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Story
April 3, 1885
The Palatka Daily News
Palatka, Putnam County, Florida
What is this article about?
Commentary on President Grant's independent choice of an unfashionable church in Washington, DC, rejecting offers from elite congregations to avoid being used as an attraction, resulting in increased attendance from 300 to 1,200 members.
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THE PRESIDENT AND THE CHURCHES.
There is more or less gush written about the "Man of Destiny" that now lives in the White House, but since he has been so prominently before the public he has developed so many commendable traits that it is all perhaps excusable. The Savannah News thus comments on his selection of a church wherein he will worship for the next four years:
"A strong characteristic of the president is his independence. He thinks and acts without waiting to shape his conduct on a model presented by others.
"His selection of a church in which to worship has been the occasion of much comment. It was expected that he would attend some one of the fashionable churches in the fashionable part of the city. A pew, it is said, was offered him in several churches free of rent. He rejected all offers from churches that wanted to make a show of him, and in that way possibly to make him help pay their debts, and connected himself with a very unfashionable congregation in a very unfashionable part of the city.
There are those perhaps who have said that the president thought to do a popular act by joining a congregation that is near the masses of the people.
"The truth probably is that he values people for what they are, not for the clothes they wear or the wealth they possess. He didn't like the efforts doubtless that were made to utilize him as an attraction, and so he determined to cast his lot with the little and unknown congregation that worshiped in the obscure church near the city's temple of justice. He was independent enough to do what he pleased in the matter, and it pleased him to draw people to him rather than allow himself to be drawn into the associations where respect would be paid to his position and not to him.
"His drawing power is, it seems, pretty good. The congregation of which he is now a member has increased from 300 to 1,200. The little church may become rich and famous in the next four years."
There is more or less gush written about the "Man of Destiny" that now lives in the White House, but since he has been so prominently before the public he has developed so many commendable traits that it is all perhaps excusable. The Savannah News thus comments on his selection of a church wherein he will worship for the next four years:
"A strong characteristic of the president is his independence. He thinks and acts without waiting to shape his conduct on a model presented by others.
"His selection of a church in which to worship has been the occasion of much comment. It was expected that he would attend some one of the fashionable churches in the fashionable part of the city. A pew, it is said, was offered him in several churches free of rent. He rejected all offers from churches that wanted to make a show of him, and in that way possibly to make him help pay their debts, and connected himself with a very unfashionable congregation in a very unfashionable part of the city.
There are those perhaps who have said that the president thought to do a popular act by joining a congregation that is near the masses of the people.
"The truth probably is that he values people for what they are, not for the clothes they wear or the wealth they possess. He didn't like the efforts doubtless that were made to utilize him as an attraction, and so he determined to cast his lot with the little and unknown congregation that worshiped in the obscure church near the city's temple of justice. He was independent enough to do what he pleased in the matter, and it pleased him to draw people to him rather than allow himself to be drawn into the associations where respect would be paid to his position and not to him.
"His drawing power is, it seems, pretty good. The congregation of which he is now a member has increased from 300 to 1,200. The little church may become rich and famous in the next four years."
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
President Church
Independence
Unfashionable Congregation
Attendance Increase
White House
What entities or persons were involved?
The President
Where did it happen?
Washington, Dc
Story Details
Key Persons
The President
Location
Washington, Dc
Story Details
The president independently chooses to join an unfashionable church in an obscure part of the city, rejecting free pews from fashionable ones to avoid being exploited, valuing people over status; attendance grows from 300 to 1,200.