The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-24
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

Sometimes some of my worldly friends ask me if it doesn't nearly bore me to death to have to attend associations, con- ventions. or ministers conferences. They little know what good fellows preachers are when they get together.
 
 For years have made it rule to ats tend pastors unions in every town I have lived in or city have visited, for knew that I would be we'll repaid for giving sometime to seeing and hearing the brethren of the cloth at their case, when they felt that the eyes of the out side world was not on them.
 
 The beauty about ministers meeting is you never know what is going to hap pen or when the body is gong to drop it's seriousness and go in for good time Now, as story tellers of the expurgated kind, no one can beat the average min ister, but am glad that no one can tell questionable joke and get away with it without feeling the resentment of his brethren.
 
 got to the Birmingham Pastors% union at the fag end on Monday morning, as had many other duties to perform. The body had practically settled all the busi- ness before it and was just on the eve of adjournment when up rose my friend, pr. Hibbs of East Lake, and asked if the ,,,ir1 fctA 1,o5 dress, as they had been requested to lead the Liberty Parade on Saturday.
 I knew that had arrived in time to hear real, live discussion that would take a wide range before the matter of dress was settled.
 pr. Hibbs, who knows good form and likes to observe it, thought it would be appropriate if the brethren would wear their Prince A1berts, otherwise known as "jimswingers, and their silk hats, known better under the name of "beavers."
 Dr. Hibbs surely started something, and when census was taken to find out how
  silk hat there was only one who could qualify. and he admitted that his was of a vintage so old that he was afraid if he wore it he would be constantly annoyed by small boys crying out, "Where did you get that hat?' Dr. George Stuart. on finding the dearth of "beavers, suggested that they might wear black caps. But somewhow his sug- gestion didn't go as well as his sermons, which are so generously applauded, for the point was made that black cap and a Prince Albert coat instead of lending l dignity to the ministry might cause it to 1 soon saw he wasn't an authority on | dress. This brought on further talk. On inves- | -igation it was found that only about 25 | per cent, if that many, had the tradi- | tional .'jimswingers.' This reminds me | of story. was on my way to Bap- | swung into the church unannounced, l wearing Palm Beach suit. It happened to be body had never visited before | md only very few present knew me.
  A friend of mine who always wore . Prince Albert got up to introduce me, md as he had the reputation of being a wit he essayed to have little fun at my expense and said: Brethren, if you had met the man who has just come in com- Ing down the road in that bob tailed coat you would never have taken him for a preacher" and they all laughed heartily It my expense.
 I arose and said: Brethren, what my ] friend has said may be true. If, however, you had met him coming down the road in his Prince Albert you would immedi- ltely have spotted him for a preacher, the only difference being that if you had in- sited him on the strength of his coat to breach you might have felt that you had ne chance I think I can convince you hat can preach as good sermon in sack coat as though I were masquerading around ina 'jimswinger." like my rever- md friend, trying to fool people.
 I just lugged in this little incident to impress on you the fact that it's no longer to affect clerical dressto get ! hearing, for while it may not be ac- ,ording to religious Hoyle, many of our ,ity preachers as much as it may be de- ,lored in certain circles, are preaching in suits. The great Dr. Broadus lsed to advise the students at the semi nary to dress in way that would not 'hock anyone if they had to own up that hey belonged to the ministry. The discussion brought out good story rom Dr. RobertsN. Simpson of the Chris ian church. He told how recently he parked his car only to find on his return hat an officer was awaiting him. He ,lead that he thought he was within his l tights, and to be convincing said q wouldn't lie to you about it, for am a ! minister" It seems he likes red neck-ties md unfortunately had one on. The po- iceman looked at him and said: .You ant pull that stuff on me, Preacher Red Secktie; I'll have to make case against Tou.
 The dress discussion ended as it should rave done and as everyone knew it would do, by it being left to each one