Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-13
STAUFFER At FIRST CHURCH
Pastor breaches ssd Gives Impression He
Will Not Leave the City.
SAYS EVERYTHING NOW is HARMONIOUS
Minister Finds In David's idea
of Greatness of God Good
start Toward Being
Religious.

Rev. Byron II. staurer, who resigned
the psstorste Of the First Methodist church
and went to ct. Louis a couple of weeks
ago, preached at that church yesterday.
and made the statement that everything
was harmonious and gave the impression
he would not leave the city for a while
anyway. He then observed that 1.-The news
papers had said this and that"
"As matter of fact Mr.. Stauffer de-
cided ten days after he came to Omaha
that he did not want to remain" said one
Of the most prominent Methodist ministers
in the city the other day to The Bee.
"And believe II his friends had not urged
him to stay he might have gone then.
do not know what the outcome will be,
but at any rate, he will remain with the
First church until conference in September
He is we'll liked and l think the tendency
has been from the first for the factions
in the church to drift toward him as the
basis Of unifcation. OF course II Is I'M
necessary to deny that when DR.. Stauffer
was called to the pastorate to succeed DR..
Smith a split existed, but we have thought
that breach was healing and we believe
Mr.. Stauffer. II he will remain, can do
much to heal It,"
DR.. Stauffer gave up his residence out on
Henderson street when he resigned and
these facts the newspapers considered
rather tangible evidence that he meant to
leave the city.
The little brush over choir matters which
occurred some weeks ago, about the time
it became known that the pastor had re-
signed, is said to have been satisfactorily
adjusted. No change in choir leaders Is
locked for Just now
David, the Shepherd Boy.
DR.. Stauffer's sermon Sunday morning
was on the Eighth Paslm, in which David
looks up at the stars and moon, marvel
ing at the extent of creation and the con-
trssted smalness of man, yet clarifying
God that He has made man a little lower
than the angels and had given him domin-
ion over all the works of His hand.
81 do not like to think of David as a
king or as a leader of men In any way
when 1 read this Psalm said DR.. Stauffer,
but / love to think OF this beautiful thing
as having been uttered by a shepherd
boy such as David was. This is a night
song. To commune with God you must
go out into the country, for there II is
quiet and you are alone. Only the foolish
expect to see God and hear Him in the
noise and hustle; the wise know that He
works in eternal silence.
David communed there with God. He
saw in the moonlight the broad green
earth with its mountains and seas,
and buildings and millions Of creatures,
and he saw the moon and the stars, many
of them millions and millions Of miles
away. Is It to be wondered that he felt
the nothingness of man? When think of
the immensely, Of the infinity OF space, l
can only think as David thought. / can
only wonder at the greatness of God the
great mechanic and the glory of His handi-
work Him that never let's the universe
away from Him. that walks about among
the stars and holds them on the tips Of his
fngers-Him ] glad to call my father
and to reverence Him. Such things as
these must have been in the mind of
David.
Mans Place with God.
You say you are not very religious
Well, perhaps not, but II you have the
Psalmist's idea of the greatness OF God
as shown by His creation. you have
very good start. When you can look in
reverence at that great universe He has
made, have hopes of you"
Then DIR. Stauffer spoke Of the place of
man in Gods plans Before David looked
at the stars" said the speaker. "he might
perhaps have been coQceited, thinking man
everything; when he looked. he began to
disparage man; but after he had meditated