OCR Text |
Show RECTOR SCORES BISHOPS & $r- "TOOLS OF WALL STREET" REV. GEORGE CHALMERS RICHMOND. August Belmont PointeH Out as Both Vestryman and Race Track Gambler. By International News Service. PHILADELPHIA , Aug. 3. "Our house of bishops is led In tow by Wall street. The late J. P. Morgan was the power behind Bishop Greer, and he held our house of bishops in the hollow of his hand. "The cathedral on Mornlngside Heights is a standing monument to our New York corrupt money power. It is the embodiment embodi-ment of ecclesiastical snobbery, spiritual frippery and moral incompetency. "Since the day of Bishop Potter the dlo-ces dlo-ces of New York has been in the control of half a dozen plutocrats. "In Philadelphia the Episcopal church Is run by a few rich men. They control the bishop (Rhlnelander). who, in mental ability, personal authority and moral aggressiveness, ag-gressiveness, Is not by any means a great man. "August Belmont is at the head of our race track gamblers. Ills career Is one of the worst careers for an American youth to Imitate. Yet he Is a veteran vestryman In the Church of the Ascension In Lower Fifth avenue." Sensational Preacher. These quotations are from a sermon delivered de-livered today In St. John's Episcopal church by the rector. Rev. George Chalmers Chal-mers Richmond. Mr. Richmond, whose sensational sermons upon many of the evils of modern day life has made him a national figure, excoriated Bishop Greer of New York, his own Bishop Rhlnelander and "present day hypocrlcy" in the Episcopal Epis-copal church. Mr. Richmond charges that tho church has for years betrayed the interests of the laboring man. He bitterly attacks Bishop Greer as a "rich man's bishop," and calls the men whom the bishop has designated to manage the general convention con-vention of tho church which convenes next October, a "set of moral vagabonds.'' vaga-bonds.'' "Blshojv Greer has bundled together Infamous In-famous financiers, corrupt politicians and a lot of corporation lawyers, together with a choice set of -Newport and Bar Harbor social lights, who spend three or four months of tho year drawing dividends in New York, the winter at Palm Beach, the spring In Italy and the rest of their time In bed," said Mr. Richmond. Scores Belmont. "Several of the men In this list stand openly for immoral practice of tho worst sort. Such n man Is August Belmont, a vestryman In the Church of the Ascension Ascen-sion in Lower Fifth avenue, and now the treasurer of the commltteo on arrangements arrange-ments for the general convention. "Bishop Greer Insulted the best moral sentiment of his diocese by honoring a man who stands nt the head of our American Amer-ican race track gamblers. Belmont stands evidently for .lust what Richard Canfleld stood for. This sermon was written out on the porch of the United States hotel at Saratoga. Here deceit, trickery and deviltry will revel for a month or more, and August .Tlelmont rules over all. "In most of tho large parishes of the Episcopal church throughout the country wo find men like Belmont and the late J. P. Morgan who curb the spiritual Influence In-fluence of the clergy, make them timid and In the end cause them to shrivel up morally. Men In humblo circumstances distrust our sincerity. The Episcopal church Is not sincere In lt3 present assumed as-sumed attitude toward labor. Sides With Capital. "It sldos everywhere with arrogant capital. cap-ital. Bishop Greer during, his long and uneventful Episcopate, has beon moru Informed and guided regarding dloceslan necessities by men like Belmont, ex-Governor Dlx and the like, than by the humble hum-ble prophets of the faith. I cannot recall ono great nodal and patriotic message which 1ms come from Bishop Greer's Hps and soul since he succeeded thnt masterful master-ful and diplomatic leader, the late Henry C, Potter," Tho Episcopal church, despite the fact that the lato J. P. Morgan gavo $100,000 toward tho work, does not want church unity unless other denominations recognize recog-nize the superiority of the Episcopal church, Mr. Riabmond, charged- |