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A sermon must be prepared well. affirms Rev. R. Matthieu, of St. Anthony‘s Cathedral, "One must study hard."‘" Suppose you consider a theme while walking home. The Are there many who speak in earnéest? Very many? There are inâ€" deed. Very many. I remember one very well. He was stressing the inâ€" fluence of the church. "Boys fathers often approached me," he said. "pleading that I might appeal in court on behalf of their sons. . . . now I conduct a Bible class in my church. Hove any of their fathers had to appeal to me° Never once." he vowed, his eyes moist and his voice thick with feeling. "Not one," he reâ€" peated, his forefinger aloft and rigid. Is it amazing that not one of us dared doze or a moment, that there was only room for five or six more in the whole cMurch? Was he bombastic, flcunting oratory or drama" Not in the least. He was in real earnest and that is eneugh. Quite so. But consider a moment. What did you do with those five minutes spent while shavâ€" ing this morning? When you had to trudge through Moneta were you considering how to best illustrate Christ‘s love for children,. or that pesky landlord? And when, on a Schumacher bus, with a shsepish smile you politely relieved that pretty girl‘s legs and stood on your own for "I have known him to spend hours." says Herndon, "deciding the best way of three to express an idea." To consider the means alone â€" hours! How did he find them? He was a Preâ€" sicent. Insufficient time to prepare a sermon? Time? My dear Sir, you have all the time there is You have 24 hours a day. It is a question of using it, not of finding it. A lady of the vanishing race, told me of the most impressive sermon she had ever heard. It was in Hamilâ€" ton and she said he was so in sarnest that without realizing what he was doing, he left the pulpit and delivered from the aisle for a while, and later hurried up the steps to continue. "He was so in earnest." The power of it is astonishing. P Is that a good system"? Ah, yes, Rev. Minister may say, but I‘m viceâ€" president of one society and chairman of another. I heve meetingsâ€"boring, some of themâ€"but I‘m obliged to atâ€" tend. I have sick calls to make, two sermons a week to prepare, births, weddings, funerals to officiate. And besids~, my wife likes to see me occaâ€" sionally. "I have no secret," said Dwight Moody, "when I choose a subject, I write the name of it on an envelope. I have many such envelopes. If I read or hear anything that will throw light on that subject, I write it down and slip it into the envelope. Perhaps I let it lie for a year or more. When I want a new sermon, I take everyâ€" thing that has been accumulating. Between what I find and the result of my own study, I have materizcl enough. Then, all the time I am going over my sermons, deleting and adding. . . ." 8 Is it any wonder that that man was one of the most influential churchmen of his generation; that he enraptured almost every audience; and thct when he delivered in the Yale â€" university chapel, students jammed every pew? While a certain minister was preâ€" paring a sermon he was prompted to ‘do an astcnishing thing. "Grace‘"‘ was the title and he had been collecting notes zbout it for some time. As he sat in his study arranging his notes on this particuwlar evening, he became so rapt in them and his thoughts so excited, that he couldn‘t sit down any longer. Seizing his hat, he strode out of the house and into the street â€"znd accosted the first person he met, engquiring: "Do you know what ‘grace‘ is?" Canada $2.00 Per Year United States: §3.00 Per Year Authorized as second class matter by the Post Office Department, Ottaws NE 26 TIMMIN®, ONTARIO Members Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association; Ontarioâ€"Quebec â€" Newspaper Association Published every Thursday by Merton W. Lake Subscription Rates: BY STEPHEN SCHOFIELD Tbhe PBorcupine Adbance Towards Extending The Influence Of The Church Thurslay, March 9th, 1950 A â€" wellâ€"known school principal conce had barely leunched into a Sunday sermon when one of the younger masters approached the pulâ€" pit and interjected with a question. The principal stopped, considered the question. and answered aloud. The master stood firm and further adâ€" vanced his view. The principal waitâ€" ed ~patiently ~and then responded. But can a vital sermon be given onte or twice a week®" I asked this question to the Rt. Rev. Sir Francis Heathcote of Vancouver, "Can‘t be done," he answered. Channing Polâ€" lock told me it couldn‘t be done. He spent four or six weeks preparing each sermon. Perhaps