The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-07
FIGHTING VICAR
AT ST. PAUL'S
DID NOT DISTURB SERVICE
BECAUSE HE HAD PROMISED NOT
TO DO so.

Left Immediately After Sermon, He
Said, to Avoid Seeing "IdOIatrou,
Practice of WOrshippRng the Wa
fer"-SermOn from His View POinr
Was a Cautious Advance Toward
Ultimate Establishment of the
COnfessiOnaI-ThOuE the Congre-
CATION Was Frightened-NOt Dis
cournGed by Reception in south,
Because he had promised not to dis
turb the service at st. PaulTs Episcopal
Church, where Rev. c. H. Jordon of
Pineopolis. S. c., preached yesterday
morning, Rev. r. c. dillingham; did not
do So though he said that in order
TO keep his word it was necessary to
leave the church. He left immedi-
ately after the sermon on the grounds
that ne did not wish to wait and see
the practice of 'fdolatry."
Yes, 1 attended the service" said
''The Fighting Vicar" to a Morning
News reporter, land 1 want to say
that it was one of the most ridiculous
services that 1 ever attended. l wait
ed only until the sermon was over,
and then 1 left, for 1 felt that l would
have been bound to protest when they
began worshipping the wafer.
when the sermon was over l i'm
mediately left the church, for I did
not wish to interrupt the service. Had
! not given my word through your pa
per not to do so, 1 certainly should
have protested when they began the
adolatrous practice of worshipping the
wafer"
When asked what he meant by inter
rupting the service he said: II simply
rise in my seat and cry out, I protest
against this idolatry. 1 should GER
tainly have done so at St. Pauls if I
had not publicly given my word that
would keep quiet. l always keep my
word, but am somewhat sorry that
had promised"
Attempt to Establish Confessional.
The sermon ITSELF" said the vicar,
was a very cautious production. Its
whole tone showed that it was work.
ing toward a certain point and that
the rector was gradually preparing
the congregation for another great
step toward the High Church. The
ultimate object of all this is the
establishment of the confessional,
practice very common in many of the
High Churches of England and pos
sibly in this country.
But the visit to the church showed
me one thing, and that is that there is
no great danger of ritualism gaining
any greet hold on Savannahians. l
understand that st. Paups is the only
church which is High in the city,
Il understand, from what was said
in your paper" continued Mr.. Filling
ham, that if l had interrupted the
service there would have been trouble.
Either the wardens or the members
were going to eject me, or intended
having me arrested. l judge from
that that they were as afraid of me
as some of the New York and Brook
lyn churches were. This fear on the
part of the High Church illustrates a
verse in the Bible: The wicked fee
when none pursueth.'
He Is Not Discouraged.
The Fighting Vicar" asked that the
impression that he was discouraged by
the receptions he had received in the
South and West be corrected. He is
thoroughly satisfied, he said, with
what he has accomplished and unless
sickness or death prohibits he will re-
turn tc. Savannah in the fall.
Il have been absent from New
York" he said, only about ten days
and in that time have visited Cincin-
natl, Atlanta, and Savannah. l have
a number of earnest followers in Gin
cinnati and in Atlanta and hope that
! shall secure some in Savannah.
am far from discouraged and if
spared, shall surely return"