Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-09
WAS A GREAT TEACHER
Prof. David Swing, Who Was
Charged With Heresy.
NOBLE, SIMPLE, TENDER
DR.. F. L. Patton's Attacks Were
Never Sustained.
TALE OF A PEACEFUL PASTOR
Doubted Dogmas, But Loved His
Fellow-Man-Foun Church
on Noble Principles.
NOBLE, SIMPLE, TENDER
TALE OF A PEACEFUL PASTOR
BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.

special correspondence OF The Star ana the
Chicago Record Herald.
NEW YORK. December g. 1903.
1t is fourteen years since Prof David
Swing was translated from his lovely
home on the Lake Shore drive. Chicago
to EmanueHs land-that beautiful coun-
try, full OF the songs of birds and the
fragrance Of flowers, that he often pic
tured in exquisite colors from his pulpit
and in his poems. And yet no one has
ever attempted his biography until now.
The list Of publications that refer to his
words and teachings cover page and a
half, and his biography might consist al
most entirely of quotations from his lips.
It is very unusual for a man Of his abil-
ity and influence to spend such an I'M
eventful life. but his sixty-four years Of
love and faith and happiness were seldom
disturbed. He took little part in the
worlds activity and it has remained for
one of his disciples. Rev. Joseph Newton
of Cedar Rapids. Iowa, 10 gather the few
facts in his history, which will be pre-
sented to the public in an attractive vol
ume during the next few weeks.
A Great, Simple, Tender Man.
AS the author says. Swing rises up as
one Of the great. simple. tender men of
his age. altogether worthy Of our lasting
and grateful remembrance. He was per-
haps the most distinguished (and Mr.
Newton might have said one of the most
modest ministers of his day, in the sense
that he was set apart from others by such
marked traits of mind. as well as by the
methods of his ministry. He was a
teacher SO unique as to be exceptional In
any day, and his historic ministry in
Music Hall. Chicago. Is one Of the best
traditions Of the pulpit"
And it is equally true that in the pages
of his printed sermons we have body Of
writing unlike anything else in the litera-
ture of the pulpit. He lacked every grace
of elocution. yet produced such effects
upon his congregation as only great
orators like Henry Ward Beecher and
was awkward, and his utterances were
monOtonous, although his voice was sweet
and musical. To one who had never heard
him before the first five minutes of his
sermon were a painful disappointment,
because it required practiced ear to UNI
derstand him, but the current Of SYM
pathy was soon established. and then no
human speech was ever more effective.
1t is impossible to describe the influ-
ence Of his subdued strength, his gentle
sympathy and the appealing grace of that
wonderful man. AS Mr.. Newman says.
1.-The charm of his nature was blended
composure of gentleness and benignity. In
the great temple of religion his vocation
charity. His character. his personality.
the cast of his mind. the quality of his
life and the flowing robes with which he
invested the truth as he saw 1t, gave him
his sway over men
Inherited His Mather's Qualities.
The first chapter gives the story of
the boy, David Swing. who was born In a
two-story brick house at the foot of Elm
street, Cincinnati, in 1880. His father. of
German ancestry, who originally spelled
his name Schwing, was pilot of a steam
boat on the Mississippi; his mother Ker-
enda Galley. was woman of rare grace
of mind and piety of heart. Her brother
was a leader and orator Of ability and
was the first representative in Congress
for the district of Cincinnati, having de-
feated William Henry Harrison in race
for that honor. Kerenda Swing be-
queathed to her son the serene temper.
the quiet humor, the fine common sense,
the poetic taste and the refinement of ma
ture that he possessed to such a remark
able degree. From his father he inherited
his sterling honesty and moral courage.
The father died when the son was only
two years old. and his mother remarked
James Hageman, blacksmith. of Read
ing Ohio, who shortly after removed to
williamsburg, Clermont county, and there
David Swing spent his boyhood in pow
erty and primitive surroundings. The
family wore homespun. ate plain fare and
worked hard. Their life was simple with
austerity but rich in faith in morals and
in the essence Of things that were real.
Swing himself expressed it In the music
of holy voices and the ministry of loving
hands,
Loved the Best Literature.
Swings love of reading and his poetic
instincts were early developed. His boy
ish writings in verse and prose. often of
a humorous sort were read before the
village literary society, and gave him a
local fame. By nature deeply religious,
he was converted in the good old fash
Toned way at a Methodist revival meeting
when he was fifteen years old. but the
gentler instincts of his nature rebelled
Immediately against the eccentric. dog
matte and intolerant doctrines that were
believed and taught in the community in
which he lived. The Rev. Ludwig
Gaines. a man of bright culture and a
born teacher, discovered, behind Swing
shyness, fine mind, the instincts Of a
student, rare literary taste and an eager
ness for knowledge, and opened the way
| for him to obtain liberal education. He
was familiar with the best literature of
the past-Addison Spectator, Spen-
| GERS "Faerie Queen" Hume's History
OF England" Cowpers poems. Scott
novels and other standard works, as well
as "Pigrim's Progress Fox's Book of