Evening journal., 1908-10-05
CLERGY IND0RSE TAFT
Class Him rs Highest Type Of
Christian Gentleman.
FREQUENT HIS HEADQUARTERS
Declare ie Is Broad Minded and
Represents Ideals Of Beef etStesman-
ship--A Bishops Opinion Of The Re-
publican Nominee.


Represents Ideals Of Reos etStesmsn-
ship--A Bishops Opinion Of The Re-
publican Nominee.
Because he is the highest type OF
the Christian gentleman"
This is The way ia which ! heard
the pastor of q Methodist church ia
southern Illinois end an argument with
a layman on the train coming over
here from ST. Louis, says The Wash
ingion correspondent Of the ST. Louis
Globe-Democrat in dispatch to bis
paper from Cincinnati The dispatch
continues: The layman, paying due re-
spect TO the cloth of his opponent, was
trying 10 convince him chat lie should
not support Mir Taft. for tie presi-
dency and instead should vote for his
Democratic opponent The churchmau
defended the PRINCIPLES Of the Repub-
lican party and. as Indicated defended
the man fer WHOM he said he expected
to vote from his personal standpoint of
n churchman, "because he 20 the high-
est tyne Of a Christian gentleman"
II gave me rcw idea about Mr.
Taft. 1t seemed to answer some Of the
criticisms / had heard Of the Repub-
lican candidate and his creed. In re-
cent years the Democratic candidate
has interlardcd his wen paid Chau-
tauqua lectures with Sunday sermons
before religious and semirclisious so
cieties. II seems that he has made
the most OF this influence in this CAM
paign. and I was curious 10 discover
on my arrival here whether there was
support from ihe church and semi
religious elements in the country for
the Republican nominee.
Ny arrival IN this connection could
not have been better timed. AS ! en-
tered the Office OF Mr.. Tafts private
secretary Friday / saw Bishop j. c.
Iiarizell of the Methodist Episcopal
church emerging from a conference
with Mr. Taft. The bishop, / knew,
has episcopal supervision over the
work OF his great church in Africa.
He has been so engaged for the past
twelve years and has met and formed
the Acquaintance OF many leading men
not oply In Africa. but in Europe and
America. His acquaintance and indu-
ence within the Methodist church are
second to those OF few men, as he was
for fifteen years an officer Of the so
ciety which founded and nav main
ialns a system of institutions Of learn
ing among both white and coOred
people IN The southern states. lie came
TO induce AIr. Taft to make a speech
in Chicago before a society of which
the bishops son, Rev. NJ. c. ItartzelL
is president
1t seemed odd to attempt to inter
view a churchman Of his prominence
on a political question at the head
quarters OF the Republican candidate.
but ! asked him for his view Of Mr..
Taft and the support OF him by Chris
tian people. lie answered very readily:
"The American people are to be con
I graduated upon the fact that whether
Mr. Taft or Mr. Bryan Is elected pres.
ldent of the United States they will
have Il man at the head Of the nation
who is not only clean IN moral charac-
ter, but whose pen and speech and eN-
ample are always for the best Ideals
OF our civilization as represented in the
teachings Of the Christian church"
The bishop thought for moment
and then continued: "On some theo-
logical points / differ from both. As
q good Presbyterian I suppose Mr.
Bryan assenis TO the doctrine Of 'di-
vine DEGREES. which teach that from
ell eternity IL has been fixed whr
should be saved and who should be
lost. / do not so read Scriptures. Mr.
Taft, I understand, is one Of the Ed
ward Everett Hale tyne. believing tn