The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-10-16
CLERGY |NDORSE TAFT.
Class Him as Highest Type Of
Christian Gentleman.
FREQUENT HIS HEADQUARTERS

+
Declare He Is Broad Minded and
Represents ideals Of Best Statesman
ship---A Bishops Opinion Of the Re.
publican Nominee.
Because he Is the highest type Of
the Christian gentleman"
This Is the way In which i heard
the pastor of q Methodist church In
southern Illinois end an argument with
n layman on the train coming over
here from st. Louis, says the Wash
ington correspondent of the st. Louis
Globe Democrat In a dispatch to his
naper from Cincinnati. The dispatch
continues: The Lyman. paying due re.
spect to the cloth OF his opponent, was
irving 10 convince him that he should
not support Mr.. Ta1 for the presi.
dency and instead should vote for his
Democratic opponent. The churchman
defended the principles OF the Rcpub-
llcan party and. as indicated. defended
the man for whom he said he expected
10 vote from his personal standpoint OF
n churchman, because he Is the high
est type Of a Christian gentleman"
II gave me a new idea about Mr..
Taft. II seemed to answer some Of the
criticisms ! had heard Of the Repub-
IIcan candidate and bis creed In re-
cent years the Democratic candidate
has interiarded his wen paid Chau-
tauqua lectures with Sunday sermons
before religious and semirellgIous So
cletIes. II seems that he has made
the most OF this influence In this cam.
paign. and ! was curious 10 discover
on my arrival here whether there was
support from the church and semi
religious elements In the country for
the Republican nominee.
Ny arrival In this connection could
not have been better timed. As I en-
tered the Office OF Mr.. Taft's private
secretary Friday I saw Bishop J. c.
HartZeIl 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.
lie has been 10 engagad for the past
twelve years and has met and formed
the acquaintance Of many leading men
not only In Africa. but IN Europe and
America. His acquaintance and Iniiu-
ence within the Methodist church are
secoad to those Of few men. as he vas
fcr fifteen years an officer Of the so
Ciety which founded and now main.
tains q system Of institutions Of learn
ing among both white and eolored
people In the southern states. lie came
10 induce Mr. Taft TO make speech
In Chicago before o society Of which
the bishops son. Rev. NJ. &. Hartzell.
Is president.
II seemed cid 20 attempt 90 inter
yiew q churchman Of his prominence
on q political question at the head.
quarters Of the Republican candidate.
but asked him fsr his view Of Mr.
Tan and the supper, Of him by Chris
tan people. Ne answered very readily:
The American people are TO be con-
gratulaied upon the fact that whether
Mr. Taft or Mr.. Bryan Is elected pres
ideni Of the United States they will
have n man nj the head Of the nation
who II not only clean In moaal cbarac-
ter. hut whose zen and speech and ex'
ample are always for the hest ideals
Of our civilization as represented In the
teachings % the Christian church"
The bishop thought for q moment
and then continued: ION some tbeo-
iogical POINTS I differ from both. As
good Presbyterian ! suppose Mr..
Bryan assents Co the doctrine % ID.
vine decreea.' which teach thnt from
oil eternity n has been fixed who
should lie saved and who should be
lost ! do not 20 read Scriptures. Sir.
Taft I understand. In one Of the I'd.
ward Everett Hale type. believing that
Christ was q dIvinciy perfect man
Tho~e precepss aud life on earth are
The key 10 mans salvation In time and
eternity. With the church believe
That In that perfect man dwelt the di.
vine nature"
Applying hh discussion IN q practi-
cal way. Bishop IIartzeli continued;
Which u these men ! shall vote for
vii not be decided BY their religious
beliefs. but what they Hrc NJ men and
W the principles and policies they
stand for In the administration Of the
government I believe that In acting
Upon this view. ~ an American citi.
Heh. am IN harmony with the spirit
and purpose Of the founders of our re.
public. who put Into the constitution
mat there should he no religious test
as to qualifications 10 any Office or pub
Hc trust under the United States Ny
conviction IL that the future safety Of
the nation depends very largely upon
our people needing that constitutional
p'ohibltion. Our nation owes much
70 moral character. craftsmanship. lit.
tm'ure. art aud religion 20 those who
nave not becu In STRICT harmony with
ane ~ the dngmas ~ the church.