Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-21
CLEilGYMEN IN POLITICS.
The Question Being Discussed in
Prominent Congregations.

The Question Being Discussed in
Prominent Congregations.
NEW YORK, Nov. 2o.-In great many
conspicuous church congregations in
town men and women are asking one an
other: sis it wise for the clergy TO inter-
est themselves in polilicsr Probably the
pastors themselves do not discuss the
question, each having made up his own
mind in his own case. The facts on either
side of the question are iuteres ing. Aft
er the din and smoke OF each election day
in this city the excitement OF the finished
campaign re-echoes in the churches.
These echoes are beating upon our ears
at this moment because the triangular
flght for Mayor was so migbIly lively
that some pastors could not keep out of
1t. In and near New York there are no
more famous paetors than Henry Ward
Begcher. DR.. Z. 5. Storrs, Father Nc
Glynn, Pastor w. H. Derrick and Il.
Heber Newton. They face the wealth and
fashion of this great centre ard their hea"-
ers embrace all ChristendOm. Let us
glance at their positions on this question.
The Rev. K. Heber Newton has found it
incumbent on him to explain some OF his
ultcrances made during the campaign OF
Henry George, whose cause he espoused
| dou't know how true it is, but it is said
that al least one LEADING business man in
| HIS wealthy ard arIstocratic con@rega-
ton took exception to something the uas-
tor is reported to have said. How much
discomfort this parishioner repress ted is
not made known. but the explanation
was deemed worth while, at all events.
| Mr. Beecter has just explained to the
| press why he has offended the Tories in
! England by his course over here. Father
| McGlyDn's close cOmpaniCnship with
| Henry George as cand date for MayOr
! suddenly terminated, amid wide rumars
| that tae great church OF which he is an
| officer criticised his course. Since then
| the church, through high dignitary, has
| treasured The public that it remains, as
| always, the great defender OF the interests
| OF society against anarchy and disorder
At the same time the Rev. DR.. Storrs, of
the Pilgrims, in Brooklyn, has declared
| that be has ever made it MS policy TO con
| hne his WORK to reILlOuS mnistrations.
| Dr.. Storrs is unquest0nahIy the most
| prosperous of all our pastors, aud pre-
sides over what is perhaps the solQest
and most PLACID or all the c0ngrega-
| lions.
| On the other hand, the Rev. DR.. Burch.
| ard has retired from the Presidency of
Rutgers (girls) College and from his
church since be uttered the famous SEN
| tence on "Rum, ROmanism and Rebel
| ION" Pastor Newman, who made another
| political character his especial and pub
| lie charge, also gave up mis- conspicuous
| conn. ction with the city am id anger and
| coutuSlon, Dut nothing is proven by this,
| for he Ia very happily aud fortunately
| placed in Washington. Still farther, the
| Rev. Justin ID. Fulton, of Brooklyn, WHO
| could seldom refrain from taxing part in
public matters, has virtually dropped OUT
| OF sight. And who can forget the excite
! ment and apparent discord in Mr..
| Beecher's church when two years ago be
| appeared at public meetings in behalf of
| MIR. CleVelandY He has survived it, Of
| course, but it gave nim trouble. There ia
| in the same city, however, @ Jealous
| priest presiding over huge congregation,
| who always makes free to use his Influ-
| ence for what be thinks will inure to the
| good Of his people in political way. But
| The most unique of all our preacher poll
| ticiaps is the Rev. William Ii. Derrick
| Never heard OF him? Well, he will be IA
nous if he is not. He presides over the
biggest colored congregation in America
and faces notable crowd of colored men
In br0adcloth and coored women IN satns
in the Sullivan Street Church every Sab
bath. He is almost OF ebon hue, a West
| Indian, young and very gifted. He never
| hesitates TO tell his people, singly or COL
lectveIy, bow to vote, and year ago he
| had State Senator IN his parsonage beg
| gtng him to withdraw his pastoral oppo.
sition to the Senator's reelection. He
| cons iders himself the guardian and guide
| OF his flock, and far from having cause to
regret his courage, is rated as man no
| politician can afford to ruff1e, for be con-
| trolls thousands OF votes.
JULIAN RALPH.