Evening star., 1925-02-13
PLEA. BY LIBERALS
T0B|SHOP MANNING
Urged to Make New St,
Johns Cathedral Church
for All People.
BY ROBERT r. SMALL.

NEW YORK, February 13.-Re-
newed public pressure is being
brought to bear upon Bishop William
T. Manning of the Episcopal diocese
of New York to reconsider his decf-
sion that representatives of other
Protestant denominations should not
be placed upon the board of trustees
Of the magnificent Cathedral Of ST.
John the Divine, which soon is to be
sped toward completion at Morning
side Heights.
Liberal churchmen Of the metropo-
lis have seen in the recent drive for
the cathedral and the wonderful re-
sponse made to 1t long step toward
what they regarded as church unity.
Posters announcing the drive refer
red to the cathedral as a shrine Of
worship for all people" The drive
caught the fancy of New York. Many
of the donations which flowed in
were contributions toward "the big
church"-the big church that was to
belong to all New York.
Drive Was Nationwide.
The appeal for the Cathedral was
not only city-wide but nationwide.
1t was addressed to all the people.
And all the people responded. Jews.
Catholics and all Of the Protestant
denominations have given virtually
as freely as the members OF the
Protestant Episcopal Church, whose
bishop presides at the Cathedral.
One Of the heaviest individual con-
tributors was John D. Rockefeller, jr.,
a Baptist. Mr.. Rockefeller's gift was
for 100000 and there have been in
timations that he might give more
as the work progresses and more
funds are needed. 1t was Mr.. Rookie
uyh DO octt ,Nf
as a condition of his gift, but as a
| churchman deeply interested in unity,
that representatives OF some of the
| other denominations be invited to be-
come a part of the board Of trustees,
made up at the moment exclusively
of Episcopalians.
Decides He Cannot Comply.
Bishop Manning received the sug-
gestion and considered IL. But he
found he could not comply, his ex-
planation being that the time was not
Yet ripe for such step. The decision
was an immense disappointment to
the workers for fraternity among the
Christian churches. and cast some
| thing of chill over the closing days
of the drive, which is to end February
%. Some of those who have taken an
active part in the effort to complete
| the cathedral, whose construction has
| long been delayed. are endeavoring to
get Bishop Manning to reconsider, and
| have cited to him the fact that in the
| past the board Of trustees of the Ma
uonal Cathedral, at Washington. has
! included representatives of church de-
| nominations other than the Protestant
Episcopal.
Some religious animosities have
broken out in other directions as a
result of the cathedral drive in this
| city, a number of Roman Catholics
being taken to task for contributing
to the upbuilding of the Protestant
| Church.
Prominent Catholic Contributors.
Gov AL Smith and Mayor Hylan
have been among the more prominent
| Catholics who have contributed, and
an effort is being made today to get
| every one Of the $4,000 policemen OF
| the city to give a mite OF his earn
| ings. regardless of religious faith.
Despite these setbacks, there is a
| feeling that fraternity among the
churches has been helped by the ca
| thedral drive. 1t has brought pen
nies from the Jewish children of the
| East Side and it has attracted thou
sands of dollars from wealthy homes
| regardless Of creed. New York has
wanted to call the cathedral Its own
| The drive has stirred religious
feeling in the metropolis at a time
| when it was felt to be bitterly need
| ed, for New York's plays and ways
| have been rather wicked of late.
Copyright. 1921
|
London's black maria, the rambling
| bus for conyeyinp Drisoners has civ