Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-05-14
8. D. MCCONNELL
To Preach here--One of the Most Noted
ministers i'm, the Country to preach
at the Episcopal Church tomorrow

at the Episcopal Church tomorrow. &
The name of the Rev. S. ID. Nc
Connell, d. d., ID. c. L., etc, is one
of the most familiar in the Episcopal
church to-day. Perhaps it is not
known outside the circles OF that
church so much as some others, for
there is nothing in the sensational
in his doings Probably the only
sensational thing DR. Mcconnell ever
did was when he was the most pop
ular rector in Philadelphia few
years ago. 1t was during the excite
ment over the fear of the deadly
Asiatic cholera entering the United
States, and the Bishop of Pennsyl-
sylyania had sent out an official let
ter requiring all the clergy to pray
for deliveranee from it. DIR McCon-
nell read the letter from his chancel,
and then plainly declared that he
would not pray against the spread of
cholera until the city Gid something
towards cleaning its filthy streets
and sewers. He did not believe in
! prayer without work.
! But although the name of Dir Nc
Cornell may not be so familiar out
side his own church, it is not be-
cause he does not deserve it. He
ranks as one of the great leaders of
the broad churchmen, whose work
for reasonable, intellectual chris
tianity and for church unity is one
of the best signs OF the times Since
the death of Phillips Brooks. his
leadership in all such movements
has been increasingly recognized He
is not the preacher Phillips Brook S
was, for that great Bostonian was a
phenomenon, one of the few men OF a
century, but as clear thinker and
a thorough scholar many would put
DR.. Mcconnell above even Phillips
Brooks It is the most natural thing
] therefore, to see his name prominent
upon the programs of nearly all inn
/ portant church conventions and con-
crosses, and he is in great demand
as commencement preacher for the
larger eastern universities. His sue
cess with young men led the famous
editor of the Ladies Home journal
to say in the Cosmopolitan magazine
about one year ago that DR.. Neon
nell was one of the three or four
clergymen IN the United States who
drew more men than women to his
church They listen to him for what
he says rather than how he says it..
He cares nothing for the tricks Of
oratory, but aims at directness
/ that best reaches the heart and
mind He does not, therefore, rank
so much as an orator or preacher in
the popular sense as a thinker and
profound student of the problems of
religion, science and social life
Until year or so ago, Dir. Neon
nell was rector of St. Stephen s
church, Philadelphia, but is now rec
tor of the wealthiest church of the
''city of churches Holy Trinity
Church, Brooklyn Heights, n Y.
Two or three times he has been
elected bishop, but he is one of the
few men who have felt impelled to
decline that high office by reason of
greater duties as an ordinary clergy
man. He is the author of the most
brilliant history OF the Episcopal
church ever written, and his pub
lished sermons have won him the
high tribute Of that En- ish paper,
The Spectator. which has ali along
shown such sincere and intelligent
friendship for America, and is doing
so particularly ut this time OF war
This great weekly calls him "the
American Robertson Robertson,
as all know, having been the great
est English preacher Of this century
1t may be of added local interest
that Dir. Mcconnell took a college
course when he was boy at Wash
ington and Jefferson college To
musical people it may also be inter
esting to know that the organist of
his present church is the famous
Dudley Buck.
/