Wilmington Daily Commercial

That Boston Re-Nomination

VERSION OF A MINISTER WHO WAS PRESENT - CORROBORATION OF BISHOP HAVEN'S STATEMENTS.

Rev. S. L. Gracey, formerly of Wilmington, but now stationed at Weymouth, Mass., who is a member of the Boston meeting and was present the day Bishop Haven is said to have re-nominated President Grant, has been interviewed by a reporter of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Mr. Gracey says the address of Bishop Haven was not cut and dried for the occasion. It was informal and made in response to a call from the meeting, late in its session. As the Bishop had recently returned from a tour of the Southern States, a request was presented that he would speak concerning the interests of our church in the South. In his response, which was very free, as it was expected it should be when he was supposed to be addressing his old friends and associates in the ministry, he alluded to the spirit of rebellion still existing in sections of the South, to the loyalty of the colored people and the duty of the church to stand by this still oppressed class. He referred to the duty of the church to educate and Christianize this people until they were brought into such condition that they could care for themselves. To insure them their full privilege and rights as citizens, he thought General Grant was doing more for them than any other power in the country could. That the old spirit was held in check more by his military hand than by any other influence in the nation. As he regarded Grant as a necessity to the work of reconstruction, he hoped all Methodist preachers present would pray for his re-nomination and re-election. This is the substance of the address and the "head and front of his offending." It was simply an off hand speech to friends.

Mr. Gracey further says the character of Bishop Haven's remarks have not been fairly represented, while of the applause he says it was only such as is usual when a stranger has ceased speaking. When the vote of thanks was proposed he said that Rev. Dr. Woodruff, formerly of New York city, but now of Fall River, said plainly he thought nobody could misunderstand the vote of approval; that it was simply the customary resolution on such occasions, and did not mean anything in any political sense. With that very positive explanation the meeting adopted the motion by a unanimous rising vote.

Mr. Gracey thinks it absurd to ridicule Bishop Haven or the Boston meeting about the matter, and says that there is even a division of sentiment among the Boston preachers touching the re-nomination of President Grant which would have prohibited such a thing.