The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-01
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 country; but 1t was more than just an ordinary fifth Sunday as it was fifth Sunday in February.
 There is a saying among the country preachers that the fifth Sunday be- longs to them, for usually in most country churches there. is preaching only once month. on the first, second. third or fourth Sunday. and the fifth Sunday is set apart for a special meet ing of all the churches in the district or associate
 chance to be at home, but when I got up and found it trying to snow I went over to my brothers just across the way to breakfast and read the papers, and over his protest around church time I made for downtown and in spite of a pressing invitation to return for dinner, I declined.
 Talk about chance. and the law of averages. and coincidences, but as I swung across the golf course of the Country Club with overcoat buttoned tightly around my neck and the wind seeming to cut Into my very vitals, was just in time to miss my car, which meant that would have to walk on down Clairemont avenue and wait at the junction for one of the little vel low Jackets headed downward.
 A limousine whizzed by. going so I fast that dfu not recognize the charm l ing matron who was in it, but seeing that it slowed up ran ahead, and was invited to a seat. I said: You have saved my life Where are you headed for?" She replied: T am on my way to the First Methodist Church" That's strange" I answered, flor I am en route to hear George Stuart preach, as I had promised myself that the next free Sunday I had in town I would strange that one bent for the same place should have picked me up.' I have had many to ask me the ques- tion. What is 1t that make such crowds flock to the First Methodist church?' I think ] can answer the iquery: It is not because George Stu art is a sensationalist, for he is not; it does not come from the fact that he is a great scholar, for this he makes no claim to be; but it comes about because he breaches the old-time gospel in power and simplicity, the best drawing card there is even in this twentieth century.
 intimated that George lacks school arship, as the title Is us1ally inter studied much and long, but intended to differentiate between the man who buries himself in books and becomes erudite in theology, science. or htera- ture and the one who while having 2 good working knowledge of the besi the schools, offer, yet draws largely or the life around him and speaks out oi his own wide experience.
 George Stuart is a psychological rather than a theologian. He is willing that the doctors of theology occupy their time in spinning the webs of theii systems, and drawing fine distinctions as to the trinity; but as for himself, hs is too busy trying to get sinners tt
 trust in his heavenly Father to give
 their hearts to His only begotten Son and to be led by the Holy Comforter
 than to take up time in the endeayol to explain the three persons in one. t GO not mean that he is indifferen 3 to or unacquainted with theology, bu | I do assert that in his preaching h. 7 | uses the psychological method Ia i more than the theological one. ant I while endeavoring to capture the mip' 9 of his hearers is far more concerned il 7 storming the stronghold of their hearts l He knows God and he knows man, ant i, ! he knows the mediator between tn , two. and so he breaches like Paul O s l old, Jesus Christ and Him crucified' I He has never been entangled in wha V is known as .tlse new theology" ant e he will never be tried for being unor : thodox for, as the saying goes he be e lieves in the Bible from kiver t : kiver.'
 Tn this age of dougt men and womei
 are hungry for the message of one, wh'
 speaks out boldly and has no time fo
 mere Christian apologetics. There i heart hunger to hear prophet wh rings out the clarion note, T know il whom I have believed" and knowing
 be willing to trust his all into Hi
 keeping and offer him to others as tn
 solution of their worries. The trium
 phant note of authority still carries ia . in this day and generation with it . perplexing problems.
 Y I am more and more convinced tha l. when people go to church on Sunda If it's for a higher purpose than to b k merely amused. for all during the wee
 they are overwhelmed with secular at ' fractions. and 1t has been my experl
 ence that preachers and churches mak n a mistake in trying to compete wit E. the world in offering Sunday pro grammes outlined on secular ones fo
 fit be mere pleasure of 8 fleshy kin .they are outclassed in the competition a
 .- have never been squeamish. or got ten any reputation for being pious, an
 yet I hope that the religious sens Iwithin me will grow instead of lessen ..-~Ix