The Holly chieftain., 1908-10-02
Churchmen Who Know Judge iail
Render Him This Sincere
Tribute.
The Attitude of the Republican Can
didats Towards Religion and 2
Life Which Shows Adher-
ence to the Best Ethics
and Morals.


pastor of Methodist church in south
ern Illinois end an argument with p
layman on the train coming 10 Ciuc.n-
natl from St Louis, writes s.af cor
respondent OF the st. Louis Globe
Democrat. The layman. paying dne
respect to the cloth OF his op.
ponent, was trying TO convince h.W
that he should not support Mr.
Taft for the presidency, and instead
should vote for his Democratic oppo-
nent. The churchman defended th.
principles Of the Republican party, and
as Indicated. defended the man for
whom he said he expected to vote, from
his personal standpoint of a churchmau.
because he is the highest type or ii
Christian gentleman
Bishop j. G. Hartzell Of the Mnthp-
dist Episcopal Church, discussing tba
religious beliefs Of Bryan and Taft
after calling on the latter, said
(which of these men | shall vote for
VIII not be decided by their religions
beliefs. but what they are as men. and
by the principles and policies they stand
for in the administration of the GOV
ernment. l believe that in acting upon
this view, as an American citizen, am
In harmony with the spirit and purpose
or the founders Of our republic who
put into the constitution that there
should be no religious test as TO quail
hcations to any Office or public trust
under the United States My couvic-
tfQn 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 inquisltion 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 I
wondered as to Mr.. Tafts church asso-
ciation. When l made the inquiry here
1 was answered through the columns
of the Northwestern Christian Adyo-
cate, the great Methodist publication.
Just as 1t had given answer to hundreds
of inquiries from Its Methodist subscrib
ers. 1t said:
Man of Broad Sympathies.
Mrs. Taft and children are Episco
palians. and the Secretary frequently
accompanies them to st. Johns Church.
where, also. he has 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 ono
Or two pews removed from Mrs. TafI
and her children. Secretary Tar.
spends his vacation at Murray Bay
Canada, where there is Union Church
attended by the summer coonists of all
denominations. The Secretary of War
IS one of the trustees of this summer
colony church. where people of many
.aiths gather for worship"
This Methodist Testimony indicated
% me the broad and liberal view Of
Mr.. Taft in religious matters. In look
ng through the file of this same pub.
ication-the Western Christian Advo
,ate-1 found discussion of both nom
nees, In the course of which it was
asserted:
"The sympathies of both Mr.. Taft
md Mr.. Bryan are very broad, and thcy
Worship easily and naturally with any
Christian denomination. Whichever
nan is elected, the country will have,
therefore,, n President of clean life.
ofty principles and Christian convlc-
ions"
Opinion of Negro Clersym-.
On the same afternoon, when Bishop
tartzell called Rev. James G. Robin
on, pastor of the Eaker Street African
1ethodist Church of Dayton, Ohio,
allied at the headquarters in company
18th W. II. Jones, one of the leading
'lored lawyers Of the same city. Mr.
ones was proud Of the fact that he is
resident Of the Colored Taft Club, the
st one to be Incorporated In the Uni
u ., 7tes, and Rev. Mr.. Robinson ad
l'teu that he is president of the
para ofsDirectors of the same club
ne iel3 Mr.. Taft's office / asked him
his vfsw of the candidate, both from
, standpoint ms churchman and as
leader of his race
II believe" he said, Judge Taft will |
elected by safe and comfortable
ajority, not simply because he is n
spublican, nor am I speaking because
am Republican. But Judge Taft
presents all of the Ideals of the true
,ristian statesman"
As to the attitude Of his own race,
w Mr.. Robinson said: eve can not
ford to line up with the Democratic
rty, which has been antagonistic to
r interests always, and against the
rty headed by such wise and Chris
IN statesmen as is Judge Taft. He is
man whom we know in Ohio Is desir
ID that all men, without regard to