Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-11
NO IDEA OF RETIRING
Justice Harlan Finds His
Present Work Agreeable.
TO STAY ON THE BENCH
GAVE HIS VIEWS IN HIS CIRCU.
LAR LETTER OF FEBRUARY.
Willing to Devote Much of His Time to
Forward Project for Presbyterian
Minister or Cathedral. sea-

II have formed no purpose to retire at
any particular time. My work is most
agreeable to me, and. / now think,
VIII keep at 1t steadily until | must stop,
or until my friends tell me that IL Is my
duty to stop replied Mr.. Justice Harlan
OF the United States Supreme Court, when
| asked If his proposed relation with the
| proposed building of a Presbyterian Caihe-
dral In this city would necessitate his leav-
ing the Supreme Court.
He called attoaiion TO his statement In a
circular letter Hc sent out in February ex-
| pressing his readiness to cooperate with
others in establishing what was called a
| cathedral church for the Presbyterian de-
nomination; but he did not say he would
retire from the bench in order to carry ON
that work That. he stated, would lot be
necessary. He saio that he had no purpose
to retire from the bench at any given time
IN the circular letter which 1 sen. out
in February" said Mr.. Harlan. Il did
say that If the general plan suggested by
me was approved by the church at large
ana my services were needed. | would
take pride in cevoting large part OF The
time remaining to me in cooperating with
others In establishing here what. TO- want
OF better word, might be called the
cathedral church of our denomination at
the national capital. But | did not say
that | would retire from the bench merely
necessary"
The Proposed Cathedral.
Mr. Harlan was asked whether the
style of the proposed cathedral would be
Catholic or Episcopal.
Il care nothing for mere words" he re-
piled. The word Catholic does not dis
turb me. Episcopalians and Catholics
have exclusive right to cathedral
structures. There are Presbyterian ca
thedralS in Scotland the home of Presby-
teranism. In my circular letter to Pres
byterian ministers and laymen | dis
t1nctly stated that the historical cathe-
oral had no place in "A nonprelaticai sys-
tenn like ours, and that the word cathe-
dral was used for the want of better
dimensions, impressiveness dignity and
word. and to indicate a structure of such
equipment as would fairly represent at
the national capital a denomination
which had much to do with establishing
our nation on its present foundations of
liberty and safety-a Presbyterian min
ster, If you please-a building that would
nave some of the features of what is
known as the institutional church-not
one for mere show and pretentious orna-
ment.
Depends on General Assembly.
The whole matter depends upon the
assembly. If that body is content with
the present situation, far as Presby-
terianism at the national capital is con-
cerned, and wishes no change of the kind
suggested. that will be the end of the
matter; for no such movement as the
present one can succeed unless the church
at large, as represented by the assembly.
is behind 1t with all it's hearts
In reply to a question as to where the
money could be obtained to build ouch a
structure, he said: 1T will come princi-
pally from Presbyteriaus. If the church
at large sympathZes with the movement,
L do not doubt that all the money needed
can be procured, and that the new church
building will be ready to be occupied about
the time when all the Presbyterians of our
country will stand together in one denouli-
nation That time, l hope and believe. Is
not far off
Union Meeting in the Minister.
1T will be grand occasion, to be forever
remembered, If the first meeting in the
new Presbyterian minister shall be that Of
a general assembly representing all the
Presbyterians of our country, who, for
getting past differences, have agreed TO CO.
operate in respect of matters that are
vital and essential in religious belief.
Still more, and this is a consideration
of value, the audience room Of the new
minister can be utilized a place for the
meetings of the general assembly, from
year to year, and to repeat the words of
a great Presby terian thinker, within its
walls and under its roof the best men CT
the nation and the best men of the church
could, from time to time. give expression
to their mature thinking on the great
themes of Christianity
The general assembly will meet at WI
mona Lake, Ind next week when the
cathedral question will be taken up.