New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-15
BISHOP HAVEN'S SPEECH.
HIS OWN ACCOUNT OF 1T.

recently. Having read this afternoon the quotations
In your issue Of yesterday from The Philadelphia Item,
Twas highly gratitied with the dramatic gift OF the
reporter. What Shakespeare il lost in this un-
known itemzer | dislike TO mar so pretty tale,
but the trush of history compels me to break the
beautiful bubble.
That paper says ] spoke 1.-TWO hours" and then
the speaker raised himself upon his feet az if to
look all around about and above the vast audience
before him. and in loud, stentorian tones" made
the dreadful announcement :" / herewith, in the
name Of the American people and true Christianity,
nominate Ulysses :. Grant our present worthy
President, to third term in the Office of the Pres-
dent Of the United States" his il far from the
truth that were not the face of The TRIBUNE 30
painfully solemn over il one could hardly refrain
from laughter. More laughabe still Is the reported
action of tho meeting. Nearly every voice In that
vast audience Of profound scholars and venerable
ministers replied, as if with breath, second
the nomination."
Need tell yOu that this is az complete fancy
sketch as any garnet pencil artist ever drew The
of the speaker and the conduct of his bearers
could not have been more untruly put. As you have
taken much interest in the little event, allow Ire
to give the very few facts from which the gorgeous
picture is painted.
1t is the custom of our preachers meetings to
invite their visitors to make some remarks on the
subjects with which those visitors are familiar.
thus requested to speak upon the South. The
invitation was several weeks old. My engagements
had prevented my being present at any previous
meeting after the invitation had been extended.
did not expect to speak that morning, rs Prof.
Wells, by special arrangement, had the floor. 1t
was tho announcement OF his speech, made the
evening before to a crowded audience at Music Hall,
that drew the multitude. Not 30 persons in the
house knew that had been invited and hardly one
of these expected me to speak. came to the church
near tbs close of the address, with no intention OF
speaking. After the Professor was through, The
audience began to disperse. he President called
me out. The preachers some 80 or 80 lao 200 or
half that number were present AZ any timrl, ana a
hundred or two of the people sat down. l
stepped 10 the front, did not ascend the
pulpit platform, and hot taking OF my oyercoat,
spoke few words. e two or three minutes
past twelve when began, and twenty minutes past
when sat down. | noticed tie clock both times.
The 1.-TWO hours" thus dwindles to eighteen minutes.
80 dwindlcs the whole affair. spoke of the loyalty
of the men Of color To our latOn Of the large mem
ber.hip Of our church in the Sjut OF oar duty rs
church to De truc to these, orr brethren, as they
would be 10 us quoted Mr.. Wilson's dying remark,
that the next political battle would be fought, not
questions as before-liberty and uniol.
then added: If we throw over onr present
ruler, who has saved once, slall rue it," That
quotation is correctly made by Tie len reporter,
and is the only correct item in his whole account SO
far an it relates to my acts words. never SAID
dreamed Of saying that stilted speech with stretched
up form and rolling eyes" herewith" &c.-wblch
Inc puts into my mouth. | did add, however, what
he chooses to forget aud what the only peculiar
word that | uttered" Pray, brethren, for the re
nomination of President Grant" That vas all
said never rcnominated HIN, az the papers hti IT.
The IracelleT, think, quoted ne correctly asked
the brethren 10 pray for the denomination. This |
had perfect right to do a nigh: q citizen, as Il
christian. as a minister, as man.
The brethren made no such stiltcd response ~ is
represented. Some responded, Methodist fashion,
by alnens some by the less Methodist fashion of
stamping and capping How many responded
know not. Aftcrwa:d they approved, by rising
vote, my words. How much that vote included
don't know.
his is the whole Of the scene. 1t was not, as you
suggest, "a put up job" Nobody expected il. |
did not expect to Say it when arose. l did intend
20 write an article, which perhaps should have Of
fered I'll. TRIBUNE, into whose columns have IN
HE Olden times and again been admitted, which
article proposed To entIte Pray for the Reeiec-
ton of Precedent Grant, But person had ever
lcafd me speak Of such purpose. The word escaped
nv lips before il did my pcn and lost 49, II not
.uofc, that Light have earned
This il the head and front and flank and rear Of
NV offending. Nor is this Obense. Prayer carried
Iur country into and through the great Struggle a
century ago. Prayer carried into and through
,le greater struggle, decade ago. Prayer must
carry us ,rouqh the strug 5es yet before u.s. Prayer
- the Christians especial prviega, tic minister's
special duty. | have prayed many time IN my
pulpit for previous Presidents, even for thcir election
.nd attended prayer meetings for that purpose. SO
nave thousands of ministers. II any body of Chris
ii MS chooses to pray for the denomination and
reelection of the President don't what business
he rest of the world has to meddle with 1t. We
Withdraw to place and n communion tho outside
world does not CT dare 10 ent'r, and where re-
,ortcrs are excluded, even il present
Nor is there in tins the shadow Of sectarianism
The attempt to bring the Methodist Episcopal
Church Into this field, and to make her partisan In
his strife, is most unjust. That church concerns
ersolf in the affairs Of State as her loya resolutions
and loyal reports abundantly SHOW. But she has
ever, directly or indirectly, controlled nominations
and never shown a shadow Of preferences Tor thc
IIcat soldier who saved Tier country over his two
reat comrades in victory, Sherman and Sheridan,
sho are--tbe one by marriage. aud the other by
urth-allcd 10 the sect with which she Is the most
It variance. II Baptsts, Prcsbyterians, or Epis-
.Jpa ians choose to pray for another man for our
ruler, taey have perfect liberty ~ to do. though
rust they will yet hold union meetings with the
Metholists for this common object as | know the
MethOdists would with them If they participated at
all in such a prayer-moeting, were the President
.ihliated with either of their bodies. We prayed
4 ,.bn h.uI th.p Inn
the same as Grant does the Methodist. and We
should for Sherman. were he al clearly the man Of
he hour Us his great cOmrade IL the Catholics as
-. .uLuuo.. haa,ra Tim pnna for Pres ilnnf aud [