The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-26
PASTOR SCORES
FOREIGNER
Rev. J. A. BiddI3 Leaves The
Pulpit of a Fashionable Church
CRITICISED BY HIS FLOCK.
About so Per Csvt Of His ParlshIOnerS Are
Of Foreign Birth, and They Re-
81 I'D The Charge,
CRITICISED BY HIS FLOCK.

Hartford. Conn, March es--The Rev.
Jacob A. Biddle, rector OF St Marys
Episcopa. chur,h in South Manchester
for 1s ears-the most aristocrauc church
in thsS place--has announced MS mteh-
ton a. resign the pastorate at once
Mr.. Biddle Is one OF the best known
clerfymen in the diocese Since the reNe-
iat}ns hy the late Rev. n. l. hutchins
Co.lcerning depravity In back country dls-
tTicts. and Mr.. Hutchins suggestion thal
iprnigrants might take up some OF the
practically abandoned farms. Mr. Biddle
mas preached several sermons and nag
written some articles which have aroused
criticism among his parishioners.
No one had dreamed. however. that the
criticisms were such as 10 drive the rec
tor 10 this step for he has been very
popular. About ~ per oeui OF his I'arish
are foreigners
In long statement about conditions
In country districts. he says: "One in
furiafed waterbury is n far greater me
mace TO our social peace than nifty or the
most cegenerats country towns The
threatened strike Of tho Consolidated
road is more TO be feared than all the
evils which Mr.. Hutchins depicts
IA Is when We stand face TO face with
these real problems that we need To be
seriously anxious for our old common
wealth. our chief danger lies not in the
poverty of the few, but In the wealth.
luxury and greed OF tho many. pre-
dict the rich men will buy up the present
waste lands, as they did the highlands or
try seats and game preserves
I'VE must ask: What has been the gen
eral influence OF the large foreign imni-
grafton upon the intellectual. moral po-
iiticsI and religious life OF Connecucutr
How have the foreigners governed the
communities that have fallen under their
contrOl-New York city. for instanceT
But we are not permitted 10 ask such
questions in Connecticut today. Free,
courteous frank, open criticism OF any
race or Institution is no longer permis-
stble. IL was not so in the great days
OF old before thu foreigner came with his
Old country conceptions OF freedom.
"A new spirit has entered Connecticut.
as alien TO the spirit OF her founders as
the Roman Empire. whence II came, is
alien 10 our free institutions And we
are asked to- believe that this intolerant
spirit Is To regenerate our decaying
ciety. l greatly fear we shall be sadly
disappointed.
Mr.. Biddle was pastor OF the South
Norwalk Congregational church before
being ordained and coming TO South Man
chester He says he has been contem-
plating retirement for several months. He
will probably accept an offer TO become
curate TO the Rev. +. s. Luther. rector
of Trinity church OF New Haven. in
which city ne is 10 make his home. In
his sermon Sunday ne made a statement
concerning his views, I'm which he said I:
The idea that these foreigners can
come here and uplift us is preposterous
II they are TO take charge OF our schools
and politics. as they are aiming 10 do
don't think IL will be much of a benefit
for our backwoods degeneracy. Let them
be governed by their vest pocket rule,
hut don't ask that control be given 10
them in the United States"