New-York tribune., 1919-07-28
DIR. William T. Manning. Rec.
tor of Trinity, Has Four
Times Declined Bishop
ric; May Be Called Again
Has Strong Personality
His Human Side Revealed
by War, and Men of 9Th
Call Him ''Cood Scout"

IT any one were asked to name the
most famous church in New York City
the unhesitating reply would be Trim
ity."
The beautiful Gothic pile at the head
of Wall Street is familiar to every
resident, and it's outline is known to
millions all over this country and
abroad through the educating process
of the motion picture. No sightseeing
trip in the city is complete without a
visit to Trinity.
The personality of it's rector, like the
disposition of the corporation funds, is
much of an enigma. For eleven years
DR.. William T. Manning has been rec
tor. For some years before his cleo
ton to the rectorship he was vicar of
st. Agncs's Chapel, part of the Trim
lty establishment. But the veneer of
his aloofness has never been worn
down. He is an Englishman by birth
and, although he has been in America
since he was ten years old, he has lost
nothing of the traditional reserve of
the Briton. Yet he was q sympathetic
parish priest before he was called to
the larger task of the Trinity rector
ship, which affords him little time or
opportunity for personal ministration.
Looked Upon as Institution
In the eyes of the New York public
the rector of Trinity Parish is an in
stitution. During Americas prepara-
ton for active hostilities, when the
New York draft troops were training
at Camp Upton, DR.. Manning ceased
for the time to be the rector and be-
came chaplain, living with the SOL
dlers, sharing with them their hard
ships. He disclosed his human side.
But he returned to his own parish when
the need for services at Camp Upton
was at an end and he became again
the institution.
In spite of this he is man of
strong personality. Trinity is huge
establishment. No man can rise su
perior to it, no matter how strong his
personality; he becomes rather part
of it.
Four times DR.. Manning could have
Diocese of Kentucky elected him, then
the new Diocese of Harrisburg, Penn,
wanted him for the first bishop. The
Diocese of Washington would have
elected him had he but given the word
Finally the historic See of Western
New York called him.
One offer after another he declined.
Inc first came when he had not
achieved national emincnce - proof
came when it was known that he would
succeed DR.. Morgan Dix as rector of
Trinity Parish.
May Be Elected Again
Now there is a possibility-it is
more than that, it is e. probability
that he will be elected to succeed
Bishop David H. Greer as head of the
Diocese of New York. Whether he
could resist this call is a question.
Trinity, with its chapels spread all
over Manhattan and elsewhere, with
its huge esponsibilities and it's great
wealth. is a little diocese in itself.
sired and desirable places in the
Church. The question as to the range
of usefulness, whether as rector of
Trinity or as head of the diocese, is
fine one and it would be very difficult
to decide.
DR.. Manning is a preacher of most
unusual type. There is no one quite
like him in the city He has been
called a master Of the pause His
method is to stand in his pulpit for
several moments without uttering a
word; then to announce his text in
slow and measured tones and to pause
again. BY this time he has provoked
his congregation into attention. Once
having gained the peoples attention he
never Loses it. He speaks very briefly
without notes and without many ges-
lures. He speaks as one who is abso-
lutely sure OF himself and he disdains
the rising infection.
No one can deny that he is a con-
vincing speaker. He is utterly with
out eloqucnce, as that word is gem
orally understood; yet he is magnetic.
Thoroughly in Earnest
He impresses his hearers as one who
is thoroughly in earnest, and because
of that he compels attention. Yet it
is obvious that he cares nothing for
personal popularity. Once he said
from the pulpit: at is not the busi-
ness Of the minister to please you, or
20 be popular with you, or even to try
to win your affections, though where
duty is faithfully done this may be
given to faithful souls"
His bearing denotes his absolute be-
lief in that utterance. What he says
is the summary of his conclusions
from deep thought and earnest study.
II his hearers do not like it that must
be no concern Of his. 1t is his duty
to interpret things as he sees them
DR.. Manning is high churchman,
leader of the high church move
ment. TO him the ceremonialism of
the church is second nature. 1t blends
with his habit Of thought. One could
not imagine his offering an cxtcmpore
prayer--It would be too self-revcaiing.
The ancient iturgics, the Psalms
all these are to give expression to
every spiritual emotion. They are ex-
pressivc enough and properly unob-
trusive.
One would imagine from this
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