The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-07-29

This statement, privately made by
the rector Of one of WashingtoRs
leading churches, reflects sentiments
that are now being heard on every
side. The religion of Judge Taft
promises to become a campaign is
sue of considerable magnitude. The
Rev. U. G. B. Pierce, pastor of the
Unitarian church of which Judge TAT
is member, has received hundreds
of letters inquiring about the candi-
dates views on spiritual matters.
Judge Taft, too, daily receives many
communications of this character,
and some of them are of an abusive
character.
! Some of Mr.. Taft's friends are in
clined to be alarmed by these at
tacks, which are constantly becoming
more frequent. Reports have been
received here that evangelists in
various sections of the country have
denounced Taft for his religious
views and urged their hearers not
to vote for him. A majority of Wash
ington politicians, however, refuse
to consider these attacks seriously.
They point out that Jefferson, Adams
Lincoln and Grant were all unortho-
dox in their religious views, but that
attempts to defeat them on those
grcunds fsiled miseraoly
| All Souls Unitarian church, which
Mr.. Taft is a member, is an attract
i've but not impressive looking struc
ture, colored with ivy. and of pleas
ing architecture. II its steeple hangs
historic bell. This was cast in 1922
by Paul Revere, me famous bell
| founde. whose IL ida yht ride set all
| New F'.r,and in a b;tze against the
British. 1t was hung in its belfry al
! most century ago and for many
years was the largest bell in the city,
and the only bell of any size. 1t was
used not only by the Unitarians but
by other denominations, and pealed
out equally to call the people to holy
day celebrations or church festivals
or to warn the city of fire.
| Men famous in the history of the
country have been members Of this
church and have attended divine SER
vices there~.-John C. Calhoun was
communicate; also Daniel Webster,
John Quincy Adams, Justice Morrill,,
John D. Long and George Bancroft,
| the historian. Rear Admiral Evans
is member. as is the Rev. Edward
| Everett Hale, who frequently occu-
pies the pulpit. Other co-members
with Mr.. Taft are Dr. Truman Able,
Representative Mann of Illinois,
Ainsworth R. Spofford, former librar-
ian of congress, and Representative
John w. Weeks of Massachusetts.
DR.. Pierce, the pastor is young
man. native of Providence who was
raised a Baptist. He went to schoo}
as a boy in Boston and took a post
called to All Souls eight years ago
and in that time has become one of
the foremost pastors of the city.
| About the time he first entered the
pulpit as Baptist preacher he began
reading Darwin and Huxley and read
! justed his religious views to conform
with the more advanced teachings of
sciehle. Then he turned to the Unita-
rian church.
| So far as All Souls is concerned
1t is a practical church. It's members
believe In doing practical things. Its
charities are many. 1t maintains for
one thing, annually, a. visiting nurse,
paying all the expenses, and is the
only church of any denomination in
Washington which does this. Its
membership embraces some of the
most progressive citizens of Wash
ington, people of culture and refine
ment. On its roll are those who
have been previously Methodists,
Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians-
in fact all creeds are represented
AS DR.. Pierce says, the Unitarian
church does not ask a man his reli-