The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-06
ST. T.PAUL'S CHURCH
WILL BE VISITED
BY FIGHTING VICAR" TO-DAY.
BUT NO ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE
TO DISTURB THE SERVICE.

Rev. r. C. FiIIingham Simply
Wishes to See How Rector Con-
ducts Service-OmciaI of Church
Says if Vicar Attempts to Disturb
Service He VIII BE Ejected-Rev.
a. NJ. williams Refuses to Aid
BeIIicOse English Priest--Amused
at Utterances Regarding RectOrs
Refusing to Recognize Pope of
Rome.
This morning the fighting vicar of
Hexton" will pay a visit to st. Paul's
Protestant Episcopal Church.
Whether or not there will be any de-
velopments will depend entirely upon
Rev. r. C. Fillingham, as he will not
be molested unless he should attempt
to disturb the service. This he has
stated he does not intend doing, SIM
ply desiring to visit the church in
order to see how the services are
conducted.
Il have no special programme yet"
said the bellicose rector, when asked
If he had determined upon any move
in his fight against the high church.
Il learn that st. Paul's Church is
ritualistic and / will go there to-mor-
row morning and see how the rector
conducts the services"
Attention was called to the fact that
he had interrupted the service in other
churches and he was asked if he in
tended to stop any part of the serv-
ice this morning. "Oh, no." said Mr..
Fillingham, 81 simply want to attend
Quoted l shall not attempt to inter
rupt the rector
An official of st. Paul's Church was
told that 1.-THE Fighting Vicar" in
tended paying the church a visit, and
was asked if any action would be TAX
en- in the matter by the church. mot
unless he attempts to disturb the serv-
ices he answered, land in that case
l think that there will be enough of
US there to take care of him.
The outcome of the visit is being
eagerly awaited by members of the
church, and by outsiders. The reputa-
tlon OF the vicar for disturbing serV-
ices, and his uncompromising hostility
TO the ritualistic service, leads many
to believe that he will take some violent
step II he finds what he deems suffi-
Gent cause. So notorious has the vi
car become for disturbing services that
a prominent Episcopal Church organ
OF New York refers TO him in an edi-
torlal as a Carrie Nation character"
Little announcement Here.
'The Fighting Vicar" has seeming
ly met with little encouragement here.
He came to Savannah with a letter
or introduction to Rev. A. M. Will
nams, pastor of Trinity Methodist
Church. When asked if he had receiv
ed the letter. Rev. Mr.. Williams said:
Yes, l received a letter commend
ing Rev. Mr.. Ffllingham from my
friend. Or. H. S. Bradley of Atlanta.
| am considered a natural born fighter.
but 1 like to pitch my own fight.
certainly have no inclination to med
ole with questions. which in America
are strictly sectarian.
Ihere is no popular movement in
this section of the world towards ex-
reme ritualism. l understand that
among the Episcopalians in America
there are three great schools, low.
broad, and high. An English church
man has said to them, low and law.
broad and hazy, high and crazy That
impression would seem to mean that
even in the Episcopal Church, there is
not a great deal of extreme ritualism
Certainly there is only the faintest
possibility of ritualism down South.
While we have so much real wick
edness to fight, such as liquorism, gam
bling, corrupt politics, and a hundred
others. I do not desire to be consid-
cred as having anything at all to do
with a discussion of a sister church,
which l honor very highly. and be-
lieve amply able to manage it's affairs
without outside interference.
"One thing Mr.. Fillingham says
rather amuses me. Is it the rectors
who will not acknowledge the Pope,
or the Pope who refuses to recognize
the rectors? The latter would seem
to be the case, if the latest deliver
ance of the Pope is remembered"
Meets With Ministers Monday.
Rev. Mr.. Williams is the only Sa-
Vannah minister to whom Mr.. Filling
nam brought any letters of introduc-
ton. and his refusal to have anything
to do with the fight is a distinct blow
to the cause of ''The Fighting Vicar"
Mr.. Fillingham has been given the
privilege of addressing the Ministerial
Association at it's meeting tomorrow
| noon, and to the members of the as
| ISOLATION he must look for whatever
support he is to receive in Savannah.
At the meeting Mr.. Fillingham will
| present his views, and ask for the
support of the ministers in the forma-
| ton of branch of the American Anti
Ritual League. Later in the day he
will leave for Charleston and from
there will go to New York for another
trial at his special field" Bishop Pot
| ter.
On March Is Mr.. Fillingham sails
| for England. He will return to Sa-
vannah and the South for a visit of
several weeks in the fall, unless his
reception on this trim should do p,pap