New-York tribune., 1916-05-15
dominating Group" He
Says, Wanted Church Run
on Plan of a Grocery.
WARNED TO PREACH
TO PLEASE SINNERS
DR.. Johnston Took Charge at
Trinity Episcopal Church in
Newark Two Years Ago.

Running a church like a grocery store
10 please patrons is not the Rev. DR..
Mercer Green Johnston's idea OF run
ming a church at all. 80 yesterday he
resigned as rector OF the Trinity Epis-
oopal Church OF Newark. the Oldest
house OF worship in Newark.
In sermon, giving an account OF MS
stewardship. punctuated with bitter
singing rebukes, TO the dominating
member OF the vestry" and dominating
group of the parish" DR.. Johnston
served notice Of his resignation to take
effect on January |.
Sinners in the Trinity Church are IN
the majority. nine to one. according to
the dominating member Of the YES
try" and for that reason Or. Johnston
straight from -the-shoulde sermons on
sin and the straight and narrow pain
never met with much enthusiasm, he
says.
Sinners Want 10 Re Pleased.
In fact the domineering ono sug-
ecsted, according to the preacher, that
seeing there were nine sinners Tor
every saint" in the church, he should
nreach TO please the sinners But even
when the minister strayed from brlm-
stone sermons and preached on the
Panama Canal tolls and THE Right OF
a Child 10 Pure Birth members OF the
congregation were not satisfied, Or.
Johnston says. One parishioner took
offence al both sermons.
DR.. Johnson's activity IN recen
strike Of garment workers IN NeWarS
caused a member Of the vestry to wills
per TO the minister friendly warn g.
lie saws. His sermon. 1--WE Shall All
Stand Before the Judgment Seat is
still talked Of in the church. But when
hc nreached a sermon. Under Fire" a
Mortified audience left the house OF
worship, and some months later YES
tryman came TO the preacher.
"T have always admired your cour-
age in preaching that sermon on Judg
rent in the Trinity pulpit he told
me" said DR.. Johnston yesterday. and
! rcnlied that was not aware that y
took any special courage TO preach the
sermon. tndt ! Nhu pitdNhNu " N'"N'
congregations without giving offence.
If il did not take courage to preach
that to a Trinity congregation he said,
then you don't know the congrega'
ton"
Church Run Like Grocery.
IL patrons wanted liquor or anything
else, they ought TO get II. was the idea
o. the ves.rymAn who advanced nc
idea Of running a church like grocery
store. Or. Johnston said. The dori-
neering vestryman thought II was
wrong for the minister to make the
sinner. feel uncomfortable and irritste
them when they took the trouble 10
come to church, according to the re
signing pactor.
although | have been subjected to
comparatively little or the ugly sort
of criticism that drove one OF my pre-
decessors from the parish before the
end Of his second year" said DR.. John
ston. "and has brought several others
10 grief. some Of the friendly criticism
has been so minute and painstaking
that the suspicion has once or twice
crossed my mind that there are those
on the vestry who take the view that
was called to the parish to be con-
formed TO it's standards rather than TO
try to conform the parish to the stand
srds Of Jesus Christ"
DR.. Johnston has been rector for two