Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-08-08

each other with a cynical, critical
grin. Then we craned our necks TO
hear what he said. We became inter
ested. We began to hear our mother
tongue in its simplicity, its beauty,
its power, the squeaking, cracking
voice became pathetic, humorous,
witty. Charmed with the beauty Of
its sense and sentiment we heard the
address to its end, and then applauded
with might and main this bOyish ora
tor from our native land"
This story was related to an elderly
woman in Missouri, who quietly re-
piled: II am pleased 10 hear this;
Waiter Williams is my baby brother, y
and iokingly remarked, II taught him
all he knows"
A Bible class OF 300 is no small thing.
When 1t is remembered that very
many Of the best educated ministers
OF the present day preach to smaller
congregations than Walter Williams
Bible class, the question may well be
asked who is this man and what
method does he use to attract 800
men and women to study the Bible
Sunday after Sunday. ffty-two times
a year?
While spending a few weeks vaca-
tion In the University summe school
session, 1901, at Columbia, / dropped
into the First Presbyterian Church
one Sunday morning to hear this now
famous Bible scholar. Three hun
dred men and women can't be crowd
ed into your ordinary class room,
hence the big auditorium has to be
used. DR.. ]. c. James, professor Of
ancient languages In the State Uni
yersity, superintendent OF the Sunday
School, had Just finished reading the
lesion in concert with the class. The
choir, accompanied by the pipe organ,
led the class In a song from the
Presbyterian hymnal. Then all were
silent. Over on the extreme right a
small man, straight as an arrow, rose
from n Of the front pews and with
slow steps mounted the platform and
walked over TO the pulpit stand, turn
ed and faced his class. Then a
could plainly see what manner Of man
he was; perhaps IS years old, beardless
face, slender form, dressed in a plain,
neat-itting business suit, this boyish
appearing teacher stood for a moment
looking at the class, Then he spoke,
but no one heard what he said and
yet the class sat contented, hopeful,
expectant. They knew he would
soon get that frog" out OF his throat.
And he did. But until then his voice
was beyond description. He paused a
moment and then began again. His
voice was better. He turned half
around and spoke a few sentences d.
rectly to those on the right, and his
profile could be seen; large, protrud-
ing forehead, massive brows, Roman
nose, huge dropping lower lip, firm
set Jaws, furrowed cheeks, and, as be
faces the front again, one can but
notice his large, eve restless eyes
shining with a peculiar luster.
He spoke nce more and all could
hear him. His tones we're loud
enough and that peculiar cracked
gutteral whang had been changed into
a pathos as peculiar as It wa interest
ing. The lesson vas ''rhe Creation
Story frOm Genesis He took hold
OF Il f~earlessly, but reyerently. He
didn't separate It into three parts
like some higher critics-mythologi-
cal. historical, allegorical-no, with
him the Creation Story was Gods
work revealed, Creator and creature.
Six days did God labor and DO all His
work and on the seventh rested.
His voice grew better as be proceed
ed, or rather attracted more a. he
maenihed his theme. He had no notes
or manuscript % confuse his thoughts,
Jet the classic poured into the 'Crea-
ton Story their b%ounte0us wealth
Of vision and illustration. With him
science confirms and never.
cnnf0unds this story Of earth's.
and mans creation. He be
lieves the Bible from Genesis To-
Revelations. His teaching is not By
questions and answers but By The
lecture method, and lasts about forty