spent the rest of his life in Christian service. The grace of God truly is amazing! This is why he wrote his famous song:

"Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found,

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was blind, but now I see."

Newton died in 1807, the year before Walser's mother was born. These words are written on his tombstone in Olney, England:

"John Newton, Clerk; once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy."

The life of George H. Walser, is another reminder of God's amazing grace.

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CHfiPTEIt XI

SPIRITUALISM

Someone has described man as a "worshiping animal." Wherever he has left the ashes of his campfire, he has also left some indication of a belief in the supernatural. Even those who claim to be atheists, have, for all practical purposes, deified time. Everything which the believer explains by God, the atheist explains by billions of years.

Someone else has suggested that the only atheist who can be intellectually honest, is the person who knows everything. Once someone admits that they do not know everything, they are also forced to acknowledge that God may exist in the area of their ignorance.

We should not be surprised, therefore, that the people of Liberal would seek the supernatural. This hunger for God, manifested itself in various forms of spiritualism.

Walser, himself, became a promoter of spiritualism. J.P. Moore refers to a discourse he delivered on "The Chemical Laboratory of the SouL" These remarks were given at the funeral of Mrs. John Becker in the "Spiritualist Hail." He said: "The discourse was esoteric, as the Hindoo would say; that is, no one but the initiated could understand it. In the course of his talk, Mr. Walser told of being present on three occasions when the deceased and he, himself, had communicated with the spirit of her departed son."

Moore wrote that the Spiritualist Science Association of Liberal, was formed and incorporated in 1889. He quotes from "The Encyclopedia of Death and Life in the Spirit World," that "modern spiritualism originated with the three Fox sisters at Hydesville, N.Y. in 1848."

It is my personal belief that this type of spiritualism has been around since Eden, and that it has manifested itself in every generation. Today, the same, or similar notions are a part of the "New Age" religion.

It seems that G.H. Walser was in the process of spiritual growth and development. He once wrote: "As a Freethinker, I wandered into the field of Materialism, Atheism,

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Agnosticism, and finally Spiritualism ... " The death of Walser's third wife, Alice, no doubt helped him to see the weakness, and inadequacy, of spiritualism. I like to think that his interest in spiritual things was at least a step in the right direction. I pray that his spiritual pilgrimage ultimately brought him to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fortunately, God will sort out all such matters in due time.

It is a fact of history, however, that there was a spiritualist group in Liberal, and that they hosted meetings for people from all over the country. J.P. Moore's grandfather, John S. Hatten, was a spiritualist. Moore attended at least two of their encampments. The first he attended was in 1896, before moving to Liberal. The second in 1899, when he helped operate a refreshment stand. Moore said the 1899 meeting was the "seventh and last encampment." He also said that: "Mr. Walser was an ardent believer, and it was mostly through his efforts and because of his willingness to assume most of the expense that these big meetings were made possible."

The fact that these "spiritualist encampments" ceased to be sponsored by Walser, may well be an indication of the spiritual changes taking place in his own life.

The Death of Alice Walser

As I said earlier, the death of Walser's wife, Alice, may have also helped him abandon spiritualism.

Perhaps I should take time to explain that Walser'S second wife, Hannah, divorced him on June 25, 1895. The divorce decree granted her $3,600 cash, and an allowance of $25 per month. Walser had fallen in love with a Mrs. Alice Martha Newman. This, no doubt, did not help his marriage to Hanna. Moore described Alice as "a brilliant and beautiful woman, thirty-seven years younger than Mr. Walser." Then added: "They were married in about 1894 ... "

Since I have a copy of Hannah's divorce decree, dated June 25, 1895, I know he could not have been married to Alice in 1894. I mention these dates, however, to provide insight into what was going on in Walser's life. He was either seeing Alice while married to Hannah, or shortly thereafter. It is safe to say there was not much time between his second divorce, and his third marriage.

Walser'S grandiose dream of a liberal paradise had failed. Both his bank account, and his ability to make money were diminishing. Liberal's problems were compounded by

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a disastrous fire on November 4, 1897. Nine businesses on the west side of Main Street were destroyed. Walser said he had seen the errors of materialism, atheism, and agnosticism. His recognition of spiritual reality may have been part of his attraction to the beautiful and brilliant Alice Newman. She was a spiritualist medium and lecturer, and became his wife.

It must have been quite devastating to Walser when Alice died by suicide. Her approach to spiritual reality contained a fatal flaw. It obviously did not bring fulfilment. She became neurotic, addicted to drugs, and mentally ill. She took a fatal dose of poison July 14, 1902. By her own request, she was buried at midnight. Her grave was initially beneath the trees about seventy feet from the Walser home. In 1940, her remains were moved to make way for a coal mine.

Surely, the death of Alice Walser must have had an impact upon her husband. He had tried atheism, agnosticism, materialism, liberalism, and spiritualism. He was sixty-eight years old at the time of her death. His health was failing. He was in a search for something, or someone, that would bring meaning and fulfilment to his life. Everything he had tried, so far, however, had failed.

A Spiritualist Hoax Exposed

I cannot leave the subject of spiritualism, without recounting the comical account of the way a spiritualist hoax was exposed. It happened in the spring of 1887, near the beginning of the spiritualist movement in Liberal.

The standard price for a spiritual encounter was one dollar. At the time, however, this was a considerable amount of money. For your dollar you could have your fortune told, see objects move, receive spirit writing, see spirit photography, etc.

One poor soul named Wiggins, traveled all the way from New York to have a seance with his departed mother. When she "appeared," she seemed to have on the very dress she had worn the day before her death. The old man was overcome with emotion, and wanted to hug and kiss her. He was restrained from doing so, however, and warned that any attempt at physical contact would break the "en rapport" of the circle and cause the spirit of his mother to vanish.

In reality, poor old Mr. Wiggins would have been kissing Wylie S. VanCamp. Wylie was a Freethinker, and one of the town drunks. He conspired with J.H. Roberts and Dr.

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Bouton to take advantage of the spiritual hunger in Liberal, and scam their fellow citizens. VanCamp was the smallest of the three, so he operated in the attic. He was also a good penman and skilled at free hand drawing.

Their seance business was rudely interrupted by an untimely fire. When volunteer firemen chopped a hole in the roof, they discovered the cache of paraphernalia which made the "spirit manifestations" possible.

The perpetrators of the fraud, however, were unrepentant. The arrogant Dr. Bouton felt that his deception had provided an "answer" to what many people were looking for at a very reasonable cost. He even capitalized on the seances after the hoax was discovered. He published a pamphlet, revealing in detail his techniques, and explaining how easy it was to fool people.

It seems, however, to Walser'S credit, that he did genuinely believe in spiritualism. He was apparently not in it for the money.

Jesus said that the truth would make you free. Sometimes, however, the truth first makes us miserable.

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CHAPTEit XII

A MILITARY PENSION?

