The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-09-30
HEADERS OF METH0DSN ASSEMBLED AT FALRM0NI
DR.. Stidger, In Interview, Reviews
His Career as Newspaper Reporter
DECLARES REPORTING IS BEST ID
WORLD TOR A PREACHER
saws 1t WAL Fit Man TO Preach GoSpel
Moro THAI College Work.

"Ncwspsrcr reporting Il inc pest
training in the world for a preacher.
Thus spoke Dr, William l.. S'idger'
ras,or q! St Marks church al Detroit
-, born West Vlrgnian, ono time !nteil-
rcrrrr reporter and now ono o: the
most Spectacular figures In tho ministry
&C he Methodist Episcopal 'hurch.
"Ore or two years newspaper WORK.
preferably a polio" reporters JON. Wiz
\. n man to preach tho gospel o. jesus
Chris, far mu", 'han his college ""iN'
y VIII teach him !" write I" SIC .p
,,,r. Will give hin, Il contact w'th he
he wuuld probably r"Ncr get an ll''''7'
~ n,oplc and 4 knowledge "t human m
rarce, yn valuable tn the ;ru" preacher
:. ,,.n rc,rn him the vl'uc or ruh!iclty
art! how {" get them both
II -, ~ yuu. as would say 10 me
ninis,,r, or the world, y" moncrh
-, teacher can live Ion~ without sense
- ruilirity. And 'hcr" - no better
r,acc 10 get this sense than IN news
napc: office.
mr. s,idrcr was born at MounosVhie
something less than 40 years ago. hhh
j.as many relatives living there To-Day
Hi. first experience on n nr"SpaPc' -
49, III. Muundsvillc reporter OF Inc
Iu;cllic-urrr, later he w"fkc" '"r "
short time in the editorial rooms d
Wheeling.
Hcr,lIin, his carly newspaper days
M S,Idocr laughiugly told Of time
,vhcn there was AZ execution AT tie
stat. ncui,entiary At Moundsrille. lie
had heer on The Intclligence- but
short whiIc and hal never written any
,b;nr, hut "personalS." consequently ne
was no, trusted with covering the exc
cution.
~ will never forge. that day SAID
M S,ldrer II had never seen n hang-
inC. and was not particularly anxious
"a seo this one. The Irtc!ligencer SEM
= more cxperIrnced reporter down 10
Noundsvi.lo from Wheeling TO write II
m. met him and he told me he want
ed ne to accompany him. agreed
and We started for the pen
"Ril..' said he. let's get a drink. l
can't stand TO see 4 man hanged VIII
out having a couple OF whiske!s ''
steady MY nerve
his 'couulc Of whislI"ys' and we went
TO the pen.
Tho warden placed tbs rore around
Tho noor follow. neck and began to ar
ranro Il properly heard a slight
noise 4, nv side The experienced re-
,or,er had wlltri His couple OF
whiskcys had proved ;usuffcicnt. and
he had tainted.
"I wrote the story of the hanging
Since leaving The Intcll!eence-. Or.
Stidgcr has led an interesting iife. mat
was IN 1915. He FRS. went to Allegheny
college where he was prominent IN an
forms OF athletics. Latcr he attended
Brown University. graduating In lel!.
During part o! tn" time he was attend
Ing the university he was vice-president
and conch OF EaSt Greenwich academy
q preparatory school.
First Charge in West.
ro,ou.irr his graduation from Brown
university. ne was nas,or OF n small
church IN California. remaining there
three years. then pastor ~ tho Flrst
church oC San Jose. Cal. remaining
there three years also. The war broke
out and No went 80 France carly IN 1913
with IL" Y. NJ =. \. ne truck driver.
lie drove HE truck nj over tho front.
and was ~ tho ,hiCk q I'm" Chauteau-
cherry drive I'll" 7rmistice slGncd.
nr. S'!dgrr wont back to California;
Tncn hc was cmrloyod by tho Mctho-
dist ccntcuiary 20 'ake q trip around
tho world and writo human interest
stories 20 stimulate interest In the Tor
cign missions.
Circled tho Globe
Or this trim which, by thc wnv, was
.ho first n its kind over financed hv a
church. Dr. Sildrrr covered 5000 thou
sand miles. Travelled Ia seas AMI viSl'eH
.orto % different races TTo sNcn' most
~ h!s time IN the Ear East and N"
South Sea Islands.
~ S,idgnr Ia not only n successful
I,,I hi. 10 hpr pf note.