The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-12-20

inject in Aberdeen, Scotland next sum
Imer
There is no clergyman I'm this city
more active in movements for its
moral uplift For years he las been
chairman Of the Sabbath observance
committee, and with him have worked
Roman Catholic priests as well 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. Sell
dom is there a convention in town that
it is not DR.. Radcliffe that is called
upon to offer prayer
Eight Presidents Worshiped There.
II 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
raham Lincoln Andrew Johnson. and
before his presidency Mr. Benjamin
Harrison After his election Mr. Har-
rlson went to the Church of the Core
nant, which is a 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
lie 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.
| It was the Rev. DR.. Phineas Or. 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 50, 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 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.
Mr. 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 II had rather sit in that pew
Iif 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
pews, 4 patriotic insistance from a
feminine source Installed it in one of
the Sunday school rooms, where it re-
mained for years Charles w. Bailey,
an elder, presented the resolution to
the annual meeting of the church in
1898 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 a mem
Der of this Sunday school He was
very fond of DR., Gurley Later that
clergyman was present at the childs
deathbed. willie" expressed to him
that the contents of his little iron bank
be given to the missionary society
Not long afterward Mrs Lincoln turn
ed over the money to DR. Gurley The
pastor presented it to the school in
these words
Willie Lincoln wanted the mis-
sionaries to have the money from his
little iron bank. While will never
come to our meetings again lie has
gone to live with Cod in His beautiful
home above. May YOU all, yes every
one Of YOU, meet him there
WOODROW GAL TWO