Alice Walser died on July 14, 1902. On October 12, 1902, Mr. Walser married Esther J. Jamieson at Galena, Kansas. This was his fourth wife. She was twenty-nine years younger than he was. J.P. Moore described her as "corpulent, matronly and steady - well suited, one might say, as a wife for an elderly man."

Walser was apparently running out of money. On April 5, 1905, he made application for a Veteran's Pension. The pension could not have been much, and his application for it is at least one indication of his financial need. The form indicates that he had never applied for a pension before, and that he was partially unable to earn a living because of his age.

Walser, you will recall, served in the Union Army two different times. The first time he had an honorable discharge, the second he did not. The person filling out one page of his application form wrote: "He has had no service either in the army or navy, other than in 20 III. Inf."

Walser, with trembling hand, wrote: "Except - I served as Captain of Co. I, 43 Mo. In., but in no other service than those mentioned above."

When I read this I said to myself: "Atta boy George!" He told the truth, even though it kept him from receiving a pension. His application was rejected May 8, 1905, "because claimant was not honorably discharged from his last contract of service."

I am assuming that the application for this pension was made without the knowledge of his wife. Two things lead me to this conclusion. First, if Esther had been aware of this, she would have known George was not a Lieutenant Colonel. Apparently she did not know this, for when he died she had the inappropriate rank inscribed upon his mausoleum. Second, Esther applied for a military widow's pension on July 30, 1926. In her application she stated: "That she has not heretofore applied for a pension; that said soldier was not a pensioner, never having applied for same."

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I am left with the assumption that George didn't tell his own wife the truth about his military service. If he had done so, he would have saved her a lot of trouble.

Esther was married twice after George died, first to Robert W. Bock on February 14, 1912, and then to James Edsall on February 24,1919. Both marriages ended in divorce.

On January 10, 1924, the Circuit Court of Jasper County, Missouri granted the name of Walser back to Esther. Since she had been married at least four times, I am assuming she took back the name of Walser so she could collect his pension.

Esther went to considerable effort to prove her case. It involved documenting the marriages, divorces, and death of her former husband, etc. She got the bad news in a letter from Winfield Scott, dated November 17, 1926: "Your above-entitled claim under the Act of May 1, 1920 filed August 3, 1926 is rejected on the ground that as shown by a report from the records of the War Department your husband, the soldier, was not honorably discharged from his final contract for service in Company I, 43rd. Missouri Infantry, during the Civil War."

Apparently thinking there must have been some mistake, she went to her congressman, the Hon. Joe J. Manlove, for help. He received the same sad news in a letter dated December 14, 1926.

Esther passed away July 4, 1929. How sad! Some wise man once said: "Be careful when you stretch the truth, for invariably somebody gets hurt when it snaps back."

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CHfiPTEit XIII

THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS

In 1909, Walser wrote his last book: "The Life and Teachings of Jesus." J.P. Moore considered this his most noted prose work. This is the book in which Walser described himself as a "converted infidel." The next year, Walser would be dead.

Unbelievers, like Walser, face a philosophical dilemma. H.G. Wells expressed it beautifully in this quotation (reported to have come from the American Magazine, July 1922.)

"Jesus of Nazareth ... is easily the dominant figure in history. I am speaking of him, of course, as a man, for I conceive that the historian must treat Him as a man, just as the painter must paint him as a man ... To assume that he never lived, that the accounts of his life are inventions, is more difficult and raises more problems in the path of the historian, than to accept the essential elements of the Gospel stories as fact . . . So, the historian, disregarding the theological significance of his life, writes the name of Jesus of Nazareth at the top of the world's greatest characters."

G.H. Walser claimed to be in search of truth. Yet, he could not be intellectually honest without personally investigating the historical Christ. Many, if not most unbelievers, have never personally investigated the claims of Christ. Perhaps this was true of Walser. When he did so, however, the teachings of Jesus apparently made more sense than anything else he had considered. Biblical faith rests upon evidence.

Walser was nearing the end of his life. His dreams of a liberal utopia had vanished like a vapor. His money was gone (Probate Court the following year appraised his assets at only $1,661.60.) His health was gone. His home life had been a disaster. He was reduced to nothing. Someone has observed, however, that when God creates something, He starts from nothing. Walser's personal disaster was therefore something positive. The same is true of us. When we are reduced to nothing, God can begin a creative work in us.

It is not unusual for unbelievers to be converted when they consider the evidence.

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Consider, for example, a contemporary of Walser by the name of Sir William Ramsay. Ramsay was also initially an unbeliever. He, like Walser, was also a man of action. He was not content to sit in a class room, or on a bar stool, and criticize Christ. He was a "doer" not just a "talker." Therefore, he decided to sponsor an archeological expedition and prove the Bible wrong.

Ramsay set out from England in 1881. His plan was to focus on the writings of Luke. Christians believe that Luke wrote two inspired books, the Gospel of Luke, and the Book of Acts. Luke was so specific, that Ramsay assumed it would be an easy task to prove him wrong.

Take, for example, the comments of Luke about Jesus as they are recorded in Luke 3:1-3:

"Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentancefor the remission of sins."

Luke claimed to be writing accurate history (see Luke 1:1-4.) This brief sample of his writing reveals his attention to detail. Ramsay could check on such specific historical references. Supplied with the best equipment of the day, he spent fifteen years in the lands of the Bible, digging for evidence. Skeptics confidently expected all of their allegations and assertions to be substantiated.

In 1896, however, Ramsay published a large volume in defence of the Christian faith. It was called: "St. Paul, the traveler and the Roman Citizen." Ramsay had been converted by evidence. He continued to study and write for many years. He not only became a Christian, but also a staunch defender of the Christian faith. This remarkable defence of Christianity was published at about the same time George was entering his third marriage.

Giovanni Papini, is another example of an unbeliever converted by evidence. He was also a contemporary of Walser. He shocked the world by publishing his "Life of Christ" in 1921. This famous enemy of Christ concluded that we need a more "Christlike"

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world.

Lew Wallace was another contemporary of Walsers. There are a number of similarities in their lives. Both were born in Indiana. Both were lawyers. Both were officers in the Union Army. An atheist once predicted to Wallace that the little white churches in his beloved Indiana would some day be buried in the general crash of all religion. In the course of writing Ben Hur, however, Wallace actually studied the Bible for himself. His lawyer training in logic forced him to the inescapable conclusion that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the Living God.

The Christian Faith is unique in this regard. Many religions merely propose maxims to live by. Christianity, however, stands or falls upon historical facts. If Jesus Christ was not raised from the dead, our faith is vain. The essence of the Christian Gospel is that Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again "according to the Scriptures." Every major event of his life and ministry was written in the Scriptures, and taught in the synagogues, centuries before it came to pass.

Walser was a lawyer. His professional career involved the weighing of evidence. For many years he was paid to prove some conclusion "beyond a reasonable doubt." Nothing can ever be proven beyond "any" doubt. Some, for example, still insist that the world is flat, or that George Washington never lived. Their thinking, however, is not "reasonable. "

So Walser became reasonable. He once doubted Christ, and wound up doubting his doubts. The evidence he studied forced him to conclusions that he described as a conversion. Fortunately, God will determine the validity of his conversion. His openness to change, is nevertheless, commendable.

