New-York tribune., 1901-05-06
TIE CLERGY AND EQUALITY.

One of the most cngag ging traits of DR.. Ingram,
the new Bishop of London, is his democracy
founded on 4 belief in the essential worth and
dignity OF man as man. 1t may be that the old
time parsOn held the same view; be could not
do otherwise as the teacher OF the religion Of
Christ but unconsciOusly to himself he often
took at their face value the artificial distinc-
tlons created by human society built the
assumption that some men are inherently more
important than others. Such n clergyman
of this city n few years ago, of whom II Is told
that once he announced that hereafter there
would be two sessions Of the Sunday school
one for the children Of the gentrrend one for
the poor. Amazing as such remark appears
to he to-day, II would have seemed entirely
proper in the old days, when the whole duty of
the peasant was TO 'ordcr himself lowly and
reverently to all his betters," who were such by
divine right, even though they might happen to
be monsters OF vice and crime All that is past
however, or in the process OF passing; and we
read the other day how the BishOp-elect OF
London. clad in 4 sweater, used to spend a
bank holiday engaged in sports and pastimes
with the workingmeD OF Whltechapel.
Admirable this spirit is, II has In II Gle
ments of danger for the clergy when II is unre
strained by other considerations The pastor
who from the highest motives strives to he
l-felIow-wellmet with simple folk. ordi-
narily the neglected social units in the commu-
nifty may without intending it lay himself open
TO the charge Of being patronzing. 1t Is told
of n clergyman OF this city who came TO have
charge of n large parish of working people that
he made II a point to stand at the door of the
church on Sunday and cordially greet all who
entered. 1t n Christian and brothery act
! and was performed by him with simple tact
and nt,tt
that many seemed to resent it. and n working
man to whom he went for an explanation said
to him finally: well. parson, we don't think
you'd do that if we was all rich and eddicated
1--WE just want TO be treated like other folks if
I'VE are poor"
1t was a gracious thought of Dr. Ingram to
say to the Bethnal Green workingmen the day
after his nomination to the bishOprc of Lon
don that unfortunately he would now have TO
ride in carriage, but whenever they saw him
riding they must hail him and he would give
them a lift. But suspect that some of those
who heard the remark felt n touch Of resent
ment at being treated differently from other
folks. DR. Ingram would not have made such a
| remark 10 his aristOcratic friends The passing.
courtesy of ride would not change the relation
| between the parsOn and the workngman \
| clergyman cannot be too courteous or consider
but they want him always to remember his dig
nifty and his position leader and teacher and
they are sure 10 resent any artificial attempt on
! his part to make up TO them for the social or
| personal ostracism of society. Il hate to have
| 'the minister stop and talk to mo when | am
returning from work. said an English work
| lngman not long ago to an acquaintance. why,
| what does he talk aboutT' 'Oh, he iusts asks
about the missus and the kids but I know he
lis saying 10 himself, Sec, my good man. We
got yer old clothes on. but. bless ye amt
| afraid TO talk to ye.' -
OF course, ii will be said that poor people
ought not to be supersenstive But the clergy.
! like other people, must take things as they are
in dealing with men and women. Their task
| to-day is a peculiarly difficult one. for on the
| one hand the traditions of the old age of sub
ordination are not wholly dead while the new
! spirit of democracy does not yet wholly under
| stand itself the ideals which il dimlv nor
! ceives beckoninG it onward