The Battle of the Pulpits
Jan 1956: It was Reverend vs. Reverend. On the left, in the main pulpit, the Rev. Mr. Thomas ordered hymns and told the organist to start playing. On the right, in the raised altar, the Rev. Mr. Melish led prayers.
Church leaders had been trying to remove Rev. Melish from his position as rector of the Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn, believing he was a communist sympathizer. Melish refused to go. This led to the situation where the church-appointed rector and Melish attempted to lead Sunday services simultaneously, battling to drown each other out.
Bishop James DeWolfe eventually brought an end to the feud by closing the church entirely, and it remained shuttered for 12 years.
You can read Melish's account of the feud here. And it's also described in his NY Times obit.
Church leaders had been trying to remove Rev. Melish from his position as rector of the Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn, believing he was a communist sympathizer. Melish refused to go. This led to the situation where the church-appointed rector and Melish attempted to lead Sunday services simultaneously, battling to drown each other out.
Bishop James DeWolfe eventually brought an end to the feud by closing the church entirely, and it remained shuttered for 12 years.
You can read Melish's account of the feud here. And it's also described in his NY Times obit.
Comments
In the spirit of god, love, fellowship, cooperation and the golden rule. One of several reasons I gave up organized religion so long ago.
Posted by Gator Guy on 01/11/16 at 09:54 AM
Start charging them taxes due to politics from the pulpit then I bet it would have resolved much more quickly then.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 01/11/16 at 09:59 AM
I agree with all the above!
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/11/16 at 10:23 AM
Let's get ready to Gospelllllllllll
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 01/11/16 at 10:49 AM
@BD...that's funny, I don't care who you are!
Posted by Steve E. on 01/11/16 at 01:18 PM
What made him a Lefty at the time was his support of civil rights and his push for an end to the cold war. We can't have people talking about equality and peace in a church!
In today's political environment, he'd be a rabid conservative for daring to believe in God.
In today's political environment, he'd be a rabid conservative for daring to believe in God.
Posted by Phideaux on 01/11/16 at 01:58 PM
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Category: Religion | 1950s