Dade County FlArchives History - Books .....Miami's Clergy And Press, Chapter 11 1925
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Book Title: Historical Sketches And Sidelights Of Miami, Florida

CHAPTER XI
MIAMI'S CLERGY AND PRESS

   No city can attain its fullest development without intensive and unremitting
boosting by its citizenship. A town may be invested with most potential natural
resources, it may possess the most healthful climate and most charming and
inspiring scenery, but if it is lacking in boosters to exploit these attributes
and to force them upon the attention of the outside world, they are of little
value to such town. This verity applies with equal force to the moral
advancement of a community. No city that is lacking in spiritual boosters and in
influence of a progressive press can hope to attain a high degree of moral and
material development.

   Miami, from its very inception as a city, has been blessed with an abundance
of community boosters — moral and material. Among its moral uplifters of
profound religious training, tempered with secular education, who have taken
leading parts in the history of this city are the following: Rev. W. W. Faris,
the late Rev. W. E. Stanton, Rev. D. L. Lowe, Rev. J. D. Sybert, Rev. J. M.
Gross, Rev. C. F. Blackburn, the late Rev. N. B. Fuller, the late Rev. L. S.
Rader, the late Rev. John N. McGonnigle, Rev. John A. Wray, Rev. E. V. Blackman,
Rev. R. V. Atkis-son, Rev. Ira E. Adams, Rev. P. S. Merril, Rev. J. R. Cason,
Rev. J. L. White, Rev. H. E. Sala, Rev. Robert T. Phillips, the late Rev.
Frederick A. Bisbee, Rev. Jeremia George, Rev. Robert N. Ward, Rev. W. O.
Garret, Rev. John Harris, Rev. Richard N. Merrill, Father Peter P. O'Sul-livan,
S.J., Father Andrew J. Brown, S.J., Father J. M. McLoughlin, S.J., the late
Father A. Fountain, S.J., the late Father A. Friend, S.J., Father J. F. O'Boyle,
S.J., Father James Moore, S.J., and the late Father Patrick Kennedy, S.J. (There
are doubtless many others who should have been included in this group of
Christian ministers — omissions, if any, are due to the writer's sole dependence
upon personal observation and memory.)

   Rev. W. W. Faris, who is one of Miami's early pioneers, has given this
community and his church very valuable service. His activities were not confined
to the church (Presbyterian), of which he was the beloved pastor for a long
period, and from which he retired at a ripe old age with an enviable record of
noble achievements. His broad views of secular matters made him very-popular
with all classes of his townsmen. His nobility of character and devotion to his
faith made him an ideal Christian teacher who reflected the best there is in
Christianity. The venerable Dr. Faris, while secluded in the bosom of his family
owing to the infirmities of age, is still taking a keen interest in civic
affairs as reported by friends who visit him occasionally. (Dr. Faris died after
this was written.)

  The late Dr. Rader, Dr. Lowe, Dr. Wray, Dr. Merrill, Sr., Dr. Cason and Dr.
Gross have left their indelible impress upon this community. Their practical
sermons and active leadership, in their respective churches, have contributed to
Miami's high moral standard. Their long tenures in their respective pulpits
stand as testimonials to their ability as ministers, and to the affection in
which they were held by their communicants.

   The late Rev. Father Friend was true to the signification of his name. During
his pastorate of the local Catholic Church, some years ago, he was instrumental
in the cultivation and cementing of friendly relations between members of his
flock and those of other denominations. He was also prominently identified with
various civic movements, particularly in that of the founding of the present
city hospital. In this noble undertaking he was intimately associated with the
initiators of the movement, namely, Frank B. Stoneman and the late Conrad
Schmidt, non-Catholics.

   Dr. White has succeeded in making himself indispensable to his church as well
as to the general community. He arrived in this city some years ago, in the
midst of a Y.M.C.A. drive. His inspirational address at one of the workers'
meetings dissipated the avalanche of gloom that had been generated by successive
discouraging reports from the weary solicitors. Dr. White's eloquence is drawing
multitudes to his church (First Baptist). His tolerant attitude toward adherents
of other denominations and toward non-Christians has made him generally beloved
and respected.

