New-York tribune., 1901-05-07
| CLERGY REST TOO LONG
WARNER VAN NORDEN THINKS MINIS
TIERS VACATIONS HAVE BECOME
A SCANDAL.

Warden Van Norden. president of the Bank
Of North America. criticised ministers who take
long vacations. saying that their course had he
come nothing less than a scandal at the an
nual meeting Of the Presbyterian Union last
night after listening to addresses which had
the vacation season for their topic. He re-
ferred to his own church. which. he said. while
worth, perhaps million and half. was only
opened three or four hours week
The meeting was held at the Hotel SAVOY T
NJ Stger presiding
The Rev. DIR. George Alexander of the 1-nf-
versity Place Church. spoke upon the general
subject OF The Vacation Period of the New
Nork church The Rev. John Lloyd Lee spoke
of The Layman in Vacation" He argued that
the layman needed a vacation from church ac-
tlVlteS as well as the cleTgymen. Robert c.
Ogden discussed The Ministers Vacation"
In the course of the general discussion that
followed these addresses Mr.. Van Norden said:
IL seems to me that none of the speakers have got
the length Of vacations taken by so many mn mip -
i iftets II has become nothing less than a scandal
or four months year. There is not per cent of
tne @ PT"pT IN ms city who get vacation of
whole months vacation and yet most cergynen
go away for at least two months Merchants and
bankers don get any such vacations. We are not
able to take them. The most beautiful church in
New-1ork; St. PatTck's Cathedral. is filled with
ns IHItiIuSs dn "i poor people every day and
tlIltS on sunday The church where | wOrShfD.
which Is worth perhaps "A million and half. is
opened only three or four hours a week. There
are million people living in tenements this
lsIahn, ana they cannot go away for the summer.
III We are golnS to bring the Gospel to the people II
Is not a good thing for the leaders iE the work
taxing three months I'm the summer get the
tired feeling again about New Years. and go
away to Lakewood for a few weeks at that time. |
believe ministers ought to have vacation. but |
vacation two three times long that en-
Joyed by any other class in this community.
The Rev. DIR. John Bacom Shaw said:
We to he indulging in pretty free speaking
here tonight. and | would like TO say III answer
to MIR. Van Nor1en that think the real trouble Is
with the laty and net with the clergy. There are
too many OF the laity who take "A vacation from
church activities. merely for three months. but
for the whole year. IL going To carry the
Gospel to the poor need the services Of the atty
lust much Of the clergy. If poor people come
into a fashionable church among wealthy persons
they made 20 feel uncomfortable, and 50 they
stay away from those churches But that, think,
cannot be properly charged against the ministers.
the fashionable COnVeutOnaltSm that is the
dry rot Of Presbyterianism IN New-Y York to-day.
The following officers We're elected: President,
Noah G. Rogers; vice presidents, Frank \. Fer
ris. Robert c. Ogden, the Rev. Maltbie ID. Bah
cock the Rev George T. Purves, James G..
Cannon. the Rev. John BalcOm Shaw and the
Rev. Charles \. StoddaTd secretary, Henry K.
Elliot. treasurer. Henry T. Bronson; executive
committee the Rev Douglas p. BiTnie, the Rev.
Howard Agnew Johnston the Rev Donald Sage
Mackay the Rev. George I. Shearer, Edwin ].
Gillies DIR. Silas F. Hallock, Willis T.. LOugee.
Hammond OdeH. Charles A. II. Pratt. James
Tacott. John Z. Truesdell and Russell W.
WOODWARD.