Of the several publications which voice the views of the religious world, perhaps none is better known or more generally read than is the New York Christian Advocate. Under the editorship of the Rev. Dr. James M. Buckley, the Advocate has become more than a mere reflex of the opinions of its contributors. It is a power for good and the extent of its usefulness is only bounded by the limits of its circulation, which are world-wide. Dr. Buckley was born in Rahway, New Jersey, December 16, 1836, his father being the Rev. John Buckley. Educated at first in Pennington, New Jersey, seminary, he later spent a year in the Wesleyan university, and afterward studied theology at Exeter, New Hampshire. He became a member of the New Hampshire conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1858, was called to Troy in 1863, and to Brooklyn three years later. Dr. Buckley has traveled extensively, and no small portion of the popularity of his work on the Advocate is due to the wide experience of men and manners which he acquired during his wanderings abroad and in this country. He is the author of several books, including Travels on Three Continents, Land of the Czar and the Nihilists, The History of Methodism in the United States and others. Dr. Buckley’s literary work in general is distinguished by a breadth of view and a charity of spirit which are only possible to the man of large mind and wide horizons.
Richard Watson Gilder.
If a magazine contributor was asked what, in his opinion, represented the ultimate happiness of his ilk, he would probably reply, “the editorship of the Century.” That enviable position is at present held by Richard W. Gilder, and that Mr. Gilder has done honor to the wisdom which placed him in the editorial chair, is made manifest by the body matter of the magazine itself. He was born in Bordentown, New Jersey, February 8, 1844, his father being the Rev. William H. Gilder, and he was educated in the seminary established by his father at Flushing, Long Island. In 1863 he became a private in Landis’ Philadelphia battery, and, at the expiration of his term of service, had a year’s experience as a railroad man. Later he was correspondent, and afterward managing editor, of the Newark (New Jersey) Advertiser. From that time on Mr. Gilder has lived in an editorial atmosphere. In connection with Newton Crane he established the Newark Register, next edited the defunct New York monthly publication called Powers at Home, made his mark while so doing, attracted the notice of the Scribner management, and was made managing editor of its magazine in 1870 and editor-in-chief in 1881. Mr. Gilder has taken a prominent part in movements and organizations which had for their object the improvement of municipal conditions. He has held office as chairman of the New York tenement house commission, was the first president of the New York kindergarten association and is president of the Public Art League of the United States. He is also a member of the City club and of the Civil Service Reform league. His published books of poems include The Celestial Passion, Five Books of Songs and Two Worlds.
George Burton McClellan Harvey.
One of the most prominent, as well as one of the youngest occupants of an editorial chair is George Burton McClellan Harvey, who is president of the famous publishing firm of Harper & Brothers and editor of the North American Review. He was born at Peachan, Vermont, February 16, 1864, being the son of Duncan and Margaret S. (Varnum) Harvey. Educated at Peachan Academy, Mr. Harvey began his journalistic life by becoming reporter on the Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican. Subsequently he was on the reportorial staff of the Chicago News and the New York Herald, of which latter newspaper he was eventually made managing editor. He bought the North American Review in March, 1899, and was placed in charge of Harper & Brothers’ affairs a year later. Notwithstanding the onerous nature of his editorial duties, Mr. Harvey finds time to act as president of several electric railroads, in the construction of which he was also interested. Governors Green and Abbott, of New Jersey, respectively appointed him colonel and aide-de-camp on their staffs. The irresistible force of character and ability properly directed is shown by the career of Mr. Harvey.
George Howard Lorimer.
Horace Greeley is credited with the aphorism that “It is the man and not the machine, the editor and not the newspaper, that brings about the smooth running of the first and the popularity of the second.” George Howard Lorimer, editor-in-chief of the Saturday Evening Post, furnishes an excellent illustration of the verity of Greeley’s assertion. Under his management, the Post has, during the past few years, attained a popularity which was forbidden to it before he took charge of its affairs. The Post was founded by Benjamin Franklin, and it is the policy of Mr. Lorimer to retain somewhat of the quaint features of its earlier issues, but he weds them to modern methods. By means of this policy he has succeeded in galvanizing a moribund publication into active and prosperous life. Mr. Lorimer was born in Louisville, Kentucky, October 6, 1868, and is the son of the Rev. Dr. George and Belle (Burford) Lorimer. He was educated at the Moseley high school in Chicago, and took courses at Colby and Yale universities. In 1893 he married Alma Viola, daughter of Judge Alfred Ennis, of Chicago. Mr. Lorimer has, through the medium of the Saturday Evening Post, proven that literary matter of a helpful and elevating nature can be made as attractive to the average reader as so-called “popular fiction.”
Whitelaw Reid.
Whitelaw Reid, the editor of the New York Tribune, was born in Xenia, Ohio, October 27, 1837, and is a graduate of Miami university, Oxford, Ohio. After leaving college Mr. Reid entered journalism, becoming editor of the Xenia News. In 1860 he was legislative correspondent, and a year later was war correspondent for several newspapers. In 1862 he became Washington representative of the Cincinnati Gazette. After a period spent in the service of the government, including the acting as librarian in the House of Representatives, Mr. Reid in 1866 tried his hand at cotton planting in Louisiana. But the newspaper instinct was too strong in him to warrant his being anything but a writer. In 1868, therefore, he became a member of the editorial staff of the Tribune; in 1869 he was appointed its managing editor and has been its editor-in-chief and practical proprietor since 1872. In 1877 he declined the appointment of United States minister to Germany and again in 1881. In 1889 he was United States minister to France, was special ambassador from this country to Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1897, and was a member of the Peace commission in Paris in 1898. He was nominated for the vice-presidency in 1892. Mr. Reid is the author of a number of books on political and journalistic questions. His life has been full of many but faithfully discharged duties.