The Washington times., 1917-04-30
PULPIT, GARDEN, AND
LINKS HIS HOBBIES
New Anacostia Pastor Able Plant.
er, Preacher, and Putter.

The Rev. Charles Shannon Biggsr
sr.. new pastor of the Anacostia
Methodist Episcopal Church, sat un'
der a pear tree in the spacious back
yard of the parsonage at Fourteenth
and u streets southeast, and sub
mitted to his first interview since his
appointment to Washington.
There was a clot OF blood on his
right hand where a refractory board
had snagged him while repairing a
shed. and a newly planted garden ex'
planned the deep tan over his face
and neck. The new pastor could
hardly have stepped into his pulpit
just then, for he had on a khaki shirt
open at the neck and a cap that had
evidently seen much service. But
there was a directness in his gray
eyes and a viriIe warmth in his hand
clasp that made it evident the Rev.
Mr.. Biggs would put wealth OF spir-
itual and physical force into whatever
he did-whether it was preaching a
sermon, driving a golf ball, or plant
ing onions.
StereOtyped Questions:
With a patience such as only min
listers whose hair is beginning to turn
gray can show he submitted the
stereoptyped questions.
You were born in-ah-Um?"
West Virginia"
And studied for the ministry at
- UNI -ah-?"
Carlisle, Dickinson, Pa"
Were you graduated in-ahem-?"
1899"
How many children, please:"
Two little girls are all that are
now at home. My boy Joined the
Fifth regiment of the Maryland Ma
tional Guard yesterday"
Right there the interview ended.
For the next half hour or so the
newspaper man was just a visitor
who had dropped in for a chat with
the new pastor. They talked about
the boy who was seventeen years
old-his name is Charles Shannon
Biggs. jr.-and about golf which
the Rev. Mr.. Biggs likes to play, and
tents which he likes almost as well:
and about gardens, and how he was
going to put a new door on the shed.
and what fine thing it was to have
a yard for the children to play In.
His Son Felt the Call.
Private Biggs, of the Maryland
Fifth, was a student at the City Col
lege in Baltimore and would have
graduated in June. But the lessons
of patriotism had been too we'll learn
ed at home and he felt that it was
better to be studying a drill manual
than the laid.
He Joined the coast artillery first,
but there was nothing for him TO
do but stay around Baltimore" said
1. e. L
ting into the infantry in the hope OF
getting a little more action He is
an active boy"
The garden, to which reference has
been made. is the first that the Rev.
Mr.. Biggs has planted for a long time.
for in Baltimore there was no room
for gardens where he lived. Men who
feel deeply usually have little to say,
but il was apparent that the new
pastor was glad to be able to do his
bit" at home in the way of conserv-
ing the food supply at the same time
his son was under arms.
Disappointed Golfer.
He was disappointed to learn, as
so many have been, that the only ex-
cuse Washington has for a public
golf course is three holes down near
the Tidal Basin. where the putting
greens are suggestive OF bunker haz-
ards, and spoke enthusiastically of
the provision Baltimore has made for
its golf-lovinG citizens. He liked ten
mis-, of course. but you know when a
man has played a little golf. etc.
Before being sent to Washington
by the last conference, the Rev. Mr..
Biggs was for many years pastor of
the North Avenue NJ. +. Church, in
Baltimore, and for five years prior to
that he was in charge of the Monu-
ment Street NJ. L. Church, in the same
city. In 1903 he was pastor OF the
kensington VI. L. Church, at Ken
Md
Having spent 50 much time in the
OF Washington, the new Ana
costa pastor is known to many
Of this city.
Preached at Foundry.
He has preached in several of the
local churches and during the vaca-
tiOn OF the Rev. DR.. w. r. wedder-
spoon A few summers ago he preach
ed several times at the Foundry N. |
f. Church here.
Sitting under the pear tree in the
rear of the parsonage, his cap perch |
I'D on the west" side Of his head as |
4 protection against the late after |
noon sun, the CRIME OF real labor |
showing on his face and hands. the |
strength OF the outdoor man evident |
IN the breadth OF his shoulders and the |
of his arms, the Rev.
Mr.. Biggs was somehow suggestive Of |
he Apostle Peter. He was the kind |
" man that might he expected to
lraw a single sword against the pow
n o fthe pagan. just as Peter did I'm
iethsemane.
IL indeed. as Billy Sunday insists,
here is a personal devil. his Satanic
Majesty will do well to approach the
,astOrate OF the Rev. Mr. Biggs with
.aution. For he appears 10 be a shep-
lerd militant.