Religion: President’s Pastor

On an average of once a month when he is in Washington, President Roosevelt spends Sunday morning at church. Accompanied by Secret Service men, he drives to St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church at 18th & Church Streets, N. W. Entering at the side by a ramp and marquee especially installed for him, the President always occupies the same pew, shares it with the Secret Service men. For nearly four years they, and whoever else has happened to be with Mr. Roosevelt, have listened to sermons by Rev. Dr. Charles Ernest Smith who has been at St. Thomas’ since 1902. This British-born rector, now in his 70’s, has retired. Last week his successor was announced: Rev. Dr. Howard Sargent Wilkinson of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Garden City, Long Island.

Stocky, sandy-haired, affable Howard Wilkinson went to Dickinson College (Carlisle, Pa.), Boston University, the Episcopal. Theological School in’ Cambridge. He did Y.M.C.A. and Red Cross work during the War, is still an enthusiastic Reserve Corps Major, much in demand as a speaker in Red Cross drives. He likes to recall that some of the U. S. officers for whom he held services considered him “the toughest-looking member of the unit.” Holding pastorates in New Haven and West Roxbury, Mass., Dr. Wilkinson was in Boston during its famed police strike of 1919, became a volunteer traffic cop on the motorcycle squad. Because he was also offered the chance to drive a hook & ladder truck, Churchman Wilkinson was mildly sorry that Boston’s firemen did not join the strike. He is now in his 40’s, looks younger. He has not met President Roosevelt, was selected by St. Thomas’ vestry sight unseen.