Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-18
ENGLISH. YOU KNOW.
An Episcopal Clergyman Making
Speeches for Cleveland.
HIS BISHOP DOES NOT LIKE 1T,
And Dr.. Gainsford May Pc Disciplined,
Even if He las Always
BEEN CALLED A LAW UNTO HIMSELF
rsrfcrAL TELEGRAM TO THE D1sPArcH.l


Church, is man whose strikinglY origina
ideas have many times attracted widespread
attention. 1t is only a short time ago since
that he startled his congregation one Sun
day morning with proposition 10 establish
q bafroom where the poorer members of hi!
congregation and others could get theil
glass of ale, beer or light wine, without the
demoralizing influences of the ordinary
saloon, and, to add to their surprise, he said
thai he woald favor keeping the proposed
barroom open on Sunday, if the others OF
tie city continued their practice of doing Q
''back door" business He has now sprung
another surprise in the form Of taking the
stump in support of the Democratic ma.
tional ticket.
Among some denominations the engaging
activity in politics of some of their minis.
ters has been a frequent occurrence, but the
Episcopalians never. It is against all the
traditions and precepts of the church, and
while there are isolated cases in local poll.
tics in which, where question of morals Of
com munity have been involved, Episcopal
clergymen have taken an active part, DR..
Rainsford is said to be the first clergyman
of that denomination who has taken the
stump in a national election in the history
of the church in this country.
Surprise of His Brother Preachers.
The dispatches published yesterday from
Ridgefeld, Conn, stating that DR.. Rains
ford bad addressed a large Democratic
meeting at that point Saturday night,
created great surprise among the Episcopal
clergymen of this city and caused great re-
joicing among the Democratic politicians.
Speaking of the matter today, a promi-
nent Episcopal clergyman said: "Rainsford
is law unto himself, and L don't know
that 1 ought to be surprised at anything he
should do, but never thought he would
60 this far" And Democratic politician
said: 'It will do more than all the speeches
Blaine could make if he spoke every day
from now until election"
The dispatches quote DIR. Rainsford, in
giving his reasons Tor supporting the Demo-
cratic ticket, as follows: "a tariff to foster
special industries is wrong and it needs
large fortunes, which furnish funds that can
be used in bribery, to continue its exist
ence. There are thousands of honest Re-
publIcans, but thousands of immigrants,
ignorant of any suffrage, and, alas, many
venal Americans, and large campaign
funds furnish temptation to brlbe, which is
immoral, and i, as q clergyman, must pro-
test against any system that can build up a
corruption fund. l also admire the Demo-
cratic candidate. 1 know personally that
lie gives no opinion until he studies ques-
tion thoroughly, and then he speaks truly"
The Preacher Pleases Democrats.
DR.. Rainsiord's congregation is one of
the largest in New York, and is mainly
composed of the laboring classes. He has
always been prominent in doing everything
in his power Tor the elevation of Iaboring
men, and his influence with the laboring
classes, in and out of his church, is very
great The Democrats believe that his sup
port of Cleveland and tariff reform will in
fuence thousands of votes among laborers,
as his influence is of a very different sort
from that of labor agitators and professional
tlaboring mems friends.
. Bishop Potter could not be found TO give
an expression on DE- Rainsford's course,
but a clergyman who knows the Bishops
views well, said that he was sure the Bishop
would heartily disapprove of it, not on
political grounds, but because of the i'm
propriety of a clergyman of the church en-
gaging in a political campaign.
There is a question as to whether or not
DR.. Rainstord has not violated one OF the
canons Of the church. Rev. Jacob s. Ship
man, rector Of Christ Church, in speaking
OF Dr. Rainsford's speech, said: ~ think it
is the sacred duty of every citizen. clergy
man as we'll as laymen, to vote; but when
it comes to a clergyman entering actively
into campaign, and making political
speeches, l am most heartily opposed to it
think their congregations will suffer from
the effects of it, and / believe it will injure
the church generally. AS to Dr. Rains
ford's case, all consideration of politics
aside, i think it grievous mistake.
Against a Canon of the Church.
81 hardly think anything can be done by
the Bishop toward disciplining him. There
is canon of the church that torbids
clergyman from engaging in secular pur-
suit of anv sort, but 1 have nav doubts
DR.. Rainsford's act can be brought
under that head, but 1 am sure that the
feeling of the church, as whole, will be
decidedly against him."
Rev. George H. Houghton, rector of the |
Church of the TRANSPORTATION, said: 81 |
have never before heard of clergyman of |
the Episcopal Church engaging in politi-
cal campaign and making speeches. Of |
course am opposed to any such course 1t |
is not whot clergyman is ordained for, as |
you will see if you read the ordination |
VOWS, and it is against the teachings of the |
self, but don't think his course a proper
one."
DR.. Rainsford will not return to the city |
until the latter part of the week. One of |
his assistants, when asked if the rector /
would make any more political speeches |
during his trip in New England, or anv in |
New York after his return, replied: Il
know absolutely nothing in regard to Dr. /
ESinslord's plans as to making political
speeches. This clipping you have just
handed me is the first 1 have seen OF his al
ready having made one"
A Question for Each One to Decide.
Continuing, in regard to his superior's
course, he said: 'rThe question of whether
1 is wise or unwise for q clergyman to go 1
INTO political campaign is one that every
clergyman must decide for himself, it seems
% me. When the morals and general well
are OF the people are at stake think it is
heir duty to do so. Yrumay be sure that
Dr.. Rainsford considered the question we'll
before he took his present step, and decid-
ID in favor of what he considered his line of
iuty. 1 am sure it is voluntary one on
lis part, and that he has absolutely no con-
lectlon with the Democratic campaign
peakers' committee, and am sure every-
,ody who knows DR.. Rainsford will not for
moment question his motives"
He intimated that he thought DR.. Rains
ord believed that a reduction of the tariff
would be for the good of the laborinr
lasses, and that his great interest in them
him to take the stump in support
# Cleveland.
1t will be remembered that clergyman
'layed . very important part in MI. Cleve-
anG's election when that gentleman ran
gainst MI. Blaine.
,ociafv Teaders Non Cp,%o, |