The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-04-20

never ceasing refrain. One may not
doubt the fruitful good in this attitude
of life as against the superficial acti-
vism of so much present day religion
which leaves out the spirit and sub
mits life to dry-as-dust completely
this worldly social action
The lines should never be drawn
between spiritual and social religion,
but if one must take sides, DR.. Biddle
had the safer side. For it is from
within the man that God finds throne
for directing the life of man. 1t is
this that made him strong and bold
where other men covered and failed
AS Charles Wagner wrote in "Simple
Life" "The man who guides his life
by inner law, can no more live servile
to outward authority than can the
full-grown bird live imprisoned in the
eggshell. But the man who has not
yet attained to governing himself can
no more live under the law of liberty
than can the unfiedged bird live with
out its protective covering" This
does not preclude the value and essen
tlal need of the influence of the touch
and work of others upon us. We are
as much creatures of our environment
and social contacts as of our highest
| inward urges. Life is not all mystical,
it is part nature. 1t is not God in
the heights and depths only but God
in the Social group. We need God
and we need our friends. DR.. Biddle
was an object of what others can do
for us or of what God does through
others for us.
How He Became Preacher
The famous old heroine of New
England, Eliza Anne Gardner, who
helped hundreds and thousands by her
great heart and personal work was
! responsible for DR.. Biddle's discovery
of the call of God to the gospel minis
try. Brother Biddle was fond of tell
ing how he and the boys of the war
were lost for something to do, stand
ing around the streets. When our
lamented brother expressed himself as
lost for employment, Miss Gardner
said to him, "you have soldiers
| experience and you are a Christian;
convert your experience into mes
sage from God for the people," This
gave Biddle the cue that made him
preacher of light for fifty-nine years.
J He fell asleep, the oldest preacher in
the A.M.E. Zion Church of which he
was member all his life. He never
took superannuated relationship be-
cause he wanted to die in active SER
vice in the army. l found him with
this desire when / came to the con-
ference and we gave him appoint
ments until finally, weary of the cares,
he asked to be relieved from pastor
ate but kept on the active list This
we did while the conference never
failed to make him contributions from
/ its current funds to held him live.
Finally the question arises whence
comes liberty from within. The ans
wer is: it comes from the same source
as love, moral supply ethical devotion
and everything that supports our poor
human efforts to discover real values.
DR.. Biddle's ministry made you know
that this inward strength was GOD
in the LIFE OF MAN.
Testimonial Planned for this Month
DR.. Biddle had the loving care of
his Church and Pastor, his Grand
Army Chapter, and the honors of the
city and public who had planned a
testimonial for him this month. A
little over six months after the death
OF that noble woman whom God gave
to give by his side he followed her.
His passing was peaceful and beauti-
full. A day before the end, he said to
his faithful daughter, who attended
him so Loyalty, and to his dutiful
granddaughter, ~ have fought my
fight and am ready for Gods call; /
am praying for Him to relieve me of
my pains in his own way in either
extending life or by calling me away"
! He leaves a family of four daughters,
eleven grandchildren, and three
great-grand children.
Zion Will Miss Him
E. George Biddle, Zion will be lone