Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-24
For Sunday Reading
Ill Sorts of Opinions
Tries to End Prayer Chain.

So many endless chain prayers
started by some religious crank have
reached Montclair recently that a
woman here decided to write to Bish-
op Lawrence of Massachusetts,, who
was reputed to be the author Of the
prayer, to ascertain whether or not
his name was being used with his con-
sent. Bishop Lawrence's secretary,
Marcus H. Elliott, wrote in reply that
the Bishops name in connection with
the prayer chain is absolutely unau-
thorized.
Mr.. Elliott says that the bishop by
answering every one of the several
thousand inquiries which he has re-
ceived in the last few years in regal d
frequently in the secular and church
press has endeavored to do all that
lies in his power to stop the nuisance.
Bishop Lawrence expresses the hope
that all who receive copy Of the
at once.
The prayer in question has been in
circulation now for more than three
years and lately it had become very
much in evidence in this section OF
New Jersey. It's recipient is requested
to write nine copies of the prayer and
forward them to as many different
friends and acquaintance. Compliance
with this direction is alleged to gain
the correspondent certain virtues, while
failure, it is declared in the note that
accompanies the prayer, will result in
dire misfortune. That many persons
who have received the prayer have fol-
lowed out the directions and continued
the chain is evident by the long life Of
the custom.
1T should think that DR.. Pritchett
is quite right when he says that the
profession of the preacher has not kept
pace with the enormous advance In
popular education. In that respect he
does right to contrast the ministry
with the progress made by the profess
sions of law and medicine. He insists
that the ministry has relatively re-
trograded. His opportunities of forming
a judgment have been greater than
mine. Personally should think that
he is right. When he says The stand
ards of admission to the ministry have
not kept pace with the general prog
ress,' he puts his finger upon one Sc
cret of the whole trouble.
Few things are more grievous than
the spectacle Of really intellectual,
highly educated, devoted young men
turned back from the ministry. A min
isterial friend Of my own vouches for
the truth of this statement, which he
makes from his own personal knowl-
edge of the university in question. Man
after man of great ability and great
attachments and high character in
tending to devote himself to the minis
| try, before his university career closes
| has changed his mind and gone into
law or railroad work or journalism ane
literature or something else, simply
because he was too big man to pass
thru the miserable little wicket gate
set up by the keepers of the denomln-
atoms These men have felt themselves
called to maintain the orthodoxy of the
churches, narrow, stupid, stodgy, lit.
| tie orthodoxy, out of harmony with oul
modern thinking, denied by all that WE
know today under the continuous op.
erations of the Living Spirit of God
Men who respect themselves, real men
men who have it in them TO do some
good in the world, are not going t.
stultify themselves by submitting tt
/ the absurd little tests which thes'
absurd little men propose.
Certainly; can give you an in
stance which came under my own OBJ
servation There is in this city what l.
called permanent council Of GER
tain denomination. This council de-
cides whether candidate for the min
istry shall be ordained or not. I hav'
been present on more than one occa
sion; / have seen at least one youni
man, university trained, Of conspicu
Gus ability, bearing a name honored ii
his own denomination, badgered by TIL
most belated questions about the be
liefs which ought long ago to hav
been relegated to the junk-heap.
made me sick to hear men askin
questions abou the doctrine of ever
lasting punishment and about the yer
bal Inspiration Of the bible and abou
things that decent man ought to b
ashamed to bring up for discussion i
the twentieth century. The fact is tina
. only little men with little minds i