Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-20
Rev. EdaDin Hart jerks
"My First Sermon
"Mg good step-mother had often SAID
to me, 'Eawln. l know you Ol.l be
minister some day."

| q WtUtSteT SUWe UuD.
My first Isermonl A generation have died
from the face Of the earth since first preached
it, but | remember it well.
| was in my senior year at Hamilton college
and residing in the village of Clinton, N. y,
where the college is located, when one day my
pastor called upon me from the village OF Deans,
boro, five miles away, where was reared and
asked me if had sermon. This pastor was
the Rev. Samuel Miller, brother to the Hon. w.
H. H. Miller, who attorney general in Presl-
dent Harrison's cabinet; scholarly man and well
known throughout central New York with per
haps fine natural ability as his more dlstin-
guished brother He had been pastor of our vii
lage church good share OF my young life and
we were very proud OF his ability in the pulpit
and certainly reverenced his character.
was amazed and COMPOUNDED to have him
ask me if | had sermon and am afraid |
answered somewhat impudently. | remember
that said, "Sermonl What would | be doing
with sermon?"a and his reply: Il didn't know but
you might have one | want you to come up to
my church and occupy the pulpit next Sunday
am obliged to be away from home and should
sermon I will be glad to furnish one for you to
read" 1t was the general practice in our region
to read the sermon in those days. Why, l
said, "Mr. Miller, | could not do that" and then
followed quite discussion upon the subject, he
insstent and argumentative; but was no match
for him and he soon had me where | thought
could not refuse. | finally said, Mr.. Miller,
do not know anything about theology and have
no sermon but if you will take the responsibility
for what / may say, ! will try to prepare SER
mon and do my best" He left me with hearty
handshake and good wishes for my success.
l remember very well the text chose 1t was
| | Peter iii:l5, Give reason for the hope that
| is in you
| wrote my sermon at odd moments and Sat
| urdaV night home IN fathers house
| in Deansboro. Sunday morning before going to
church my stepmother said: Edwin have no
doubt but what you will preach we'll but | do
| wish you would ask Deacon - to make the
long prayer" | told my doubling mother that
since | was going to occupy the pulpit | should
| take every branch of the mornings work myself,
| and that if made of it, she need not feel
badly, for ! should not myself.
| came very nearly disgracing myself in a
way that / had not anticipated The old-fash-
ioned church had the pulpit in the front of the
building. People entered with their backs to the
pulpit and faced about when they sat down, From
the pulpit | looked down upon the congregation
composed of people whom / had known from
| childhood. In that old community almost all the
families were united by marriage. Although the
minister was not relative of mine, one of his
brothers married my fathers sister, SO that we
were brought together in the closest of family
ties. AS the congregation filed in and took their
seats, | saw many looks directed towards me.
1t is not easy thing to preach your first
sermon at home. People think of you as a boy.
| Occasionally preach in the old church now in
my visits east and some of those people still call
me Eddie" Among those who filed in to the
morning worship was young man, cousin of
| mine, chum and the partner of many escapades.
| He entered demurely, took seat reverently, and
glancing up discovered me in the pulpit | shall
never forget the sly way in which he looked to
the right and left out of the corner of his eyes
to see if he was observed, and then drew down
the corner of his eyelid in most facetious man
| ner possible in indsputable wink There were
volumes of pent up history involved in that wink.
1t was as much as to say odd boy, you remem-
| think | came nearer leaving the ministry in
the next half minute than | ever have since, for
the effort to control myself and not laugh was
almost beyond my ability.
WE'LL preached the sermon. 1t was upon the
| evidences for the being and character of God
the reason why we should expect Him to give us
Bible and the reasonableness that He should
send Jesus, His divine son, to be saviour.
When the services were over there were very
many kind things said by the individuals of the
on they have always accepted me as their
preacher, and | am the only preacher that has
ever gone forth from that church since it was
organized | know a number of young fellows
who would have been vastly better qualified than
for the office.
As | think back over the years | see that the
wise old pastor made this opportunity and in
sisted upon my filling his pulpit so strenuously
to get me started in the way in which he thought
should go. At that time l had not thought Of
being minister My good stepmother had otter
said to me, Edwin, l know that you will be
minister some day." and my old grandmother
who had charge of me before my stepmother
regime, also told me the same thing But
laughed them to scorn. In my college course
had been specializing in law studies. Why shoulc
l not? 1t was the country of Roscoe Conkling
Horatio Seymour Frances Herman, Elhu Roo
and the Hon James S Sherman afterward vic,
president of the United States, was just finish
ing his law course in the same college when
entered Most of the distinguished men that
knew or knew about were lawyers. | had settec
the problem for myself and at that very time wa
reading in special work under the Hon. Francis
M. Burdick afterwards with Columbia Law
school.
This first preaching was the beginning of turn
ing my thoughts definitely towards the ministry
AS the days went the conviction grew that tn
ministry should be my field of labor Here l an
today with most of my career, certainly, accom-
, plished.
e. H. ,I,0nL