(01-23-2017 02:18 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  Eva, just one minor quibble. RTL's comment that Herndon was making an a$$ of himself came about in 1866 after the Ann Rutledge lecture.

Thanks for correcting, Rob.

(01-23-2017 02:18 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  As for the term 'trustee" in this instance I think it's more of a lay leader position that wouldn't necessarily have any connection with the propagation of a religious viewpoint. More like a person being part of the bureaucratic arm of the organization.

Thanks Rob - that was what my question was aiming at - whether in this field such position would require religious "membership" and hence allow to draw conclusions on Robert in this regard.

(01-24-2017 04:47 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 02:18 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  Eva, just one minor quibble. RTL's comment that Herndon was making an a$$ of himself came about in 1866 after the Ann Rutledge lecture.

Thanks for correcting, Rob.

(01-23-2017 02:18 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  As for the term 'trustee" in this instance I think it's more of a lay leader position that wouldn't necessarily have any connection with the propagation of a religious viewpoint. More like a person being part of the bureaucratic arm of the organization.

Thanks Rob - that was what my question was aiming at - whether in this field such position would require religious "membership" and hence allow to draw conclusions on Robert in this regard.

I can't speak for the Presbyterians, but doesn't such lay leadership imply membership in that church? It does in the Episcopal Church, where such leaders are members of the vestry. The vestry also elects a Senior Warden and Junior Warden to lead them in their bureaucratic tasks for the church.

It's quite possible I misused the term "lay leader" in this sense. I was thinking more along the lines of someone who was associated with the church in a more or less secular leadership role, i.e., not of a religious nature but more of a bureaucratic leader (do we paint the church, order choir robes, etc.). Whether that would imply membership or not, I'm not sure. Given the celebrity of RTL, I imagine most churches would welcome his presence (and his name and that of his father) whether he joined or not. Again, I have nothing to back that up other than my own opinion.

Best
Rob

(01-24-2017 09:24 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  Given the celebrity of RTL, I imagine most churches would welcome his presence (and his name and that of his father) whether he joined or not.

IMO, Rob is right on here. I think it showed in other areas as well. In 1904 Robert was elected president of the Ekwanok Golf Club in Vermont. The very next year he was elected president of the Chicago Golf Club. He was not a good golfer, and he humorously said to the members of the Chicago Golf Club, "I duly appreciate this compliment which I understand generally to mean that I am supposed to be the worst player in the club. I am president of another club in Vermont on that basis."

My point is that, IMO, being a trustee of a church tells us nothing about Robert's religious beliefs.

(01-25-2017 05:03 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(01-24-2017 09:24 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  Given the celebrity of RTL, I imagine most churches would welcome his presence (and his name and that of his father) whether he joined or not.

IMO, Rob is right on here. I think it showed in other areas as well. In 1904 Robert was elected president of the Ekwanok Golf Club in Vermont. The very next year he was elected president of the Chicago Golf Club. He was not a good golfer, and he humorously said to the members of the Chicago Golf Club, "I duly appreciate this compliment which I understand generally to mean that I am supposed to be the worst player in the club. I am president of another club in Vermont on that basis."
My point is that, IMO, being a trustee of a church tells us nothing about Robert's religious beliefs.

I think so, too. The Queen is patron of about 600 organizations, I doubt she's personally "into" all, but it's expected that in her position she performs these duties. (She was likewise born and expected to become the head of church - who know what she believes deep down inside.)
Reminds me of all the food approved of by the Royals:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Wa...d_Kingdom)
http://www.foodcomm.org.uk/articles/royal_endorsement_/