that is why he filled churches. Even a Burke or a Russell Conwell could hardly have deâ€" livered 50 or 100 different and vital addresses each year. Fosdick? Yes, but he has others working for him, ond, even so, he says he spends an hour in preparation for every minute in the pulpit. One hour per pulpitâ€" minuteâ€"fancy! I dropped in to see a minister one afternoon last summer. He was finishing a sermon he had preâ€" pared during the week (what was Mr. Pusinessman probably doing at this moment on a Saturday afternoon?) Meanwhile I found this minister plugging at his sermon. Good work. I called on another one Saturday night (where is Mr. Businessman now?), and he was giving his sermon, s he put it, "anpther lick." I respect him too. Whot is the answer? Rabbi Irving Margolics suggests that, when a man bas strugcodled long to turn out a fine sermon, "Why not let him itinerate; let more people be exposed to it." Perhaps that would help. Canon Knox Little, of Canterbury, once reâ€" marked that no one ever got the real message out of a sermon until he had delivered it at least half a dozen times. "Death," one of my close friends said to me: "You know, Steve, I felt like dying right then and there." Last Saturday afternoon a minister told me that he could never apply himself with full reverence at funerals â€"until he lost his fzther. After hearâ€" ing the late Canon Shatord on Suppose you are to appesl for the poor. Why not hire a room and spend one or two nights in the slums. If you saw a bit of squalor, wouldn‘t It help you to speak well. Would it? It did to me. I did it for a week. It won‘t cost you much ($2.50 a week). Why not do anything that may lend light to your sermonâ€"induce a soldier to talk to you for half an hour, take a salesgirl out to lunch, ask a streetâ€" cleaner what he thinks about churchâ€" ss. Would your congregation care to hesr their impressions? Personal exâ€" perience has a great deal to do with the effect of a sermon," avers The Rt. Rev. R. J. Renison.. "Good sermons proceed from acquaintance with the needs of the people." adds Rabbi Irving Margolies. next day you forget it entirely. But, one night, just as you are brushing your teeth, a thought occurs to youâ€" oh. «a really choice oneâ€"and into an envelope it goes. A week later you read something in The Advance. "No," you say, "he‘s wrong about that, butâ€"" and down goes another note. An unshaved mucker obtrudes one evening and a good example strikes you. In the morning the same thking seems silly. "Of course it is, how absurd. A friend says something to you. You are shaving again and just as the blzede rounds your chin, "By Jove, that‘s a good oneâ€"apt,." you say, and into the envelope it goes. You become pervaded with the topic. It grips you. You take it by the scruff of the neck. Apd thus derive thoughts that sing and lift the hearts of men. (2) Am I going to begin with something directly from the Bible 2,0080 years ago, or zm I going to bogin with something directly from the people yesterday afterâ€" noon? (6) Is it a oneâ€"maxa aspect throughout, or do 1 interjec views likely to be felt, from time to time, by the congregation? (3) Are my examples apt avnd palpable? (4) T know I make my remarks for His stke; but when I climb those steps am I going to give just "another sermon," or dGoes this one really matter? (5) "Personal work and preaching _ are twins " savs Herry Emerson Fosdick Does my sermon march along with the needs of the people? (7) Should I try to svoid being either caustic or didactic? (8) The finishâ€"is it dangling or terse? A test:â€" (1) My very first remark. is it interesting. preferably casual, but interesting? "I find that I must prepare well in advoance," adds Mr. Hunter. If, it might be mentioned, preparation is thorough, one will not need any notes. and thus avoid looking down or away from his listeners, breaking that preâ€" cious contact, which helps so much, and is so difficult to maintain anyâ€" how. His theme has become so inâ€" vested that he won‘t need to read, his all being rapt with conveying it: No notes? Suppose he forgets some things he had so painstakingly disâ€" covered and arranged. That doesn‘t matter. < Everything he did find will What would seem to matter most is this: Has the man something to sa: which he wants to say so badly that it stirs him until he feels urged to convey it, not merely impart with it, but to convey it to Mrs. Murphy in the second row and the snoozeâ€"terdâ€" ing old gentleman in the balcony. A precise definition is ineffable. Bui it is one of my deepest convictions that this quality attracts and affects more than any