The sun., 1910-06-25
his OWN CHURCH FOR IRVINE
SOCIALIST PREACHER No LONG
ER TO ARD PERCY GRANT.
ssSs;sT ss iss CsGTSss sf the Ascension
ApOlsglzes Ter MS Conservative
VesIFy-ReIOrme oG An sSFts Are
Ready 10 Joln m the New MSvement.

NeatTg-MegornleFa % Al sefts AFe
Ready 10 .lOIn N the New MOVement.
Socialists who have been attendants
at the Church Of the Ascension at Fifth
avenue and Tenth street gave q dinner
at the Hotel s. Denis last night in honor
Of Alexander Irvine and started move
ment 20 organize an und0nominational
church with Mr.. Irvine a. pastor
The plan arose out Oi q feeling Of re-
sentiment against the vestry Of the Church
Of the Ascension. The vestry has decided
70 get along without Mr.. Irvine's SER
vices. For three years a. a lay minister
he has assisted the Rev. Percy Sticknsy
Grant and incidentally proclaimed Social
ist doctrines. Tho vestTymen did not ask
him to get out; they refused merely to
renew the annual arrangement which per
mitted Mr. Irvine 10 enter the pulpit
The Rev. Percy stickney Grant. rector
Of the Church Of the Ascension. who has
stood by Alexander Irvine for three years
against a growing feeling that Mr.. lr-
vines preachings were too radical Tor the
pulpit and who permitted Mr.. Irvine TO
Use the chapel Of the parish house for
Sunday night meetings Of 'parlOr Social
ists.- was present at the dinner and en-
deavored 10 pour oil on the troubled
waters
There we're 100 or more fervent sup
pOTters % Mr. Irvine AZ the dinner, and
they were in no mood for apologies.
Most Of them have besn enthusiastic
auditors Of Mr. Irvine's at services and
they came TO the conclusion that IL the
vestrymen did not want Mr.. Irvine they
would he glad 10 provide for him.
Robert Bruyere. a well known Socialist
Of the StOkes-Hunter group, who pre-
sided, put his feeling in a suggestion
To the diners. lie said that whils enthu-
siasIn was hot some step should be taken
to Organize a forum with Mr.. Irvine at
the head. The suggestion was secOnded
warmly by Lincoln Stsfens. Florence
Kelly. Gaylord Wiltshire and others
and put through with a rousing chorus
Of ayes. A committee was appointed
70 get thenames and addresses Of men and
women who sympathi2e with Mr. Iryine's
tsliefs and 20 work out the details Of the
new Socialist church
Nearly everybody who went TO the
dinner knew that Mr.. Irvine had been
Obliged 10 ssver hia connection with the
Church Of the Ascension. The impres-
sion was general that the veEtrymen had
objected 10 the publicity that had been
brought on the church and that the recent
publication of Mr. lrvine's book. From
the Bottom Up his own autobiography.
had not beer received enthusiastically
10y the ve.try
Hardly anybody. though. was prepared
for the outburst AZ the Hotel 81 Denis
The dinner started taFnely enough Rob
eri BrIyhre had the chair. with Mr. Irvine
10 his right aud tho Rev Mr. Grant at
his left
Lincoln Stefens. WithOut mentioning
names " m-n or Il churches got a nipple
- applause when he said that the Church
- to-day Is too hidsbound and cun-erva-
live % do anybody good
Mrs. Florence Nelly didn't quite agree
with Mr. Steffens in q general slamming
Of the CHURCHES. hut she made Il clear
that she was Tor the kind II preacher that
Alexander Irvine had shown himself 20
lie. Then Mr. ltriyere called on a stout.
earnest man. William y Bredin. an at
tsndant az the Church of the ASCENSION.
Mr Br-diu ht into the yestry hard
They are the enemy who struck down
our friend. he said. Ia ssens that now
the church 10 closed against ~. II ap-
paaTs that they would rather have the
insOlent thanksgiving Of a few rich men
than the chanting of the soldiers u the
common good This IL the sort Of thing
that makes us rnalizs that the power Of
money riiles all things even the Church.
Here is a rich man who says. You've got
tO take your religion from mel lie be-
leves in emptying the church Well.
he's going 10 keep Il empty lApplause
The Rev. Elliot White. an Episoopsl
minister. was hardly less emphatic than
Mr. Bredin. Said he.
This getting rid Of Irvine means |
terrible lot 10 us Episcopal ministers. !
Hereafter will any Of us dare 90 speak |
with the same frankness and freedomy
Irvine has been the spark plug Of our
They have taken out the spark !
plug What are We 10 do? For one say |
put back the spark plug Don't let the |
great work Of dtsciplining ignorance
stop lApplause
I don't consider that Il was malice or
hatred that forced Mr.. Irvine out. 1T |
was just plain baby ignorance
The diners were waiting for the Rev |
Percy Seickney Grant 90 say something
He had listened carefully. now and then I
joining In the Applause.
This whole matter said Mr.. Grant,
merely demonatraiss how closely the 1
line - being drawn between socialism and !
The vestTymen got nervous about /
hearing the Church Of ths Ascension /
referred 10 20 many times ~ q Socialist /
rhuroh. u I were a Socialist ! would |
make next Sunday my last in connection
with the Church Of the Ascension. I I
consider IL a mistake 20 have done what 4
We have done. but there ls much 20 be
aid on behalf Of the vestrymen.
-PrOgre@ b not going % be made
altOgether on sOoialisiio lines Thsrs /
may bs some Justification for capitalistic
'ears Things must not bs accomplished !
% harshly. too suddenly Now ! am
defending the vs-try They don't suy