New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-30

w or. II IS not usual 70 find these
three qualifications in the person Of one
man az the same time. In fact, II IS high
ly probable that a search Of the entire
continent. or possibly Of the world, would
reveal only one solitary individual who
could qualify for all three. Yet such O
person is 10 he found and only the other
day he increased his claims 10 distinc-
ton by posing as an amateur dermatoio-
gist-at least he spread the report in At
lantic City that a heavy coat of sunburn
on his bald spot had produced growth
Of hair. The peruetrator Of this hoax is
A. J. Drexel Biddle. Of Philadelphia, and
since he made his announcement small
army Of baldheads with scorched pates
and fiery eyes have been seeking him in
vain.
Az this time when the religious world Is
almost In despair over the difficulty Of
getting men 20 attend church services, II
might be well 20 invite an religious leaders
20 give careful consideration 10 the Biddle
philosophy for his Bible class in Phila-
delphia is one Of the largest and most
successful in that town and its leader
among the most popular opponents Of sa-
cred writ 10 be found IN the country.
II has frequently been advanced that the
reason men with good red blood in their
veins stay away from church is that me
church does not afford them the kind Of
manly association that is essential 10 me
existence Of such men. In striving 20 bridge
over this gulf between the church ana the
nom going church male element. daring
rlergvmen have in some instances barred
Uonen entirely from the services and have
had tobacco pipes and free tobacco handed
around. They have inYNed the men 10
sbed their coats in no eather and he
cop- Portable. They have added vaudeville
entertainments 10 the church programme
and have gone the limit I'm banishing me
.t-,osnhero that tends 10 make a man
think he is present az mothers meeuhs.
some success has attended these radical
oef,-ts but the objection has always pech
.,tgod- and with reason-that they make
, cburcb ANYTHING but place or religious
ge,.,,ice The secular features supplaht the
-oI,c,,o,,s ones. and although the men have
.,,to,,od themselves little good results along
.,-- I,,os that the minister is chiefly work.
ing for. s,e,oro,,
Now. Drexcl Biddle's plan IS diHereh''
lie has made the features that appear u
men an adjunct 20 the re4sloua S'"o %
church work. They have been kept sePa-
,ate and vet made 20 dovetail 80 cleVeriS
~, mon VINO have come 90 tho manly eA-
errisas have found themselves listening 70
pvIe teaching. while scarcely realizing that
tine experience is one at which it would Do
natural for them TO shy.
The result OF the work done by MI Biodie
ig most interesting both 90 laymen anu ~
-oligious workers 70 20 back a little anu
tell the story consecuuvely. Mr. Biddie was
-, one time a newspaper reporter. Belong
ina, as he did 10 the exclusive DreNel ram
uv he doubtless had hopes Of one d"y
coming into money. but ar that time 10
had 10 get a living, and he chose the news
raner profession as the means OF OBTAIN
ing IT, .,.,a.,.
AT the age Of nineteen he was an a'i'i'l'c
,oung fellow, with a perfect passion Tor
toxing. lie would Do1 with any one ana at