Evening journal., 1916-09-18
DEhOUtCES bishop
AND QUITS PULPIT
The Rev. Mercer GreenJohn-
Ston Will Join Wealthy
Patron in Baltimore
FINDS PARISHIONERS
DEAD AS LAZARUS

NEW YORK, Sept. 18.-Classifying
his parishioners who disagreed with
his views as "old skins" and stating
they were so dead that what Martha
said of Lazarus when he had been
buried three days, He stinketh,' was
true of them. the Rev. Mercer Green
Johnston preached his farewell ser
mon Yesterday morning as rector of
old Trinity Episcopal Church, New
ark, n. j.
Mr.. Johnston also accused the Right
Rev. Edwin s. Lines, Bishop of New
ark, of having entered into "a
covenant with the vestry of Trinity
Church to oppose him. A reporter
read the criticism over the telephone
to Bishop Lines. but the latter de-
clined to make any comment
The clergyman and his wife will
leave Newark tomorrow for Balti-
more. where they will remain until
January I next. They will live in the
magnificent summer home Of William
F. Cochran, at Sherwood Forest, a
suburb Of Baltimore Mr.. Cochran is
known as "the socialist millionaire "
He is reputed to be worth $4,000, 600.
Until few years ago he lived in
Yonkers.
Mr.. Cochran. who is head Of the
Open Forum of Baltimore, became in
terested in Mr.. Johnston through the
Rev Richard Wallace Hoag, who was
forced out Of the rectorship Of one OF
the fashionable Episcopal churches Of
Baltimore for his socialistic ideas
After yesterdays service Mr. John
ston told a reporter that he would
use these three months OF quiet to
make out his programme Of action
for the future He said that there
were now from twelve TO fifteen Epis-
copal clergymen who had the same
ideas as he had, and they we're go
ing to labor without money in the
interest of a nationwide industrial
democracy.
The Right Rev. William A. Guerry.
bishop Of South Carolina, has asked
that Mr.. Johnston be transferred into
his diocese, because he is in sympathy
with the views OF the Newark rector
Hr Johnston will request Bishop Lines
TO give him the certificate Of transfer.
When Mr. Johnston preached yes
terday the church which is the oldest
and most aristocratic Episcopal par
ish Of North Jersey. was comfortably
full. Only three members Of the yes
try we're present These were Henry
N Darcy. Judge Howard c. Grice and
Oscar B. Mockridge.
"Ihe vestry believes. and I am per
suaded they have good grounds for be-
lieving, that the bishop of this diocese
is with them said Mr.. Johnston IN his
sermon. "Well, / am sorry-sorry for
the bishop.
sWhen he entered into a covenant
with the vestry Of this church, he en-
tered into a covenant of death He
signed the death warrant of the parish.
He ordained the vestry Of the parish 10
be pallbearers. He removed this church
from the living forces which are work
ing for the Kingdom of God on this
earth in the twentieth century
at may seem that I am mistaken.
The parish may be galvanized into a
kind of life with motion of the hands
and the lips. But this parish so far
has spent its forces II is dead as
dead as Lazarus was when Martha
sister of the dead man. said to Jesus
Christ, Lord. by this time he stinketh;
for he hath been dead four days St.
Johns Gospel. XII. 39)
Il do not say that Christ will not
come to this parish as he came to Laz-
arus and resurrect it. I pray God he
may.
What has happened here is just the
parable Of the wine skins. Jesus said
that you cannot put new wine into old
skins. because if you did you would
burst the old wine skins. That is what
has happened in this parish. l came
filled with TIE new wine of the spirit"