The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-03
NOT THE BEST WAY.

| inent male member enjoying qule'
srooze during services. The evangelist
threw a hymn book at his head and
gentleman Jumped nearly off the pew
| Cherokee Scout.
/ From time immemorial men have been
wont to 60 to sleep in church. OF
| course the best way to prevent this is
| for the preacher to make his sermons
! so attractive and interesting as to hold
the attention of his congregation. But
even then some sleepy-head will nod, or
some father who has walked the floor
on the previous night with a crying
| child, will break over and go to sleep.
| 1t is natural that the preacher should
wish all who are in church to hear the
message he is delivering, and that he
should take proper measures to wake
UP the sleeping members. The old fash
| toned way was to raise the voice to
such a pitch that nobody could sleep
within half mile, but few preachers
| have voice powerful enough in these
days to adopt that course. Mr.. Hol-
combe's plan has four fatal objections
/. There is danger that the hymn
sleeper in a soft place his head and
infiict serious injuries. Most men who
sleep in church have such soft palce
and the danger is imminent.
9. The action is violation of the law
and the preacher might be arrested for
assault and battery. 1t would not look
well to see a preacher sent to Jail for
violent action while preaching the Cos
pei of peace.
8. Physicians will tell you that it is
dangerous to wake man up suddenly
he may do himself some harm. The
method employed should be one that
will not startle him, but one that will
let him wake up as near naturally as
possible.
4. Hymn books cost money and in
hurting one at the head of a sleeping
member there is a possibility OF the
preachers arrest for the wanton de-
struciion OF property. No man wishes
to see a minister arraigncd in court For
such an offerse.
On the whole. after giving the matter
long and serious consideration, we arc
confirmed in the opinion that the plan
adopted by Rev. Jesse II. Page. when he
was pastor of the Methodist church at
Morganton, is the best plan yet devised.
1t was hot August Sunday night and,
although he was preaching an excellent
church We're quietly sleeping on the
front pews. Observing that they We're
enjoying their nap. the good man had
not the heart to disturb their slumbers,
and ne lowered his voice. Soon he per-
ceived that those in the congregation
who had seats in the rear of the church
could mot hear He was in dilemma
between Scylla and Charybdis, so to
speak If ne spoke in tones loud enough
to reach those on the pews near the
door he would wake up the official
members soundly sleeping in the amen
corner" and if he spoke in a tone low
enough not to disturb the slumbers of
the official members, the congregation
furthest removed from the pulpit
could not near the sermon. 1t was a
time for quick decision. He might have
hurled the hymn book at one slumber
ing saint and the Bible at another, but
not have enough hymn books and Bibles
to go around. He hit upon a happy
plan-one free from all the objections
that can be urged against the plan
adopted by the evangelist in Waynes-
vile. He simply stopped preaching for
about minute. Those who were awake
began to wonder if his sermon was fin
ished and those who We're asleep felt
that it was time to wake up and go
ton he said: Il hope the congregation
in the rear of the church will excuse me
for talking so low. If | were to speak
louder j fear l would wake up the
brethren who are asleep on the front
pews'' The effect was electrical, Every
sleeping ''amen corner" member
Strengthened up and looked about to see
what church official it was who had
been caught asleep. and the sermon was
completed to the most attentive congre-
CATION that ever gathered in Morgan
ton.
| Mr.. Page has taken out no copyright
| on this plan and it is commended to the
evangelist at Waynesville who barely
| escaped indictment for assault and bat
| terry. and to all others who are troubled
Iwith sleeping congregations. 1t ought
to be used, however, only in extreme
cases. Before employing it preachers
should cut the length of their sermons
and see if that will not have the desired
1