The New York herald., 1922-06-18
Says Birth, Marriage, Death
Are Far Deeper Than the Church
Visiting Preacher From Lon
don Worked to Make Relig-
ion More Spontaneous.

Considered the most satisfactory
preacher ever sent. to an American
church under the sauspices of the
Church Peace Union. DIR. Frederick
w. Norwood OF the City Temple, Lon
don. returns TO England this week de-
lighted with his first visit to the United
States and gratihed with the results
of his soiourn as exchange pastor at
the Broadway Tabernacle.
Caught at the moment of his de-
parture for Oberlin. Ohio, where he
received the degree of doctor of di-
vinity, DR.. Norwood was decidedly
non-clerical in appearance. CARRIED
in dark gray business suit. the cele-
hrated pulpit orator looked more like
a plain business man starting on a
commercial tour than a parson.
81 was a. business man in Australia
until the pulpit called me-" said DR.
Norwood, 'and l did not begin to
preach until was much more mature
than the majority of those who enter
the church, so l do not carry about
me any outward or visible sign that
distinguishes me from the general
mass Of humanity. 1edon't care much
for rank: just want to march in the
van and DO what l can to help my fell
low man.
II learned that in the army" he
.chuckled. mot as a chaplain with the
. insignia on my shoulder straps but as
a chaplain who preferred to remain
, unhampered by the burden and disci-
pine incidental to rank and which in
terfered with really getting close to
the men whose welfare depended upon
the personal touch of the friend rather
than on the dogmatic preachments of
. the cleric
His American Audience Differed
From That of City Temple
Asked what reaction he received
from an American congregation Dr.
Norwood said: THE congregations I
preached TO at the broadway Taber-
nacle were most attentive and of an
extremely high average of church
gcer. They embraced every degree of
intelligence. but apparently came from
different station in life than the City
Temple congregations. which are COM
posed Of the working people of the
metropolis. You have not the work
ing peoples congregations as we know
them in England. I never will forget
my first sermon at the Temple-the
1000 or more eXpectant faces peering
up at me. hanging on every VOID as II
It were pinnacle of some special
hope to each listener.
AT the Broadway Tabernacle the
congregation was more of an entity;
the entire body of people were as one
in intelligence and understanding.
There are many things that are
deeper than the church. Three which
4 venture to mention you will find in
to-day's HERALD. They are the births,
marriages and deaths. These three
things are older, more influential and
more deeply religious than the church.
Few things have done more harm
j fancy, to religion than the attempt
to look at life through the church
rather than to see the church, through
life. sl.a 4
II hold" emphasized DR.. Norwood,
there is nothing holier or more re-
iigious in this world than the mys-
terry of childbirth. Around that central
mystery holy things are gathered.
There is nothing that does more TO
steady people, to restrain them. to in
fpire them. than that sacred mystery
which existed in this world long be-
fore the church was ever heard of.
Il know that round about that CEN
trail mystery of life some of life's most
kideous things congregate, but that is
only to say what is true of all the
~ 80 ID