The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-08
Will Be Next Pastor
of Grace Church
Probably.
A STRONG PERSONALITY.
Methods Are Sensational
But Adapted to
Situation.

Unless ecclesiastical weather condi-
lions unexpectedly change, Rev. James
Boyd Brady, D. D., of Peoples Temple,
Boston, will be the next pastor OF
Grace Church. This is the prophetic
upshoot of all the conditions indicated.
DR.. Brady has had several calls Tor
his services, but he undoubtedly pre-
fers to assume the~yorA at Worcester
and his wishes will be pretty closely
consulted by the conference. He was
wanted at Grand Avenue Church, Kan
sas City. Mo-; St. Pauls Church, Gin
cinnati, O., and was invited by Blshop
Hurst to look after the interest OF the
new American University, Washington,
D. c., by visiting various parts OF the
country and making addresses in its
behalf Whatever else may be said or
left unsaid, DR.. Brady is q forcetul
man; and wherever he is, things move.
He was born about 81 years ago, IN
the province of Ulster, county Antrim
Ireland He is therefore Scotch-Irlsn,
his mother being Scotch. He began MS
education in two of those familiar local
schools. those of Rev. DR.. Close and
Rev. Mr.. GAVIN; thence he went to the
Belfast Model School and the Bally-
Snena Diocesan Classic Mathematlcal
School. When he was % years of age
he came to the United States and entered
Drew Theological Seminary, Madison,
n. j., from which two years later ne
graduated with the degree of bachelor
of divinity. During the earlier years OF
his ministry he kept up his studies
and received from the New York Uni
versity the degree of Phi. D. He is
thus pretty well equipped. When he
started out in the ministry he took
what is known as the union church,
which is located to use his own phrase,
''way out in the woods, in the agrlcul-
fural district of New Jersey" He re
manned there a year, as he did also at
Glenwood. From 1S71-73 he was sta
toned at Otisville, N. Y, and from 1873
IS at Summit n. J. For the following
three years he was in charge at Hobo
ken, n. j., and then for two terms
with intervals, because a continuous
term beyond the time limit was not al
lowed he was stationed at Jersey
City and Newark. He spent three
yeaTs-1SSS9l-a Passaic, n. j.
The last term of his ministry before
he assumed the pastorate of Peoples
Temple, Boston, was at Newark. At
this time, being pastor of the Cathedral
Church in that city, it was said of him:
He is probably the most talked of
preacher in Newark, because he strikes
fearlessly at modern iniquities and lives
for the people of these times and this
Mace He stands for essen
tials, but tears down distractions
He pursues his own diplomacy, and
calls no man master, although he con-
suits with his official brethren. He is
a man of the people; and when reused
in their behalf in the pulpit, he springs
on his antagonists like a lion rushing
on his prey.
In response to his sympathy and I'M
compromising loyalty to their cause,
the people crowd his church to feel
the warm glow of his heart. Men who
go nowhere else to church hear him
gladly, and so hundreds have been lift
ed to a new life by his ministry, while
thousands upon thousands of them
have been lifted to nobler habits of
thought, feeling and action
So on Oct. 10. 1893 with this recon-
mendation, he began his ministry in
Boston: that was five years and half
ago half year beyond the presently
allowed time limit. He was obliged to
leave Peoples temple pulpit this spring
or some plan would have had to
be devised to keep him. How did he
first come to Boston? 1t is understood
that the board of bishops was in ses-
sion in Minneapolis, and they cOnsid-
ereQ several DldlS whereby EtpJle =
temple might be helped to larger re-
ligious life; and it was suggested by
one of them that to transfer DR.. Brady
from Newark would be the best move
TO make. 1t was made. The bishops
were all interested in the success of
Peoples temple, because each of them
had subscribed something towards its
establishment, and for other natural
reasons
D,,rire, the Dastorata of ny Rradv
there has been raised for all purposes,
It is understood. nearly $4,000 annual
". This includes beneYOlences, money
for outside help improvements, etc.
The property is estimated to be worth
about $500 600 and four years ago DR..
Brady had plans drawn for magnifi-
cent temple. to cost 81 900 900. The
scheme did not materialize, however.
but he feels that he could now push it
70 success, if it was permissible for
him to remain there. Whether that
or a similar move will be made under
the next pastorate, is questionable.
DIR. Brady, in personality, is a large,
Well-set-up man, weighing over 2OU
pounds, and is very vigorous and en-
That he is so emotional-or sensational
perhaps some would call his methods
in the pulpit, has been a source of Sc
rious objection in some quarters. His
morning sermons are very frequently
read and are scholarly and thought
full. but his evening sermons have been
more of an emotional, eXhOrtative char
acter. His preludes have usually
been upon vital and timely topics, and
in these he has generally struck from
the shoulder, not only metaphorically
but by actual gesture, as he warmed VI
to what he considered to be an abomi-
nable iniquity. His favorite themes
h. lie IL
a spade.
He has sometimes greatly offended
the taste Of some people by his plain
and incisiVe expressions. 1t may be
that he thought the circumstances and
conditions warranted it. He said eva
sively and automatically referring 10
a question concerning his probable
methods in Worcester: My line OF
work always depends upon the circun-
stances in which I find myself I have
no stereotyped methods and no hob
bies to ride"
For instance, he may not have in
Worcester a huge signboard, probably
25x10, hung across the front of the
church telling Of the current services
Perhaps he will not think he needs It
At present on the front of his church
here, he has advertised a series OF
morning sermons with subjects like
these: Last sermons on first things
now needed by Bostonians," and Las
sermons on last things soon coming to
all people; and then more explicitly
are: Last callsii-Last promises :
Last Strivingsi!' The subjects are con-
nected by conjunctions, adverbs, or
verbs, with quotations from Shaks-
pere, Southey, Longfellow, etc. 1t IS
supposed Of course that the passer by
on the avenue will stop, read and pom
der; and if it is Sunday, haply he might