The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-26
By S. S. Marquis, d. d.

pc, uttered from neT description OIL
it in her letter to Mrs. Ford. She
was well to do, but Arkansas seemed
such long way from Dearborn that
she thought she could take a chance
on getting something without her
case being locked into.
Gives Personal Attention
The personal attention which Mrs.
Ford gives to these cases is but an
index of the gentleness, the kindness
and sympathy that are in her as
we'll as Of the thorough and intelli-
gent manner in which she does her
work.
But to return to Mr.. Ford and this
church. Frequently are the questions
asked, rs he a churchman?" rs he
Christian What are his religious
Views? rs he a religious MANI"
These seem to be the same ques-
ton put in = little different form
but they are not. The information
sought in each case is far from the
same. Each question reveals, all un-
consciously peculiar religious
slant" in the mind Of the person
asking it.
II tG the one who asks the first
question you state the fact that Mr..
Ford was baptized and confirmed in
the Episcopal church, he is quite
satisfied. He has gotten all the .infor-
nation concerning Mr.. Fords reiig-
ion he wants. He belongs to
church- Then he is all right
The man who asks the second
question is not, SO | have discovered,
particularly interested in Mr.. Ford's
church affiliations. What he wants to
know is something about the indi-
Vldual moral standards of Mr. Ford,
and the character of his private life.
When fe1
private life is clean, his tastes are
simple, his pleasures are wholesome,
and that he loves and enjoys his
home, you have told him what he
wants to know.
The man who asked the tbird
question is just burning up to know
IL Mr. Ford is a theosophist a spfriit-
uailst, or new thoughter Does he
belleve IN transm Migration Of the soul,
or in reincarnation? What does he
think of Confucius ana Buddah?
Would it be possible to have a talk
with him on the esoteric teachings
Of the ancient mystics or the doc
trines of the stoics? Inasmuch as
he entertains some very original
ideas on everything under the sun
concerning which he speaks he must
hav esome very original and Interest,"
faction Of this man hermit me to
say that Mr. Ford believes, or did
once believe, in reincarnation. / have
never gone into the subject with him.
50 don't know to. what extent
the belief has taken hold of him /
nave heard him say that he has a
knowledge of some things with
which it seems to him he was born.
1t comes TO him As out Of the *
perience Of former life.
The last question Is meant to draw
out a statement as to Henry Ford's
ideals. his social theories. his doc
trines of human relations particu-
larly his idea of industrial relations.
1t comes as a rule from a man who
places the emphasis on social rather
than individual Righteousness. who is
interested in the fruits of religion
more than in its theolog ical and
ecclesiastical roots. He will find
answer to his question scattered
here and there throughout these
pages, so that I need not restata it
fere.
Father Was Vestrymnn
To sum it all up, Henry Ford is
not churchman in the sense that he
attends any one church with regu-
larity, enters into its worship. sac
ramental or other. is interested in the
extension of its work. and con-
tributes toward its support in
manner commensurate with his
means. His father was a vestryman
in the little Episcopal church in
Dearborn. 1t was in this church
that MIR. Ford was baptized and con
firmed
Like many another man, baptized
and confirmed in early life, h. has
rot maintained a close contact with
organized religion in later Years [
cannot conceive of him working
eontentedly and enthusiastically in
any organization, religious or secu-
lar, in which he is not the dominating
spirit and majority stakeholder If
he were to accept the authority ana
responsibility for the reorganization
Of the church along lines Of eff
cheney and finance, / have no idea
what he would do. - But l am sure
that whatever he did would go down
in ecclesiastical history. Much that
is now at the bottom would come to
The top. SO far as the organization is
concerned, and much now at the top
would sink into oblivion we would
have the unique spectacle " ecclesi-
astical conventions meeting annually
70 devise ways and means for using
a surplus instead of assembling. as
at present. for the purpose Of work
ing out some plan for meeting the
deficit in last years missionary
budget. The clergy might be taken
care of by giving them a job six days
in the week lin the foundry with the