The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-29
NEW BRIGiITON'S MINISTER.
WHY GEORGE WILLIIM CURTIs VENT
INTOd UNITfRIfN PULPIT.
The Weekly tncreasc of Interested Visitors to
Hear Thomas stnrr KING. Sermons Head
TO Them by an Accomplished Rhetorictan

The SCI ,iccs conducted 10y George William
Curtis in the lttlc Unitarian Church in New
brighton. Staten Island. promise to equal
in interest. to strangers and others. those
Of any Of The Sunday celebrities in New
York and its suburbs. This has come
about. too. without any such intention on
the part Of the members of the church. and Mr.
Curtis himself never dreamed Of such n result
when he began to read there the choicest ser
mons that the American pulpit has produced
The circumstances that have led to Mr.. Cur
It's becoming the regular supply of this pulpit
were purely accidental. and when he read tho
first sermon in that pulpit neither he nor those
who heard him supposed that the time would
come when he would do regularly. II was
during an unexpected absence of the last pastor,
about four years ago. that. rather than suffer
the church doors to be- closed on that Sunday.
Mr.. Curtis was asked to read sermon. and he
consented to do so and so pleased were the
congregation that ut the next absence Of the
pastor on Sunday Mr.. Curtis was again asked
TO supply tho pulpit. 1tthus became understood
that Nlr. Curtis should take the pastors place
whenever the latter was called away
About two years ago the pastor resigned. Ho
had been receiving a salary OF 50 600. which was
n heavy burden for the church society to carry.
The small society began worship in 1865. the
lcadng organizers being few gentlemen who
had removed their business from Boston to New
York and dwelt on Staten Island. Mr.. Curtis
actrd with them from the start Mr.. John J.
Jcwctt. whose death in Buring slip last spring
VIII he remembered: was greatly interested In
the church. and contributed literally to its sup
After the pastor resigned. the trustees and
congregation were Of one mind about request
Ing Mr.. Curtis to read to them every sunday
such sermons as he thought best. and To- con-
dnct the simple devotional exercises. At first
49, nm mi uf IL
borhood. knew of II. Then rumors began to
spread OF the unique service. until from two or
number has gradually Increased. and is con
stantly increasing. and the trustees OF the New
Bright,H | lnltnrinn Church are beginning to
realize that their little church and it, sunday
service Will become rclg ious celebrity
The utter simplicity Of tho devotional cNcr-
ciscs-thc reading Of u chapter or two from the
Bible. the chanting uf n prayer and the singing
Of a wl known hymn and these are such a-
any Christian, whatever his theology. can snl,
lis one of the pecularites that strangers
always speak ~. But the greatest charm X in
listening To- Mr. Curtis as hc reads in his match .
less manner a sermon. which he has selected
from some of the best religious writer's. Not
b"n: compelled t. compose. as we'll as deliver
n sermon, he ran choose from the choicest So
| l"riions ct IN" ablest writers. Nlr. Curtis ;
| tas"s lead him to select sermons that bear the
| closest literary scrutiny and lelnT written in
accordance with rhetorical rules, he II ahl" to
deliver them with tho greatest oratorical effect.
although his style IN 80 doing Is very different
! from that which he has on the platform. The
| result is that his hearers are assured II having
| good sermons perfectly delivered. In addi-
| tiOn to this his own personality is great at
| traction. II is the only instance In this coun-
try. probably anywhere of man who is
| famous IA u Nuedie1U, n lecturer. an editor. a
| politician and political orator standing in the
| pulpit. sunday after sunday. and performing "A
| minister's duties without having becn formally
| Invested with the ministerial prcrogaiive
Alr. Curiiss congreg cation rarely care to know
| who wrote tho sermon that he has rcnd.
| They seomsatis fled 10 hear him read it. Tho
| fact Is that he does not coninc himself 10 ser
mons written By Unitarian clrrgymen. He
neycg rends dootrlnnl sermon. but takes care
| tp select thl So where truths which all Christians
| ran agree upon are cNpoundrd. Ia doing this
| h. has u very broad Held.
Sneo these services have been regularly con-
ducted 10y Mr. Curtis the regular ncnh"r~hlp
| has considerably more than doubled. and. a-
! the "Nprus are very Hight. he. of course. re-
| ceiving no p"cuniary recompcnse. the church
society spends all is surplus IN charities. The
| rapidly growing public interest in these Srr-
| must give way tu n large one. although Il Is en-
! tir"ly unsnught for hy IN" members. the 'oa,
! from New York Yesterday took to New brighton
a large number uf passengers, many of whom
We're obliged To inquire the way To- the church
where Nj. Curtis prenchos,' Every scat was
| occupied. The sexton sand that many Of th'
| visitors had never been there before. Mr.. Cur
| It's read his faNoriie sermon, Thomas starr
| King discourse on the control Of the evil pas
| sions and unhoIy desires.
| After the cXcr ..scs werc ended many stood
| on Tue smooth grtth lawn ty the church door
| To- greet the man who has added 10 his fame The
| distinction Of bcing the minister Oi tho Now
| Brighton Unitarian Church.