The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-13

lively appreciation of what was being said.
 How much more foolish is the one of the spirit by eating food and read ing books intended for mental stimu- Jus and development was next shown. The application was rapidly made material food nourishes mans physical nature; mental food furnished in part by appropriate books is required for mans intellectual development; for the spiritual part of man spiritual food obtained in part from the Bible and other books on religious subjects is absolutely essential. "One may nourish his body and starve his mind; another person may enrich his mind at the expense of feeding his body, Each of these individuals is focl- ish but not nearly as idiotic as the one who feeds body and mind and negiects Spirit so that it starves. His young hearers were not the only ones who took in what the preacher sad. Judge Brown had absorbed every word. His well-traned mind easily understood the application and decided that it was just. He said little at meal time but thought much. That afternoon he took a walk, from which he returned with some things definitely settled in his mind. He had taken good care of his body, so that at 57 he was in robust health His mind, too had received due amount of at tention, as was evidenced by the success attained in his profession and his increas- ing reputation as a judge. But his soul his spirit-had he been fair to it? In all honesty he was obliged to confess to himself that he had been cheating the very highest part of his being. True, he attended church services regularly and made liberal responses to calls for be- nevolence, but he had paid little atten- ton to Bible reading and scarcely ever thought of perusing or studying so- called religious book or one that had to do with spiritual development.
 That Sunday evening the pastor was astonished to see Judge Brown in his pew, but he was amazed after the serv- ice to have the judge ask for an oppor-
 
 ming at the set time the judge was in his pastors study and, without preliini- naries, he told his story to the delighted minister.
 First, he expressed his thanks for the talks to children given on Sunday morn ings and especially for the object ser mon on the need for nourishing the whole man. Then he narrated how during his walk on Sunday afternoon he had taken stock of himself and found that he was lacking Here is summary of his con- | fession:
 T, It was a long time since he had really read a religious book.
 '2. He was not thinking on religious themes as formerly.
 "s. He had grown lax in service in Gods name.
 A. He had lost in spiritual boise and confidence.
 "'what books shall l read to help me regain what I have lost?' was his ab- rupt question
 "I am more than pleased that you | not wish to recommend particular books. What I desire most of all is that you form the habit of reading the Bible and such other books as will nourish your soul with the same regularity and in terest that you consult your law books and read what pertains to your profes- sion in order to keep yourself in excel lent intellectual condition.
 'In order to prove to his visitor that this answer was not given because he could not recommend books. the min ister indicated a bookcase well filled with ford spiritual pabulum.
 What then do you advise me to do? was the next question.
 The one appealed to took some time in giving his answer He urged ths judge to send several publishers his re quest to have his name put on theil mailing list, assuring him that they would keep him notified of the new is sues of the kind of books he would in dicate.
  the interview with his pastor, Judge Brown walked home from church witt a neighbor, the head of a large manu featuring firm. who inquired jovially l Well, Judge, what's new?'
 "I have taken to reading books or religious subjects, was the unexpected answer.
 What do you mean?'
 The judge recalled the object talk or nourishing ones three-fold nature, tolt of the interview with their pastor ant the advice given. He then narrated il detail his resolve to buy one book week on a subject not relating to law or his work as judge and the results of that resolve. New books on various subjects were constantly coming into hi: home and among them were some on re' ligious topics.
 Then came an unexpected explanation I cannot afford to do without them.