Since I have been unable to secure a copy of Walser's book, "The Life and Teachings of Jesus," I am indebted to J.P. Moore for the following quotations. They are found on pages 147 -149 of his book "The Strange Town."

"In my early life I rejected much of orthodox Christianity, and parts of the Old Testament as being merely history and the crude reasonings of primitive men in their first awakening to the belief and dependence on a power above and beyond themselves."

"As a Freethinker, I wandered into the field of Materialism, Atheism,

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Agnosticism, and finally Spiritualism, and I am ever thankful for my schooling along these lines, for my mind has been broadened, my conception brightened, and my nature brought more in harmony with my duty towards my fellow men."

"I write from the standpoint of a converted Infidel. I have patiently investigated without bias all sides of mental and spiritual philosophies. All I desire is the truth whose footprints I will follow where it leadeth; for what is truth for me is truth for all, whether that truth is divine or secular."

"The life and teachings of the Master can only be fully appreciated through the aid of the imagination, guided and stimulated by all the facts and of the world at his time ... "

"I have wandered in the desert of disbelief, waded in the river of doubt, and in the sands of desolation. I have looked for hope and found none ... I felt there was something more, there must be something more, or nature is a fraud and life the gall of a bitter cheat."

Of the Bible, Walser wrote:

"I thought it to be a mixture of imaginations; a compendium of laws of ancient times or a peculiar people, with scraps of history interbedded with their notions of religion, which did not comport with my ideas of what religion is, or at least should be ... "

"My conception was that true religion is the development of the soul. It is not measured by any particular cult, form of words, trained actions, or belief; but it is the soothing elevation of man's higher nature that best fits him for the needs of a proper life, according to his environment ... "

"Reasoning . . . we must conclude that God is absolute mind. He is intelligence and absolute wisdom, hence he knows everything."

"If the heart is right the religion is good for those who profess it ... "

"Jesus founded no church, built no temple, wrote no creed; nor did he establish a worship. He did by example soothe the sorrying heart, healed

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the sick, and inculcated the great principles of the brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God ... "

'We are passengers on the great ship of life, going to another country to encounter new realities and experiences. Every person has a ship of his own and is his own pilot; to reach the port of safety we should study the chart which Jesus has given us."

Walser made a rational choice. That philosophy of life that is not good enough to die by, is not good enough to live by.

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CHfiPTEit XIV

WALSER MEETS HIS MASTER

J.P. Moore wrote:

"Mr. Walser died at this home in Catalpa Park, May 1, 1910, twenty-five days before his 76th birthday. Death was due to pneumonia, contracted from getting caught in a cold rain while walking home from town. He was ill only a few days. On the day of this last trip to town, Mr. Walser was a caller at my office, The Liberal News, and we have a pleasant visit. He brought some little item for publication in the paper."

In 1926, when Esther was documenting George's death, she went to Leta West of Lamar, Missouri. Leta said she was:

" ... in possession of all the funeral record No. 3026, at page 294, shows that George H. Walser died on May 1, 1910, at Liberal, Barton County, Missouri, at the age of seventy-five years; that the physician in charge was Dr. C.A. Smith, of Liberal, Missouri, and the cause of death was anemia; that he was buried in Lake Cemetery at Lamar, Missouri, in Vault Section No.1, on the 4th day of May, 1910."

Leta's account was given to substantiate Walser's death in a failed attempt to qualify for a Widow's Pension. Her account did accurately prove the day of his death. The date of his burial in Lamar, however, is not accurate. This is evident from two sources of information.

First, J.P. Moore notes that while his funeral was conducted at Catalpa Park on May 4, 1910, his body was first buried in a temporary vault at Fort Scott, Kansas. He wrote:

"Soon after his father's death, Mark Walser brought legal action, seeking an order authorizing that a tomb be built in the Walser lot in the Liberal burying ground to receive the body of his famous father. But the then Barton County Probate Judge Paul Tucker ruled that the court had no jurisdiction

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in the matter. So the will of the widow prevailed, and the mausoleum was built in Lake Cemetery, Lamar.

The cost of construction of the tomb sought by Mark Walser was to be paid from the Walser estate which was ample to afford the expense. Mark's petition asked that the expense be held to not exceed $5,000. In that day that sum would have paid for a handsome structure - much more imposing than the mausoleum at Lamar." (The Strange Town, p. 54.)

As I said before, Walser was nearly broke. Moore was apparently unaware of Walser's financial condition. Appraisal for Probate Court, dated March 25, 1910, stated that the total amount of his personal estate was $1661.60.

The second source proving that Walser was not buried in Lamar on May 4th, is Marvin VanGilder, Barton County Historian. Marvin recalls some bizzare information, which, to the best of my knowledge, is not in print anywhere. It is published, however, with VanGilder's permission. Since Walser died suddenly, arrangements for his burial were made after his death. As we have pointed out before, his widow, Esther, and his son, Mark, disagreed about where he should be buried.

VanGilder states that he was buried first in Webb City, Missouri. Local residents were apparently unaware of Walser's recent "conversion." Their complaints caused his Walser to be disinterred and buried in another temporary grave in Fort Scott, Kansas. This is the one referred to by J.P. Moore. In either instance, a May 4 burial in Lamar would have been impossible.

VanGilder also states that when the mausoleum was completed in Lamar, some time later, an open casket service was conducted for him on the Court House lawn. 11m sure the body of the controversial Walser was not welcomed by everybody in Lamar either. At any rate, he was finally placed in his tomb. His widow buried him with his beloved books. He was, however, not totally "laid to rest." The mausoleum, according to VanGilder, initially was not sealed. His unlocked tomb proved an irresistible temptation to the local young people. Many dared their comrades to open the door and take a look. Finally, by order of the city officials, the hinges on the cement door were removed, and the tomb was sealed.

Walser published three volumes of poems, "Wild Rhymes," "Poems of Leisure," and the "Bouquet." His Poems of Leisure contain the following words, which he called "An

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Honest Prayer.

Oh! thou invisible power That moves the heart and stirs the brain, Give sordid vice a transient hour And let within thy bosom reign A purer thought, a chaster love That aye within my bosom move.

Thou motive force within my brain, Let me invoke thee while I can. Oh! let fraternal justice reign And man become a friend of man; For he alone, of all the train, Can grace a saviour's proud domain.

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EPILOGUE

The Bible book of Ecclesiastes describes King Solomon's search for happiness.

He sought for wisdom, only to discover that "in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow."

He tried wine, laughter and pleasure, but found that this also was vanity.

He built houses, and planted lush vinyards. He had orchards filled with wide varieties of fruit, and designed magnificent ornamental pools. Happiness, however, always eluded his grasp.

He accumulated silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings. Something, however, was still missing. Life to Solomon was vanity and a vexation of spirit.

