The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-01


want even their theology ia an entertain
ing form. Quite lately he was obliged,
through fit of sickness, TO break lecture
engagement with society IN a small town
In Pennsylvania and the managers inti-
mated that they would sue him for $4,000
damages. The suit was amicably settled I;
but the hint furnished as to the value of his
services was not lost upon tho shrewd Tab
ernacle preacher.
But while Dominic Talmage stands easily
ahead of his clerical rivals in the race for
emoluments at least, there are enough
splendid prizes to be won in New York to
make 1t the Eldorado of the pulpiteer, as it
has long been of the politician and mer-
chant Some of the fashionable past rs
have incomes equal to that Of the President
OF the United States, and there are many
who would hesitate at exchanging their
salaries and perquisites for those of a cabi-
net officer. Less than ten years ago there
was general shrug of surprise when it
was announced that Mr. Beecher had an
income OF fully $4,000 year from his
pulpit, his books and lectures combined
Today, when fashion sets the boundaries
OF ministerial success or failure, as in many
other things, there are probably "a round
dozen preachers who come very near if not
quite up to the Plymouth pastors high
water mark
Probably DR.. Morgan Dix stands as the
best type of the fashionable and successful
preacher in the metropolis to-day. The
rector OF Trinity receives nominal salary
OF $4,000; but his actual income from his
pastorate is limited only by his necessities
lie sets all and everything he wants. From
the time when old Trinity was organized in
1897 till now, it has never ceased TO be the
fashion in New York. AT the outset it
almost broke the hearts Of the dominies of
the old Dutch Reformed church by draw
ing away the young Dutchmen. who were
fascinated by its beautiful service by the
fact that 1t was in "Englsh you know"
thus furnishing the earliest instance of
Anglomania on record. The little, fau-
shaped farm which the church got from the
colony, has developed into the richest part
of New York and Trinity's vast possessions
between the Battery and Fourteenth street
are now estimated as being worth Sl4O,-
OOO,OOO; its great business piles and grimy
tenements; dingy warehouses and aristo-
cratic looking dwellings, now bring it in a
revenue big enough tn run a small-sized
Kingdom. Its rector is allowed handsome
residence free, has life position and is the
pet of tho nabobs of Gotham, and the idol
OF Its fashionable women. What with VAL
uaOle gifts and frequent trips to Europe,
his lines are certainly cast in pleasant
places. As the better and more influential
part of his flock are away in the summer,
he can shut up old Trinity ii he chooses, anu
let the devil take a holiday, or he can hand
over his theological cudget to deputy, ad
interim. his assistants receive $4,000 q
year each, and many presents, thus max
ing Trinity the very Paradise Of preachers
The busy, popular fashionable pastor of
these days has good time all round. What
with his drives in the park, his teas, his
lawn parties and rural PLEASURES in summer,
and his manifold amussments in the win
ter months, including even an occasional
box at the opera, he illustrates strikingly
the evolution that has taken place III the
pulpit and its surroundings. Unpalatable
doctrines must be eschewed if he would
win fame and favor, and material enjoy
ments, provided they are even halfway
proper must he tolerated and encouraged.
He must be able to criticize the
latest novel, and the new
play, and to talk knowingly about
the feminine trick of painting on china as
we'll rs to take hand at tennis. lie is no
longer Eye pore parsoun Of toun,n but
party Of society itself aud according as he
treats society will it pet him or prescribe
him.
The Rev. Howard Crosby, Of the Fourth
avenue Presbyterian church, is another
fashionable preacher VINO has gotten safely
within the $4,000 mark. In addition TO
his clerical income, he has fortune inheri-
ted from his father. His congregation is
one of the most substantial and fashionable
in the city. Another is the Rev. Charles
Force Deems, of the Church Of the Strang-
ers, who, while possessed of native ability,
can unquestionably look back to the time
when he touched the conscience of the
king" Of millionaires. Vanderbilt, as the
point from which his success in the pulpit
really dates. He has many other million
aires In his pews nowadays, for like its OPP
posite, opulence loves company of its own
kind. DIR. Deems is also one Of the happy
$40, 900 year men. So was the Rev. DR..
Chapin, now dead, who in his time, was
not only one of the most popular, but also
one of the very ablost. of metropolitan
preachers. Still another, and one of the
vigorous sort, is the Rev. Heber Newton,
of All Souls Protestant Episcopal church,
whose forcible and progressive theology has
much attention. He probably
comes very near the coveted $1,000, and so
also does the Rev. Felix Adler. who stands
in the front rank OF Hebrew thinkers and
preachers in this country, having the sup
port of the largest and most influential con-
gregation Of his race in the city. His noml-
nal salary is $1,000
The Rev. Robert Collyer, the brainy
Unitarian who is heard in the Church Of
the Messiah, on Thirty fourth street, Rev.
o. H. Tiffany, Of st. james III. q. church,
on Madison avenue, DR.. Parkhust, of the
Madison square Presbyterian church, ami
DIR. Brooks, of the Church of Incarnation
all have incomes from their pastorates ex-
ceeding $1,000 per annum. SO also Drs.
Meredith and Storrs of Brooklyn. The for
mer, who has romantic and adventurous
having once been a sailor before
the mast, came TO Brooklyn about three
uaara aua fnofr. Maasa0uuapft.g aud nac won