Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1901 — A Silly Mission. [ARTICLE]

A Silly Mission.

Rev. Dr. George C. I<orlmer of Boston is In London. He is the sonsatlonal pastor of Tremont Temple when he is at home and his religion Is a mixture of many, with politics thrown in as a side line. Since reaching England he has found, to his dlßmay, that a considerable number of tho clergymen are not only opposed to tho Boer war but publicly avow such opposition. To the Lorlmer mind this is rebellious, un-Christian, indocent. He is so deeply offended that he is going to take the rostrum and spend the next two months denouncing tiiese clergymen in case he fails to convert them. It will be interesting to know how many converts the doctor will make among this class. Naturally they will resent tho presence of a foreigner who comes to abuse them if they do not fall Into line with his suggestions; again it will strike them as queer that the United States, which so generally has sympathized with the Boers, should furnish a clergyman to misrepresent his countrymen at the seat of British power and to traduce those who, from a sense of justice, feel impelled to take issue with their government because they believe it to be In the wrong. Mr. Lorlmer would have these men act contrary to the dictates of their consciences in considering the war—and support it blindly. He has a strange conception of English character, which is nothing if not candid and fearless of consequences, when it comes to determining public questions. Americans repudiate Lorlmer and his mission. They sympathize with the Bocrß and all the bellowing of the Boston preacher cannot change this sentiment. They respect the English clergy who have the courage to record their opposition to the unequal struggle in South Africa and feel that men of this stamp have nothing to fear at the hands of the Massachusetts ranter who represents only himself in the self-appointed, cheeky and undemocratic mission he has undertaken.