The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-28

\ OF his friends one OF the ministers VIII be
made the recipient of the elegant set Of
books comprised in the Century Diction
ary and Cyclopedia.
Needless to say The News Is greatly
pleased at tho cordial interest evident in
this rather unusual competition. IL is
glad that its friends, the ministers, have
been so graciously disposed to permit the
use OF their names in the enterprise.
OF all the clergymen whose claims have
been advanced for popularity as 1t may be
indicated by the voting, but one has asked
10 have his name Withdrawn and that
purely on the ground that his exalted
Office in bis church could only make an
light which we eau readily understand to
have been not altogether pleasant as seem
ing TO make him a competitor against
clergymen of lesser rank. With this sin
glo exception, none Of the clergy put In
nomination has appeared TO regard the
competition o .herwise than as rather
interesting and pleasing SORT Of a contro-
versy, test that there was no reason to
shun. We hove been at pains to strip the
enterprise from the many Objectionable
features that not inlrequently mark such
voting contests and we have been
made TO feel that the result will be
reached without dissatisfaction to any
parties ami prove "A pleasant diversion to
all concerned and TO the public at
large
AS test of popularity so called, such
a competition is perhaps rather to DO con-
sidered negatively than positively. We do
not think IL would be claimed or admitted
for instance that popularity is wholly
necessity to tho work which the pulpit
is often abused. The pastors rank and
standing among the people of his own
charge may not always advertise and so
| commend the minister to the whole peo-
| pie and nominational distinctions are
bound to affect the voting in q material
| way. Moreover, there is evidence that in
the friendly test. as now in progress, some
Of the denominations arc taking no
| active interest at all for II they did tre-
mendous vote could easily be rolled up for
sumo of the pastors that are far down in
tho list as 1t stands at present. We should
say from u glance down the list that our
Episuopalian friends and the Unitarians
are not disposed to participate in the com
petition as arc tho people of some of the
other churches. We know several ministers
| of both these denominations who are not
only we'll beloved i'm their respective pas
toratcs but are popularly admired among
tho people at large, who are either not
represented in the list or have but fcw
votes TO show by comparison with the
| lied movement in their behalf indicates
| n conservatism among thoir respective
people that appears not TO find this par
tioular novelty attractive. In some otnGr
| kind of test il we may EMPLOY
the word, they would yerv likely
show more natterIng strength. On the
other hand tho Upivorsalist church which
Is generally recognized as quito the equal
OF any denomination for conservatism
and Is numerically far behind many of the
denominations, appears to have entered
with most cordial spirit into the enter
prise while our Mothodist friends have
taken hold of IL In a way to have becn,
perhaps, expected from a people who are
famously enthusiastic in whatever direo-
tion seems to them to be good Our friends
of the Roman Catholic church in this as
in everything else, seom to present an OK
ample of the combined enterprise of its
people ana tho traditional conservatism
Of the church, the former spirit prompt
ing TO n good showing OF votes while
the latter doubtless contributes TO
restraint from such public expression rs
that to which they are invited. Probably
our Baptist friends too, nro at son ns be-
tween tho two motives, II we may judge
by the voting.
We have no doubt, too, that at this
stage of the interesting competition a
number Of fayorite ministers have been
abandoned TO swell the votes for those In
the leadership This was but natural
Immediately the leadership became pro.
nounced and was known 60 bo fairly re-