New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-30
Former Brooklyn Pastor, In
vited to Fill Surgeons Pull
pit, Gives Ideas About
Church Work Abroad.

don fog ont Of his heavy mustache. lie
had just returned home after preaching tor
two months in Spurgeon's historic pulpit
Does there exist in England any preJu-
dice against Americans "a preachers? ne
! was asked.
/ 81 was particular TO inquire about that
/ he said. when they gave me the call
pointed out that my manners and speech
were American, and that this might INIT
tate against me IN trying TO win Enghsh-
mon TO Christ, but tho trustees assureu
mo that they knew their countrymeh'
NO. no they said. tho English see the
fire OF the spirit through the outer shell
"Do they question the orthodoxy OF our
theological schools
'They don't bother their heads with the
so-called higher criticism. So far as
know. they would not object to a man
simply on the ground that nc was educated
I'm America But they would not tolerate
preacher with hobbies that detract from
his consequential mission
AN instance? We'll. they require that
no practise and preach a strict observance
Of Sunday. In tho United states there Is
q tendency 10 relax on the commandment
Remember the Sabbath day and keep 1t
holy Sunday amusements are not only
endured but by some preachers arc en-
couraged Christianity under such condi-
tions Is an impossiblity. You may sur
round the churches with brothels and
gambling dens and poverty and crime, but
Christianity will grow. ON the other
hand. Il will die when tho state AND the
Church sanction violation Of Sunday OBJ
servancc. In England the law is enforced
and there is strict observance of Sunday
There is far less crime. In all the great
city of London the murders number under
twenty annually. and % per cent Of the
mnrderers arc hanged In America less
than per cent of tho murderers are
hanged"
Taken all in all, then. ministerial work
in England is easier than I'm America?
DR. Dixon was asked
The problem over there hc replied
"is somewhat different from that here.
Although there IL less crime and also less
vice I'm London than in chicago. there are
uncounted thousands that are merely un-
! codIy. that never give consideration 70
their souls.
There Is need TO deal with n poverty
that is unknown in this country. There
is, of course. too much crime and too much
vice. The churches are combating these
evils, but In the mean time are turning
| their attention more and more to the UNI
godly poor TO tighten their physical bur
dens and TO uplft them spiritually. The
| introduction of American aggressivenesS
INTO British pastoratcs would hasten the
work"
is IL easy to find among British preach
| ers one who CLOSES over or wnks at the
| sins Of wealthy communicates and. this
being so. could IL explain why rich Ameri-
| can congregations go abroad for PASTORS"
MY acquaintance with English clergy
men does not indicate that such IL the
| case \ congregation that would violate
| Tie commandment regarding sunday OBJ
servance might desire a pastor who ia
vored Sunday amusements. IL might just
as well break the whole decaloEuc az one
part of IL. and likewise the pastor"
Since giving this interview DIR. Dixon has
| accepted the call.
IN his long career in church work DR..
Dixon has found n remedy for the evil OF
/ gossip
Give your informants name" he says.
! when telling an evil story OF a person.
/ This is one of the sutest ways OF curing
tattling and idle gossip. People would soon
learn. II this were tn c"stom. to bride
| their tongues