Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-18
TWO HUNDRED ATTEND THE FIF,
TENTH ANNUAL AFFAIR FOR
MEN OF CHURCH..
HOOSIER GIVES TALK
c. F. Coffin, a Prominent Jurlst From,
Indiana Tells Gathering Why Life
And Works of Christ Are
Worth While.

and heard Charles F. Coffin, one Of
the foremost lawyers Of Indiana, dis
cuss Some Reasons Why Men Should
Study the Life and Words of Christ.
The banquet, which was served in
the lower room of the church was pre-
coded from $50 o'clock until o'clock
by reception in the main auditorium
above e. L. Roth, president of the
brotherhood presided as POSTMASTER.
The program opened with the entire
gathering singing the Battle Hymn Of
the Republic. The invocation was
given by Dr. e. J. Shook, superintend-
ent Of the Ottumwa district and the
dismissal was said by Rev. ]. G. Ken
drick.
Room Is Beautiful.
The banquet room, where the four
course meal was served by the Ladies'
Aid society of the First church, was
beautiful in it's decorations. The
spring colors were carried out in pink
and green. From the ceiling we're sus-
pended hanging baskets of pink roses
and trailing vines. The five long
tables were lighted with green candles
In glass and silver sticks and the sup
ports and beams of the room were
covered in green and pink. The speak
ers' table, on q raised platform, at the
front was lighted with the green shad-
ed candles and massive cluster OF
pink blossoms formed the centerpiece
with tall urns filled with flowers and
vines at the side Of the dals.
A rising vote of thanks was tender
ed the women Of the church who pre-
pared and served the banquet as we'll
as looked after the decorating OF tho
room. While the men entered the room
and during the serving the Smelser
Sunday school orchestra played.
William McNett Talks.
William McNett, who is an honor
airy member of the brotherhood, spoke
for short time on Christian frater
nifty. He discussed the wealth Of
in the world today and emphasized
their work and Importance among
men but it was more especially upon
the accomplishments of the Christian
fraternity that he dwelt the longest.
This he classes as the greatest living
group of kindred souls and minds to
be found anywhere.
...., Introduce Indiana Lawyer.
Ind, the principal speaker of the
evening, was then introduced. Mr..
Comm is boyhood friend of NJ. A.
Roberts of this city and came as a
personal compliment to him and to
the church. He has long been recog-
nized as one of the leading jurists Of
the Hoosier state and has been con-
nected with the law school at Depauw
university as its dean.
In opening, the speaker pleaded
with the men to have one thing out
side Of their regular livelihood or vo-
cation for which they stand in the
community. This, he said, was one
Of the greatest things man could
undertake and one of the finest &C.
complishments he could have If he
was able to live up to the standards
which he had set before him.
Measures UP Savior.
In taking up the reasons why men
today should study the life and words
of Christ, Mr.. Comm discussed the
Savior from the standards of men.
II his words and his life are studied
solely from that standpoint, without
taking into consideration all the won.
derful other things he did, then 1t can
be said, according to the speaker, that
he lived very common life. He was
of humble parentage, he only was
really known for three years; he &C
complished but little and he died q
felon. Yet today he fills the world as
no other man does or ever shall.
Discusses Reasons.
The first reason Mr.. CONN gives for
the study of Christ and his words is
that he was child Of prophecy. For
this reason he well deserves careful
study and thought. E..
Charles E. Coffin Of Indianapolis,
The second reason why they are
worth study is because of the effect
which he, after lapse Of years, has
made on the worlds greatest men.
Milton, Bacon and Shakespeare put
him in the fore ground; Grant, Bis
marck and Napoleon eulogized him.
All the really great men in the worlds
history put him at the head. People,
today, cannot afford to be ignorant of
him.
Thirdly, he should be studied be-
cause of the great ideas he added to
the worlds conception of duty and
destiny. He added new fundamental
contributions to the worlds vocabu-
larry of thought He gave the idea of
unselfish devotion to duty and true
conception of childhood There is no
literature back Of him which relates
to childhood in it's true light as that OF
writer's since his time does.
Gave a Calendar.
His work is worth study because he
gave calendar to the world. 1t is
commonplace suggestion but it is
something that no one else has ever
been able to do.
His recorded words furnish the very
best and most complete Interpretation
of that complex thing called life. Life
is a problem. 1t is big thing, too.
Books of today achieve Immortality
only in proportion as they interpret
life.
In the midst of changes everywhere
not one word he spoke relating to the
fundamental principles of life has ever
been antedated or outgrown. The