New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-19
WASHINGTON AS A LEADER
DIR. MACKAY CONTRASTS HIM wrrH
BOSS" IN A SERMON TO SONS
OF THE REVOLUTION.

service commemorative OF the birth Of Georr.
Washington was held at the Collegiate Reformss
Church yesterday afternoon by the Sons OF TIA
Revolution. It was the tenth service OF its kina
1t was conducted by the Rev. DR. Donald Sage
Mackay, pastor OF the church assisted by the
Rev DR. Morgan Dix. and the Rev. Or. Brady 3
Baekus the Rev. DIR. George s. Baker the Rev
Or. Edward b. Coe the Rev. DIR. William N
Dunnell. the Rev. DIR. H. B. Chaplin. the Rev
Joshua Reynolds. the Rev Edward Octavus
F1agg and the Rev. Frank Landon Humphreys
The service form Of prayer and thanks
giving specially prepared for the occasion. Al
though admission by card. every seat was
occupied. Twenty-eIght members OF the society
acted sas an Aisle Committee. and parts Of the
church were reserved for guests from orgaaiza-
lions similar to the Sons OF the Revolution The
guests were as follows: From the Society Of
Colonial Wars-Abraham B. Valentine, Francis
F. Spies. Samuel p. Avery, DIR. Sidney Fl. Car
ner. jr, and Edward F. De Lancey. from the
Military Order Loyal Legion OF the United
Brigadier-C General John w. CIous Colo-
mel Edgar W. Bass. U. S. A.. Brigadier- General
Edward H. Ripley. U. S. v, Major Alfred Wag-
stan. U. s. ". and Captain T. F. Kane. U. s N;
from the Military Order OF Foreign Wars New
York Commandery-Kensett Olyphant Maturin
l. Delaheld. jr., Henry D. Babeock and Charles
lution-Mrs. Charles P. Roe. Mrs. James Davis
Mrs. Charles W. Dayton Mrs. L. HoIbrOok and
Mrs. Franklin Glass; from the Colonial Danes Of
America-Nrs. Arthur Wellman. Mrs c. c. Bou-
dinot, Mrs. W. w Hoppin. Mrs. w Butler Dun
can and Mrs. James A. Burden. from the Society
OF the War of 1s12-Mandevine Mower. Charles
H Sehiefelin, Charles Isham. Joseph L. Della
field and George W. Olney: from the Colonial
Danes OF the State OF New-York-Mrs Oliver
r Iii,
Mrs. Edward Mitchell. Mrs. Theodore Scar
borough and Mrs. Chauncey.
The service began with procession OF the IN
vited guests and the members OF the society
headed by the clergy, up the main aisle 10 the
chancel and included. besides the hymns and
psalms, prayer for the President Of the United
States, special Thanksgiving and collect for
the Sons of the Revolution
The Rev DR.. Donald Sage Mackay was the
preacher. He took for his text. ''Whosoever VIII
be great among you. let him be your minister.
And whose will be chief among you. let him be
your servant" Matthew Xxx, 26, %. He spoke
in part as follows:
One hundred years ago this week the Society
OF the Cincinnati of the State of New-York met
in the Collegiate Church to commemorate the
birth of George Washington. That service was
especially impressive, being, in fact the first
celebration OF Washingtons birth after his
death, less than two months before The sermon
was preached by the Rev. Dr. William Ivan
one OF the ministers OF the Collegiate Church OF
the time.
What is the secret Of Washington's hold upon
the popular mind? He was not We are told
magnetic man. He was reserved, difideut and
apparently Indifferent to popular applause He
scorned the cheap expedients Of the professional
politician to curry favor with the crowd TO Sc
cure influence with the few. Yet he is loved as
no National hero is loved His greatness was
the greatness Of service. 1t the surrender
OF ambition TO patriotism. the sacrifice Of per-
sonal comfort for public duty that gave TO this
man his grip on the love OF his people. His life
was laid without stint on the altar OF National
duty.
And how different alas, in many places Is n
to-day! century ago the pagan idea was
demand that knocked from without and Wash.
ingtOn disarmed the hand But to-day this
pagan idea of authority has become a demand
from wfthin-the political leader, content to ac-
cept with eomplacency the title OF boss lords
1t over his followers and holds them in suhjec-
ton with hand as strong that of any East
ern despot- 1t is indeed this heather conception
of leadeTship-authOrity basing itself on power
despotio power, in public Hfe-that constitutes
OF the greatest perils Of our time When
for instance. the leader Of any political party
and am not minding by what name that party
is known, or whether II be in State, National or
municipal concerns-when, I repeat the leader
Of any party manipulate HIS followers
that his word. apart from any question OF public
eXpedient principle, shall be final or irrevo-
cable then that man or his associates are exer-
cising authority in the teeth OF Christ's
teachings