The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-29
MINISTERS IN CLUBS.
Social ana secret Societies whose Members
are C1eraymen.

are ClerGynen.
A Congregational club has been organized
In this city on the same plan as q unique organ
ization OF similar intent in Boston. and into II
Minister'S laymen, and non churchmen who
arc ConRregationalsts In preference have been
gathered DR.. William Thompson, n member
OF the Broadway Tabernacle. lie the President OF
tho club Mr.. Noah Brooks the journalist. Prof.
Danforth. and MIA. 4. Barnes are its vce- Pres
idents. and Gen. Henry Heath OF the Tompkins
Avenue Congregational Church in Brooklyn 10
the Secretary and Treasurer. The primary OBJ
ject OF the club Is to bring OF
different parties In the cities Of New York and
Brooklyn together socially TO unite the sup
porters OF the denomination IN q unity Of
friendship and thought A feature OF tho
scheme is TO have dinner on the first Monday
OF each month and an intellectual symposium
with the dinner. The organization has in IT
many OF tho friends OF Henry Ward Beecher,
and tho formation OF the social club seemed to
be diplomatic movement on their part to try
TO bring together by dinners. and the influence
OF good nature. the Congregations ists who
have been divided upon the subject OF the
morality OF the Plymouth pastor. Other
schemes having this object in view had been
started. but had fallen short OF their object
| This one seemed TO approach the difficulty
| shrewdly. and as 1t had drawn in many who
were strongly opposed to MIR. Beecher. ne we'll
| No many who were warmly inclined toward him,
| the conclusion seemed natural that the two par
| ties had met for purpose. which. II seemed
probable. was TO patch up peace.
ers Of the club about this. He said: No. the
| schism caused by the Beecher scandal. lie too
| deep to be healed. and we have left that matter
out ot our organization ns completely as though
| ithad never been, and we don't propose 10 allow
It to come In. Probably neither Mr.. Beecher
| nor DIR. Storrs could become members OF our
| club, Ave votes being sufficient to reject either.
as they represent the opposing forces In this
| not be reconcilcd on this topic. and we don't
propose to try anything so foolish as to on
| true that the Roy. DR. VIM. Taylor would not
| Join the club, although his name was on the
rolls Of an orsanization OF different kind. out
| OF which this club Ia the growth He said that
| i was designed ~ an endorsement OF MIR.
Beeeher, but ne did not understand fully the
| spirit OF the club. else no would have seen
| with his attitude to Mr.. Beecher. have come In,
We hope and expect to establish friendly and
| cordial union in sentiment among Congrega-
Beocher topic. Dr. William Thompson. our
| Barnes. one OF our Vice Presidents, is for him.
The Rev. William Hayes Ward who is Chqlr-
BeeeSer Go While the ReS lyman AbSc 81 thc
| Executive Committee is for him. We don't dis
cuss the Beecher scandal. or any branch Of it,
In our churches. We do not purpose TO allow II
70 sundor the best elements In the denomina-
ton"
Is yours a secret society 2"
| No. only In the sense that we do not make n
public show Of our meetings. Any member can
| bring friend. provided he pays for his dinner.
| II Is not like the Greek letter societies"
| College societies. do you mean7"
| No. Ministers secret societies. Wo have
| here in New York societies OF ministers which
| are named after Greek letters and have ritual
| istic ceremonies The Chi Alpha" il one
| think DIR. Van Dyke. the Rev. Howard Crosby.
| and his nephew young Arthur Crosby. belong to
that one; Then there arc others with Greek
| sing songs 90 through ceremonies and do nu-
| merous things. all under the rose. There is a
| Boston congregational Club which has been
| eminently successful. Ministers need more
| brain tonic than they can got at toas or by
| Turkish baths and this social communion with
men kindred In church belief is an excellent
| source from which to obtain II. In the fall.
| when we meet. we shall have one or more pa
| DaTs on topics Of interest at every dinner. The
club Is likely to be very popular with ministers.