The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-26
LEAGUE EXPLAINS.
Ministers Will En-
dorse Oakley as
individuals.
AVOID A PRECEDENT.
Clergymen Personally Sat
isfied With Work of
Superintendent.

Superintendent William e. Oakley of
dorsement of the Worcester clergy and
members of the Ministerial League, af-
ter all. Upon the return of Rev. DR..
A. z. Conrad from the south, Rev.
Spencer B. Meeser is to to circulate a
paper bearing the personal indorse-
ment of the leading clergymen of this
city, of Superintendent Oakley's trip
abroad, with personal recommendations
of the man. This paper will, however,
express the individual recommends
lions of the ministers who sign, and
will not be representative of any
league, organization or club.
The Ministerial League simply does
not believe in recommendations. This
was the statement of one of the prom
inent members of the league when ques-
toned last evening as to the why's and
wherefores Of the failure of the league
as a body to give Mr.. Oakley the in
dorsement as asked. Once before, a
similar request for Endorsement has
been refused. Yesterday a large ma
jority of the members Of the league
expressed themselves in the highest
terms of his management of the mis-
sion. and all said that they would glad
ly give him a personal letter of recon-
mendation. AS to the league, such a
matter did not come within its juris-
diction.
Rev. DIR. Archibald McCullagh said
yesterday that by the constitution Of
the league certain matters came within
the province of the league for consid-
Grafton, but the matter of Endorsement
was manifestly beyond this province.
The first time the question of endorse
ment came up was during the first year
of the league, under the presidency Of
Rev. Spencer B. Meeser. The Young
People Temperance Crusaders petition
ed for endorsement, and at that time
while the league was heartily in sym
pathy with the work, it did not believe
it was in it's sphere to endorse any per-
son or body This was then the pre-
cedent for the action taken Monday.
The clergymen interviewed say that
to endeavor parsons or organizations
will eventually lead to division among
the members where an endorsement
there would be comparisons which are
at all times invidious. AT the meeting
of the Ministerial League, there was no
vote taken or any attitude assumed by
the league other than that the matter
did not come properly before the meet
ing The request for endorsement was
withdrawn, after DR.. McCullagh had
expounded the constitution. This is the
statement of the clergymen, and Supt
Oakley said yesterday that he did not
mind the action. He says that care
full notice of the work of the league
would show that they were unwilling
to give anything in the nature of an
endorsement as a body, because they
did not want to establish a precedent
The board of directors of the We'll
come Mission have given their approval
of superintendent Oakleys trip. No
meeting has been held, but the matter
has been informally preached to all, and
they have given their personal endorse
ment. Members of the board said yes
terday that Mr.. Oakley's success in
saving sinners is making others envious
because he wins where they fail.
superintendent Oakley will have his
travelling expenses paid, as he is to
combine business with his study Of
missions in England. He represents
the interests Of DR.. Julius Garst, in his
newly patented ideal oil measuring
machine, which viii be introduced on
tha continent