The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-10-01
Editorial Correspondence.)

4 oIA pk CdCICKS, ana Wnen l
ne goes to e one who breaches
he eternal v~erities as if they we're not
he light OF life he is apt thereafter to
ct the church going habit 20 into
nnocuous deSuetude when he comes !
10 this great city. The time was that
there were a few great preachers here
who attracted visitors to the metrop-
oils to hear them preach. They added
wonderful gifts of oratory to ability Of
a high order, and the Beechers and
'1almedges were among the chief OBJ
1ectS OF interest to visitors. There are |
earned and great preachers here now. |
but none so widely known or with
such popular gifts as Talmadge Of
Beecher. This is the hardest place in
the world for a preacher to get a hear
ing. The hurry and rush Of life, the
presence of many visitors, the cosmo-
politan character OF the population,
and he de%plOrable getting away from
ahe old church going habit nave unit
ed to lessen the influence Of the gos-
pei ministry. Try however so much the
minister finds SO many other things
crowding the lives Of the people he
finds it difficult to get a hearing for
the eternal truth he has been called
. deliver. If men will not go to
church how can he deliver the mes
sage?
A few months ago the brilliant Rev.
DR.. Aked resigned the pulpit of the
biggest Baptist church here to go to
California. He had large congrega-
tons here, but he said he felt he could
not get hold Of the people and that he
was discouraged after giving his best
TO this big city. PastOrates are short
lived here for that very reason. And
yet-is the fault AL with the people? I
think the chief fault is with the gad-
ding spirit of the age and the
1nltaHialiQ ON that hos I1{ CD ont
so many lives, but is it not true as
ever that if a great man has a mes
sage he will find a hearing, and if no
way is opened to him, he will make a
N2F and deliver his message?
went to my hotel last Saturday
lI&Et J VAS trying to decide where to
30 10 church on the following day. On
the previous Sunday I had heard DR..
Torrey, the we'll known evangelist who
has preached in several North Caro-
lima cities, and had in mind to go to
hear DR.. JOwett, the singularly able
Fnglishman who has made reputation
at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church.
But inquiry gave the news that he had
not returned from his vacation. In a
~4uandary as to where l should go to
church the next morning, or whether
! should go at all l bought a Golfers
and went to my room to read it. In
a few minutes l had plunged into the
third Of a most interesting series Of
articles by Peter Charge Macfarlane
headed Charles l.. Goodell. Pastor Of
the Largest Methodist Church in the
World His picture attracted me. too,
Tor he somewhat resembles former
Lieutenant Governor W. D. Turner.
Of North Carolina. Hardly had I read
the first column when it was clear that
the use Of my time on Sunday morn
ing was determined, and fixed by the
merest accident of finding MacFar-
lanes article in the casual purchase
Of q paper. Some people would say
that this was a leading, others that 1t
was a providential message to hear
the preacher. No matter whether the
chance reading Of the paper was mere
accidental or the leadings Of the hands
of Providence, I went to the church
about which Macfarlane wrote so IN
terestinely, and heard a truly excellent
sermon upon old truths presented
with clearness and impressiveness. 1t
was the story that Macfarlane told in
the first column OF the story that
caused me to goa story I am going
to quote here. If it impelled me to &c
TO hear the man who put his religion
10 the test, will not the story also In
terest every reader OF these lines
Here is the first part Of Macfarlane'
story about the preacher of the larg'
est Methodist church in the city, Civ
Ell III his own words in Golfers:
=. am just out Of states prison.
In. GoOdell was in the midst Of
revival service when a man stood III
in the aisle and shouted these word
at him in a voice that was harsh wit
excitement. The preacher paused il
his DISCOURSE. The audience sa
GREATNESS and transf1Xed. Ever
glance was turned upon the man i
the aisle. His head was bent forwards
Tha p,,,ooJcr nf hic f0no wore cor IN
beam Of his eye rested steadily upc
the face Of the minister. After
moment that was tense almost {
p~ainfulness, he repeated his statemen
and amplified it.
IT am Just out of States prison.
] was guilty of all that was
charged and Of things which We're