The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-11

Henry Austin, in the illustrated Ameri-
can.
When Victor Hugo in Les MiseT-
ables" drew the character of the good
priest, Bishop Bienvenu, many critics
denounced il as a gross eXaggeration
on the part of the master Of romantic
cism.
The career of Rev DR.. George II.
Houghton. rector of the Church of he
TRANSPORTATION, who passed away at
his home in New York. on November
II, presents an actualized clerical char
acter no less superb and thus contra
diets these superficial critics of Hugo's
bishop.
lie achieved fame accidentally He
had no ambition to be pointed out and
admired of men. He simply did his
work in the simplest and quietest man
ner, and yet there is perhaps little eX-
agseration in saying that for many
years DIR. Houghton has been the most
picturesque figure. as well as the most
winning personality, not alone in the
ministry of the metropolis, but in that
OF the whole country.
Born in Deerfield Massachusetts, sew
enty-seven years ago, he grew from
youth to manhood, from manhood to
old age, almost in the soft shadow of
the Vine-embroidered wall of the little
church which he established and built
up on East Twenty ninth street, just
around the corner from fashionable
Fifth avenue.
In the early days of DR.. HouGhton's
ministry Bellevue hospital had no reg
uar chaplain, and Dr. Houghton re-
Ceived frequent invitations to come and
comfort the dying and the sick in that
institution. His eagerness to offer the
last consultations of religion, regardless
of creed or condition, was noticed and
reported about by word of mouth all
over the upper east side and thus his
popularity began outside of his own
denomination.
Day ami night this priest was sent
for and lie always came promptly.
Latcness of hour or violence of wealth.
cr, nothing prevented his Fastening to
the bed Of sin and pain.
He had been educated 9s a theolu-
gan, and in the discussion of nice
points of doctrine - man could he
more adept but doctrine was dissi-
rated like a gray mist by a swift wind
and a bright sun when humanity called
to his heart for a MESA ge of comfort
ard of cheer.
At the breaking out Of the Civil war
he offered his services without compen-
satiOn as chaplain of the first military
hospital established in New York. This
Was the fashion of the man. He had
helped for years to support the church
he had founded, turning over to it en-
tirely a legacy he had received, and
wherever he had a chance to give SER
vice. instead of selling it, he had eager
jOv in the giving.
When the draft-riots occurred and
the negroes of New York We're in dan.
ger from the Copperhead Tammany
thugs, many colored men and women
"mitten with Panic. came. as if impell-
ed by instinct, to this generous priest
for protection. Many threats OF per
s0ral chastisement We're sent to hin
and made against him by the Tam
n3Ny men, but he paid no attention tC
such things and walked the streets OF
New York clad in the shining armOl
Of sor2rc goodness.
The deed that brought him fam,
w&s not one of his own doing; that is
was not one Of his seeking to do. II,
performed it as 4 mere matter Of COurs'
in the service Of that Master who deem
cd it no derogatiun Of His human
and His divine dignity to sit at mea
with publicans and sinners.
1t came about in this way. An actor
the elder Holland of rcpute in hi.
arr and in his life, died on December 20
1870. Joseph jefferson, therefore, un
dertOOE the arrangements for Holland
funeral and called with some friends
on a clergyman named Seline. who wa!
pastor Of a fashionable church on Mad
isOn avenue.
This Dr. Saline evidently considered
himself the salt of the earth and aC
tors the scum of creation. for he hatN
refused to bury the dead player, anC
when jefferson asked him if there wa
any clergyman nearby who would b.
willing 70 conduct funeral services Owe
an actor he contemptuOusly replied
"T'l ere's the little church around tn
corner, where they would do such
thing, ! believe
WhereupOn the theatrical delegation
waited unOn DR.. HouehtOn and wer
received in a most brotherly way. Q
course they talked afterWard not q lit
tie about the difference Of the treat
ment they had received from the tW
ciorgylnen ana that phrace Of con
tempt. THE little church around tn
corner attained a wide publicity.
This has ever since been the nick
name of the Church of the Transhgur