The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-12-16

sonal friends of Dr. Radcliffe. The
minister's friends here say that DR..
Radcliffe is too prominent in himself
ever to be known as a Wilson pastor"
Rather may Mr.. Wilson be called
Radcliffe5s parishner."
The Presbyterian church honored
DR.. Radcliffe with highest office by
electing him moderator of its general
assembly in 1898, He is now a men,
Der of its executive commission and
moderator of the Presbyterian synod
of Baltimore. He is delegates to the
Pen-Presbyterian Alliance, which will
meet in Aberdeen, Scotland, next sum-
mer.
There is 70 clergyman in this city
more active in movements for its
moral uplift. For years he has been
chairman of the Sabbath observance
committee, and with him have worked
Roman Catholic priests as we'll as pas
tors of protestant communions. Dr.
Radcliffe has long been prominent in
the movement to get more chaplains
appointed for the army and navy. Sci
dom is there a convention in town that
it is not DR.. Radcliffe that is called
upon to offer prayer.
Eight Presidents Worshiped There.
If Mr.. Wilson does decide to go to
New York Avenue church he will be
the ninth president who has been in
attendance there. The other eight
were John Quincy Adams, Andrew
Jackson, William Henry Harrison,
Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Alb
Iraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and
before his presidency Mr., Benjamin
Harrison. After his election Mr.. Har-
rison went to the Church of the Cove
nant, which is child Of the New York
Avenue church. The latter is the old.
est church in the city.
President Pierce and his wife at
tended church twice every Sunday.
He and Mrs Pierce also entertained
the Sabbath school at special party
| in the White House. Andrew jackson
withdrew because of a disagreement
with the then pastor, the Rev. John
| N. Campbell, due to the Peggy O'Neal
episode. The pastor undertook to
challenge the presidential pew holder
The president left the church. Mr..
Campbell was later called to Albany,
IN. Y.
1t was the Rev. Dr. Phineas DR.. Cur
| ley who was pastor of the church when
| Mr.. Lincoln attended it. 1t is well
known that the latter never made a
formal public profession of religion.
In the church, however, it is known
that he wanted to do so, but desisted
because of the misinterpretation which
would be placed upon it while he was
president. Not only did Mr.. Lincoln
worship every Sunday, but he was a
frequent attendant at the weekly
prayer meetings, coming in a back
door and sitting quietly in back pew,
so as not to attract attention. Mr..
Lincoln used to say the reason he
liked to hear Dr. Gurley was because
he didn't preach politics." meaning
partisan politics.
MIR. Lincoln Consulted Him.
DR. Gurley was in frequent council
with Mr. Lincoln. He knelt in prayer
at the bedside of the dying president;
he delivered the eulogy in the east
room of the White House; he accom-,
panied the body to its burial place at
Springfield, and on the way wrote the
hymn that was sung on that occasion.
One of the pastors of the church
said, Il had rather sit in that pew
| if it were made of mud and dirt than
in one of beaten gold; it wwill be an
influence of patriotism for our chill
dren and our childrens children, "
When the church was repewed in 1887
the retention of the pew used by Mr..
Lincoln was mildly urged, but its dark
color brought quick decision. Many
thought it would be incOngruous and
offensive in contrast with the new oak
lpews A patriotic insistance from a
feminine source installed it in one of
the Sunday school rooms, where it re-
NAMED for years Charles w Bailey,
an elder, presented the resolution to
the annual meeting of the church in
1893 recommending that the pew be
put back in the church. This was
adopted, but only after considerable
delay. The tablet was placed on it
through the generosity of Charles b.
Pearson.
Little Willie" Lincoln was mem
Der of this Sunday school. He was
very fond of DR.. Gurley. Later that
clergyman was present at the child's
doo+l,hod ttXN;I1;o'i ovnraccad m him