He married many women, but even this did not bring him the gratification and fulfilment for which he was seeking.

At last, he arrived at the only conclusion to life that made any sense:

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Eccl. 12:13.)

George H. Walser tried many of the same things that Solomon did, and apparently came to the same conclusion.

What about you?

Michael C. Pratt died in a plane crash on December 24, 1974. Shortly before his untimely death, he gave this wise advice to a group of graduates.

"Be selective in what you think and do! Our many experiences are as strokes of the artist's brush, shaping and tinting each of our characters in sometimes very subtle ways ... Always remember that Jesus Christ, our

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GEORGE H. WAlSER

Lord, Master, Savior, teaches us the true beauty of unselfish giving. Let us strive to pattern our lives after the One who has opened the door to life, and life more abundant. Jesus Christ - the Way of Fulfilment."

Liberal, Missouri

Page Plumbvr 57

G. H. WALSER

MRS. ESTHER J. WALSER.

Land like this was purchased from the U.S. Government as swamp land

Liberal's circular cemetery where Walser planned to be buried

Walser's mausoleum in Lamar, Missouri

Downtown in modern Liberal

GEORGE B. WAlSEa

List of Documents

DOCUMENT CONTENTS

1 Notarized record of G.H. Walser's Family Tree 2 Military Certificate 3 Military Records 4 Military Doctor's Report of Walser's Illness 5 Walser placed in arrest for refusing orders 6 Walser resigns 7 Walser attempts to "remand" his resignation 8 Fellow Officer recommends that Walser not be allowed back in 9 Walser back in the Service three years later 10 Walser's dishonorable discharge for malfeasance in office 11-13 A letter from Walser's lawyer in his defense 14 Some law suits filed by Walser as a lawyer in Barton County, MO 15 Advertisement for Liberal mailed out by Walser 16-24 Catalog of the Freethought University -- Courtesy of the Western Historical Manuscript Collection, 23 Ellis Library, University of

Missouri -- Columbia. Columbia, MO65201 25 Divorce decree from Hannah Walser 26 Death certificate of Alice Walser 27-30 Walser's application and rejection of military pension 31 Affidavit regarding Walser's death 32 Appraisal of Walser's estate for Probate Court 33 Esther's application for Widow's Pension rejected

Liberal, Missouri

Page ftambvr 58

CERTIFICATE. T,John G. Tod~, a Not.ary Public wit.hin and fo%"t.hg count.y

of Barton and st.at.g of ].r!ssouri; do hgrqby Cgrt.ify t.hat. I

have 9xanir.9d t.h9 f'amily rgcord of' 'Mark WalS9r an1 Sara·h

Wals9r; which r9cord is in a bound d~lin~ t.ablgt, w1t.h

ot.h9r trrlt.ltlgs, Clravli!lP-:sand mgmgnt.o'9Sana I find t,h9 folloVllt19. gntgri9S in t.h9 f'amily r9cord.

Mark 1rals9r born March 21st., 1903. Di9d F9b. 13t.h, 1882.

Sarah Gray born JUly r th, 1808. Digd .u~. 19t.h, 1903.

A.rid V18:3marrigc t.o V!ark Wals9r F9b, 1st.. 18a4.

Rant'lals Walsgr 'bo!'n F9b. 7t.h, 182[.

Bartmra Wals9r born Nov r t.h, 1826. Di9d F9'b 6t.h,1aaa.·

John Wals9r born D'9c. 28t.h, 1828. DlgQ April 16t.h 1847.

Liddy Wals~r born April ft.h, 1831. Dl'9d D9C. aOt.h, 1836.

G'9orp.:gH. "'als~r born l\~ay26t.h, 18M.

Th~r~ is no 9vid9nCg of any chaTlR9s or graSUr9S having

b99t'l mad9.

As Wit.n9SS ny hatld atld Not.aria1 s9a1 this th9 7th day of'

March 189f.

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20 Ill. -: %. --------91lLp-;y{(;------_!_.::!)JdbV _ .--L~(C!O.Q/_, 20 Reg't J lliuois Infantry .

! Appcarson

Appears 011 Returns us follows:

Company Descriptive Book L-»(i~,:~((%/,_· ..t1/~ . ..

of the organization named above. , :;r~(J:_f-:f_-~--d~-q1~-~

DESCRIPTION .--------(_4(!!!tf~zf~r--/d?f-,(-------------------- Q ') . -~/-!-4:-f-(.-----(fld«:'ed_hucaA£d4 Age /-._.ycar8; height .feet, ----- --- inchc.g.; ----.tl!.!'I!'_~-_(!:_e--~-(./Lr.Mr _

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Where born .. .. . . /::f~.~ .. (-d'~

Occupation . __.. ._ I ..... --~.:.- -P-/1-~~~ . -------.&dued~~ _________ ({j'cdL'? . ._. _ _._._

ENLISTMENT.

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~&d~a-~~~

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~;W~~uA:-" aa~.c.:».

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SPECIAL ORDERS'~

~(iJ2::) Cf)/- 1 EXTRACT.

/:J ... P~.~c5;%. )r~/ 4-~~. k& (4 ~ ~~o-() 7@.. ~ a.&'

~ ~D.A.A ~~D--6 a/v-r /zt e //

c/u{= ~vCJ~ ~ / J~ ~

~~d,

A....istant Adjutant General.

• i})ocument
• 9

WAR DEPARTMENT. AIlJUTAKT Oll:KERAJ,'1i un'WE, Washington, May 4th, 1865.

SPacIAl. ORIlEKS,}

No. :.!05.

(E~tTact.)

* * * *

46. By direction of the President. Ull the reeeuuuendatiuu "f the Counuandiug General, Department of the Mi880UI;. Captain (ieorge 1-1. Walser, .t:~ Missouri Volunteers, is hereby dishonorably dismissed the servlce uf the United States, fill' mllllilll81111ce ill office while Pro\,o.t

Mllr.hlll Ht St. .Joseph, Missouri.

* * * *

By order of the Secretary of War:

W. A. NICHOLS,

..' Assistant Adjutant General.

Assisiallt Adjutant G~lleral.

" ./

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Record iJilL'd Index tu Circuit Court Records,

.;§ AOVF.USK IN'Or.X

NA]\,LF,S OI" FAR'1'IElS CAUSJo: 01-' A()TIOK

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l)I~Ft;NIlANTS Ilay: Month J Yl!llr 1·1..\INTln·~

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\ l li.mel OLASSIOAL. C of OUrlUI

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COMMERCIAL. I O:a.....:rOliUc...... :r.. I I sKmol T.:BlACa.:Bl::e.S. or eonrlO

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Be it remembered that on the 25th day of ~~~~~5, the

• • \0< II) .... +> IIIoo o +>

same being the 26th Judicial day of the February, 1I~ t.rm

• of the Circuit ~ourt of Barton cCounty, lis~0~1, the toll.w-
• ~ ing , among other proceed1ngs were bad, to-Wit: oo G)

1-1

• to .... ~ 0 Hannah M. Walser,------------- Plaintiff, co~ = G) 5+1 ..-41-1 e-ooo~ George H. 'falser, -- Defendant. .~ l.~ 1Il:I:
• .!14 '" CD r-iU
• vs ) ) DECREE OF DIVORCE. ) ) ALIMONY
• 3600.00. )

Now at this day the above entitled cause coming on to

be beard, end both parties appearing, the plaintiff in per~n

as well as by her attorney, H. Q. Timmonds, and the defendant

in his pvn proper ~rson, and botn part1es announcing ready

for trial, the CaUse is submitted to the Court; Whereupon Cl.

