Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-24
BRYAN AND THE CLERGY
Ministers in Wilmington Think That He In
suited Them.
What the StcnOgraphic Report Shows
The Matter to De Discussed by
the Ministerial Association.


Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
WILMINGTON, Del. September "a
Since Mr.. Bryan's visit here on Mon
day night number of clergymen of this
city have organized a crusade against him
on account of a slur which they claim he
cast upon the clergy of Delaware in his
speech at the Auditorium on that occasion.
In the report of Mr.. Bryans speech given
to the newspapers 1t happened that the
portion containing the reference to the
clergy was omitted because 1t was regard
ed by the newspaper men a repetition of
what the Candidate had said in former
speeches on his tour, and therefore would
be of no special interest. The omission of
the paragraph was, however, regarded by
coterie Of young clergymen of Whining
ton as an attempt On the part of Mr.. B.y-
an to conceal what he had said in order
not to invite the animosity of ministers
toward him. Their vehemence broke out
Ike a storm yesterday, and several of them
served notice that in their sermons on next
Sunday they would answer Mr. Bryan from
the pulpit and take him to task for daring
to impugn the honor and dignity of tine
clergy in such a manner.
What the stenOEraphfe Report Shows.
The excitement and agitation stirred up
by these young ministers created so much
interest in the statement and imputation
MIR. Bryan was charged with having made
that the stenographer who had recorded
his speech was hunted up and asked to
transcribe it. And this is what the tran
scription gives Mr.. Bryan's attack upon
the clergy.
You will find in our cities preachers of
the gospel enjoying every luxury Them
selves who are Indifferent to the cries of
distress which come up from the masses CT
the people. 1t was said of a princess of a
foreign land when some one said to her,
The people are crying for bread that she
replied Why don't they eat cake Tell
some of these ministers of the gospel that
men out of work are driven into crime. and
they can't understand why every one is
not well off as themselves / have seen
preachers of the gospel using even more
bitter speech than politicians against the
clamorings of the people, and / have won
dered where they got the religion that they
preached"
What Some ClerEymen Sny.
In an interview today regarding the at
tack of the ministers upon Mr. Bryan
Bishop Leighton Coleman of the Delaware
diocese Of the Episcopal Church said: Il
think their conduct is unministerial, and
believe un-Christianlike. i make it a rule
not to criticize public speakers until have
had an authoritative repetition of what
they actually said. In the first place, /
am much more concerned about the best
way We clergymen can fight and attack
the enemies of God and His church. The
busy clergyman can we'll afford to let his
work speak for itself. His devotion, If true
VIII need no commentator or defense.
Such clergyman will not be over-sensi-
tive to either blame or praise"
Vicar General Lyons of st. Peters Roman
Catholic Church was also interviewed, and
said: If Mr.. Bryan made such a state
ment he did not refer to me. There is too
much fuss and feathers over the matter
l never pay any attention to such small
things. but keep right on trying to do
good"
Nearly all the ministers who propose to
assail Mr.. Bryan for his alleged imputa-
ton belong to the Methodist and Presby-
terian churches, and they have announced
that at meeting of the Delaware Minis
terial Association on Monday next they
will endeavor to have the matter fully dis
cussed, with a view of having Mr.. Bryan
censured by the association for his alleged
insult to the clergy. On the other hand
there are many ministers of both denomi-
nations and various churches who are
strongly opposed to such course, and IL
is probable that Mr.. Bryan will have as
many defenders assailants in the pull
pit on Sunday.