   Dr. Sala, Dr. Richard N. Merrill, Dr. Garrett, Dr. Phillips and Dr. Ward are
notable examples of Miami's progressive clergy. Their fearless and vigorous
utterances in their respective pulpits, their enthusiasm of youth and their
forceful criticism of civic situations demanding reformation, stamp them as the
personification of active Christianity.

   Dr. Blackman, Dr. Atkisson and Dr. Adams, although retired from the ministry,
are none the less useful to the community. Dr. Blackman, who is an early
pioneer, has a record of long, uninterrupted community service. He is, in a
large measure, responsible for the horticultural development of Dade County. He
also contributed to the wide publicity enjoyed by Miami through his facile pen
which he had put into action in the early days when local writers were scarce.
Dr. Blackman has rounded out his career as a scribe by writing a history of Dade
County. Dr. Atkisson is doing very effective social work in addition to his
valuable service on the directorate of the Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Adams has
been an important factor in the progress of the church (First Christian) of
which he was pastor. Being endowed with considerable business acumen, he applied
this faculty to the benefit of his church — as evidenced by its magnificent
edifice— which was erected during his ministry. He has also served the community
by helping in numerous drives for funds to supply civic needs.

   The late Dr. Stanton and the late Dr. Fuller were early pioneers in their
respective denominations (the former Baptist, the latter Episcopalian). Although
well advanced in age when they took up their ministerial duties in incipient
Miami, they proved untiring servants of their flocks until called to their
merited rewards.

   Dr. Blackburn, who is one of Miami's early pioneer ministers, has been an
important factor in the upbuilding of his denomination (Trinity Methodist) in
this city, as well as in numerous other localities where his office of presiding
elder demanded his presence. Although absent from the city during long
intervals, he never became dissociated from the spiritual progress of Miami.

   The late Rev. Frederick A. Bisbee, besides an able and liberal minister, was
a noted writer. Up to the time of his demise, in 1923, he was editor of the
Universalist Leader. He also contributed to the local press. About five years
ago he succeeded in organizing the First Universalist church of Miami.

   Miami's boosting spirit permeates all groups of its citizenship; in none of
which, however, is this so pervasive and yet so little recognized by the general
community as in the newspaper group. As in everything else, Miami has been, and
still is, exceptionally fortunate in possessing an intelligent and fearless
press. The wielders of the pen boost everything and everybody in the community
except themselves — their names are seldom seen in their own or in the columns
of other newspapers. The recipients of their boosting are not infrequently
amassing fortunes while themselves, with rare exceptions, remain the vanguard of
the grand army of drifters — this does not apply to owners of newspapers, of
course (locally, the worm has turned, as seen by the number of newspaper men who
recently entered the realty field).

   It is needless to emphasize the transcendent importance of Miami's newspapers
to the city, county and state, suffice it to say that without them Miami would
still be an Indian trading post.

   Miami's newspaper men and women, whose names are listed below, are covering a
vast publicity field, the ramifications of which touch every phase of modern
journalism and every form of community boosting. It is due to some of these
versatile scribes that Miami's public speakers, whose oratorical aspirations
sometimes lure them into unfamiliar fields of rhetoric, are spared the
disconcerting feeling of reading their own speeches as they had been delivered.
It should be remarked that the best published speeches are not infrequently
tinctured with the emanations of their reporters' fertile brains — instead of
being commended, however, they are often accused of garbling.

   Miss Jefferson Bell, society editor of the Herald, is a creditable
representative of the reportorial school which is noted for the production of
writers endowed with great imaginative power.

   Mrs. Marjory Stoneman Douglas who is adding greatly to the growing popularity
of the Herald, when not preoccupied in reporting her own speeches on city
beautifying, current literature, ancient history and upon diverse other
interesting subjects, charms her numerous readers with poetical compositions,
some of which had been found worthy of reproduction in such a noted magazine as
the Literary Digest. To add to her laurels, several of her short stories have
been recently published in The Saturday Evening Post and other noted magazines.

   "Isabel Stone" (nom de plum), writer of special articles for the Miami
Herald, is gaining in popularity among countless readers of that paper through
her highly interesting articles on local current events and the well-known
characters that figure in them.

