The Washington herald., 1914-12-05
HISTORY BUILDERS.
Why the Pastor Held His Bible
Upside Down.
Cwrtten Expressly for Tho Herald.)
BY DIR. z. J. EDWARDS.

Gerald C. Moll. now of New York City,
and in important executive relation to
one Of the large American Industrial cor
porations. sometimes tells his friends Of
a curious experience he had about a year
or two after his arrival in the United
States. many years ago. Mr.. Moll was
born in Holland. and he there received in
early life the training and experience
which enabled him TO gain a fortune af-
ter he came to the United States and be-
came associated with a large Industrial
company.
"A year or so after came to the Unit
ed States" said Mr. Moll, "it became
necessary for me to make a journey
through certain parts Of the South.
had at that time acquired a very good
command OF the English language. but
whenever I met a native OF Holland l
was glad to talk Dutch with him.
while was in one OF the Southern
States. heard OF a little settlement made
op entirely of men and their families
Who had emigrated from Holland. They
were undertaking a considerable farming
activity. They were all OF exemplary
habits. knew how TO practice economy.
were religious. but not one Of them could
read or write although I think the chill
dren were beginning to read.
These poor people had established a
gaCed a good man. an excellent preacher.
and a man who had a thorough under
standing both Of their spiritual and ma
terial needs. as pastor I though I would
go and spend a few days in that settle
ment. and ii so happened that one OF my
visiting days was Sunday. ! did not need
any urging TO go to the little church and
hear the pastor preach. The congrega-
tion was devout and raid close heed to
h.. H.. l.. 81 L.,
guage. I noticed that ne read the Scrip
lures with singular clearness and charm
OF delivery. / also observed one thing
which greatly puzzled me-he read from
a Bible which was small enough for him
to hold conveniently in his hand, but he
held 1t upside down. I could not under
stand why that was done.
After the service I went to the pas
tor to say TO him how greatly I enjoyed
the sermon and he seemed pleased TO
hear me say so. We discussed the church
and the congregation for a while. and at
last I ventured to say TO him that had
observed that he held the Bible upside
down while reading the lesson.
Instantly there came a change in his
manner. He put his finger to his lips
as though tc suggest silence on my part
Then he looked cautiously around. and
when he saw that no one was within
hearing he said to ne: 1 will tell you
how happened to hold the Bible upside
down. The fact Is that I can neither
read nor write. but not one Of these peo-
pie knows that My wife reads the Bible
to me and il IS with her aid that pre-
pare my sermons. Every Saturday she
reads over the hymns TO me and commit
them to memory. Then she reads the
chapters in the Bible which arr to read
at church service and l commit them to
memory. My memory is good and l re-
tain easily passages of Scripture and
hymns that have been read to me. There
is no intent TO deceive my people. but /.
am afraid my influence would he some
what impaired If Trey knew that I, like
all Of them. can either read nor write"
CCoryright. 1914. BY Z. ]. Edwards. All rights re-