Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-06
(Lynchburg News.)

steer.
Gynchburg News.)
The following letter written by the
KEY; :. ~ Steel. d. d.. who was for
merry general secretary of the Epworth
Leaguers of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South. will he read with great
interest by his many friends in this
city and section. DIR. Steel is not only
great favorite among the Epworth
LeaGucrS of this State and within the
bounds of the Southern Methodist
Church. but his reputation as a pulpit
orator and public speaker extends all
over the North and Canada. His let
ter, printed i'll the Canadian Epworth
Era. follows:
EX-secretarics are not extingulshed.
They are arrested ION the wing" and
require to do Il good deal OF extempor-
aneous work. That word "eXtinguish-
cd reminds ME of Il good story I
heard out IN Texas on Mr.. Bryan. the
defeated candidate in the last Presi-
Dental campaign.
After the election he went down into
Texas for Il few days rest at a friends
Hon. Mr.. Blank's-hospitable home.
Mr.. Blank went up the road to meet
him and his party. The porter on the
sleeper was an old time darlSey. well
known to Mr.. Blank. lie had all the
stately politenesS OF those good old days
'befo' de war" Mr.. Blank introduced
Uncle Bob to Mr.. Bryan and his party.
Uncle Bob. this is Hon. MIR. SO and So,
eX-Congressman. And this is Hon. Mi.
So and So, ex-senator. And this is
Hon. Mr.. Bryan. eX-candidate for Presi-
dent of the United States" The old
negro stood with uncovered head. and
when Mr.. Blank finished he made Il bow
that would have graced n lord and
said: II am happy to meet you, extin-
guished gentlemen!' The old man never
understood the burst of laughter that
followed this timely hit. in which none
joined more heartily than Mr.. Bryan
himself. DR.. Buckley once said to me
that the old negro is very witty race.
No doubt he has lots OF humor but
Uncle Bob was Innocent of either wit or
humor when he made that pun
never travel on Sunday. So at mid
night Saturday night dropped off the
train at Lynchburg, Virginia. to rest
over Sunday. Lynchburg is built on
steep hills. Sam Jones says he can
tell a Lynchburger as far as he can see
him. for he is both hump shouldercd
and bow-legged. lie gets hump-shoul-
dered climbing up the hills and bow
legged going down" 1t is a city of 80
900 Or al, 600 pnople. the finest type OF
Virginia society. Methodism is strons
there. 1t was the home of Bishop John
Early, one of the strongest men of nj
oneer times. 1t is now the seat Of
Randolph Macon Woman's College. an
institution which the Commissioner OF
Education for the United States puts
rs one OF the half-dozen leading col
leges for women in the country, rank
ing 1t with VaSsar, Wellesley. The Wo-
mans College. Baltimore, and Bryn
Mawr. II is the only institution in the
South that enjoys this distinction. or
course l went to church. Doctor do
you ever pray?" The question was
asked by young brother just as We
were ready to begin the lecture. OF
course he meant to ask if the service
should begin with prayer, and was pro-
fuse in his assurances that he intend
ed no reelection on my religious habits
l went to Court Street Methodist
Church. the old mother church of
Lynchburg Methodism, and one of the
richest Methodist churches in Virginia.
] t Is said that the official board of this
church represents over $1,000, 600 Rev
y. Coke Smith, d. D., is pastor. Your
readers will remember he was our fra
ternal messenger to your last General
Conference. Wishing TO be quiet, slip
ped in with the crowd. and got q good
seat under the gallery, and settled my
self to enjoy the service. But an alert
Epworth Lacquer got SIGHT of me. Nv
information was conveyed to the pulpit
and the slender, sallow Smith came
down. and arrested the cx-sccretary.
The sermon of Dr. Smith was a broad
sword. There was not much glitter
about 1t. but 1t had edge and point. and
was n weapon of power in n masters
hand In the AFTERNOON I addressed a
large gathering of Leaguers and
preached to a still larger audience at
night.
At the evening service DR.. Smith said:
"a few Sundays ago Bishop Galloway
preached in this pulpit He is a native
of Mississippi. Tonight we have Dr.
Steel. He is n native of Mississippi.
And all of us. Bishop Galloway. DR..
Steel. and myself. were born in the
same year" Well that year was so long
ago that / have quit talking much about
it. DR.. Smiths hair is as black as the
ravens wing. but he wears glasses. My
eyes are as good as ever but my fight
with the beasts OF Ephesus turned my
hair slightly gray So we are about
even Il miss on the wing" said Akers
by the way" I said. DIR. Crewe has
asked me to write some 'on the wing
for the Canadian Epworth Era" well
put me down as n subscriber" he said.
And me. too" said Sheffey. the super
intendent OF one of the finest Sunday
schools In the land. So there, you have
two moro readers In Dixie