The Washington herald., 1913-04-07
bryan DISCUSSES
'THELARGERLIFF'
Secretary Of State Makes His
Debut as Leader Of Bible
Study Class.
THEATER IS CROWDED
Commoner Said He Owes Everything
He Is to the Christian
Religion.
rHEATER IS CROWDED

Secretary of State Bryan made his de-
but as leader OF Bible study class in
Washington yesterday afternoon before
a large meeting of men at the Columbia
Theater. This was the first OF a series
of Sunday afternoon gatherings under
auspices of the District Christian En-
deavor, and the Secretary of State has
pledged himself to lead other meetings.
Mr.. Bryan spoke on The Larger Life"
of spirituality as opposed to the merely
material or intellectual life. He said in
the start that his reason for attending
was that he had observed a large class
of young men who thought it broad
minded to scoff at creeds and religions
and that he wished to shame such men
out of the idea that skepticism Is broad
mindedness.
The audience filled the theater COM
pletely. II comprised a great variety of
faces of all ages, nationalities, and con-
ditions. The seats and aisles were crowd
ed, and men even hung onto the ratings
of the stairs. Several women were in
one of the stage boxes, but next Sunday
| the gallery will be reserved for women.
Percy s. Foster, the Christian En-
deavor candidate for one of the Commits
| sionerships, led the singing of a number
of songs, and, at the request of the Sec
rotary of State, the audience sang. I'll
Mr.. Bryan shared a song book with one
of the members of the Parker Male
Quartet and sang earnestly. During the
singing the audience gave the "Chatauqua
salute" to the flag and the Secretary by
great waving of handkerchiefs.
Secretary Is Applauded.
In spite of the sacredness Of the day, the
audience signified it's pleasure of hearing
the address of Mr.. Bryan by applaudins
him loudly when he stepped on the stage,
and although Mr.. Bryan did not unbend
from his earnest demeanor, his speech was
interspersed with laughter and handicap
ping. Rexford l.. Holmes, president of the
District Christian Endeavor introduced
the secretary as the worlds greatest
commoner and Americas best loved
statesman" The audience loudly attested
its approval of this characterization.
The burden OF the address was that
the soul is of greater importance than
either the mind or the body, and Mr.. Bryan
said that his belief in this was the only
thing that could have caused him TO take
an hour or more from the rest that he
particularly needed at this time. He said
that he was so indebted to the Christian
religion for everything that he is or hopes
to be that any Part of his life that ne
might be able to give, he would consider
but small recompense. He said that reli-
gion not only gave men a better under
standing of spiritual life, but Of the uses
and value of the mind and body.
If a mans spiritual leanness showed as
plainly as his physical slimness. it would
not be so hard to get men to think Of their
SOULS said Mr.. Bryan.
Discusses the Resurrection.
The discussion of the Secretary of State
on the theory of the resurrection of the
body brought laughter from the audience
at the expense of science.
I'VE are told that there will be a resur-
rection of the body" said Mr.. Bryan, land
believe IT. ! have already seen bodies
resurrected, according to the scientists,
for they say that the body is rebuilt COM
pletely every seven years by nature. 1
am now on my eighth, according to this.
But the scientists may have TO take II
back. They have had TO take back other
sayings of theirs before this, you know
Apropos of young men and his expert
ence the Secretary OF State said:
Il was cared for by my parents, clothed
and fed and sent to school. l was kept
in school until / was twenty-three. and
then / had a commencement-and started
to learn
II was once asked to suggest a motto
for a graduating class" he continued.
land when i suggested Ever Green the
members of the class were very indig-
nant. They didn't like the idea that they
were still green, but / think ii is beau
tiful. AS long as men or things are in a
state of greenness they are advancing.
When they are ripe they are ready to be
laid away.
II have studied and studied. I have
learned a great many things. / have
made a study of mathematics, politics.
poetry. the science OF government, and
various other things. i have gained
vast fund of information. but some Of
it hasn't been as valuable to me as I
had hoped. l don't know that I ever will
be able to use il over there If we take
out of our life the time we have spent
on our minds and bodies, we will find
there is little left.
yet We have souls. and we will find
that We cannot afford to neglect them.
If you spend your time on yourselves,
on what you read, what you eat, and
what you wear, read the rebuke that
Christ gave those who spent their lives
for their bodies"
The next address of the Secretary OF
State will be on Faith" but the date
of this talk is not known, as he said
Yesterday that he would attend the
meetings when he was able, and make
no ironbound promise.
Next Sunday Percy s. Foster will hold
a meeting of song and story. He will
be assisted by William Z. Braithawaite
and Edwin Callow.