The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-10-16
Churchmen Who Know Judge Taft
Render Him This Sincere
Tribute.
The Attitude Of the Republican Cam
aidate Towards Religion and .
Life Which Shows Adher-
sncs TO the Best Ethics
and Morals.

This IL the way In which heard the
pastor Of . Methodist church in south-
ern Illinois end an argument with a
layman on the train coming to Cincin-
natl from st. Louis, writes stan cor
respondent Of the 81 Louis Globe
Democrat. The layman, paying due
respect to the cloth Of his op-
ponent, was trying to convince him
that he should not support Mr..
Taft for the presidency, and instead
should vote for his Democratic oppo-
nent. The churchman defended the
principles OF the Republican party, and,
as indicated. defended the man for
whom he said he expected to vote, from
his personal standpoint Of churchman,
because he is the highest type Of a
Christian gentleman"
Bishop ]. c. HaStzell Of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, discussing the
religious beliefs Of Bryan and Taft
after calling on the latter, said:
(which Of these men / shall vote for
will not be decided by their religious
beliefs, but what they are as men, and
by the principles and policies they stand
for in the administration Of the gov
eminent. / believe that In acting upon
this view, as an American citizen, l am
In harmony with the spirit and purpose
Of the founders Of our republic, who
put into the constitution that there
should be no religious test as to quail
fcations to any office or public trust
under the United States My convic'
tion is that the future safety Of the
nation depends very largely upon our
people needing that constitutional pro-
hibition. Our nation owes much in
moral character, craftsmanship, litera-
ture, art and religion to those who
have not been in strict harmony with
some OF the dogmas Of the church. The
days Of the inquisitOn are past"
Remembering that Mrs. Taft is a
Presbyterian. but that Miss Helen Taft
was confirmed in the Episcopal Church
in Washington last winter at the same
time that Miss Ethel Roosevelt. daugh
ter of the President, was confirmed,
wondered as to Mr.. Taft's church asso
citation When I made the inquiry here
| was answered through the columns
of the Northwestern Christian Advo
cate, the great Methodist publication
lust as il had given answer to hundred:
Of Inquiries from its Methodist subscrib
ere. 1t said:
Man of Broad Sympnthies.
Mrs. Taft and children are Episco
palians. and the Secretary frequently
accompanies them to st. Johns Church
where, also. he has a pew. While Mr.
Roosevelt goes to the German Reform
ed Church. his wife and family, who
are Episcopalians. attend historic st
Johns Church. where they sit only one
or two pews removed from Mrs. Taft
and her children. Secretary Taf
spends his vacation at Murray Bay
Canada. where there is a Union Church
attended by the summer colonists of al
denominations The Secretary of Wal
is one Of the trustees of this summer
colony church, where people Of many
faiths gather for worship
This Methodist testimony indicated
to me the broad and liberal view Of
Mr.. Taft In religious matters. In look
ing through the file of this same pub
lication-the Western Christian Advo
cate-I found a discussion Of both nom
inees, in the course of which 1t wa,
asserted:
THE sympathies Of both Mr.. TAT
and Mr.. Bryan are very broad, and they
worship easily and naturally with any
Christian denomination. Whichevel
man is elected. the country will have
therefore, President Of clean life
lofty principles and Christian convic
tons"
Opinion of negro Clergyman.
On the same afternoon, when BishoI
Hartzell called Rev. James G.. Robin
son, pastor of the Eaker Street African
Methodist Church Of Dayton, Ohio
called at the headquarters in company
with w. II. Jones, one Of the leadin,
colored lawyers Of the same city. Mr.
Jones was proud Of the fact that he !:
president Of the Colored Taft Club, thu
FIRST one to be Incorporated in the Uni
ted States, and Rev. Mr.. Robinson ad
mitted that he Is president Of tn,
Board Of Directors Of the same club
As he left Mr.. Taft's Office asked hin
for his view Of the candidate, both from
his standpoint as a churchman and al
q leader Of his race.
IT believe" he said, Judge Taft will
be elected by a safe and comfortabl,
majority, not simply because he is {
Republican, nor am speaking becaus,
I am a Republican. But Judge Tai
represents all Of the ideals Of the tru,
Christian statesman"
As to the attitude Of his own race
Rev. Mr.. Robinson said: 1--WE can no
AFFORD to line up with the Democrat,
party, which has been antagonistic {,
our interests always, and against tn,
party headed by such wise and Chris
tian statesmen as is Judge Taft. He II