   Miss Eleanor Bisbee, formerly agriculture editor for the Miami Metropolis,
and now special-edition editor and biographer on the Miami Daily News, is one of
Miami's capable newspaper women whose work is received by an appreciative
reading public.

   Of Miami's women journalists none has been more closely identified with the
progress of this community than Miss Hattie Carpenter, who, for more than a
decade, filled the editorial chair of the Metropolis (now the Daily News). Her
familiarity with educational matters gained during her incumbency of the office
of high school principal found illuminating expression in the editorials of that
paper. Miss Carpenter severed her connection with that paper upon its change of
ownership.

   Arthur Keen, since his ascension to the editorial throne of the Miami
News-Metropolis, has been writing forceful editorials on the imperative needs of
the city. His editorial suggestions relative to park planning and other
municipal improvements have attracted wide attention.

   Charles F. Cushman, another editor of the same paper, was a member of its
staff for a number of years. His quick perception of news values made him
indispensable to that paper. (Both Mr. Keen and Mr. Cushman have recently
severed their connection with the Daily News and have entered the realty field,
the former as a broker and the latter as publicity director for a leading realty
firm.)

   Agnew Walsh, a valued member of the Daily News force, is doing highly
constructive literary work by writing sketches of Florida history which appear
in the columns of that paper from time to time. His comprehensive articles
reveal a wide range of knowledge of the state's history.

   Morton M. Milford, managing editor of the Miami Daily News, under James M.
Cox's ownership, is a recent entrant into Miami's newspaper field. Mr. Milford
was formerly the Washington correspondent for the Louisville Courier-Journal,
and the Louisville Times. Prior to his coming here he published the Fort Meyers,
Florida, Press.

   Vernon Knowles, managing editor of the Miami Tribune, was formerly editor of
the Winnipeg, Canada, Tribune. The Miami Tribune, since its establishment in
this city about one year ago, has been making marked progress.

   Reese Combs, Charles S. Bates and R. A. Reeder, while not writers, have been
connected with the advertising departments of their respective newspapers for a
number of years and are generally regarded as newspaper men. Mr. Combs has
recently retired from the newspaper business and entered the realty field. Mr.
Bates and Mr. Reeder, the former of the Herald and the latter of the Daily News,
are still identified with their respective papers. Mr. Reeder occupies the
position of business manager.

   Clinton Page, of the Herald staff, is writing highly illuminating articles on
agriculture and the development of Miami's back country.

   Clayton Sedgwick Cooper is editor-in-chief of the Miami Tribune, and is
taking a keen interest in Miami's progress and in its problems.

   Frank B. Stoneman, editor-in-chief of the Miami Herald, is noted for his
valuable contribution to the progress of this community, as well as to the state
as a whole, through his timely and highly educational editorials and through his
personal participation in all important movements tending to the promotion of
the community's welfare. His temperate and erudite editorials are widely quoted.
His just and liberal attitude on local, state and national issues evokes
favorable comments from all classes of Miami's citizenship. His unfailing
defense of the oppressed and his persistent and forceful advocacy of needed
reforms have made him a host of friends and admirers all over the state.

   Mr. Stoneman arrived in Miami in 1903, when, in partnership with A. L.
LaSalle, Sr., he entered into the newspaper field, publishing a weekly paper
called the Miami Record. Some years later the firm bought the Miami News and
merged the two papers into the Miami News-Record. That paper was subsequently
sold to the Florida East Coast Railway Corporation and its name changed to the
Miami Herald. Upon consummation of this change Mr. LaSalle withdrew from the
paper and with his son, Athos LaSalle, entered into the job printing business.
(Mr. LaSalle, Sr., died a few years later.) Mr. Stoneman retained his office of
editor-in-chief under the new ownership and after the paper had again changed
hands, this time to Frank B. Shutts, he acquired a financial interest therein
and at this writing continues to fill his former position.

