The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-12
ECCLESIASTICAL STIFFNESS.

event that marred the notable occa-
sion. Bishop Daniel S. futile, of Mis-
souri,, the presiding bishop, left tbe
chair, and took the floor to indulge
in piece of petty political partisan
ship that shocked and astounded the
convention. The matter of contribu-
tons for missionary work was under
consideration when the Missouri bishA
up committed what he himself aftor-
I wards called an "act of quite grass in
decorum." Prefacing his axtraordi
nary speech with the words: 81 aro a
Republican and will vote for Roose-
welt. the bishop said:
There is a certain parish on the
Hudson where there are one hundred
communicates, and, according TO the
missionary report of last year, they
gave not a dollar to miss onary work
In that parish is Il conspicuous person
age. If, by the vote of American citi-
zens, he should be elected Chief Magis-
trate of our nation by Gods provi-
dence, when he goes to Washington
and attempts to steer the
ship of state through the treacncr-
Gus shoals of the islands of the Pa
cific and through the islands of the
Far Orient he will find that this land
Of ours has great deal to do with the
rest of the world and he will send
back a Farthian arrow to that parish
on the Hudson that there is need OF q
gracious gift to the work of the mis-
sions."
The convention was so surprised at
this unseemly attack upon Judge Par
ker that silence fell upon it for sew
eral moments, when Dean Thomas
Weller, Coadjutor of Fond Du Lac, in
a dignifed and impressive manner re-
huked the Missourian, who retired
from the hall. Later he returned,
apologized for his words, and appealed
for leniency ''for what seems to me
now an act of quite gross indecorum;
for having uttered words of thought
iessness such as no one Of my years
should do and which bishop should
never allow himself to do
The apology of the aged prelate
alone saved severest censure for his
audacious and prescriptions slur upon
the Democratic nominee for the Pres
idency. The Rochester Herald, COM
menting on the incident, says:
THE offense is without excuse and
without explanation, except on the
theory that the venerable bishop has
some time since passed the years or
discretion and arrived at Il stage of
second childiShneSs and irrespOnsibIl
ity that would seem TO disqualify him
for the position of prominence he oc-
cupies in the affairs of his church"
There was no provocation for bring
ing politics into the discussion. If the
aged bishop had been moved more by
spirit of justice than rank political
partisanship, which caused him to
shock and mortify his church, he
would have made some inquiry before
making his correct charge. The rec
tor OF the mission church of which
Judge Parker is a member is Rev.
Charles Mercer Hall, who married
Judge Parker's only daughter. He is
man of the highest type and an
honor to his church and the Christian
ministry He makes the following
statement in regard to the church and
its missionary contributions:
THE church referred to is itself q
mission church, having about $50 COM
mtinicants anG no rich Darishioners.
barely per cent. having more than
workman's wages. TO help carry on
the various charitable and institutional
works of the parish, the rector is
obliged himself to make annually an
appeal for outside assistance. In
spite of this, it is o parochial principle
that giving to missions is a part OF
ones religious duty.
"While the missionary contributions
of the Holy Cross parish are not all
made through the Board Of Missions
and it's general mission fund, the
church contributed for the fiscal year
1Y02-C3 the sum of S125.59 and for
10000 the sum of S333.99 to mission
| in the United States and Alaska, Japan
and Persia More than half this latter
sum was sent through the treasurer
of the Board of Missions but, being
designated for special missionary OBJ
| jects and net credited in the receipts
| for general missions, in this way
naturally did not come to the notice of
Bishop Tuttle."
| The spirit of this reply is most ad-
mirable, showing that Dir. Hall will
! permit no injustice or wrong to cause
| him to forget that he is a servant of
! the Most High and a loval minister of
! his church. He has taught Bishop
| futile a lesson-a lesson that he evil
| IDENTIFY needed.