Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-08-07
A Literary
Sermon

Auburn was too small to support it's
own pastor. but united with that Of
another village to secure man to
preach in each place half OF the time.
Although few in numbers and short in
finances it was great in ntellectu.
atty. There was readi:g circle, a
mothers club, and sociological So
c1ety, besides the regular Christian
Eldeavor society and the Sunday
school,
Consequently when the new pastor
. young man just out Of college, sent
word that the subject of his first ser
mon would be Reading and Chris
tianity,' ever member was presen;
and attentive.
Like most young men he was radi
cal in his views and very emphatic in
expressing them. He declared that
"the craze to read the popular book
is the curse of the times. 1t educates
people to read without thinking, and
to neglect reading that requires
thought He said. 81 can measure
the depth and sincerity OF your Chris
tfanity by the new books that you
read and the place that they hold in
your social intercourse. If | should
ask who of you have read Via Crusis
would expect half of you to r<s
spond. If | asked how many have eel
Jacobs Ladder, would not expect
one of you to answer. Yet Vi Grusis
is mere trash, worthless for :, re than
pastime, while Jacobs Ladder is a
book to be loved and re read by every
thinking Christian-old, but beautiful
and true"
/ His congregation was serious. All
felt that there was some truth in his
condemnation; yet as Letitia Smith
said, 1T seemed such slaughter OF
the innocents,' for most of our books
are at least not bad"
Dick Jones, the young school super
intendent, had an idea. He scrawled
a note on the back of his hymn book,
and as soon as the service was over
hired a small boy to carry it to his
/ roommate. This was his message:
"Chum-lm to entertain the preach
er chis Sfternoon. He's cracked on
Jacobs Ladder. . you have such
book in your old store trot it o.t: do
something to make it look read marx
some passages that you think he'll
like, and leave it on my study table
! Be sure it's there before l come in
from dinner and send word to me by
the boy. Dick"
| He went back smiling to meet the
minister and take him to dinner. He
felt sure OF having the book In
short time he received this note:
Book all hunky. Only one in the
shop: secondhand copy. Read
enough to suit any person Wasn't
marked. hadn't time to read. Marys
waiting for me to come to dinner
with her Scratched anywhere Just
as it happened. Hope it suits. Guy"
The pastor picked up the book with
| pleased surprise. so we have q
mutual friend here. You're fond of
| marking, l see Marks indicate SO
much of persons mental attitude
toward book. For instance, what
feeling prompted you to mark this
second paragraph on the twenty-ffth
page?"
Il don't quite recall it now. am
Such an erratlc marker that my marks
often mean nothing to me afterwards.
Now, this Autocrat," and he took I'D
his real favorite, did you ever see a
book SO mutilated? Yet | keep on
| marking every time | look at it.
but I'm anxious for advice about
TO help boy that is good hearted and
well-meaning, but SO weak-willed that
his comrades are always getting him
into trouble? Is there any way 70 de-
yelop the manly independence that he
needs o.
The minister like most unmarried
people, considered himself very skill
ful in boy training, and he mentioned
Jacobs Ladder nc more that day.
After supper he went to talk with
one OF the deacons and Dick walked
TO church with Letitia as usual. OF
course he told of his new book.
He comes to our place next. 7
ish I might borrow it. Via Crusis
is in my bookcase and I'd like Jacobs
Ladder there, too"
OF course You are welcome to it,"
said Dick. Won't it be a Joke on
him to find it twice in one week afre,
such scatang remarks"
'lll make it better yet. Mrs. Rich.
ards she called to the sprightly
Young woman walking a little ahead
of them; then as the lady turned
Don't you entertain the minister after
we do?"
~ suppose so. Why?"
"Oh, It's such joke! Dick here