New-York tribune., 1919-03-31
THE REV. DIR. WILLIAM l.. SULLIVAN

significance. To-day the picturesque,
foreign looking edfice nestles down
between two high buildings occupied
by the silk and ribbon industry on
Fourth Avenue. while the parish house
stands near the southern entrance to
exclusive Gramercy Park. The congre-
cation. however, Is not drawn from this
section. 1t 10 made rp OF residents Of
all quarters of Manhattan and allied
boroughs. "Many Of our members come
miles and miles every Sunday to at
tend services and hear Dr, Sullivan"
said one of the minister's flock.
Receives Many New Calls
DR., Sullivan IL not merely minis
ter whom hs own congregation likes,
| Many calls have been extended to him,
but The board Of trustees Will not part
with him.
A man Of unusual height and angu.
lar. DR.. Sullivan presents n dramatic
appearance In tho pulpit. His sermons
are always unusual In many respects.
ordinary. Just now he ia in the midst
Of a timely series. Yesterday he
preached on reconstruction problems,
his subject being "The Moral Law FOR
Employer and for Workman"
Moral law, ethical principles and
higher idealism are his favorite sub
jects. 1t has been said that his SER
preacher in New York. This may be
one Of the reasons for the fact that
every Sunday finds between six and
| dozen ministers Of various denomina-
tions in the pews at All Souls when he
breaches.
His sermons are rarely doctrinal
They are always informative and help
full. His diction Is faultless, his choice
Of words facilo and graceful, yet,
withal, his sermons are often punctu-
ated with q keen wit or q subtle, in
cisivc, Swiftan satire which provokes
irrepressible smiles.
Classed as "Restrained Orator"
DR.. Sullivan Is classed as a ire
strained orator" His oratory ia Of
the quiet, simple variety Although
frank and spoken, he gives an
added power to his words by the skill
ed use of his exceptionally mellow
voice and the dignity of his delivery.
He is preacher Of few gestures, de-
pending upon the power of his words
rather than gyrations to carry his
message home.
Although he speaks without notes,
his sermons are invariably literally
| sprinkled with references to the clas-
sizes, historical dates and episodes, and
on rare occasions he quotes q short,
appropriate poem.
DR.. Sullivan has demonstrated to his
congregation that he is capable of
strong emotional feeling against the
foes Of righteousness, but he always
has complete control of himself, and
at the height of his oratory his hearers
realize that he has not let himself
completely "go," but still has some
thing in reserve.
The unremitting foe Of revolution
ary Socialism, Bolshevism and other
war born "isms," DR.. Sullivan has scath-
ingly denounced them on many occa-
sions during the war and since the
armistice was signed, but always with
a quiet. restrained, but nevertheless
powerful dignity The series of ser
subjects as "Bolshevik Socialism
Americanism and the Moral Law
"Democracy's Need of Guidance and
Discipline" "Righteous Nationalism as
Virtue and Safeguard" and america
at the Crossroads: Perils and Opportu-
mites"
Whatever may be the outstanding
event in world history, DR.. Sullivan
seems able to apply the doctrines OF
moral law to tt and preach most in
teresting sermon upon it, Very fire.
quently he selects for his text some
obscure, abstruce and little known
Biblical quotation which would seem tc
oifer little or no opportunity to a man
of his forensic gifts and talents, but
before he concludes he has preached
an illuminative sermon.
Bolshevism Founded on Pillage
A few Sundays ago he vigorously de.
nounced Bolshevism because It i.
founded on public pillage." Then he
added: II am in this pulpit for JUS
enc thing, to uphold right"
Although he severad his connection
with the Catholic Church some year,
ago, pr. Sullivan never speaks dispar
agingly OF that communion.
Several weeks ago, when Superln
tehdent. Anderson Of the New Yorl
Ahti.3aloon League launched mn attscj
Oh Cardinal Gibbons. Dr. Sullivan wa
ono OF tho ffst men In America to re
ply TO the criticism and declare tha
"eon'lseatioh without reeompenss II
theft Since leaving The Cntboil
4 books which attracted attention be
U cause OF their HchoIarilinesn. Ons o
them was "LetteTs to the Pope" 1,
which n number OF frank question
were asked by m0derniat, and tn
other. "rhe PRIEST" the latter being
nctlon story,
DR.. Sullivan hsa a variety of cutie
TO perform besides preaching. YUnAs
his advisory direction the Warren Goa
dard House. In East Thirty-fourtl
street, has hourished as q Settlemen
centre, the congregation of his churcl
has steadily increased and tho welfare
civic and patriotic activities Of the me,
and women in the All Souls flock hav
multiplied manifold since hs becam
the miRtsteA