   O. W. Kennedy, managing editor of the Miami Herald^ has been connected with
this paper since 1920. His influence in the community soon made itself manifest
by his vigorous attack, through the columns of his paper, under the nom de plume
of "O" "K," against certain evils that existed during the experimental stage of
the Commission-Manager form of government. His severe and persistent criticism
of the official acts of the first incumbent of the City Manager's office is said
to have contributed to a speedy change in the personnel of that office.
   Rev. J. Delman Kuykendall, minister of Plymouth Church of Coconut Grove, is
another valued member of the Herald force. His weekly editorials on religious
subjects, especially his Biblical exegetics, are highly instructive and of great
educational value. His notable liberality can best be expressed by a quotation
from his book, recently published, entitled "The New Meaning of an Old Creed":
"Loving God with the whole heart cannot be a matter of rules. No one can define
for another how he must live in order to love God, nor what sacrifices he must
make."

   Edgar L. Hay, the popular Herald columnist and creator of "Rambles" has,
during his short residence in this city, succeeded in "rambling" himself into
the affections of his countless readers. His column character, the "Sage of
Ojus," will some day be as widely known as the real "Sage of Potato Hill."

   E. W. Howe (the sage of potato hill), may properly be included in the list of
Miami's literati and journalists. Mr. Howe has been spending the winters in this
city for a number of years. He is a familiar figure on the streets of Miami and
is possessed of a large acquaintance among the business and professional men and
women of the city. His frequent contributions in the Miami Herald reveal true
journalistic genius and give an inkling of the literary merit of his works that
made him a national figure in the realms of journalism.

   Lon Warner is another veteran newspaper man of ability. During his long
residence in this city he served on the editorial staffs of the Metropolis and
the Herald. In addition to his rep-ortorial work he frequently charmed the
reading public with delectable poems which attracted more than local attention.
Mr. Warner is now publicity director for one of Miami's prominent realty firms.

   Joe Hugh Reese, the talented and well-known journalist, while not connected
with any local newspaper at present, is adding to Miami's fame through his
notable contributions to a number of prominent magazines of wide circulation. He
is an authority on Florida history and a fearless editorialist. His editorials
in Miami's pioneer Daily, some years ago, proved of inestimable value to the
city and county. His consistent and vigorous championship of the people's rights
is frequently exercised at great personal sacrifice. His historical book,
"Flashlights," is used as a textbook in many editorial sanctums. Mr. Reese,
after several years' absence, has returned to Miami and will make this city his
permanent home.

   George L. Bradley, assistant-managing editor of the Herald, is an able
newspaper man and a highly valued member of its staff.

   John R. Livingstone has made himself indispensable to his paper, the Miami
Daily News, as a reliable and proficient court-trial reporter.

   William Stuart Hill, who is one of the oldest attaches of the Herald, is
adding to the prestige of this paper by writing highly illuminating articles
descriptive of the Everglades.

  As in all other departments of Miami's development, its newspapers have made
tremendous strides of progress. They have forged ahead from a one-sheet
provincial weekly to its present four metropolitan dailies, namely, the Miami
Herald, the Miami Daily News, the Miami Tribune and Cornelius Vanderbilt's
paper, the Illustrated Daily Tab. In addition to these there are three weeklies,
namely, the Miami News, the Miami Post and Miami Life. There are also several
periodicals.

   The Miami News is the official organ of local labor organizations. It enjoys
a growing patronage of Miami's advertising public as well as that of the
laboring class.

   The Miami Post is liberally patronized by old-time admirers of the editorials
from the trenchant pen of its publisher and editor, Judge Redmond B. Gautier.

   Miami Life is very popular with the younger set of Miami's smart society. It
is printed on good quality book paper and is gotten up in attractive style. Wen.
R. Phillips, its versatile editor, is becoming noted for his incisive editorials
in criticism of persons in public life and of conditions affecting the public weal.

   It is safe to assert that with a progressive and tolerant clergy and an
intelligent and courageous press, Miami is destined to become one of the
foremost cities of the nation. In a broader sense, this verity is applicable to
the American nation as a whole. As long as the American pulpit and press adhere
to the spirit of its sacred and inviolable constitution, so long will this great
country of ours grow and prosper and fulfill its divine mission of diffusing the
light of true liberty throughout the universe.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

HISTORICAL SKETCHES AND SIDELIGHTS OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
BY ISIDOR COHEN

MIAMI
PRIVATELY PRINTED

1925

Copyright, 1925,
By ISIDOR COHEN,
MIAMI, FLORIDA

PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. 
UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, MASS.


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