The Monroe journal., 1922-02-07
TOWN'SPREACHERS.
ARE WIDE AWAKE.
Are Not Only Good Preachers
But Are On the Alert in
Life of Community
TOOK A DIME FROM PLATE
That Was the Effect Of Long Ser
Mon on the Man Who Wanted
60 Give Five Bucks
Ry L. E. Huggins


roe citizen the other day That man
got mighty close to the truth. And
he might have added that Monroa
ministers are not only good preach
ers, hut they are all wide awake,
progressive and all around splendid
citizens who would prove a valua-
able asset TO any town or community.
If there is anything In the idea that
some people seem 10 entertain that
the average preacher doesn't know
much about anything outside his
profession, il certainly doesn't apply
10 the Monroe ministers.
In this connection il might be we'll
to state that the Christian religion
is the only influence that has ever
been able TO hold the civilizations of
the world together. This influence,
in order to prove itself effective. must
extend beyond church services. 1t
must enter into the every day duties
of life and become the integral part
of a mans life for seven DAYS in the
week Therefore. if minister of the
gospel would exert the influence over
his people that real evangel of
truth. pure thinking and right living
should WELD, he must become closely
identified with the business and So
cial rs well as the religious life OF
his people. The old idea that
preacher should have nothing 10 do
with iNe material development Of the
town n which he lives is erroneous
II C.r'stian principles are good for
CHI (" and Sunday school, they are
necit! in business and professional
life n civic and social and political
sircl S. When a minister of the gos-
pei can be OF service in helping in
ject them into every phase of life he
falls short Of his duty when he fails
TO do so. His people are guilty of an
offense against society when they re-
fuse TO encourage his assistance in
these matters.
Preaching Up and Preaching Down
The average preacher Of today has
learned that il is for the better to
bring his sermon 10 a close when his
hearers are wanting him to continue
the discourse than to preach up an
interest and then keep on preaching
uitil he breaches II down. 4 story
is told Of a minister who once an
nounced that he was going to preach
on foreign missions. At the service
that day was a stranger in town and
the minister waded into his subject
in such masterful and appealing
way that the stranger fully made up
his mind 70 put five dollars on the
cvollection plate at the close of the
discourse. But the preacher was one
OF those long-Winded fellows who
never could fini a stopping place
After tho first thirty minutes the
stranger began coming down on the
the amount he proposed to contri-
butte and the preacher kept on ham
meting away for about an hour and
n half Finally, when he did quit and
the collection plate was passed the
man who once intended to put five
dollars In il had changed his mind
so completely that he took Ten cents
Dfl the plate
\ Funeral l. Funeral
Whatever else may be said about
-lAf NNfAN NNlblfh iNl4afis III II
naturally religious. And there are a
great many of them who are sincere
n il and are mighty good people.
They carry their religion into the
and beyond the grave.
Whenever a funeral is announced it
night be also announced that some
'ody is going to be there. These col
,red people don't stop TO inquire as
o whether the brother or sister
whose funeral is about TO be preached
vas dignatory or not They don't
wen consider his position in life. II
/ funeral Is announced it is a fun
,ral and that is enough. To illustrate
he point here Is a story that fits in
licely. A co.ored woman was employ
ID by a certain family as cook. One
lay she went TO the lady in whose
employ she was and said: SAY Mis-
us, can I get off three weeks from
oday to attend my uncles funeral?"
Certainly" replied the lady, "but
low can you be so certain in naming
he date Of your uncle's funeral so
ar ahead of time?" To this the old
olored woman replied: II didn't do
t; the judge did"
Wanted the Right Thing In Heaven
1t is natural for men and women
o forget the things they so dearly
owed when they were children. II Is
lard for a person from twenty to
lXty years OF age TO realize just how
much Importance a child places upon
laving plenty of fruits and candies
their disposal. There is a very
mall boy in Marshvlle who has been
aught that there are plenty of good
hings in the future world for boys
nd girls who obey their parents and .
ct nicely at all times. Ii must be
explained here that Black and Ham
lton carry nice line of fruits, can ,
lies. etc. In their grocery store.
)ne day recently the youngster re-
erred TO came running into the house ;
nth a glow on his face and asked:
Mother, will We have everything we
rant in Heaven YES" replied the |
roud mother. PWell. responded the
title fellow, Il hope Black and Ham
tons store viii be there" |
Two Sides to IL
A great many good people are rap
lily arriving at the conclusion that
.merica is going to the dogs"-that
rime and immortality are In the
Ind and that we are headed straight
,r destruction. Upon information
altered from reading the daily
ewsnaners and from tp1agranh