The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-09-11
BACK TO PULPIT FOR S. A. LASSlE
WHO GAVE MARRIED LIFE A TRYOUT
Rheba Crawford Wins Heart of
Gay White Way, But Finds
That Evangelism and Mar.
rage VIII Not Mix
BY PHILIP J. SINNOTT
(NEA Service Wr;terN

OoH 10HClSCO, OepC. LINE &lfl
they called 1.-THE Angel of Broadway
helped scores Of the White Ways
victims to find happiness and con-
tentment-but she hasn't been able
to Nnde either Of those things for
herself.
Broadway's Salvation Army lassie,
known in private life as Rheba Craw-
ford, quit her work on the big street
four years ago to get married. And
now she and her husband, ]. Harold
Sommers, . war veteran, has separ-
ated. Home life, she has found out,
Is not for her. She has gone back
to her first love-preaching the Cos
pel-and is now serving as the or
dained minister Of large Congrcga-
tional church here.
"There is no legal separation, and
we haven't talked Of . DIVORCE" she
says. 1--WE both realize that we are
victims Of environment and heredity.
Both believe that God expects of us
only to render the best service to the
world that we can, and get as much
happiness, light ad laughter in re-
turn as possible"
1EcuCueQ ON BROADWAY
Miss Crawford was one of the best
known women in New York a few
years ago. Nightly she preached on
the street corners of Broadway. And
cynical, wise-cracking Broadway
looking for selfish motive behind
everything, and often failing to un-
derstand the meaning of the word
'service"-accepted her at face
value. She was winsome and pretty
and charming; but Broadway has
seen many with those attributes.
What stumped Broadway was the
fact that she was utterly unselfish
and utterly sincere. Those are rare
qualities in the White Light district.
So, when she gave up her work
to get married, Broadway united in
wishing her happiness. Broadway
felt that If there was one girl any
where who deserved happy married
life it was Rheba Crawford.
Miss Crawford at first tried to
continue her work. But she felt this
was not fair to her husband; SO,
presently. she retired, and the two
went to a Florida city and she tried
to settle down as q regular stay-at-
home wife.
But it didn't work. The small talk
OF their new social set failed to in
terest the girl who had been a sort
Of mother-confessor to yegg-men,
dancing girls and down-and- cutters.
And, by the same token, her own ex-
perlences were somewhat tout of
bounds" as topics for polite conversa-
ton.
II just found l didn't fit in" she
says. II couldn't work up any en-
thusiasm over bridge parties. I did
not seem to understand parties.
Pleasure, to me, had to be spelled in
q different way. ! felt so sorry for
my husband, but I was too old to
learn. Even my husband could not
understand. / couldn't work up any
enthusiasm over gossip when I re-
membered real heartbreaks and true
stories had seen and listened to.
i sensed the race on the march,
and was out Of the parade. / won
dered about the pulpit, about Broad
way, about some of my old charges.
The town was too small, too filled
with religious feuds, for me to
chance local work."
Her husband offered to let her re-
turn to the platform, but she re-
fused, vowing that she would stick
to the new role she had undertaken.
1t was no use. A nervous break
down resulted. Her husband sum-
moned doctors and a long consulta-
ton was held; and it was agreed that
her place was back in her old enyir-
onment.
In Another World"
I'VE came to realize that my mar
rage had taken me out Of nv world
into his, and that would always be
q stranger there" she said. "And.
in turn, he realized it would be lust
as bad if he tried to enter my world.
So, with every good wish his love
could give, he sent me back to the
platform"
She paused for a moment, cast
ing her minds eye back over her
eventful life.
"Long ago the first desire to
preach Gods word came to me-" she
went ON. II have deserted it, but
constantly my life's paths have
brought me back to the platform or
the pulpit. And I have learned much
since preached on Broadway.
"The problems I then could solve
SO easily for others have been diff
cult for me to solve myself. From it
all ! have gained q much clearer
view Of that Man whom life chast-
ened long ago. Christ was real to
me on Broadway; but he is doubly
real today.
"And now ! hope men may know
Him as the living, loving, laughing
Christ OF the wedding Of Cana in
Galilee; the suffering, agonized
Christ OF Gethsemane; the dis
llusioned Christ Of Judas betrayal.
and the triumphant Christ Of Easter
morning."