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Show conceived the idea of installing- a microphone In the church. Presto! We found that we could sit in the old easy chair at home, with our feet hoisted up, and listen to a sermon and enjoy life at the same time. We could even light up the old pipe and indulge in the double enjoyment of a religious discourse and a royal smoke. We could even hear the music of the organ or-gan and the sweet voices of the choir. But are we as happy as wo were in the good old days? Surely the preacher is not. The pews are inanimate and cannot hear. The walls of the church are indifferent indiffer-ent to his words of wisdom. And the birds in the nearby trees have other tilings to occupy their little minds. Too bad! But the world moves, and we must move along with it, though in the final hours of life we may regret that we forsook the good old ways of yore. HARD LUCK FOR THE CHURCH. Away back in the good old days when we grownups were k:ds, thev'" was little to do on Sundays but go to church or fish or play marbles. People were happy and contented with plenty to eat and all we needed to wear, because we d'dn't splurge in those days. And the preachers were happy, because the pews were filled, and the collection "hat" was not neglected. , But the good old days are no more especially for the churches and preachers. Too often the pews are empty, and the choir is depleted, and the deacons are often "indisposed." Only the faithful parson is regular in his attendance. And why? Automobiles, radios, good roads! There was a noticeable falling off in attendance when the automobile came into use, and as the cars became more numerous the ranks of the absentees ab-sentees swelled in proportion. Then the radio was invented, and some preacher (or manufacturer) |