New-York tribune., 1919-04-21
THE REV. DR. NEHEMIAH BOYNTON

real preacher" he told his companion.
Real preachers don't preach on
topics like that. They get down to
cases." was the comment. Then this
coloquay followcd:
"But l tell you DR.. Boynton is fine
preacher"
"Well, he's got to show mo-"
Gust give him the chance"
So both men put aside their golnng
togs for the Stbbath and went to hear
DR.. Boynton.
Sermon "Down to Cases"
His topic may have seemed abstruse
But his sermon was down to cases."
The man who had objected to going to
the church came away an enthusiastic
admirer of the preacher.
DR.. Boynton is almost as broad as
he is long. That statement has
double significance. He is broad ply
sically and broad intellectually. He
looks less like parson than any man
who ever rose to the dignity of Mod
orator of the Congregational Churches
of America.
In fact, if judged solely by appear
ances he would not even be called an
intellectual. Yet he has one Of the
most vigorous minds in the ministry.
He looks jolly well-fed, urbane.
One can scarcely imagine his being
violently denunciatory Of anything.
R,7t bo
when occasion demands One Brook
lyn minister who officated at mar
rlage in defiance of convention came
to know that DR.. Boynton was not
always benign.
Commanding Pulpit Figure
He is unusually commanding as
pulpit figure. The attention never
strays to the beauty of the windows
or the new Easter bonnets 1t is riv
cted all the time on the preacher.
His voice has remarkable range. It
is mellow and rich. 1t is used with
a rare artistry. DR.. Boynton's gest-
urcs are few, but those few are Wig
orous and compelling.
His language is precise pointed and
picturesque. 1t is almost inconceiv-
pcarance could be without a fund Of
humor, and DR.. Boynton has Il rich
endowment.
lie was serving rs chaplain of the
old Thirteenth Coast Artillery when
war was declared. DR.. Bovnton was
summoned with the other chaplains. to
Albany, whore he was entertained bv
the Governor at q farewell luncheon.
His regiment, in the preceding year.
had been the only one called for duty
IN the state or on the border He was
looking forward eagerly to service
abroad
"The best of it is that 1 can redeem
my reputation at home" he told the
other chaplains. every time | have
put my uniform on my wife has called
me tin soldier. | have become tired
of her tauntng. Now | am really go
ing to war
Too Old for Overseas
His regiment was sent to Fort Ham
ilton for training He remained with
the organization for many months un
til ruling came from the War De-
partment that, on account of his age
he Is more than siXty-he would not
be allowed to go overseas Then DR..
Boynton resigned his commission. saw
ing. bitterly he would "never be able
to dlspr0ve his wife's taunt"
AS chaplain Of the post he proved
ina ne was q man among men. His
eloqlence made him always in rreaf
demand, but II vas in tho simpler
service, in the visits 10 the sick. in lilo
cheering Of those that were downcast.
- TIE distribution Of little luxutiAs,
~ The petsoun touch thai ha proved
the, worth Of his ministry
Ne travelled pyefRHhpiu about tba
thsi Oh his little gospel ffiet" ihat
ms stat - NsW f9fk bfoVidad This
~aa a toid auio iruek Chaplain Fovn.
ton mouHiad his pfgun, ino9ing piallra
nh,hlpa md ehmp chairs on lha truek
ana vent all oyer the post mHkng ad
dI'HF's ana giving entertainments
Fond of Military Life
Or hoYnton parted With the chm
laincY with greht regret. lie was fond
or the military life. lie was n.,V
eenough-in spite Of his years to say
that he liked to get awny from tho
sompre black of the cleric and to don
,he full dress uniform. A fellow chm
IAN, recently commissioned, called him
up on tho telephone ono day to nsk
MIN about tho regulations regarding
uniforms This Is what Chaplain Boyn,
ton told him "You will havo a uni
form That Ia simply covered with gold
bfaid, fon viii bo dnzzlnp eipht
an allurhK sight. You viii look ma
priFht m tho pofihla OF holt"
l,r, Hoyhtoh ehrly catnblinhcd him.
self IN the lfo Of Brooklyn. Called to
! tho Clinton AVcu,o ftk,...t