The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-16
aTHAT MINISTER'S SON.
He Has Champion in WV. Hooper,
Author.

There has been much written concern
ing the minister's boy, but he has usu-
ally had the worst of it, and it is a relief
TO find someone who viii come to his
defense. That is what W. w. Hooper
has done in his story. That Minister'S
Boy" which has just been published
with another of his stories, Fred Har-
wood" in an attractive book by the
Eagle press of Brooklyn, n. Y
The introduction to the volume Is
written by Herbert F. Gunnison, who
says among other things: Tt is about
time some one said a good word for
the minister's boy. Deacons' daughters
and ministers sons have long been the
subject of abuse and calumny and it
is proper that some one should cham
pion their cause Mr.. Hooper in his
charming stories has done a great sery-
ice in making clear that the lad of the
parsonage is not always so bad as some
people would like to picture him. MI.
Hooper has asked ne. as the son of a
minister, to write an introduction to
this book I respond with much pleas
ure, because as a boy it was my good
fortune to have Mr.. Hooper as my Sum
day school teacher, and l recall today
that of the many faithful teachers I had
he was the best-the one whose teach
lngS made the deepest impression. He
told stories in those days which were
the delight of his pupils. He took a
deep personal interest in his boys and
gave them advice and encoura cement
that has been of help to them ever since.
In my library is a we'll worn book,
Smiles Self Help which was a gift
from Mr.. Hooper to every member of
his class That book was indeed
great help to the boys, backed up as it
was by the personal influence of the
author Of this book A few years later
Mr.. Hooper became pastor of a church
in Maine over which NY father had
ninistered, and where as a small boy 1
had struggled with the interminable
task Of removing stones from the gar
den of the parsonage My sympathies
minister's son who has ever had any,
thing to do with that rocky hill of Zion.
I was the pioneer toiler in that vine
yard, the chief products of which were
stones and weeds.
Il would not have any one think the
case IS always as bad as I have indica-
ted 1t was not SO with me, nor with
many others whom l might mention,
and SO am compelled to think that the
neglect of the children may be general
in ministers homes The faithful moth
er will do her share of the parish duties
and somehow AXE time or find time to
be with her children to counsel them
and to guide them. The hard-work king
minister. SO far as I know him. will
find time to direct and inspire his boys
and girls. He may send them from the
study when he is at work, he may have
but short time in each day to associate
with them, but how precious and how
valuable that association is every minis
teF's son will testify. The minister OF
| today is the most self-searching, the
| most unselfish man we have in the COM
munity. He puts aside the ambition
for wealth and all the luxuries that
wealth will buy He does not enter the
competition of life for power and glory.
He dedicates his life and all his ener-
gies to the preaching of the gospel the
serving of his fellow men and in trying to
make the world better. He may come
| far short of living the life of his Mas
ter, but he tries to walk in His foot
steps. Such q father must exert, and
does exert. an influence over his chill
| dren- His boy may object to being
placed on a pedestal as good boy he
may realize the disadvantages of an
itinerant life, may object to being the
errand bow for the church and may re-
sent the outside demands upon the time
of his parents. but somehow he will in
herit the love of father and mother.
their seif-sacrifcing spirit, their devo-
ton to duty their high ideals and some
thing of their consecrated lives He is
well fitted to go out into the world He
may have had some hard knocks. but
they have done him good. He may have
been at a disadvantage in getting an
education. he may have been as poor
as a beggar, but he will go out rich in
the experiences of the minister's home
safeguarded by years of companionship
with father and mother whose ideals
have been high, whose purposes worthy,
whose lives have been sanctified by no.
| BILE deeds"
The book has been very well received.
The New York Journal says of it.
Why are there no more boys books
| published? Why should Mr.. W. W.
Hooper's That Minister'S Boy come as
such a welcome surprise? Why ara
| there not more like him-as Of old there
were2 For this Ray Howard is a
/ thorough boy. not goody-g oody, but hu-
man. He camps out, works hard for
money to pay his way through college,
| travels to New York and Boston and
sees and describes the sights, plays