otherâ€"language, apâ€" pearance, voice, grace, manner, deâ€" grees, learningâ€"all being subservient "A sermon should be a living thing, a light within you," avers Rev. J. H. Hunter of South Porcupine. "A common defect in sermons is not enough conviction," declares Rev. W. M. Mustard, of Timmins. "Conâ€" certed effort is the only way to put meaning into it," affirms Rev. Micha2l Brondos, Timmins Luthersn minister. Every boy in that chapel as though the top ‘scorer of the N.H.L. was talking. Never had they evinced such interest in Christ and his ways. As one said afterward. he was conâ€" tinuzally excited as to how the Head could squirm out of each question. It later transpired that the affair was preâ€"arranged. What is the tremendous advantags here to the clergyman? He can do it alone. " . . . . No doubt there are some of you who would say to me. . ." ". .. Well, now. a member of the choir might ask. . . ." This .can sound quite natural. It is natural. And it helps remove #ny trace of blatency â€" or racous selfâ€"assertiveness. Beating Themselves The first Timmins Kiwanis Minstrel Show was a notable success in every particular, but last year it was conâ€" fidently stated that the 1949 show would be bigger and better and more enjoyable than the 1924 event. It proyed all that, and now the claim is that the 1930 event will surpass any other that has gone before. As to that. time will tell. In the meantime, it would be well for all to get their tickets at once, so they may be in a position to judge. First Local Minstrel Show In the early days, travelling troupes put on minstrel shows here, but they need not be counted, as the local events by local talent werse much superior in quality to those by the soâ€"called professicnals. It is a matter of record that there was at least one minstrel show presented in Timmins five years before the first Kiwanis Minstrel Show of 192¢. This event was put on at the New Empire Theatre on March 12th, 1919. It was only part of the evening‘s programme at the theatre, but the big crowd plainly showed that it was more in the popular fancy than the motion picture that night. The feature was given by the Timmins Speciatly Group whose musical talent was undoubted. Later, the Timmins Specialty Group had invitations to visit South Poreuâ€" pine,, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, Cobalt and cther centres in this part of the North, and at each place visited they made a decided hit. In all their outside shows they presented a full programme lasting over two hours. Five Coloured Gentlemen The Timmins Specialty Group inâ€" cluded a number of talented musicans and dancers, all accutomed to appearâ€" ing before the public. All oldâ€"timers will agree with this when they recall the name~: Mrs. C. J. Appel, Mrs. J. A. Therriault, Miss Irene Carswell, Miss Laurz Brazezau. Miss Mary Downâ€" ey, Clarence J Appel, James Geils, M. Downey Sr., Gene Colombo and W. Waterson. As might be expected from the names, these five gentlomen were respectively, American, Scottish, Irish, Italian and English. That fact seems to settle the race question in this part of th2 North in the early days. That question then was not: "What is your race, yitur colour or your creed?" but "Are you a good fellow?" Their gifts entitled them to the name of minstrels, but only the five gentleâ€" mner were in black face. There may be still others whose thoughts go back to the first Kiwaâ€" nis Minstrel Show on February 13th and 14th, 1924. An oldâ€"timer in the Porcupine might say, with equal plausibility, that about this time of year the thoughts of young and old up here turn delightedly to thoughts of minâ€" strel shows. At the moment, no doubt, many are looking forward to the Kiwanis Minâ€" strel Show to be held in the Palace theatre at Timmins on March 30 and 31st, while others recall with pleasure the Kiwanis Minstrel Show last year. It was Tennyson who wrote: "In the spring a young man‘s fancy lightâ€" ly turns to thoughts of love." winetactactnetaste steatactacte stoctactactactocfactoctect “.u‘bo a ctaateatacte cPrate afacteatactnctect a «be ate stacton #e #+* esles % :“:". @, @ e e e % in The Days '(lmben Thbe lporcupme Tlas Noung . .":’ 0 #e * M“. *4 «Tee %.0 5 ,0_ .0. .0 #,. .0 0..0.,0 U ®*,00,*4* 00 0000.00000000000‘000000000"00'00.00 **,**,9*, By G. A. Macdonald 22 a®aa*s 6 weo,00,00,00,0 0,60,0 6 THE FORCUPINE ADVANCLG, Timmimno, OnrA2ARIO No. 138â€"A Minstrel Show In 1919 Over more trying tasks the clergyâ€" man triés, generally speaking, as hard and harder than anyone. Enâ€" cou‘ragement‘.’ Precious little. On the contrary he is faced with flattery and criticism and endless discouragseâ€" ment. But he has an opportunity which can almost nullify these. Conâ€" fronting him twice every seventh day are many minds. The number varies (largely according to his skill and spirit. For 20 or 30 minutes he has them to deal with, to influence and nourish, as best he can. A business man rarely wears such shoes, nor does a lawyer, or an engineer. Between Hearst and Moonbeam is there a mightier means of propagatâ€" ing His wishes* "The ability to speak effectively," said William Jenâ€" nings Bryan, "is an acquirement rcther than a gift.": Worthwhile?" Oh, ye men of the Church, under His stars in Hollinger Park I gape in awe and wanderâ€"is there anything under them that is more worthwhile? ‘ When Rev. Robert Norwood was moved to Montreal from his obscur2 home in Nova Scotia, my grandâ€" father hzppened to be on a committes seeking a new man for his church in London, Cntario. He induced Mr. Norwood to go to London. Ten years later he was moved to Boston; then to a larger church in Philadelphia; and {ing@lly to St. Bartholomew‘s on Park Avenue in New York. Colossal as it is he repeatedy filled it. Why? And why weas he moved from one place to another? Because he sanctified the vestry? Because his soul was less blemished than others? Because he loiled well, conducted meetings effiâ€" ciently, and made the most of conâ€" tacts? Partly perhaps. But I think the main reason was because he spoke with such livid earnestness. Dancing A Specialty The music for the entertainment did much to make the event a success. This was true of the instrumental, as well as the vocal music. C. Appal was the manger of the New Empire thkeatre zt the time, and had organized an crchesara that was popular on its own merit. . As several of the Specialâ€" ty Group were members of the orchâ€" estra , it is needless to say that the minsetrel show had the be:t music. Neverthless, there were times in the show when the music was forgotten for tho moment because of the interest in the dancing. Among the special dance numbers reference may well be made to the clog dance by Mrs. Appeol. This number never failed to rouse the heartiest demand for an encore. The dancing of M. Downey and his Miss Downey, also had the tendancy to bring dowr the house. When the "Old Man" Danced Few oldâ€"timers will forget the "Old Man‘s Dance" by Gene Colombo. It was a work of art and a sample of perefect timing . Though Gene was a young man then, he took the part of an old man to perfection. . He was mnrtist enougzh not to overdue the part. He did not look like a stage "coloure1d gentleman," but rather like a real old man from one of the southern plantâ€" ations. A gentleman from Georgia who was on a vis‘t to the camp at thd time said: "I‘d almost swear that he was a coloured man I knew at home." lend some power to what he does say : However, despite what: preparation can do for people who go to church and people who do not go to church, it would seem that most of them yearn for comfort, rather than a blatant lecture. Describing the ertertainment at the time, one local man said: "Why that srcup has everything. They give monologues, dialoguses, czatalogues and decalogues, as if they were professionâ€" als. The Irish Negro In the events by the Timmins Specialty Group, however it was an Irishman who took the part of "Mr. Bones," the endâ€"man. _ The Scotsman was interlocutor, and all the other racses raced themselves to give pep and swing to the show. In this part of the programms, the costumes were worthy of rang‘ng from check suits that made quite a bit of noise to the dignity of faultless dress attire, with some of the group so ragâ€" ged that they should have bosen meek, but actually wgre the most aggressive of all. These minstrels were all good fellows, <nd put up a firstâ€"class good show. The Scottish Endâ€"Man Mention of race in ecdnnection with minstrel shows will at once recall to oldâ€"timers still another minstrel show held in the 1920‘s, when the endâ€"man spoke with such a rolling Scottish burr that it actually added to the effectiveness of the comedy. This endâ€"man was Andrew Downie, selectâ€" ed for the role because of his natural talent as an actor and minstrel. Ordinarily, his Scots tongue was barely moticeable, but at tre first rehearsal, as Mickey Downey said, "that tongue stood out like a sore thumb." Some thought that Andy would not be able to tzke the part of endâ€"man in this account. but he knew better. Instead of vainly attempting to cultivate the slurring voice of the stage Negro, Andy turned on the full force of his Geottish burâ€"râ€"r. The result was that every time