.. +> II) G) +> +><

Court, after hearing the evidence, doth find the issues in favor

of the plaintiff; that the allegations in her petition are true;

that for one whole year next before the filing of plaintif!' s

petition, thatdefenda~t, without good cause, absented himself

and failed and refused to live longer with plaintiff as her hus-

band and has ever since so failed and refused.

It is therefore by the Court decreed, that ~be plaintiff

be and she is hereby divorced from the bonds of matrimony enter-

ed into by ~nd between her and the defendant and that she"hava

and recover of and from the defendant, as aldmony in gross, the

sum of Thirty Six Hundred Dollars ($ 3600.00), which sum shall

b~ in lieu of plaintiff's dower interest in defendants I prop-

erty; and also in lieu and satisfaction of the judgr.ent hereto-

fore rendered by this court at its February Term, 18S4, between.

the saffieparties, granting plaintiff a monthly allowance or twen-

ty Five Dollars ($ 25.00) for maintenance; for all payments from

and after June 30th,1895, and that plaintiff recover of defend-

ant her costs 1n this case.

• iJ)ocument
• 25

S..._iIiiiI_ M'li&e~R':"'SJ~-~z:~rl'- c- ~ "" e - . -_= ...~ 0: .' . . _ :.:. :: = - ~ ': ~ +: t; .... nCATt ._ ~.. -:-- -; ',1' .X : :_l?'ii_~. -.; ... ......:L.-:-=, . §~

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• 2. ~LL NAME _.. ~.~~--. ''::'''-:-''-'''--'- .. -.-.:- -.- ..- ..,;..~ (.) ...._. . ..._~ __ _..11'_ __ _ ,_.._ .._.._ _ (U.u_l pla.,. of _bade)' (U a<mnoidcDt lift dt7 or __ """ auft)
• J..idIoI ......... "'citt ................ __ ,.. - .. ... ...... 11.5................ ' ,.. - ..

MEDICAL CERTInCATE 0 .. DPTH .

II. DATE 0' DEATH (...... ,,1''''_~ I $L - It ',1 z-.

• 17.' ~ 7 I HEIII':.V.C':IIIT'''Y, 1==-._ ; z;...... ..•...•_•.__..•••.•..••_ _
• •..•11..•••••••II' ._._ _.._
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• •_

.... 1 loot IL _ _ _. __ __ ~ 11. - ..~-. - -.....-.--...: .':. :.

I. DATE OF BIRTH (_.... DAt'..,TUII) I"- CA~SE OF ,D~TH. WU~":'~y ~.'.'~ ~ -~.: ~J

7. AGE YIWII I MCIIfTIII I DAft l:.:u~ .~ ..:....!C.7' ~:..-. :2 2 - - ---- --.--.--.-- -..--- ,....- ~ i:::::::::::::~~~ ..=~~=~~ .. =::::=~~=;:::::::~·=~=~=:=:::::::::::

• • OCCUPATION OF DECEASED .I /

=loI~~ ......~_-

(10) Gusol _ ... 0( w..r. ..-. _ eefehi+--« Ia .............. (-...,.) _---

-- CONTRIBUTORY _ __ ·· ·._ ·..·•· . <-) -),.. _..- .._ .... ..._ _ ( . .

• (c) - of -... n II. W_ WAI DlR:AIK c:aomtACID II t. BIRTHPLACE :cm a. 1I11III)._ ..
• __ _ .
• .., Mn' AT JII..ACI: "" z:&lTHl __
• •••••• _. __ ._ ..._

(STAn 011coonmrr)

• DID All ClP'DATION PIID:DC aunn .•__ .... ~ G"••••••_
• •_ ....... ._

10. NAME OF FATHER WAI_ AllAIIftIPIn. ._ ..... ·_·_ .........•.. _

WHAT TZST~~·-ft::=· ..t.;;::ez7?:::::_- ~).... ~;u~···;;;;a···r

• ~ (STmOlt(l)UllTlft') £. & 0 II: .
• • J. I,JI. if 12. MAIDEN NAME OF MOTHER

~ II. BIRTHPLACE OF FATHER (CITYa. ,_..) .

-alate tho I>umua c.......... 0..... til ill deotho r.- V......., c.......

13. BIRTHPLACE OF MOTHER (crrt .. '_") ...

(1) w....... """ lU'l'tJU OP hvnr. aDd (2) ........... A..... ""' .... a-a- or lloom:uw- (See __ oide Car odditioaal_)

(STAn 011COUIITWI') I u.

IS. [II.a 1" ..

• iJ)ocument
• 26

Act of June S;r#-t ,f'3J.;f8]'-. INVALID PENSION.

Pensioned for )nability to earn a support by manual labor.

Fee, $ ..

Alent to pay.

I suhmit;;::!;;;;t:-~Er:::~;;;;r~X=in"

• A!Jjroved f~r .u. : (} ~AP'l0ved for "j ;n;f;r)-.~7£_. J7~~··~-·~··:W:-.~ z ~-~Z·· 1I!1:J:v. _/.(j J A .A.J. ... ,.J. -+.J A~ ... ~ ~ '" _
• •• '~.I7.:...I..L~ _ _ .~_' ~ f-..I_ .... . .; __ ._ ... ~-~~~--~.-xV~-~-~S£- ...-V- ,...,--.;;r t;.I;f7v -------------------------------------------------_----- -----------------

Agurrgat' 01 di8abilitiu .hown,pD11Ulnmt ill cluJradfr: 1. _

Jledleal E::ramintr. Mtd/{:al Review".

..................., 190 , ··· ··..Ji.di;i.ii~;;;:..

------------------------------------- ..---------------------------------------------------,------------------------------------------------------------------

;' Olaimant ipe§ L 'writ&.

~ ~ _ ,.M. O.

• 150cument
• 27

~ )_

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Bm: IJ' "t": Will you kiudly answer, at your ea.rliest convenieuce, the questions enumerated below? The information is requested for fnture use, and it ma.y be of great vaJue to your family. ~~~ ._~<:W';;;:;ullY' , ~ .._-_...-~.... .- ._-.._._-_._---_._- ..__...._---.- a,~L-t1 - ._. ... _ ._. ..__..........• 1 --.._._..._.__,

~ Commiuwner.

