Evening star., 1933-02-12
.COOL|Dc.-. :. PASTOR
TELLS MEMORIES
Dr.. Pierce Describes Former
President as Deeply
Religious.

Calvin Coolidge, as seen by his pas
tor, is the theme Of an article contrib
uted to The Congregational, denom-
/. national periodical, by the Rev. DR..
Jason Noble Pierce, minister Of the
First Congregational Church, 1920-1s30.
''When he was coming to Washing
ton as Vice President" DR.. Pierce
says, I'VE rendered him the use OF a
pew in the First Church, which he ac-
cepted. He did not know that 1t was
the pastors pew, chosen because no
ether was to be had. He liked it be-
cause 1t was not too far forward, and
he could enter and leave without being
! over er-conspicuous. As his custom was
Sunday he was in Washington, and
during the entire period of his vice
presidency, II he was In the city he
was in his own pew. I think I could
count his absences on my thumbs"
DR.. Pierce relates an incident to IL
lustrate Mr.. Coolidge's thoughtfulness
How like him 1t was" he declares,
"at the time the Unknown Soldier was
to be buried in Arlington and tickets
to the amphitheater were priceless and
practically unobtainable, to hand to en
usher at the Sunday morning service
an envelope addressed to myself. I
opened it in the pulpit, thinking that
1t was a pulpit announcement, and
the Arlington exercises"
Boosted Own Church.
How Mr.. Coolidge acted on occasion
as missionary" DR.. Pierce relates
as follows: after q gathering of Am
herst alumni at the Cosmos Club, the
Vice President was escorted to his car
BY the president of the National Geo.
graphic Society, Gilbert Grosvenor.
When DR.. Grosvenor returned to the
room, he drew me aside and said, The
Vice President surely is a booster for
your church. He asked me why did
not attend there, and pressed the in
vitation so strongly that I had to state
that attended elsewhere and could
hardly change, as my wife came from
old Scotch Presbyterian stock. But he
was SO earnest that I was surprised
and deeply touched So was L"
In DR.. Pterce's opinion, Mr.. Coolidge
did not alter when he became Presi-
dent. HE continued always to DOS
SesS the same qualities
The pastor tells how, after the death
OF President Harding, his successor tel
egraphed for his minister to meet him
on his arrival in Washington. He re-
calls his partaking of the holy sac
rament on that first August Sunday.
Always before then Mr.. Coolidge had
remained through the communion serv-
ice, reverent and sympathetic but not
partaking of the bread and wine. But
then and thereafter he always par
took. He needed God. I know he
found him.
Dr.. Pierce continues: Being an un-
oStentat1ous, quiet, home loving man.
ne had to learn to accept the forms
and ceremonies surrounding the Presi-
dent philosophically. He was moved
N church to q conspicuous pew so far
forward that the secret service men
from all parts Of the church could
watch everybody around him. Mostly
this Is to guard the President from
cranks and 1-advised people who have
eome personal cause to plead and fail
usual channels. The CONGREGATION
stood when he arrived eSd departed,
ana the minister escorted him from
MS pew. ] appreciated the opportuni-
ties that little occasional afforded for
few words with him.
Knew Exact Distance.
"One snowy Sunday. thinking of the
broad walk around the White House
grounds. said, If there were a custom
nat every man had to shovel his own
walk, some people who envy you, MIR.
President would hesitate to have your
job His matter-o fact reply was:
It's Just one mile around the grounds.
I paced 1T of last week On another
SUNDAY, he said, I attended the dedi-
cation OF All Souls Church last week
and heard your namesake preach II
replied that I was delighted he had
gone and I knew he had heard a fine
sermon. AS I turned to speak to Mrs.
Coolidge, the President turned back,
nudged my arm and said. 1T was two
DR.. Pierce speaks with appreciation
of the courtesies extended by the
Coolidge family to clerical friends dur
Ing their residence in the Executive
Mansion. OF Mr. Coolidge he says:
Never could he have borne the strain
OF of1ce If he had not had a lively
sense OF humor and unusual power OF
relaxing. He could be the most digni-
ned OF Presidents in public, and again
ne could unbend as child. His humor
involved myself on one occasion. He
was to attend a foot ball game between
two teams representing the Army anS
the Navy. AT the start he was to throw
out the foot ball. Sitting with the
Navy the first half and with the Army
the second half, he was to be formally
transferred during the intermission
Some one died whose funeral he had
to attend, and he appointed me to act
in his place and receive his honors at
the game. During the intermission the
Secretary of the Navy and string of
admira.S gravely escorted preacher to
the middle Of the field and solemnly
turned him over to the War Depart
ment and a squad of generals. And
somewhere at a funeral service think
the President. at least for a moment
had gleam in his eye and curve in
his lip"
DR.. Pierce at present is professor of
practical theology at Atlanta Seminary
and head Of the department Of practi-
cal theology at Vanderbilt University
School of Relicinn Ha alSa &c M ctor