New-York tribune., 1910-06-25
ASSA|L Church AT DINNER
VeStry's Action in Barring Mr..
Irvine Condemned.
EVEN RECTOR REGRETS 1T
Ascension Didn't Like Being
Called Socialist Congregation,
Says Mr.. Grant.

The Church of the Ascension was the
centre of attack last night at the dinner
! for the Rev. Percy Stickney Grant. its
rector. and Alexander Irvine the socialist,
at the Hotel ST. Denis. So far as Nr
Irvine was concerned il was somewhat in
the nature Of a farewell dinner. for the
vestry OF the church has refused to renew
the arrangement under which Mr.. Irvine.
as lay reader. exDounded his theories OF
social reform to large congregations In the
chapel on Sunday evenings. As sfr. Grant
present:
THE vestry has become shy OF the pubic
union Of the church with the socialist
movement
This ''shyness'' was the theme for the
address of a long list of speakers who pre-
ceded Mr. Grant. and the views expressed
, were. on the whole, far from complainant
airy. Many expressed the hope that the
authorities Of the church would reconsider
their decision. and Mr.. Grant himself ex-
pressed his deep modification and grief
at this mOmentary separation between
himself and Mr.. Irvine, for whom he en-
tertained so much affection and such .
high regard
IF L were a socialist said he, next
Sunday would be my last at the Church OF
the Ascension But feel that there n
something to be said on the other side.
Yet I can't help believing that a great
mistake in principle and policy has been
made in what we have done believe that
the Church OF the Ascension has on IT'S
vestry the finest body Of men 10 be found
In all the New York churches
THE lines are being drawn more closely.
however, between the avowed socialist and
., tvn<Iy
before. The vestry as a body becane ner-
vous over the frequent mention IN the
newspapers OF the Church OF the Ascension
as a socialist church 1t is a great mistake
to draw the lines as they are drawn
to-day"
Lincoln Steffens was perhaps the most de-
nunciatory Of all the speakers in his att-
tude toward the Church He said the State
was corrupt because IL had come to belong
to only part Of the people. ito certain
rich men"
And the Church Is just as corrupt as any
state" he continued 'Tt also represents
only part OF the people. And that is why
every church in the United States has op-
posed every essential reform movement in
this country
He was for giving the church the go by.
for which he was roundIy rebuked by Mrs
Florence Kelly and upheld to some extent
by the Rev DR.. Eliot White. an Episcopal
minister. who thought his term disciplined
ignorance" when applied TO churches, a
good one
81 wonder he began, whether any
body here knows why Mr.. Irvine is getting
through? don't know IL there are other
Episcopal clergymen present besides Mr.
Grant and myself. but it concerns us deep
Iy. The Church OF the Ascension has had
the opportunity Of its lifetirle in the last
three years since Irvine started preach
ing here to learn something II one. two or
half dozen men are queering this, are
pulling out the spark plug. some one ought
to take them message from this gather
ing SO they might know what they are do
ing. that it means that Mr.. Grant and my
self are not going 20 be free hereafter to
speak our minds"
Other speakers We're Pat QUinlan. 50
whose Celtic wit made deep
impression; ". s. Brady, a business man.
who talked Of accommodation Bolton
Hall, Oliver Hart Bronson, OF Hope Chapel,
and last but far from least, Alexander
Irvine himself Robert Bruere was toast
master.
Miss Caroline Dexter was elected tenn
porary chairman OF a COMMITTEES to organize
permanently the Forum Of the Church OF
the Ascension. as It is called