• iJ)ocument
• 28

'L

~~Dim.io~ 1.-4<1. , ~:

..: ..L _L~rj:I······,7~··,~tVurlttttltt t1f itlt ),uttl.'t.O't,

~/X)L' .... ~ BUREAU OF~E SIONS. Co..~[J~.(?Jle~· ----- .- -.....-. , ' ~ t,1---" Washington, D. C., _ _.._._.._.. .,190 __.

SIR: To aid this Bureau in preventing anyone falsely personating you, or otherwise committing fraud in your name, or on account of your service, you are required to answer fully the questions enumerated below.

~;: Commieeioner .

• .-- -~~.... .- - _ _ _ _._-_ .. ~ ~·eJ~ ~ ....••.. e
• ••••• _•..•• _._1

I Wh," were you born ? Answer ~.'£~ ..~lj?3.?f.m.,m .....

2. "Therewerevonborn? Answer .. .;z;:,.~~.~ C.... ~ ~ ..~.~.A..~

:I. When did y:u enlist? Answer. ~£./.,f..-- /I.--::~.,u.. ····U··.···-·-~···-···F---;;/./l-

4. Where did you enlist? Answer.... . .. .;./[{ii1'..tP·11;.~7iih"._r/::,.£tJ

5. Where had you lived hefore you enlisted? Answer. ~.z ~~

G. "-hat was your post-office address at enlistment? Answer, ~ ...;;;; ..;;m....~rld'Y'-.r

7. What was your occupationat enlistment? ~er'..Jl'-k~·~...:.:,;_---:·····-=·"'!I"·····

8. When were you discharged? Answer ... ~ ..7,.";!!f~ ../f··V.,,}·······L/~/- . "D.~-~~b ~ ~ ,~ 9. Where were you discharged? Answer ... :... r·~F·:-·~·········J ..~·'E·_'(7.················

10. 'Where have you l~d.8il('e discharge? Give dates, as nearly as possible <!fal)) cl.lnges of residence, c7{ l!:.d:.P.I!Y:~__...rhf2.fr~···-/H?·J.~·M.:.-l3..4-_~ ·7~· ...~ ...L.. .~~., ..~~ y 4.:~;...._~.-~(f.t;.C ...~./i:;JJt-:7J~ ~~I(fD,: ~ ,.,. i /- ...-.:...~~ ~~ 'i? ~ ~ .~ ~ ~ ~- '1~.r-. (:T""'-. 11. 'Vhat is your present occupation ? Answer ~? - -- .'.- - - .

12. What is your height? Ansv.]if ...£.__feet..?- __._... _.inches. You~.,we~bt? ~,t:b..([-=-.. --..-

ye colo: of your eyes? .. ~ The color of your hair? .~.: Jj our complexion? r~"'- Are there any permanent marks or scars on your person? If so, descri~ them . ..-:::::.:~.-.~-.- -..-.---..- ---..- --.-.- __.._._-_ _ __ __ .._ _.__ .._ __.

• lJ)ocument
• 29

SPECIAL NO'l'Ic,E.-The elvUofficer before wbom this Affidavit II elecuted IIhOU" be eareful to t flU in all IIpaces, both In tile caption And Jurat. GENERAL AFF3RAV~. $t·::~~;;;;:~~_f~~~: ~,:~;~-7~:r~~'=~:-~~~ l~_f.~~P"':;-~r.=

___~. __ ..__._;n and for the aforesaid County, ';'1'";"";'" -:.administet ""h~.?6"_~d_;7I_ Y"~,' resident'L~._ .._. _

in tbe County of. .t0"4.1. _ __ __._.._ , and State or .............•.... -..- 4.==:- - ---

wbose Post-office address is _ _._.__.._.._ _ _.._ _.. _ =::::'ire~~t'h~'~~W7F"%~~

d~?!.-Am etafflbow be &8108.. knowl, eat the flileu to .. bleb be t.e.Uftu.) _ .:<, q .. \.Z.£.f.'..!... . _ .._.~ __ ._. .._ __._ __ _._._

..'fiGioletta' in ~ftid CAseanl1.. . B8t ocoeerRed is if18 rp8scelttiMi.

_~l.~ &.._ !.t..~ (SIID"to re of Amon!..)

(11 Amant lima by m&rk, two wltneasee wbo ean write "I,n hpTe.)

• (Document
• 30

8!J.TE OJ' lUSSotmI) ) S8. Count7 ot lSarton ) Lew. W8at. ot l.&"tul asl. til's1; being

d~ norn upon her oath, 'IPOleS &Dd .By. that 8he is the wole

owner and proprietor at the HumphreyHardware A JUrniture Oompany

at Lamar, )[1ssouri~ that the HumphreyBardware ,. Furniture CompBnT

was tormerly ownedby her ta ther, Hoyt Humphrey. am, during the

litetime ot the 8ald Hoyt Humphrey, he was engaged 1n the undertak-

ing business at Lamar, J.tissouri, in oonneotion w1th said hardware

and turniture business; that she 1s in possession ot all the

tuneral reoords and that tuneral reoord No. 3026, at page 294,

shows that George E. Waleer died on May1, 1910, at Liberal,

Barton County, Uissouri, at the age ot seventy-tive years: that

the physlole.tl in oharge was Dr. C. A. Smith, ~ Liberal, 1!1ssouri,

and the oause ot death was anemia; that he was buried in Lnlce

Cemetery at Lamar, ltissouri. in Tault Seot10n No.1, on the .frth day

ot 11&7. 1910.

Aftiant further .aYl that s~e was well and personally ao-

quainted with George H. Walser and with Esther 1. fialser, his "11'e,

and knows that Esther 1. Ylalser 1s the widowot George H. Walser,

abote mentioned.

Further, aff1ant aa1th not.

Subsoribed and sworn to before My oommission as Notary Publio August, 1927.

me this 19th day ot August, 1926.

W1U.~~.~

, ·0 ary o.

APPRAISED VALUB

DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY. eta. DolIU1l

, 35.00

(1) One OCl'tf

20 i' 00 79 80

(1) One B{'g

Corn

1 25tOO

(1) One Horse

76180

La.w Books

10 oloo I I

8t~ne Quarry ~.olB & Macllinery

Liberal ~ i I ;7 oo.oo

List or notes 1ert a8 o.11~t.ra1 Beourity with Bank er

sa security for note and ~aney aavanoed

Guy L.Wade n.te ,with int.at 8% with Edwin F.James End~rser

15 o~oo; II :'i00~oo

W .L.L8.T~ry Note with inhrest due frClm Nflvnth 1909 at 8%

A1ex.Barnes Note with interest from NeW lOth 19me at 8~

75.00 I

Ihary M.Ta.nnahi1.1 Nete with interest due frem Feb lOth 1909 at 1'010 ~ :

. __ . . .._.. _.. .. ----It0_. I .•

- I.' I I ~_~,__ _ ===~-!,,-:"'ill+B-_~ll.r.o

TOTA.L A.MOUNT OF APPRAISEMENT,

We, the under8lJnea Appra'£ler8, oerlllv th~ abolJ" tt; b~ a fuLL and, lair .J.pprauement of the Good"

Ohattel, and other Perlonal Enate of ..."......,...,~.~)~..~,Y.~,a.:,~.~,!,!~"_ ..,."'._...__,... ..._. __'''_''''''''''''''''''_''_''deCl~(Ued' Father J.Walser wife and J.G.Tedd,AdminiBtra.t~r, (U produced: befor« IU by _;..:. ..__._.._..,_.__ .~ __ ._._,,'__ _,,_t.._. __. ,,_ -" "" ""..-----.-- - -." ".."..-" "" --.- ,-------_._---_ _ _ _ _----_ ~--..- - - - _

of laid __ G .1i..YL~.l.!i!_.. r .___ _" _ deC6lUed.

