A CORRECTION by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 14, 1867

A CORRECTION.

By Editor

In the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald of Feb. 12th, is a paragraph in the following words.

“It is some time since we have heard from the Voice of the East published by Ransom Hicks, Providence, R. I.; but we have more recently heard from its Editor. A letter from that city dated Feb. 4th, 1867, states that his wife has procured a bill of divorce from him for immoral conduct.”

The foregoing statement that a divorce has been procured from me for immoral conduct is false. A divorce was obtained without any opposition on my part and under circumstances that neither concern you nor the public. Not a tittle of evidence was offered as I am informed, that tended even to reflect upon my moral character.

I respectfully request you to retract the charge made against me in your paper, and to furnish me with the name of the author of the letter referred to in said paragraph. Respectfully Yours. RANSOM HICKS.

P. S. My P. O. address is 41, Shawmut avenue, Boston, Mass.

[As we wish to do justice to all, however much they may differ with us in their religious views and belief, we cheerfully give Mr. H. the benefit of his own explanation of his position in the foregoing letter, and in the following printed document received therewith. We have no desire to place any one in a wrong light before the public, and shall be happy to make any correction, wherein we may have been misinformed. Ed.]

“COPY OF A WRITING TO MRS. ANN A. HICKS, FROM HER HUSBAND, RANSOM HICKS.”

Providence, January 13, 1858.

“ANN:—I take pen in hand to write a few words to you, and deeming it unnecessary to make many preliminary remarks, or go into a minute statement of facts relative to points of variance between us, I would at once proceed to say, first, that with the exception of a very few brief weeks at first, we never lived peaceably together as man and wife should, and invariably would live, did not hatred occupy the place of love on one side or the other.

“Of late years this hatred has been more prominently developed, and finally owned up at last on one side.

“I have in years past and present made the highest moral and religious profession. But I never saw the day but what you slandered and contemned me in both. This has been to me a great grievance, and I am sorry I did not bear your slander with more Christian fortitude. I never knew you to regard me as one who ever knew the true and living God, until you expressed your belief that God had left me.

“To leave my bed wilfully, as you did, without my consent, you knew would be one of the deepest sources of aggravation that you could inflict, and having a disposition to aggravate me to the extent of your power, you performed the deed. This I also put up with for more than six years, when I determined to sit down peaceably with such unchristian treatment no longer without manifesting in the strongest terms my utter abhorrence and disgust at such conduct. This I have done measurably heretofore. (Last fall and winter for once.) But these manifestations have had no effect upon you to awaken you to your matrimonial duty, which you never regarded.

“We have now arrived at a point in our variances where I forcibly realize the existence of an alienation between us, and I must frankly tell you I see no probability of our living together as man and wife any more. My religion seriously conflicts with yours, so much so that we do not worship even one and the same God.

“You say that were it not for me, (or ‘that nuisance,’) you could have two or three boarders now, but who will not come into the house to board where I am. Now in consideration of all this, and in view of the fact that I have almost no work at all, and having now exhausted all the money I had on hand, (saved last summer) I consider it is my duty to give you a chance to go on with your enterprise, and therefore I propose that we entirely separate, and I will leave the house, and never be an annoyance nor a companion to you any more. To make the separation more complete, I propose further that you petition for a bill of divorce. I hereby assure you that I will not oppose whatever may be your plea. My real estate is in the hands of an assignee, which business will be closed up according to law, and you will have your due. I further propose to leave you in possession of all the furniture for the present except that of my bedroom, consisting of bed, secretary, &c. I wish you nothing but happiness, although I well know your disposition will not allow you to enjoy it under any circumstances. I propose to occupy the shop at present, with the permission of my assignee. Should business revive, and my health be spared, I may leave this city in the spring. Farewell. R. HICKS.”

To Ann Hicks.

“P. S. Should these propositions meet your approbation, or otherwise, you will please manifest it as early as convenient. R. H.”