The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-05-20
SINCLAIR LEWIS WILL
VISIT Old HOMETOWN
DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR HAS
PREACHER FOR COMPANION
ON AUTO TRIP
POSING AS BOOK AGENT
AMERICAN NEWSPAPER WRIT
Frs FIND HIM MIGHTY
LIVE "COPY"

Wednesday morning of this week
DIR. E. j. Lewis received telegram
from his famous son, Sinclair Lewis,
stating he would arrive in Sank Cen
tire for an indefinite visit at the old
home in this city about the middle OF
next week.
Probably there is not another pri-
vate citizen in the United States who
is as good copy for the newspaper
writer as Sinclair Lewis. Herald read
ers will recall how he won and spurn-
ed the Pulitzer cash prize of 81 900
for having, according to the judges,
written the best novel of the year in
"Arrowsmith." This action brought
him a million dollars worth of free
publicity and should increase the sale
of "Arrowsmith" by 100000 or so:
A few weeks prior to this he
created a furore throughout the coun-
try by severely criticising the clergy
in a Methodist pulpit at Kansas City.
Now according to an Associated Press
dispatch from Kansas City Lewis is
vending his way to Minnesota accom-
panied by a preacher. They are dis
guised as itinerant book agents, tits
said.
Mr.. Lewis has taken the small
town into camp with "Main Street. "
His "Babbit" has been condemned
time and again by Kiwanis, Lions
Clubs and other civic organizations
because they allege his picture of
the breezy relator, is libel; the med
ical fraternity "got theirs" in car
rowsmith," and it is presumed that
within a few months he will have a
novel which will show up the weak
ness of the clergy from Lewis view
point.
The following Associated Press
story of his auto trip north will be
of interest to many Herald readers
"Kansas City, May ia Sunday
school class, in which he studied min
listers at close range and got their
views on the church and in turn ex-
pounded his own doctrines, was con-
Quoted in his apartment here by Sin
clair Lewis, author, during his stay
of more than a month. This was
learned today following Mr.. Lewis
departure for Minneapolis, where he
will continue writing his next novel,
which is to deal with the ministry.
"Mr. Lewis left for Minnesota in
a motor car with Earl Blackman, as
sociate pastor at the Linwood Boule-
ward Christian church here. They are
masquerading as book agents, and will
intrview country preachers enroute
Existence of the class was learned
today from the Rev. Bert Fske, pas
tor of the Ottawa Federated church
at Ottawa, Kans. He was one of the
out-of+town guests at the weekly con-
ferences, and, returning home
preached a sermon outlining some Of
Mr.. Lewis views as to the modern
church. He was asked by the board
of deacons to resign, but the congre'
cation refused to accept his resigna'
ton.
'The weekly meetings were attend.
ed by 1S or 20 ministers, from Luth.
eran, Christian, Methodist, Congrega
tional, Presbyterian, Baptist, Unitar.
ian and Episcopal churches, Mr.. Fiske
said. One Jewish rabbi attended.
"a desire to derive any possible
benefit by hearing the word of crit.
ic of the church was given by the
ministers as the reason why they at.
tended the "class," according to Mr..
FIske.
'sMr. Fiske said that in the frs
meeting of the "class," Mr.. Lewis
told the ministers they were "fine
bunch" and that they "got up anc
preached things that neither you mol
your congregations believe"
"The world needs a new church
standing on new principles Mr.
Lewis told his "class," according tt
Mr.. Fiske.
"sWho will be the twentieth cen
fury Martin Luther to come out fiat
footedly and tell the truth about the
hypocricies and insanities of the ex
listing church ?"' Mr.. Lewis was quot
ed as saying: ..,'..