Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-09
pulpit Qatriarcb8.
Centenarian Delivers Two Vigorous Sermons In
One Day in English Church Other Pastors
Have Completed SO Years of Service

A CLERGYMAN in his hundredth
~ year preaching two sermons in one
L = day attracted little attention in
Lincoln, England, for the simple reason
that the veteran Congregationalist. who
was hurting vigorous language at his
hearers, gave no evidence of being more
than seyenty-fve. Yet Rev. Thomas
Lord was born in 1905 and April II will
round out century of life.
He walks with a firmness OF step that
bellies his age, is troubled with but a
slight dimness of vision and is only a
little deaf. His limbs are supple and his
hand steady. Rising at 1:3O every morn
ing. he still shaves himself and goes
about unattended even on railroad jour-
neys, getting in and out OF carriages
without help. .-. r..
But it is in the pulpit that this patri-
arch is seen at his best. His face. with
its frill of snoW-white hair grows tender
as he pleads with his hearers. Ordinarily
of a stern cast of cOuntenance, rather
characteristic of age and due TO the deep
lines and wrinkles. there is nothing but
kindness shown when once he gets close
to an audience His voice is deep, strong
and resonant. with more expression in
1t than many a man of half his age. and
his tones ring clear and true when he
dwells upon the danger of delay in ac-
cepting the good offered by the church
When he talks of himself a smile plays
over his face and CLEAN of fun comes
to his eyes, especially when he speaks
Of the need Of deliverance from the wor-
ship of self even to a man of g. hundred
years.
He takes a shrewd interest still in all
that Is happening.
II have been preaching for seventy
years and odd. and 1 have always
preached the same message. l have never
found anything to add to 1t or anything
that could be left out" he said in recent
interview.
But when you ask whether the world
appears to have improved since L first
began to notice things ninety years ago 1
must tell you that l do not think it has.
In many points of manners we are better
than we were. We have given up the
cruel sports-bull batting, cock Fighting
and so on-which were common when 1
was a young man. but l think that the
general run OF people have looser princi-
pies. They are not SO solid In religious
matters as they were. People have got
So much more restless. The old spirit of
contest seems to have fled. These who
are in the south think they would rather
be in the north. and vice versa: and
every one who can rush abroad seiSes
every opportunity to do so. do not be-
grudge them for moment the enjoyment
they get out of their constant changes,
but think we enjoyed life just as much
in my young days, when it was so diff
cult to see much even of ones own coun-
try.
at seems to me. too that the burden of
keeping up appearances is heavier than
IL used to be. 1t is harder to live on two
pounds a week today than 1t was eighty
years ago to get along comfortably with
one. However. / must not give You the
impression that i am an old grumbler.
have too much trust in God for that. His
ways are not all for us to understand.
l did not want to live very long life. /