Strathmore was the more generally
popular candidate. He was a man who appealed strongly to the common
heart, both by his sympathy and by flexibility of character and
temperament which made it impossible for him to be repellantly stern or
austere. He preached the high ideals which are dear to the best thought
of the children of the Puritans; he demanded high purpose and high
life, noble aims and unfailing charity; while he laid little stress on
dogmas, and allowed an elasticity of individual interpretation of
doctrine which made the creed easy of adoption by all who believed
anything. His enemies--for he was by no means so insignificant as to be
without enemies--declared that he carried the doctrine of "mental
reservations" to the extent of rendering the articles of faith mere
empty forms of words; his defenders protested that he was but wisely
conforming in non-essentials to the progressive spirit of the age.
Bitterly attacked by the more conservative members of his own
denomination, he was looked up to by the general public as a great
spiritual leader, and loved with an affection exceedingly rare in this
unpriestly age.
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