New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-19
4 BlpTJsr IN A UMVERsALIsT PULPIT
DIR. ARMtTAGE WILL PREACH TO-DAY FOR Dr.
EAroY-wHAT IS SAID ABOUT 1T.


EAToY-wHAT Is SAID ABOUT 1T.
The Rev DR.. Charles A. Eaton, pastor of the
Church of the Divine Paternity, Forty hfth,st ana
Fiftbave Universaist church. has invited the Rev
Dr. Thomas Armitage, formerly pastor OF the fifth
Avenue Baptist Church Forty near FinNe'
10 preach In his church to-day. Quite recently d.
Armtage was, ut his request retire1 by MS conse
cation as although he was in good health at the uno
of his resignation he had often previously announced
that he would not remain pastor OF the church beyoho
q certain age Some members OF his congregation
bonuht him a house in Yonkers, where he now lives.
II was In the Rev. DR.. Eaton's church that Horace
Greeley used to worship, when the Rev. Dr. Chapm
was pastor and in view Of the wide public interest
that has been aroused recently over the invitations ex-
tended by the Rev. Drs. Rainsford and Newton to
clergymoa of other denominations to preach in their
churches Tribune reporter called last evening on Dr.
Eaton and asked him If II was not unusual and some
what remarkable for Baptist clergyman to preach
In church. one of whose tenetS Of faith is believed to
be denial of the divinity of Christ.
at IS not so,n said DR.. Eaton, that Uni
versalists deny the divinity Of Christ, but shall
explain that presently. How ] came to invite
the Rev. Dr. Ainiitage is simple enough The Churcl
of our Father one of our churches in Brooklyn. il
now without PASTOR the Rev. Dr. a. ]. Garfield
having been called to take charge Of new church
in Chicago. His successor. the Rev. c. E. Nash. OF
Akron, Ohio, will not arrive at his new post until
May /. In consequence OF this it was desired thai
I should occupy the pulpit for one Sunday. so will
be there to-day. In looking around for some one to
I'LL nv place / bethought me Of DR.. AImitagc, who
is an old friend OF many years standing, personal
friend of Dr. Chaplin predecessor and one of those
who saw him last upon his deathbed."
Have you any particular reason outside Of this
for inviting DR.. AImtage?'
"wen,n replied DR.. Eaton, thoughtfully, "it
seems to me that there might be a sns
eestion of Christian unity in having dstln
euished Baptist clergyman in Universallst pulpit
Then there is the additional fact that the congrega
ton of our church has warm personal regard ior Dr
Armitare who is marked for his Christian strength and
cbartv Undoubtedly there are some differences as
TO doctrina opinion, but at the same time there Is
great unanimty OF feeling as to the authority, th'
supreme authority Jesus Christ and to preach Jesus
Christ is the duty Of clergyihen of all faiths"
Are there many instances where Baptist clergy
men have preached in Your churches y
"There are not many instances, presume his
acceptance argues much for the breadth Of Dr. ARM
,aee,s spirit The Unversalst pulpit is always open
men OF any Christian faith but not all are as broaf
I'm thought and catholic in spirit as DE-, ATntage."
HDo YOU think that the members OF his own com
Not ut ali. On the contrary, presume Dr. Armi
tagc's action may be accepted as representing iht
Church Is not Trinitarian church, although there ar
Trinitarians who members. Our Cnurcn alo ,
entire freedom in framing dehn6o1 do Oh inc The tSe0
logical dogma of the Trinity at best Is mysterS nO
while we emphasize the authority OF Jesus we aliov
each sincere thinker to form his own specai opinion I"
| TO the question of the Trinity A.. r,,,,
The Rev. W. H. p. Fnunce, pastor OF the fllu.
to deal with he did not see anything 70 cause com
ment in Dr. Armtage's preaching in Dr. Eatons church