The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-26
TO LEAD CHURCH SOCIALISM
ALEXANDER IRVINE TO HEAD
AN AMERICAN MOVEMENT.
lsh maCAera Are Opposed 10 ths '"Teu-
taRle'' 80 NaA-FelaEhaSs aclaool-Fir~t
step WIl ~ q serirs sf Sunday NlEht
Meralngs iluildinG 60 Gene Lateg.

| aM MaNAGfA ANN WMNI4NU 70 NNle NN9@
toRle'' a. Nsn-FelaGisw AcaOol-Flr~t
step VIM ~ serirs q Sunday NlEht
MeCalnss IluildlnG tS Gene Later.
The Socialists Of the United States are
| 10 have a new leader Alexander Irvine.
whom tho vestFymsn Oi the Episcopal
/ Church OF the Ascension decided was
too radical 10 speak from tholr pulpit.
Whiis Mr. Irvine wns composing yBs-
tsidny az his farm Happy Hollow. near
Peekskill. the sermon which he will de-
liver tonight az tho Church Of the As
cension. the -Intellsctual.- as the parlor
Socialist group prefer n call themselves.
were busy planning not Only the organiza-
ton Of q new undenominational church
Of which Mr.. Irvine Ia 10 DO pastor but a
fusion Of the various Socialist groups
who are opposed 10 the n0n-religious
element in this count y.
Many II the intsllectuals. a. they en-
plain Il. have not progressed 20 FAR a.
10 got away from religious beliel Of one
kind or another. They hold 20 the idea
that the late Edmond Kelly eXpounded
that religion Ia necessary even in eooial-
lam Among these intollectlialA are
Robert Bruyere. James Graham Phelps.
Stokes. Rose Pastor Stokes. Caroline
Dexter Florencs Kelly. Robert Hunter,
the Rev Elliot White and Lincoln stsf-
fens. They are opposed 70 what they call
tho -Teutonic philosophy the pro-
gramms which the militant German com
rades proclaim and which does not recOg-
nize the necessity Of religious wOrship
Several Of the intellectuals said ysstsr-
day that the American Socialists, a.
distinguished from the -TeutOnic- group.
have been waiting for circumstances 70
develop a leader for them: a leader who
would represent purely American ideas
In the Socialist movement The action
Of the vestTy Of the Church Of tho Ascen-
sion In relieving Mr. Irvine Of his duties
furnished the circumstances Now that
Mr. Irvine Is no longer connected with
any one religious body the Socialists
purpose 20 place him at the head Of new
American movement
Caroline Dexter who is chairman Of the
committee appointed on Friday night by
Robert Bruyers 20 set in motion the move
ment for a new church. explained yaster-
day what the American Socialists have
in mind. Miss DEXTER lives At the HOts
Martha Washington.
while socialism a. we understand II
10 purely a political programme said
Miaa Dexter -nevershelsas mos Of N
intellectuals retain tina: form Of senti-
mentality, a. some call IL. which Graves
religious expression. Denominations
mean nothing 20 any Of the comrades,
but all Of them are opposed 10 agnossic
or Htheistic tendencies IL seems fitting
therefore that Mr. Irvine he called uron
10 oOunterAct nOn-religious tendencies.
which arr pronounced among our foreign
horn comrades. Mr.. Irvine H. above
everything else. a preacher. While his
leadership Of the American group would
be spiritual, yet his profound knowledge
Of socialism would make him q practical
commander of the forces He has a tFe-
mendous following
AZ Mise DEXTER explained. the reoF-
Ganigation e American Socialists with
Mr. Irvine az spiritual director and cap
tain general may not be accomplished for
some time % come, but the new undo
nOminational church. she said. h a'matteF
Of few months only. Lack Of money
n the great drawback. II tho Socialists
Of New YORK. were rich they would, ahc
sid build a church IN q week and pne
Alexander Irvine In the pulpit. Bue they
haven't the cash. What they plan % 10
IA 70 establish a congregation Of liberal
thinkers who shall meet on sunday nighta
under Mr. lFvine's direction. listen 20 a
sermon from him and then indulge In
much the same sort OF free for all dis
cilssiOn that used 70 be held in the chapel
Of the parish HOUSE Of the Church Og The
Ascension.
The late Edmond Kelly advocated
such meetinKa.' said Miss De- and
Or. Henry Frank carried out much the
same idea IN his meetings at the Berkeley
Lyceum. The Rev. Madison Peters for
time was successful In holding unde-
ROmtnaeional services on Sunday nights
In theatres. We hope that ltinda will be
forthcoming In sufficient amount 20 per-
init Mr.. Irvine % appear In a hired hall
every Sunday night. We want all liberal
minded people. not merely thoss who call
themselves Socialist
Mr.. Irvine went 70 his Peekskill farm
Yesterday ~ compose his valedictOry
sermon. and the Rev. Percy Stickney
Grant, rector Of the church and Mr.
lrvtns's enthusiastic supporter for thFes
years, was not accessible. member
~ the vestry, however. explained why u
contract which SIR. Irvine had With ths
church
1T should he understood at tho out
set. said the vestryman. that all the
board have for Mr. Irvine not merely
respect but admiration. and that the
yestTy was divided on the question %
bis staying OF going Some Of us thought /.
that II the church was to accomplish I
anything Of definite value in the twentieth I
century Il ought 20 GET away from medi- /
Rval ideas fronm the ClOister that II |
ought 10 deal with living issues MORE. :