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Show PARSON NEWMAN'S DOWNFALL. DOWN-FALL. The relations of tho late Rev. J. P. Newman, D. D., to the lata administration adminis-tration are said lo have been hinhly satisfactory to tha Rev. J. P. Newman, New-man, D. l3. Hia position ns a sacerdotal sacer-dotal nppcudapa lo tho executive department could hardly have been more firmly established if an act of congress had created a bureau ol spiritual advice, and he had been placed at the head of that bureau by Grant's appointment and the senate's conhrmatiou. Socially and financial finan-cial Paraon Nowman thrived during Grant's two terms. Ho was the Friar Tuck of the memorable baud of public plunderers which used to meet for festive purposes at tho Washington Washing-ton club, at lioas Shepherd's villa, and arouud the mahogany of tho jovial Rohcson. It is alleged that he never winked twice at a glass of good Liquor, that lie could stand any amount of tobacco smoke, and had a talent for turning his ears the other way when storieB of questionable pro priety were told; and Iheae qualities are believed to have gained him the eBteeni of the president aud hia friends. Having the ear of tho "old man," Paraon Newman's importance was recognized at the capital. Ho appeared ap-peared not infrequently in the lobby, where his influence in procuring legislation leg-islation was rated by experts as somewhat some-what above that of the ordinary representative, an.! a little below a senator's. Parson Newman, as we have said, thrived during the days ol Gratism. If he felt like praying, he was allowed to pray in the senate ! chamber at so many dollars a prayer. Desiring to travel, an extraordinary office was created to meet his case, and he was sent around tho world to inspect Americau consulates on a nice salary, with his wife as his pri-1 vate secretary at another nice salary. It is not recorded that Parson Newman New-man inspected any consulates during his tour; but he discovered the site ol Eden, and found tho lions' den into which Daniel was cnet; and he is said to have brought home tho secret of a delectable beverage which has become popular in Washington under un-der tho name of "Newman's hot Scotch." The Metropolitan Methodist Epis-norial Epis-norial church shared in its pastor's prosperity. There Grant dozed once a week uuder tho rather dull preaching preach-ing of the Rev. Dr. Newman. Tbc tide of Washington fashionable society, so called, set toward the preteutious edifice aud tiooded its-aisles its-aisles and filled its pews. For a lime j Parson Newman's sermooB were printed weekly in pamphlet form, like the pulpit utterances of Beecher or Talmaco. and frank prl ovor.iko country by, congressmen along with pateut office anil agricultural department depart-ment - reports. The Metropolitan church came to regard itself as a part of our system of republican government, aud act apart a pew to be known for all time as the "national, "na-tional, or president's pew," and another, consecrated to the presence of the vice-president, but not occupied since the days of the lamented Colfax. Col-fax. No wonder that Parson Newman was one of the most nidentof the third-termers, aud that, when Cteaarism had received its quietus, he viowed with apprehension the possir bility of a new administration which should not worship at the Metropolitan Metropoli-tan nor turn to the Metropolitan's Metropoli-tan's pastor for spiritual counsels. Indeed, nobody has regarded the political uncertainty of tho past few months more anxiously than the Rev. J. P. Newman, D. D. Nobody hailed with Biucerer joy tho counting iu ol Hayes, or read with greater satis-, faction of the new president's attachment attach-ment lo the MethodiBt denomination. Discouragement gavo way to elation. ela-tion. Confidence was restored in the Metropolitan church. Before Parson Par-son Newman's mental vision there opened a pleasing prospect of continued con-tinued power, profit, and importance. Ho saw in the future at least four years more of personal, political, and spiritual distinction. He saw himsftlf still a welcome visitor at tho white house, admitted when senators and forfifii nmhfisundnra Wfirn denied. He saw himself, with his mind's eye, travelling again around the globe, revisiting Eden and the lions' den, exhuming Assyrian bulls at the expense ex-pense of the treasury. Ho had the president's pew forthwith ewept and Karnisbcd, went to Hayes and urged him to occupy it, and, as wo are lo!d by n Washington reporter, ho gave ordera that if Grant and his family presented themselves at the doors of tbe Metropolitan church on Sundy morning, they should be put ofi with the vice-president's pow. Not only Parson Newman, but also the elders of his flock went and urged Hayes to avail himgelf of the spiritual advantages advan-tages afforded so liberally at the Metropolitan. i Notwithstanding , these fluuky jeflorbj, Parson Newman preached on Sunday to an empty presidential pew. If anything were wanting to embitter his disapoiutmcnt and to render humiliatiug the distraction of his fondest hopes, it was afforded in the exasperating coolness with which the fraudulent president snubbed him and his church, And went and said hit prayers witR'a less obtrusivo congregation. congre-gation. Parson Newman has richly doserved this lesson. Tho most charitably disposed dis-posed cau only hope that its c fleet will be to turn his mind from temporal tem-poral things, and to teach him that a minister of the gospel can be better employed than in tuft hunting, intriguing, in-triguing, and toadying to politicians in power. N. Y. Sun. |
