Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-05
HONOR TOACLERGYMAN
OBSERVANCE OF BI-CENTENNIAL
OF JONATHAN EDWARDS BIRTH.
Many Men Celebrate Today the Works
of the Connecticut Theologian
and Metaphysician.

| From the New York Tribune
| To-Day Is the 2O0th anniversary o. tho
birth, In Windsor, Conn. of Jonathan Ed
wards, theo!ogian. metaphyslcian and
| preacher. who cxerted so tremendous an
| influence upon the religious thought of his
| day that 1T has not died out yet His birth
| day will be celebrated in many places such
| AS at Princeton University of which he
was president: at Andover Theological ,
| Seminary and Windsor, but the principal
| ceremony will take place at Stockbridge
| Mass There the Congregatonalists OF
! Berkshire county will meet in the historic
FIRST Church, the church that has grown
| out of Edwards efforts, and will hold espe-
clal services. Representatives from over
| hfty churches will be present. The Con-
gregationalists OF Berkshire county are di-
vided into the north and south conferences
| Both will join in the union services today.
and the Berkshire Congregational Club. an
independent organization, will meet with
| them. The Rev. DIR. John De Witt of
frinceton University will deliver an ora
uon on Jonathan Edwards: A Study
the Rev. DR.. William Edwards Parks of
Gloversville. N. Y. will give ian address
upon Edwards at Stockbridge" the Rev
| l.. C. Smart of Pittsfeld. Mass. will speak
on The Modern Note in Edwards and tho
hev DR. l.. s. Rowland of Lee Mass, on
The Other Side of Edwards
Popular misconceptions.
The popular conception of Edwards cat-
side or the churches is something akin to an
ecclesiastical machine which preached long
sermons and wrote treatises on dry TOPICS
And yet there was man named Edwards
citizen of Stockbridge, Mass, who lived
ana moved and acted much like other folk
VINO had his little worldly troubles, his bills
to pay, his wood to chop and other house
hold duties to perform, much as did the
other residents Of Stockbridge in the trou-
plous umes between 1151 and l7oS. To be
sure, little is known of Edwards home
life. but such there is is highly interest
ing. After reading the scanty records the
conclusion is forced upon one that however
forceful Edwards may have been in the pull
PIT he was not especially energetic in
worldly matters The records agree that
he seemed continually lost in thought One
OF the stories told illustrative of the alb
sentmndedneSS of the man is TO the effect
that once when going to the pasture for his
cows small boy of one of the villagers
seeing him coming, opened gate in his
path and with a polite bow stepped aside
for him to pass through Edwards ac-
knowledged the Kindness and asked:
Whose son you?''
reply.
Fifteen minutes la1er Edwards returned.
wrapped in thought his mind dead to all
things about him, usual. The boy still
standing at the gate, opened 1t again for
edged the Kindness and again asked:
whose boy are your?
The same mans boy 1 Was a quarter Of
an hour ago sir" was the lads reply.
Lost in Thought
AS Illustration of the little attention
Edwards paid to ma terial affairs, the state
rnent is made that he did not even know his
own cows that he drove to and fro between
the pasture and stable.
Edwards seemed to live IL a constant
dread lest time in which he might be able
to further the work of God should get
away from him. About the only physical
exercise he took was to walk or ride into
the woods and on these trips his mind
was busy interpreting the gospel. On such
trips he generally took his pen with him
and made a note of any thoughts occurring
to him he considered worth preserving. If
by chance he failed to have n pen win
him it was his custom to pin slips of paper
to his clothing a reminder
OF his famous seventy resolutions tho
Gre said to he most characteristic of the
man is No II:
Resolved, When I think of any theorem
in divinity to be solved. immedia tely to do
what l can toward solving ii, If circum-
stances do not hinder
Here is another:
by a sparing diet and eating what is
light and easy of digestion 1 shall doubt
less be able to think more clearly, and shall
gain time first, by lengthening my life:
secondly shall need less time for dges-
ton after meals: thirdly. shall be able -
study closer without wrong to my health:
fourthly. shall need less time to sleep: fifth
ly, shall more seldom be troubled with
headache
1t was Edwards custom If he awoke in
the night and thought of any expression he
wished 10 preserve or any point he wished
to make in his sermons or writings to get
out of bed and fasten pin in the curtain.
This served as a reminder, and when he
awoke in the morning one Of his first duties
was to reduce that thought to words. IN
this and similar ways many of the thoughts
expressed in his Freedom of the WIZ
and other works were saved to the world.
1t is related of Edwards that being n
light eater he usually finished his meals
before the other members of his family.
Rather than sit idly by and allow valuable
time to get away from him, It was his
custom to arise from the table soon as
his meal completed, retire to his study
and there employ his pen and brain until
the others of the family had finished the
MEAL when he would return to the table
and give thanks to God for the meal.