New-York tribune., 1919-07-28

r
sonality to such degree that there
could be no warmth Of feeling for
him. The reverse is true. He stands
as living exponent of a system that
is very dear and very precious to many
whose emotions are as deep as the still
waters. Being a part of that system
he shares in the affection for it,
The war called to the souls of men.
The war revealed the soul of this man.
Among the soldiers he was brother
beloved. He adapted himself to the
system of things as they were then
and gave freer expression to his own
individuality because the times de-
manded it.
The war touched his preaching; it
broadened his sympathies. And from
that retreat into which he drew him
self when once ensconced again in the
rectorship, he told Of his discoveries.
He told of them with a quiet reserve
as if he hesitated to change the
old order. And his very quietness
made his desires the more compelling
From the pulpit of Trinity Church
he said he hoped the parish would
abandon the practice of asking pew
rentals. 1t was a revolutionary utter
ance; yet it was suggested in such a
manner as to make it seem evolution
ary. The institutions Of Trinity were
not to be upset; they were to be al
lowed to grow
He said: 1T is time for us to take
some definite practical steps to break
down the barriers between those who
are one in their faith in Christ and
in desire to do Gods work in this
world. believe our greatest need in
the church is more of that spirit of
fellowship and brotherliness and close
companionship in a great common aim
VI ma hn 60
and in our army so wonderful
Feels Spirit of Fellowship
1--WE have the greatest common aim.
1t is to make the world better place
for all by the power and in the name
great aim stir us more deeply and
draw US together more closely and
give US more real joy and pleasure
II think it is because we do not
make it real enough. We do not let it
take hold of us strongly enough. The
moment one goes into group Of
soldiers he feels this spirit of fellow
ship. The barriers are all down. He
finds himself one of a band of brothers,
new zest, new interest. quite as
founding joy and freedom to life, a
cheerfulncss and courage equal to any
and all tasks.
There ought to be more of that sense
of fellowship when we come here on the
common ground of the church. The
church is the place of all others where
we ought to find that common fellow
ship. If it does not exist this means
emily injury and loss. 1t means the
actual denial of the life of the church.
with this in mind, l wish most
earnestly we could give up all renting
of pews or sttings in the church and
make the seats free and open to all
This does not mean that those who
come here regularly could not sit in
their accustomed places, provided they
should give less money to the church.
But the renting of pews is an obstacle
to the full spirit of fellowship which
we want"
Pew Rentals Abolished
And, in response to this desire
another minister would have voiced it
as demand-the pew rentals were
abolished. SO, in quiet way DR..
Manning achieves the end he seeks.
Because of his comparative youth
he was only forty-one when elected
rcctor-some felt that he would shat
ter many of the old traditions of
the parish came under the assaults
of the magazine muck-rakcrs. 1t was
felt that Mr. Manning would come out
into the open with all the facts and
figures of Trinity's huge investments.
But he was content to wait until the
sensational articles had expended all
their force-and then to point to the
great work the parish was doing and
to give a categorical denial to some of
the gencrallzlnG statements tha: had
been made. Tradition had held for the
parish that the intimate facts of it's
disbursements were for the corpora
tion alone to know about-and DR..
Manning refused to assist in the effort
to make public anything more than he
believed to be the publics concern.
SO he stands, a conservative church.
man. welding a tremendous influence
within and without his parish. letting
the public know little Of his person
ality, remaining as much an enigma
as when he camc-except as he re-
vealcd himself to the men in olive
drab. Ask the men Of the 77th Divi-
sion what they think of DR.. Manning.
Their language would shock the staid
old occupants of Trinity's pews. They
call him "a good scout"