APPRAI8ERS.

• 'J)ocument
• 32

W1•• Dlyl.l_ ieo .... WalMJ', 00. 1 ~ Wo. lat. W.O. lIIOl41

111'•• htUr J. '1.lae!', lIP w. l)8,ngIW"7 5u.e', WebbOUiJ. 1Il•• ouri.

M"".. ,

roUl' .)ove-en~i'led claim UDder the ~o, ot

.., 1, 1920 tlled Auguat ~, 1926 1. rejected on the

• groUDd that. aa .hon. ~7
• report trom the recorda ot

t.be 1'&1' lJIpartlllnt 7CJa.I-huaNZUS, tbe .oldier, wa. not

hODora'bq discharged tram hi. tinal COIltract tor .. r-

vice In Com~ I, 4Zrd. Ilissour 1 lDtc tl'J', dur ing tb8

Civil War.

Winfield Saott, CommiasloDer.

EIG/LBb

• iJ)ocument
• 33

SOU I-t.C:::Ii; S <:>Ii" IN I....OR.MAT I <:>N

• "The Story of Liberal Missouri," by o. E. Harmon - Published by the Liberal News, Liberal, Missouri. 1925
• "The Strange Town - Liberal, Mi ssour i." by J. P. Moore - Published by the Liberal News, Liberal, Mo. 1963
• The St. Louis Globe Democrat, May 2, 1885, p. 16
• The St. Louis Post Dispatch, May 2, 1885, p. 5
• The "First Annual Catalogue" of the Freethought University, Published in Ft. Scott, Kansas by the Monitor Publishing House and Bindery - so.eti.e in the 1880s
• A pamphl et , "The FuJ Ii II.ent 01 a Dream," by CI arJc Braden. Published 1885 and revised in 1886
• Barton County Court House records
• Miscellaneous clippings and papers obtained from a variety ot sources over the past twenty-five years
• Interviews with Barton County Historian, Marvin VanGilder
• "She Kept Men Standing," published privately by Ruth Black Aten in 1967
• Documents trom the National Archives Trust Fund Board, Washington, D.C. 20408
• Inlormation obtained from the Western Historical Manuscript Collection, 23 Ellis Library, University 01 Missouri-CollUlbia, Columbia, Missouri 65201
• Inforaation obtained fro. the Library, in Liberal, Missouri

N.O LEFl ...... " .." .

TURN

This street sign in Liberal, Missouri provides an interesting commentary on liberalism. Once you see what liberalism did here, you won't want to make a left turn either!

Order From College Press P.O. Box 1132 Joplin, MO 64802

From Official Records, Series I, Vol. 48, Part II pp. 33 - 35

Possible explanation for Walser's dishonorable discharge

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OJ? NOItTII ~fISSOURI, , , Macon, ]1[0., April 5, 1865. General G. 1\1. DODGE, ' Commanding Dcpnrtmetu: of the Mi8souri, Saint Louis, J'J{o.:

GENERAL: J have the honor to report the following facts in relation to the adlllinistmtioli of tho provost-marslml's depa.rt.ment at Saint JOS~p~l, Mo.: Reports having ren.checlme that there were certain irreg- ulantles cOllnectcd with the arrangement of tho military prison and

LOUISIANA AND TilE TIL\N8-M[SS(S~lrI'L (CIIU', LX,

pri$ollers at ~aillt .loscph, 1\10., illliieatilll; t.ll;~tillegal 'Wl'el:'ts hall been Blade, :Llld that. there was :L collusion hctwceu t~~<_lI\Slst;LIIt:_l'l'ov~!:: !.!_Iarshal and <:~~I<~i_II,_~\.ttornQ.Y,sand law firms at that place, by which g'()od, law-abirli III; citizens who were k IIOW II to possess cousidcra ble rueans were arrested uud incarcerated iu (ll'i,;ou alld malle the victims of ;~ prcmcdita!~tL~ch(!llle of l'asc~di~y, Lat. once dctcnnillC!1 ~I give the ii'iiLttcr n thor'ollgTlcx'iiinillrilioil'<lm! emllieate the evils if found to exist. For this purpose 1 proceeded ill person t~l Saillt Joseph on the 25t.h ultimo null made a searching iuvestigutiou. I tonk the stutcmen t (If thirty' witnesses, wakillg upward of 100 pa.~e~ of t cstiuiony. The facts -.'is,(lcvcloi')I·d ill Illy exruuiuation ~cclilcd to 11101'1', t hall justify the reports that hud rcachcd my ears, and, ill fad, I 10uII([ the state of affairs much worse than I hall :LUYTen-SOIl to :Llltieip;lJ(~, It; seems that f()'r~oinclrine- P:t~t, tlt.rou~h Slim!: agClJey wh ich l \\';LS 1101,ahie to fully trace out, wit, nesses }1~l.VCbeen brought, or caine voluntarily, before thc ~{)vost. marshal anrl made affidavit» to show I he disloval clHlracter of cert:iul -millviduals residing within the lirn its 'of the suh'llisCIHict. 'I'he parties against whom such atlldavits were filed were ill all cases men of con- siderable wea lth, and resided. geuerully ut some distance from the post. Upon these atlidavits, 110matter how flimsy, again::lt all individual the

C ' )l'()Vos.t·lllar:.;hal would send Ollt. a seout or picked mCII selected by him- se all arrest the man, bring hiru in, and incarcerate him ill jail, If the prisoner demanded to know the charges ;~gainst him he was informed that he would fi lid out SOOIl enough, or that he could 1I0t know. In any CVCIIL, he received no' satisfaction, but was hurried off to prison. Once

