Newark post., 1914-02-04
POPULAR BOOK REVIEWED
Mr.. Churchills Story Interestingly Retold

given at the last meeting OL tu'
New Century Club by Mrs. 7. F
Manns:
1t is not my intention in review
ing this book to give a complete
story of the happenings in each
separate chapter. feel this to be
quite unnecessary in view of the
fact that many Of the club members
above, no doubt, already read the
story.
wish only to bring before you as
best | may the fundamental ele-
ments in the bOok-to touch upon,
as it were. the essential factors
which cause this novel-if we may
call it a novel-to occupy place
of its own.
John Holder, the rector of a
quiet, unpretentious church, in a
quiet, unpretentious town, is called
to fill the pulpit of the church of ST..
John-an aristocratic, conservative
church in a growing middle west
ern city.
He had an unusual physique for
one Of his profession. He was, or
had been, an athlete Of moment. His
was the look of one who was cap
able Of doing great things-making
sacrifces-enduringly for his faith.
Mr. Churchill says, Unless there
be, in the background, a mother, no
portrait Of a man is complete. She
explains him-is his complement. y
In one short sentence he paints for
us a word picture of John Holder s
mother. A tall, quiet woman who
had learned the lesson Of mothers
how to wait and how to pray, how
to be silent with a clamoring
heart. -
John Holder in youth had been
one of those boiling, contagious
spirits, that carry with them, ire
sistibly. tanner companions. Many
wild college pranks had been laid
at his door. His had been a nature
hard to restrain, but his victory
over the flesh and its desires had
been complete. He had not married.
Because he knew women to be his
great temptation he had kept a
watchful guard during the years of
his ministry. He had been known
to say: Promising to love forever
is like promising to be president of
the [. S. One might achieve it
but it was independent of the will. "
During his stay in Bremerton he
was strictly orthodox, no doubts
having disturbed the even tenor of
his way.
His introduction into his new
parish. in this strange city, forced
upon him in a subtle way that the
Primrose Path he had been tread
ing in Bremerton was far behind.
Although many members of his
new congregation felt there was an
apparent incompatability between
ruggedness and orthodoxy after his
first sermon at st. John s not even
the most orthodox could find the
least loophole for doubts on that
ground.
He finds st. Johns all that a
church could be expected to be
when large sums are poured into
her treasury-no matter where
they came from or how gotten
when its vestry is composed of the
richest, most influential men in the
city. A church active in charities,
giving largely. 1t was all and
more than he had expected. He was
wined and dined by his leading
members and then dined and win
ed He was taken into the conf
dence of the most conservative
even by some of the women. Indeed,
he was led to believe during his first .
year there that a certain wealthy
widow, member of his congrega-
ton, would not be averse to captur-
ing him for a second husband. But .
you see he still must have had his .
watchful eye trained on the women
for he remained single.
His congregation may be clearly .
defined by a few of its members.
Eldon Parr-the big man of the
community-the man who could .
make or unmake another-whose
vast fortune had been amassed dur
ing a few short years-who had .
taken from the Door that he might .
giue to the Lord: Everett Constable .
not a self-made man but a man.
made man-made by Eldon Parr
what he was financially and social F.
ly-but body and sould by his Max
er; Mr.. Ferguson, who owed his
social success to this man and others |
he owned and much of their busi-
mess also.
Gordon Atterbury, contented, at
ease in Zion, accepting the Bible