he had a line or two, he stole the show. The tremolings of that "old man" kept perfect time to the music, and when he would attempt a high kick and have to stop on account of his "rheumatiz" the movements and the pruse were in perfect harmony with the music. Some Outsanding Numbers While, very properly, the most of the music was gay and sprightly, there were several numbers, both instrumental and vocal, that would have done credit to any highâ€"class ccncert programme. One example of this was the singing of Mrs. J. A. Thorriault whoso numbers were a delight to all music lovers. Mrs. Thkerriiault showed herself to be a trained singer of more then usual talent. Of course, James Geils was equally fortunate in the one or two serious selections he presented, while in the lighter numbers he added to his popâ€" A Colourful Joke Of course, James Geils was equally fortunate in the one or two serious selections he presented, while in the lighter numbers he added to his popâ€" Some Outsanding Numbers While, very properly, the most of the music was gay and sprightly, there were several numbers, both instrumental and vocal, that would have done credit to any highâ€"class cconcert programme. One example of this was the singing of Mrs. J. A. Thorriault whoso numbers were a delight to all music lovers. Mrs. Tkerriiault showed herself to be a trained singer of more then usual talent. A Colourful Joke ‘All through this minstrel show there were amusing local hits. . Most of them have been forgotten long ago, but one may bear repeating here and now. There should be a law to consider an old joke as new after thirtyâ€"odd years. You mey hear it any day now over the radio. In those days the Timmins Rateâ€" payers‘ Association, of which J. P. Bartleman was president, wes very much in the limelight. . In this minâ€" stroal show "Mr. Bones" told about meeting Mr. Bartleman on the street. "Even before he said Hello! he asked me if I had joined the ratepayers Associztion," explained the blackâ€"face artict. "When I told him I had not." conâ€" tinued Mr. Bones. "he asked me why, why?" "Why don‘t I join the Ratepayers‘ Association?" _ musedâ€" Mr. Bones. "Well, ain‘t it bad enough juut to »c a nigger?" MATTASAM!: RIVER Break Up? $2550).00 CLOSING DATE MARCH 17th Proceeds for the Gillies Lake KIN Recreational Activities Presented to the person who answers th» r.eiu'cst io â€" the correct time, minute and second, when the ice starts to flow â€" under the Miattagami Bridgs. DEPOSIT YOUR ENTRY AT ANY OF THEâ€" FOLLOWING â€" PLACES: McKerrow‘s Drug Store Mike‘s Super Market Harry‘s Men‘s Wear Goldfields Hotel LaFiamme‘s Mer‘s Weir Carl‘s Cigar Store Seymour‘s Men‘s Wear Halperin‘s Jewelry Store ‘The Music sSHox Ostrosser Co. Timmins Garage Co. Litd Riverview â€" Hotel Burke‘s Drug Store Neill‘s Shoe Store Mcelntvre Curling Lounge o To ateetocfecte onxuoouoonoouznxflzflo a "Toest Vour S kill BOND‘S ECZEMA TREATMENT â€" A proven relief for 75 years for Eczema, Athlete‘s Foot, Poiâ€" son Ivy, and most skin infecâ€" tions. $1.50 postpaid. E. Bond, 80 Vine St. Hamilton, Ont. 9â€"20 The public schools‘ annual Spring concert will be held in the Canadian Legion Hall on Monday, March 20. Choir, orchestra, folk dancing and rhythm bands. Also physical training will be comprised with over 200 chilâ€" dren. The children zsre under the diâ€" rection of George Jenkin, public school music instruction. 20¢ Children Offer Bands Orchestra, Dancing PT They Will not comprise a trio. They will sing and play in pairs, Mr. Geen accompanying each of the other two. Mr. Geen, a Torâ€" onto conservatory examiner and festival adjucator, will also play piano solos. Edouard Bartlictt ana two outâ€" ofâ€"town artists will offer a conâ€" cert in th2 Legion Hall on Tuesâ€" day at 8.00 pm. The visitors are Reginald Geen, pianist, of Oshâ€" awa, and a boy soprano, from Hamilton. Violin, Piano Voice Combinations: Tuesday o o to save 2l llfe e 0 They need your helo . . . your hand . .. in the work that never ends. For through Red Cross sarvices hospitalized veterans are generously remembered . . . isolated settlements get medical help . . . crippled children find comfort. THE WORK bF MERCY NEVER ENDS More than ever the Canadian Red Cross is serving the nation . . . helping to overcome suffering from northern outposts to crowded cities. This is why your dollars are needed so badly. Give generously to the Red Cross. Contributed as a public service by THURSDAY, MARCH 9th, 1950 PHONE 324 37 Third Ave. JEWELLER â€" OPTOMETRIST Cor. Spruce St. and Third Ave. The King Edward Hotel Clean Rooms Day or Week Yoery Reasonable Rate Quiet Atmosphere