The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-10-01
.BIoGENETIcs
sERMONET BY G. B. s.

The Archaic versus The Biogenetic.
Text, Acts 5:3S-39-'Refrain . .
for II this be Of men, IL will come to
| nought; but II 1t be OF God, ye cannot
overthrow It,"
| Nothing can be found on earth
newer or hOlier than our BiOgenetics:
hence the natural antagonism arous-
ed in mOss-grOwn Centers; and this
familiar admonition OF Gamaliel seems
| most appropriate for the present
crisis. SO. now again this week,
| some concrete instance win best
point the moral:
Not q thousand miles from WASH
ingtOn, and less than a century ago,
| a young man-Mr. X-with q grow.
ing family. moved into an almost
ideal community; and there was
rivalry as to his church home. Active
in every relation: popular with all:
pastors health failed, and he ac-
ceptably preached to the four-score
members, as did two others.
But a new young pastor proved to
have the russet.fingered. cigaret hab-
Ii, to the sorrow and dismay Of most
parents. And Mr.. X, who had so
recently covenanted to labor for its
peace and purity" privately and
prayerfully, asked this new shepherd
Of the little flock, how he justified
the enslaving habit? Whereupon he
found that a petty, vicious ring"
ran that organization. and he was
promptly told when and where to get
off--which he failed to do.
In defiance of all rules; at a gath
ering Of less than a dozen. they
rallied six votes, including the pas
tors, for Mr.. KS expulsion, on the
charge Of hostility" And he meekly
accepted the verdict, feeling that He
who was for him was more than all
those against. Please do me the
honor of dropping my name from
your church rolls" was the request
of his wife, a moment later.
Their Jonah" having thus been
successfully cast overheard. without
"blub" or a trace" It seemed plain
sailing; and they could now become
fishers of men," even while voicing
"Homeward Bound" hallelujahst They
buckled down for the winter, to the
serious task Of getting up q revival"
But the celestial flame did not de-
scend and no heavenly dove appear
ed. And they should have known
that Sunday Club rules, and ward
heeler methods. are as sure to fail
In the sanctuary, as is the pulpit
cigaret when enshrined in the Holy
Of Holes!
A choir rumpus. in full bloom. ap-
peared, with the spring; another
preacher; closed doors; extinction!
And was 1t Mr.. y who wrought this
calamitous desolauon? Not by any
means; for, TO the hour when their
"candlestick was removed" and the
spirit was grieved away, no allusion
has yet been made.
| Weeks previous to that dark, ex-
pulsive, night vote, after a bright,
full, morning service, the entire con-
gregation was detained to hear cum.
uiative ISLANDERS from successive
ring speakers, heaped upon one
OF their number whom all liked, and
had come to view as the most cir.
cumspect, conscientious, generous
soul they had ever met!
With swelling orbs and droopine
chins, many heads turned to view the
monster these verbal artists were de
picting: while this cynOsure sat there
the calmest one present, taking nc
thought as 30 what he should say OF
do.
The revered. natural leader. Of all
had no sooner closed the final scath
ing onslaught, than the Holy Spiri,
interviewed, as promised, impelline
that youth to his feet, with a mes
sage in thras crisp sentences, the
last of which was: Some here have
rendered themselves liable in. dam
ages for an amount far beyond the
value Of their earthly possessionsr'
Instantly that last speaker tool
the floor and declared he had always
found Mr.. X . courteous gentleman
against whom he had never in hi,
life uttered q word-the Psychology OF
which performance is surely worth
pondering. And, II the writer wer,
subpoenaed, he might qualify as q
star witness! .,a} d.
The well beloved Doctor Corridor
urged sociability upon his long.waIt
ing audiences; and he repeatedly
spoke of how the pew can help the
pulpit by timely criticism, comment
or commentator. And adopted
these .suggestions-altho the lay
man who expects a city pastor tc
acknowledge his effusions, whether
friendly, frothy, or frenzied, viii
usually be disappointed.
Yet the genial Doctor repeatedly
did this to me, both personally an6
by mail, as one in his own hand at
tests: "Dear Friend: That was Q
beautiful picture Of yourself and Of
your four sons. Thanks! Enclosed
find a letter from one Of the prison
ers referred to by me. Your presence
n in the congregation is always q great
help TO me. Yours sincerely, J. L
Gordon, April "a, 1919"
And it is given here in full solely
for the setting Of its last sentence
which he often reiterated. ,
This habit persisted; and later
tried It on Doctor Morgan--ouotine
here the pertinent one of his three
long paragraphs: "Hotel Lafayette
May 6, 1920, My Dear Mr.. Stark
weather: Allow me to thank you yer,
4 sincerely for your extremely kline
letter under yesterdays date. I Ger
tainly value very highly words Of
appreciation from you. I have no
been preaching for more than forty
years without having the ability L
know something Of the persons wht
listen to me; and you will allow m,
to say that your presence has beer
very helpful one. thank you fol
your good wishes and your prayers
with all kind regards I an
4 +.