The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-29
AN OLD WHEELING BOY
Said to be the Probable Successor
of Bishop Brooks.
THE REY. DR.. GREER, OF new YORK.
Conceded to be in tho Line OF Success.
sion-Great Similarity Pointed out
by a Correspondent Between tho
Late Bishop aud DIR. Greer-Their
Gifts us Pulpit Orators,

1He IOlloWlHb spoVluI teleREull rum
New York to the Philadelphia Prtss
will be peruSed with peculiar interest
by readers OF the ISTELLIGENcER, owing
to the fact that Rev. DR.. Greer, therein
spoken Of, is q native OF this county,
and spent his youth in Wheeling, lie
is son of Mr.. Jacob R, Greer, OF the
firm OF Greer & Laing, Many friends
here will rejoice at the promise OF pre-
lernent which he seems to enjoy:
The information comes to New York
that an informal canvass indicates the
probability OF the selection OF the Rev.
DR.. David II, Greer as the successor OF
Phillips Brooks us bishop OF the Massa-
chusetts diocese. think it is rather
question whether DR.. Greer will accept
the call If it comes to him than whether
it will be made,
His friends in New York arc acting
with singular delicacy, and in his con-
gregation he numbers some OF the most
influential citizens that we have. Tho
beneiaCtions OF Cornelius Vanderbilt
through DR.. Greer's church are nearly
Sl,OOOOO0.
These men would grieve greatly II DR.,
Greer should accept the offer il it be
made to him, but they have agreed
among themselves to say nothing and
do nothing to influence his judgment,
They feel that In matter OF this sort
DR.. Greer should be left 10 reach de-
cison without any outside influence.
When Trinity Church asked DR..
DR.. Greer to become Phillips Brooks
successor as its rector and even went SO
far as 10 say to him that he might
name his salary, his home parishionera
believed they had q right to urge him
to stay with them; but when a man is
called to a bishopric they feel that he
should be left 10 himself to make de-
cision.
II DIR. Groer should 20 to Massschu.
sets that diocese would get what Phil
lips Brooks was, great pulpit orator,
although tho rhetorical charm ofthe two
men differs greatly. DR.. lGreeris perhaps
tho finest rhetorician in any New
York pulpit, but his rhetoric is tho
least OF his qualifications. He breaches
exactly what DR.. Brooks did, the gospel
OF love, and he cares but little for theo'
logical dispute.
lie is broad churchman and no is
defiant OF custom. He does not even
veal tho conventional garb OF the Epis-
copalian clergymen, and there have
been persons who have heard him
preach who have wondered how it was
possible for q man to expound as beau-
tifully ms he can do the love Of Christ
and yet wear u fashionable collar in tho
pulpit,
Ho is q business man, and Bishop
Potter has declared that is one OF the
first qualifications of successful bishop.
Ho has carried with tho precision OF
bank president the mighty business Gu
terprises upon which tho great charities
of St. Bartholomew's church depend.
DR.. Greer Is, think, something OF n
Christian socialist, not a Bellamyite,
nor does he believe with Tolstoi that
the individual should be subordinated
to the community, but he does believe
in tho largest freedom OF action and for
that reason in his political leanings is
disposed toward free trade.
His doctrine is that tho church OF
Christ. when its precepts are followed,
must make the world happy, and he
believes in happiness, believes in being
happy himself, believes in enjoying
every good thing that God has given,
and, like Bishop Potter; Henry Ward
Beecher and other great clergymen, is
inclined to think that one OF tho best
gifts to man is good horse and there
are very few men, not even Robert Bon
ner, who have keener judgment or take
higher delight in watching blooded
animal do its best than Dr. Greer,
though, OF course, he has no patience
with professional racing. He is esteem-
cd the finest equestrian in New York,
although Bishop Potter rides beAuti-
fully
But DR.. Grecr pays but little heed to
this form OF recreation excepting in tho
summer months. l have seen him
when he has been away upon his vaca-
ton riding over the hills OF Southwest
ern Connecticut upon n splendid ami
nal and at great speed, when he was u
picture OF grace and seemed to be him
self part OF the animal upon whose
back he sat.
II he is chosen bishop and goes to
Boston he is likely to DO OF vast in
tuence in tho Massachusetts diocese,
and, as he is man who takes great in
terest in public questions and believes
that piety begins at the church door and
does not end there, ho is quite likely to
bring tho influence OF the church 10