Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-21
Secretary Tells Church Clubs
That All Denominations
Should Join Forces For
Common Good
DENOUNCES TIPPING
AS STEP TOWARD CASTE
Iowa Cabinet Official at
Banquet in Chicago Ad-
vances New Ideas

pllSSS 1NSW xAOdS
Chicago, Feb. 2o.-A great religious
body-an organization composed of all
OF the churches now extant-that will
preach no particular creed but teach
the gospel purely and simply without
frills or sensational effects, was advo.
Gated by Leslie M. Shaw. secretary OF
the United States treasury, at a ban.
quet of 600 laymen and ministers of
four denominations held in the Audi.
torium hotel last night and at which
the Interdenominational Social union
was established.
The religious combine as conceived
by Secretary Shaw would be as practi-
cal from a commercial point Of view
as 1t is possible to make religious
institution, and the gospel and the
Bible would be taught at the minimum
of expense. The secretary was careful
to say that the average commercial
and industrial corporation did not ap.
peal to him and that he never was al
lied with one in any capacity-not
even as counsel-but the plan he ad-
vocated he said would do much to-
ward bringing Christians together on
common ground and remove the bar.
riers of denominationalism
In his plea for greater equality
among men Secretary Shaw severely
denounced the American habit of "tip-
ping" He said that to offer a gratuity
to a waiter or cehman was to insult
him. A waiter, he said, had as much
ri OH fn rff0 rs NJ,
as the millionaire had to offer it to
the man who had served him.
Turning from the subject Of religion
and equality, Secretary Shaw compli-
mented the men now in public life
and intimated that those who were
welding the "muck-rake" were those
who we're jealous because of their in
ability to obtain the posts of public
trust that had been given to others.
He said that the standard in public
life was never higher than it is at the
present time.
The speedy construction of the Pan
ANA canal was urgently recommended
by the secretary, who also said that
the country must and would establish
merchant marine. Such a fleet. he
said, would carry the mine and field
products Of the United States to every
corner of the globe, and would mater
tally add to the prosperity of the ma
tion.
He refused to predict that the ulti-
mate policy of the country with regard
to the PHILIPPINES would be, but said
that when the time for final solution
came it would be made equitably.
Churches Teach in Common.
While appreciate that church
must be built on a belief" said Secre-
tary Shaw, 81 recognize that the
churches hold SO much more in COM
mon than distinctively that they can
gradually forget their relatively unim-
portant differences and cooperate
more and more.
II have never been an officer of,
counsel for, nor stockholder in an in
dustrial or commercial trust. but 1
have sometimes thought would like
to help organize a great religious
trust, into which every needy soul
should be invited, and through which
the gospel should be preached to every
one who would hear it at the least pos
sible expense. While am nominally
a Methodist, and believe in the teach
ings of my church, and am proud Of
her record, am sufficiently catholic
in spirit and in hope to welcome with
delight movement that would unite
all those who believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ as the Saviour of the world,
and who recognize him as the only
hope of the race, whether Catholic or
Protestant. whether Armenian or Cal
whist, in putting the word of God into
every home. and in preaching the COS
pei in easy access to every person.
Depicts Religious Democracy.
my own idea of church is a great
religious democracy. where the rich
and the poor the educated and the ig-
norant, the cultured and all others
gather to worship and commune with
a Being SO far exalted as TO make rel
ative human conditions unmentionable
unthinlkable and unnoticeable in His
presence. To me there is nothing more
inspiring than a promiscuous crowd
going to and from common sanctu-
ary ] do not know that such condi-
| tions are practicable everywhere, but
our Catholic friends seem fairly sue
cessful in their maintenance.
The pastor of a great church once
asked me why it was that Catholics
were able to reach the poor while his
church and mine seemed to be losing
its hold upon them ] had heard this
/ good Iiiti1i preach most eloquently
/ n -ain5t the rich until every man who