Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-07-09
BRO. Harman at 1t Again. VIII Build
Tabernacle for the Poor"

1.-The services at the Christian church
on last Sunday morning, were OF more
than ordinary interest. There was a large
crowd present to hear Senator j. N. Har
man preach, who delivered, as was expec
ted, a sermon bordering at least on the
sensational.
1T had been whispered around for some
time that MIR. Harman had an idea o.
building large but very plain tabernacle
on Tazewell Avenue, for the exclusive
benefit of the poor classes, and that he
would explain his new idea on Sunday and
make the fur fy, and those who went to
hear him last Sunday were not disappoint-
ed, X
That these poor, plain people were not
welcome in the churches of the rich, and
are seldom invited to attend, and are
often sighted if they do attend"
Had the editor been present, as ne
ought to have been, to hear that sermon,
the last sentence above quoted would not
have been written. l made exactly the
opposite statement concerning the poor
| said that there was not preacher In the
town who would not gladly welcome the
poorest of the poor to his services, and
that every church joined the preachers in
extending such a welcome. l further
criticised the poor people for their pride
and sensitiveness upon the subject OF
dress, and their absence from church on
that account.
Much criticism has been heaped on me
for making the statement enormously
attributed to me 10y the Clinch Valley
News. Some have gone so far as to say
that should not be permitted to preach
in any church in the town if l did make
such a statement. Many Of my friends
have stood by my supposed sensational
statement, saying that it is true.
The discussion that bss followed has led
me to doubt the accuracy of the statement
that really did make. Were to be
called upon to repeat the statement, l
should modify it something like this;
There is not preacher in this town who
would not gladly welcome the poorest OF
the poor to their services, and q large
majority of their members would join
them in extending such welcome" But
| insist that the preachers and the majori'
itv of their members haYe unconsclously
allowed small minority of their worldly
minded members 10 set the pace in the
matter of costly dressing, to hx the social
standard founded upon money, education,
family and fine clothes, rather than on NOR
al character, to such an extent that the
masses of plain people have been aliena-
ted from the churches. These people will
never return under present social condl-
tiops. and false standards which are the
curse of the churches today. This ysw-
ming cL asm between the churches and the
plain people is widening and deepening
daily. The church can bridge this chasm
If she will, by reproducing former con-
ditions, under which the rich and the
poor may meet together and realize that
the Lord is the maker of them all.
To meet a lorg felt want aid to supply
this real deep need, have yielded to the
tssing demand to erect modest taber'
nacle on Tazewell Avenue, that we may
assist in reproducing the necessary con-
ditions, to restore the old order OF things
and the old fashioned times when
churches we're not used for dress parade
occasions. The plain people will set the
mace at the tabernacle. The old Jerusa'
lem goepel will be preached there IN
United States language and in the Taze'
we'll tongue. that the unlearned may un'
deratapd. Neral character will be taken
as the true measure of manhood; that
God is no respecter of persons, and his
neople must not be. We will use no book
but the Bible and have no creed but
Christ. The bond of fellowship for the
tabernacle worshlppers is expressed aS
follows: 81 believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ with my whole heart, will be dill
gent in the use of the means be has placed
In my reach to know bis will, and obey
him as understand him."
Attention will be called to all the duties
we owe to God and man. In doing thi
we will not shun such teaching as is foun(
in lst Tim. 2: 9.10 James 2nd chapter
and Pet. 8: 3 As. No church or soclet.
is TO be organized in the tabernacle, ex
cept a Sunday.school which will be con
Quoted at 2:3O p. NJ. and Thursday nigh
PRAYER meeting. Preaching every Sunday
at $50 p. IN. Tabernacle worshippers vii
be urged to attend services at the churches
and~all the plain people of the churche
are cordially invited to attend the taberna
Gle services. Mark that: "The Plai
People" The preachers of the town WI
be invited from time to time to preac
for US. We donot draw the line betweel
rich and poor, but between the world!
racers after pride, fashion, lust and pleas
ure on the one hsnd. and the plain spirit
ally minded PEOPLE on the other. This
fight against pride and worldliness
the churches, and for equal rights to a
and special privileges to none. 1t IS Wa
e to the knife and knife to the hllt. W
e ask no quarter from the enemy and vi
+ give none.
: [ trust that the need for our tabernac
{ service will soon be anticipated by Il
churches, by their adjusting themselv
to conditions to such an extent that o'
g mission shall be ended. No man deplor
D. the necessity for this special work mo
y than do, and none will rejoice more th'
i the writer when the present season OF dl
10 tress will end, that all may return to u
J. churches and feel at home, and when Il
ls tabernacle will only be remembered as Il
II t,,,o;,,o, ,,o;nf ,vbaro thie tida of fOrmallt