Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-08-05

to be Christian. The curious
part of it is that apparently there
is nothing in the preaching OF
Revivalist Ham that eompels it
to be Christian either.
The Rev. Mr.. Ham, of course,
has been misunderstood, He
does not approve of Judaism
Catholicism or Chr istian Science
and preached against them; but
his hearers applied his condem-
nation to Jews, Catholics and
Christian Scientists a different
thing altogether. If Mr.. Ham
had condemned the people who
believe these doctrines, instead
of what he considers their errors,
then he would be unfit to pose as
an e7angel of the gospel OF the
Prince of Peace: and as it is,
suspicion arises that he was not
over-careful to draw a distinction
between sin and sinner, else ne
would not have been so grlevous-
ly misunderstood.
That, however, is beside the
mark. The point is that Colds
boro Community Service has
been impaired, perhaps destroy
ed by the revival. This was a
cooperative movement for social
service. 1t had been built up
gradually, and at great expendl-
ture of time and energy.
Cooperative movements in small
towns are always difficult, and a
movement of this sort is partic-
uIarly difficult. Nevertheless, it
was succeeding in Goldsboro
until Evangelist Ham came along
Now it appears to be a wreck,
| If social service is of any value
whatever, then Goldsboro has
lost heavily by the visit of Mr.
Ham.
The existence of such a move
ment in the town was concrete
evidence of the harmony that
prevailed there among the varl'
Gus sects. This harmony the
visiting evangelist appears tt
have destroyed utterly-involun
tarily, perhaps, but ettectuaIly.
As for the political effect o.
the meeting" such as the Holy
War that has been declared OIL
the forward and stff-necked cit,
manager who refused to become
arabid Ham-ite, those belong t
the lighter side. Serious as the,
may be to Goldsboro and tn
5 city manager, the rest OF tn
| world will regard them as in tn
5 nature of a comic relief. 1t i
5 the collapse of social work, tn
destruction of the spirit of CO
operation and the rise of fanatI
5 cism and factionalism that ar
. to be taken seriously.
Without impeaching the sir
t cerity of Mr.. Ham, tmay be sal
in all truth that he is respons
BILE for producing an emotloni
debauch that has given the tow
a terrific hangover of hatred
bitterness and all uncharitable
ness. These effects of his wor
r are CONSPICUOUS. Has he give
it any good important enough
counter balance these terrib
/ evils? If so, it is not apparel
e to the outside observer.
u What, then, is the use of in
: porting these sensational spir
: tual contortionists2 Goldsbol
K has churches and ministers
the gospel regularly employed
advancing the spiritual interes
e of the town. Their work ma
: not be conspicuous, it certainly
e not startling, but nevertheless
u is solid; and it is not attended
t hatred and strife among the pc
r pie of the town. The kingdol
of God, we are told on a high
authority than that of any ira
e cling evangelist is as a mustaI
o seed, that increases by slo
IS growth; it is as leaven tn
s. spreads through the whole lum
2 1t is not as a powerful intoxica
IS that produces furious momenta
is activity, followed by an ECU
p and opposite reaction.
: Goldsboro doubtless paid
= high price in money for the sc
&c vices Of Mr.. Ham; but it h