The San Francisco call., 1897-11-10
Strife Between Pastors
of Santa Rosa Con-
gregatiOns.
Exception Taken to an Article
From the Pen of Rev.
DR.. Hudson.
Declared 1t Was Manifest that the
Pulpit Had Returned to
Chaos.
Special Dispatch to The CALL

SANTA ROSA, Nov. 9-Church circles
here are in the throes OF herce contro-
yersv that threatens to involve not only
all the local denominations but those oi
large part of the State as well. Those In
touch with religious affairs are wondering
what the outcome will be.
The contention was started by the pub
lication of an article in the Press-Demo-
crat of Sunday morning from the p o.
the Rev. Jay William Hudson, pastor OF
the First Christian Church OF this city
The article was Que of a number contrlo-
uted by prominent personaees OF tEis
community upon current topics.
That day and evening Pastor Hudson
was tiercely assaied from the pulpit by
several prominent divines because OF GER
tam statements contained in his article
and because of certain views he expressed.
TINS morning the Press Democrat con-
tanned scathing articles upon the subject
from the pens of the Rev. William Mar
tin, pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church, and the Rev. J. NJ. Cassin, the
priest in charge of st. Roses Church and
parish.
The Rev. William Martin is the leader
OF wealthy and influential denomina-
ton, and is recognized as one OF the most
prominent divines In this section. The
Rev. Father Cassin stands high in the
com muuity. and IS known as man
thoroughly in touch with the times. The
Rev. Jay William Hudson is man of
brilliant attainments. a poet, musician
and scholar and as he is the pastor of a
flock mum berIng over 800 mem bers, con-
siderable Importance attaches TO his
statement.
In part the article that has stirred up
such hornets nest was as follows:
A decade ago the pulpit occupied
distinctly relegated place in the common
wealth. To-day II does not know precisely
what it believes, whether it is right to express
! such beliefs as ii has, or just what is its pur-
| pose in expressing them when it does. Here
/ sizes are becoming so abundant that hercsy is
| popular. The heretics OF yesterday are the
| inQuisitors of to-day. 1t is manifest that the
| pu. pit has returned to chaos and il is 10 b.
| suspected that out of the chaos the scepter of
| civilization is to evolve new system amena-
| bic TO new relations and reaujusted law.
Perfect government is the condition OF
| perfect men; pertec. religion is the method of
! their development. Hence, SO far his eth
I ical duty 10 the nation is concerned, the
preacher has to do first with politics and second
| with relig on. The conflict OF the past mas
! been the conflict of church with state. The
| conflict still exists in myriad peTplexing
| forms
| Part of the Rev. William Martins arti-
| Gle, as puOIlSueu LQlS morning IN reply
| to Mr. Hudson, is as follows:
1 confess that it was with surprise
and profound regIe: that l learned that the
pu! Dit OF the First Christian Church had re-
turned to chaos, and that It's eloquent pastor
| dues not know preci sely what he believes,
whether it is right to express what beliefs he
has or Just what his purpose is in expressing
them when he does. l can well understand
how profoundly it must pain him in these
embarrassing circumstances to stand before
the congregation that has called him TO teacn
them and that looks TO him to teach with hon
esty of conviction and of purpose. However,
that is not my concern. My chief objection to
the statement is that, in my humble
opinion. it is absolutely without foun-
dation in fact, and that 1t imputes dis
honesty in quarters where no such imputation
| Is deserved. That there are individual puIpits
whose occupants are as Mr.. Hudson describes,
is true, and that some Oh these brethren are
disposed to say, "We are the Bulpit, and wis
dom will die with u.s." is a so true; but that
any considerabl numb of the ministers OF
the evangelical churches, whether reckoaed
by numbers or Dy brains, are helplesSly adrift
upon of negations, clutching wildly
any straw of positive belief that may float
their way, is nottrue. In our own small COM
munity there are some seven pulpits (until yes
terday should have said eight to which the
statement of my brother does not Apply. 49,
The Rev. Father Cassin handles the
m latter in this manner:
= In the interest of truth I am in
duced to take some exc ption to Mt Hudson's
remarks. He says "the pulpit is IN the throes
of transitional stage. To-day it does not
know precisely what it believes, whether it is
right 10 express such beliefs it mas or just
what is its purpose in EXPIRE ssing them when
it does" This is, indeed, q deplorable confess
sion 20 have TO make. II the description given
is a correct view of the Rev. Mr.. Hudson's pull
pit, both he and his congregation are deserv-
ing of commiseration. But he is by no means
authorized to speak for the pulpit in general,
and he has no right to say that others are
gro ping in the dark because he cannot see.
"The problem of the tariff will roL
be considered as isolated from the problem Of
the immor taiity of the SOUL" II is scarcely
to be believed that q Christian minister could
speak of the immortality of the soul q
problem. Tfuiy, there is chaos in some
pulpits.
AS Rev. DR.. Hudson is known to be
man thoroughly able to take care of him.
self in any Kind of an argument tie out
come Is awaited with intere t.