New-York tribune., 1919-06-02
Righteousness Is Religion
of John Haynes Holmes,
Former Unitarian, Now
Community Church Pastor
Saws He Hates Orthodoxy
Calls Billy Sundays Teach
ings Irrational, Immoral,
Untrue and a Crime

Among the popular preachers of New
York. none is more frequently in the
rublic eye than John Haynes Holmes.
His church, at Thirty fourth Street
and Park Avenue, is the setting for all
sxneriment that is being watched by
.lercvmen OF all faiths. Mr.. Holmes
tas cut loose from Unitarianism, but
Sis church has not-formally. Yet his
Church recognizes what Mr.. Holmes
farms the demands of the new day in
matters ecclesiastical to the extent
that it does not insist upon adherence
10 the tenets of Unitarianism. 1t has
let down all bars but one-a desire to
live better life. On that platform
any one IS welcome.
By vote of the membership the
church has yielded its old name-the
Church of the Messiah-to be known
as the Community Church of New
York.
Mr.. Holmes has been on what Reg
insld Campbell, in his famous state
ment on returning to the Established
Church, called spiritual pilgrimage"
It has been long journey, but at last
Mr.. Holmes feels that he is face to
face with the verities. Several years
sso he publicly indicated what was
scing on in his mind.
"We need a new church," he said, "a
church that shall be devoted to truth
and not to tradition, that shall be
moved by spirit of freedom and nc.
Of authority and that shall be dedi-
cated to Justice and not to charity"
Righteousness His Religion
Some months later Mr.. Holmes said
be would revise the First Command
ment to read, You shall have no other
conception Of God but the conception
OF God Of Righteousness. You SHAH
therefore have no religion except 4
religion which means righteousness.
Amid all the entcements of life moth
ing shall have command over the soul
,save duty
\ All the barriers between a whole
hearted welcome for those who were
earnestly seeking after righteousness
were swept aside in turn until finally
Mr.. Holmes announced the platform of
the Community Church.
Most Of his people had accompanied
him on his spiritual pilgrimage. There
were few defections, bat many more
accessions. To-day his church is in
sound financial condition and is show
Ing steady growth in membership.
In the days Immediately preceding
America entrance into the WAY his
pulpit utterances were the subject of
scathing rebukes from the press and
other pulpits He was all avowed
racihst and did everything possible to
convince his people that Americas s duty
vas 20 show that there was one great
nation which had outgrown war.
Adherents Were Loyal
His official board and his adherents
sefused to be moved by the attacks
upon their pastor, saying that the right
OF free speech was guaranteed TO the
people OF this country and that there
was no mistaking Mr.. Holiness sin
Cerity.
Two months before Americas formal
declaration Of war the preacher said:
w must strain every nerve to prevent
hosti!lt!es. Even the iiercest mlltarist
cannot regard it as essential either 10
our dignity or honor to take up arms
banlsh, Il you will the German govern
ment from our sympathy, refuse it
either economic or political associa-
tlon; exile it from the recognized fam
hy Of manhnd-but this is enough"
After tte mobilization of the Amcri-