• ill prisun 110 one, Hot even his wile or any member (If his family, was pcruri tted to see or have any corn n.u nicut iou w ill! IIiui whatever, except a few ruemiJcr>; of the 1~.~_Q~·ofe::;!;i()u_~:i'" were iII favor with thc.l'~ovo:~~ marshal. These were allowe([topass (0 nud l'rcj~ntuc prison ad libitwn. Aller the p~isoller had been COli fiued several days, long enough to real- ize all the horrors of his situation and ready to sacrifice almost anythiug to regain his liberty, au attoruey visits the prison ostensibly to see some clier: t, Our prisoner, allxious to learn someth ing of his own probable fate, approaches him aud inquires if he knows any thing of tile charges against him. Attorney shakes his head ouuuously uud tells him that 11ehas heard something of them from the )roYost-IIlMsilal, and that it is a. very !J'Ml case. Prisoner wants to know i he can do ~~llytuill!!"for

him; Attorney replies that he will see what can be done. Sa.ys he possesses great iuflucncc witt! the authorities, and if any one call save him lie is the mall, but that he would llt,t think of touchillg-the case for less than $i,OUO, Next duy attorney caTf.";;'1,;;Ll-il_ ~a.ys-hcT,·:l.s cX:1.ill, inCil the papers and finds it a. much worse case than he had an ticipaterl ; tha.t if the case ever comes before a. IlIilita.l'Y couunissiou his (prisoner's) lifo is Hot worth a. cent. But hc says Iurthcr th:~t he is ;1brotu.cr,in,}aw of the provost,lll;lrslia.l, and th at he III:IY pos,.;iloly l)e-iLl)rcto-imll1~-I;Ti'~ toslIpprcss the charges ;LIII] I,ut loril'~ the C:l"U to t riul, bu t suys if he does undertake the ease hI: m ns t h:lvI:!ti1 ,:.00' :11111he works "[lOll the fears of the prisoucr uuLi] lie Iiu.rl ly secures t,hat. suru. l l e then tells the prisonerthat his only hope of s;Lvillg' hi;; lIecl, is tornuk c or sign a written applicatioll to the cOllllrl;Llldilig ~ellcral to be hauishcd from t.lic State, uot t.o return Utll'ill!,; t l.c WOlL 'I'his the prisoner filially dues. ~is a.ppl icatiou IS of course !;I:lll ted, ;tll<! t.h?J!E.?_vo~~_:~,~2>~~~L releases him from custody upon the~·a: couditious, ~I\,ing: l!I~_I_~_!,~~~~tty,days tQ make 1I,~~_a.rr~IIf':I,:!~Ell!h fOl'_!I_!_'!_v_i l' g-. Before TIC l~ released, however, this

( :\i.'''l'lley CX'Le"s 1'1'(,,11 Li:ll :\ " ... ,: .., .... : :,:, "" '" iug that has passed bctwcc.. L,.~iiL 'I'lu.u, tv 111010 L~:~'!',:"<"UJ.te the

CIlAP. LX,] COlmESPONDENCE, ETC.-tTNION, 35

mode of procedure, and to show the slig-ht grounds UpOIl which citizens bave been deprived of their liberty aud made tlu: victims of this species of prosecution ami, ra,scal,ity: 1 fOl'w;tt'(1 t.ln-m with OXilet <io.)ics of the affidavits upon wille" J. (),COIll ) ml '\'!.!:-" arrestee an( llllJ)rlsolled aud nlln. y alliS led from tie, tate (s0c.p~,r,t;J.::'· marked A), together with all order· issued by tile ~'l.:SSlst:tH t tIrovost'I~~arsha.L 'I'hose papers arc the) only evidence 011 file against!'. Comptoll, and the prov()st,m,\.(silal knew of 110 other evidence against him, I also forward the \\'itlHll I'tatement of Mr. Compton (marked B'") talcen before me, which gives a full history of the case. T~ case of COIl~ptoll islw.tl!:l!!:j_L~~!!!.P.!~' The cases of Boone, l"~, FlCldllJg, a.nd others are ill every way similar and more 'or less aggmvaterr:--'l'uese parties luul, during the first year ).: of the war, been known as Southern s~mt:athizers, but they have from ' the first been law-abiding citizens, an ~ave givCiI no material aid to the rebellion ill any way, shape, or form, and are as bitterly opposed to guerrillaism and kindred offenses as the. most radical Uuiou man. Some of them have aided me materially during the past year by giving important information relative to the movements of guerrilla bands. During my Investigation I called in the circuit judgr, and laid the mat- ter developed before him, and requested that the rasl.:als be b ou ht ) I tUl~~llt. !have Ri,nce learDeu . at tw~ of them have been indicted y e grand Jury, which was theu In sessron. I revoked th~ order of banishment ~I t~e ca.ses of.. Compton, Boone, l1nney, FiJding, and , Maupin" subject to your approval. 1 cannot reason to any other con- elusion than that the provost-marshal, Capt. G. If. \V;l.ls~£,is gnilty of a cri m iu al couiplicity ill these rascalities; but whether the evidence is sufficien t.ly clear to warrant his arrest and trial before a. court-martial is somewhat q uestiouable. Unless there is strong reasonable probabil- ity of his conviction, of course it would be impolitic to bring him to trial. Until the investigation I had every reason to believe CaJ)tain WaJser aunouorable aud trustworthy officer, ill whom 1 repose full con fidence. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, general, your obedient servant, CLINTON B. FISK, n,-iga([·icr. (J cncral.

PREACHING AND HEALING ~67

lids down upon this world that they may open again on a better and brighter one, and made the soul sing the immortal song of j OJ', " Oh, Death, where is thy sting? Oh, Grave, where is thy vic- tory?" This was the conqueror Jesus whose words of truth pierced the hearts of men with the barbs of love and led them from the trammels of sin to the glories of righteousness, in mercy, char- ity and good will toward men. Jesus, with boundless love and forgiving spirit, carried his own cross to the place of crucifixion and with calmness he met the frowns of scorn, with love he answered the shafts of hate, and as the cruel spear entered his blessed side and they could do no more, he uttered the grandest prayer that ever ascended to the throne of God: " Father, forgive them, they know not what they do," What a triumph! What a victory I 'What a conqueror!

Walser, the "converted infidel" writes this description of Jesus in his book about the Life and Teachings of Jesus (1909).

-- ---.-- -----'---

%6 LIFE AND TEACHINGS, OF JESUS

The United States has a list of conquering pens in her many periodicals, directing the minds of statesmen, molding the sentiments of the people along the line of patriotic devotion to the princi- ples of self-government, domestic purity, eleva- tion of society, and the cultivation of moral recti- tude. Of the great authors of the United States we cannot speak in detail. While America is young in the sisterhood of nations, her sons lead the world in the practical development of the util- ities of life and in the elucidation of man's obli- gations to man for the amity of the world. But. there is one conqueror who stands alone, above them all; who has conquered riches with poverty, pride with' humility, ostentation with meekness, hate with love. He succored the weak and suppressed the strong, reproved the tyrant and sympathized with the oppressed, The wails of woe Found pity in his heart. He was the per- sonification of goodness, kindness, He was by nature as tender of heart as a pure woman, He was a hero in fortitude and a great warrior in the battles of right against wrong. He was a con- queror of the passions of the body and a director , of the intellect to the highest standard of men's ! duties one to another. The sick of body, soul, ; and mind were of his charge. He had a deep concern for the afflictions of the world, and in ministering to them forgot himself. And finally he transformed the dreaded king of death into a white-winged angel of peace which kisses the eye-