The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-13
THE LATE BISHOP NEWMAN.
A Tactful Man with Friends I'm Ala
Glasses Of Society.

New York letter in Philadelphia Press.
1t was made clear in Newman's early
quality upon which he was 10 rely for a
career. with charm OF the spoken word as
to- msrsba srou nS an IN 10 mn o nnrneses
in fact the very quality which in the
world that is outside of the church makes
men politicians. His tact was exceeded by
TO man in this city, even during the some
wnat unhappy or unsuccessful experience
that he had while serving as pastor. OF a
built for DR.. Hepworth. OF Madison avenue,
not far from the Grand Central Station.
1he structure was of corrugated iron. and
IL was quilt in the form OF an amphitheater.
1t was an attempt of the Congregationalists
to do in middle New York what Sturgeon
had done In London and what Talmage was
retired from that pulpit and DR.. Newman
was hired as pastor. in the expectation that
financially successful a condition IL would
have reached before IL could carry on the
pro broad evangelicai work which was planned
man never preached with greater skill. with
inner use or all or the arts OF rhetoric than
But Be pa 5TE he held this pulpit
would have been successful there and when
Or Newman gave up that pulpit the church
S was aoanaoned. the quaint structure pulled
down and the Manhattan Athletic Club
erected its beautiful building upon the lot
A less tactful man. a man who had not
pecially distinguished Or. Newman. would
have found it extremely embarrassine 10
pass from that experience into the new
Ielauon winch ne at once resumed, return
ing TO his early pastorate of the Metropolis
tan Methodist Church at Washngton-a pas
torate that threw him into the intimate re-
Iatlons with General Grant. which were
maintained until the generals death.
Dr. Newman, between the time of the
hrst pastorate OF the Metropolitan Church
and his return TO it. had travelled once
around the world, many times across the
American continent and across the Atlantic.
ana had been brought into contact with
princes of the church of all denominations,
as well as with many of the statesmen and
rulers who were in power a. that time. As
he had a singularly retentive memory, an UNI
usual capacity for sitting, so that he pre-
served in his memory what was worth pre-
serving and discarded the rest, as he had
delightful sense OF humor and a happy fac
ulty or narration, he was able 10 draw upon
the vast stores which his experience as a
traveller had given him, so that he became
even place. even with men who had in early
life had greater opportunities than he.
8. He kept a diary for many years, and Il
interesting anecdotes experiences with
some of the worlds great men. as we'll as
with the poor and unfortunate or down.
trodden whom he discovered in New York
and san Francisco, as well as in Africa and
in India.
Probably no clergyman of the North. ex-
cepting Henry Ward Beecher. ever obtained
and maintained the affection OF the colored
race in the South. especially those who had
y.
for the man who had been slave was IN
tense. and he was impatient with those who
professed despair of any future for the
colored man, saying that race that had
been for 200 years in slavery could not in
one generation overcome the blighting in
nuences of that servitude. 1t was this. af-
lection OF the colored people, and especially
OF the colored Methodists, that, in large
measure. made IL possible for DIR. Newman
to be chosen bishop at the convention held
at the Metropolitan Opera House In this
city in 1885,
1t was this triumph which also illus
trated DR.. Newmans great skill in mar
holding them. and it is probable that no
man was ever elected bishop whose can
didasy for that place was more adroitly
friends, than was the case with the
campaign made for DR.. Newman. A major
ity of the bishops of the Methodist
Of DR.. Newman for bishop with much
favor and SONG Of his friends; know.
he could not be- eeed
sured his friends that it~would all come
Visited Mrs Grant 'n and were
received by her, she said to, them: II
hope hope that You are going to elect elect my
reception was in progress at the. opera
house the colored delegates and many
others first greeted the bishop and then
box in which DR.. Newman was seated
and gave him a welcome, and many who
saw this predicted that DR.. Newman
would be elected bishop. even though the
bishops themselves opposed 1t. When
Warner Miller. who had given UP his days
and nights TO the work of electing his
in contact with the colored delegates. he
saw how deep-seated was the affection for
Dr. Newman, and he felt that, through the
aid of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, especially of the South, the bishop
would be elected. And so he was. .
Yet Bishop Newman. within few years
after his election, made this remarkable
firm conviction that not many years Will
pass before the Christian denominations OF
the world will number no more than three
the Roman Catholic Church being one. the
Protestant Episcopal, to which, with great
er and greater attraction, both the Method-
lists and the Presbyterians and Congrega-
tionalists will be drawn, and the Baptists.
trine respecting immersion, which alone
will keep them from being absorbed like the
Presbyterians with the Episcopal Church.
Bishop Newman had accumulated consid-
cradle PR perty, most of Il coming from roy
alties upon the sale of books. All Of the fees
which he received for marriage or funeral
service, or for preaching sermons here and
to religious and charitable purposes, and no
kept a regular book account OF such re-
ceipts and expenditures. Bishop Newman
children all died in infancy, and the under
standing of his friends has been that the
income from his estate will be devoted TO
TIE support of Mrs. Newman during her
life. and that afterward the estate Will be
tLropies and educational work in which ne
ne Interested