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Show WHAT NEXT? The Rev. Franklin Goodehild, D. D.. pastor of Central Baptist Church,' Xew'l'ork City, satisfied that the gospel, no matter hoAV eloquently expounded, expound-ed, cannot, at least in the Central Baptist Church, hold its own Avith the attractions of a neighboring theatre, has hit upon a noA-el and decidedly original scheme to get even with the sIioav. For some months his congregation has been noticeably, and for the reA-erend gentleman painfully, thinning out. This congregational emaciation carried contagious symptoms and if not arrested would in all likelihood likeli-hood develop into a condition of attenuation ending in the death of the congregational body or the summoning sum-moning of another ecclesiastical doctor. Dr. Good-child, Good-child, being a conscientious spiritual physician, dreaded either alternative. ' There was no mistaking the disease. It was a pronounced case of ecclesiae attenuatio and called for heroic treatment. Indeed In-deed the doctor, still retaining a hungering belief in the existence of a mediaeval devil, was of the opinion that the disease originated in diabolic obsession. ob-session. The symptoms under his diagnosis all pointed to this source and from a. long and often painful experience with the irritating malady' he was persuaded that only heroic treatment could save or at least prolong the life of the patient. Once satisfied that Satan Avas at the, bottom of the trouble he resoh-ed to give Beelzebub a pretty stiff close of his own medicine and in the profane language of the laity, to fight the Devil with his own fire. Last Sunday he administered the second dose of this decoction of sulphur, brimstone and chunks of infernal fire, and the Xew York-papers say quite a number of those invited to witness the exorcism were present. The services began at the usual hour and after the opening prayer. Miss Ethel Palmer advanced to the front of the choiral platform, and after getting her lips in position, t . .. . f ' ' ' ' .- ..".'...',f,"S. ... 4 ... . JL . . filled the sacred building with a ravishing richness of AA-histling melody that, for the time, made th. congregational life a dream of joy. Miss Palmer'-stage Palmer'-stage name is "La Siflctir" the whi-tlcr and en this particular Sunday she selected the "Mockin--Bird" from her repertoire in compliment to th, older memlters of the congregation. The parh"-and parh"-and at times vivacity which she imparted to rh-dear, rh-dear, familiar air and -thi. artistic ; .expression of many of her higher notes in association Avirh tli. charm of her pleasant personality won her th. grateful appreciation of the admiring congreg:i tion. La Sifleur retired bearing a sheaf of man golds and forget-me-nots, tendered to her by a fascinating fas-cinating little tot, the daughter of one the deacons. dea-cons. While the choir Avas singing. "We Will Meet o:i That Beautiful Shore." a table was placed by member of the congregation on the platform, and six champagne glasses- set upon ir in horizontal line. At the conclusion of the hymn Mr. E. Child-Avood. Child-Avood. from Tony Pastor's opera house, .stepped to j the front and from the profane glasses extracted ri bcAvildering medley of sacred airs and from th" congregation a murmur of applauding approbation. Until now many of the members of the Centra! Baptist Church associated these glasses with midnight mid-night revelry and high jinks, but Mr. Childwood convinced them that within these vitrified instruments instru-ments dwelt a spirit of sanctity carrying a necessary neces-sary salvation to the lost sheep of Israel. After the congregation bowed in prayer. Hilda Crane, the child oornetist and baby Avonder. next appeared in the sacred vaudeville, and for fifteen minutes simply sim-ply petrified the congregation. Had Hilda lived in the days of Saul or been a contemporary of the musical King David, her marvelous gifts would haA'e Avon her immortality and honorable notice in the second book of Kings. As it was. many of the devout members of the church were of the impres- j sion that the child was possessed of a mimical spirit j which had entered into her at her birth ami would in all probability remain with her during her vir- j ginal years. In any case her music was simply j ostatie. When Hilda retired, the I!ca Franklin Goodehild. D. D., the beloved pastor, preached a most eloquent sermon on ante-deluvian marriages. Miss Barrie de Gill, from the Bryn Mawr school of elocution, close 1 the sacred service Avith a rendition rendi-tion from Shelley, and for an encore recited with animation and perfect emphasis and intonation, "CurfeAv Must Xot Ring Tonight." The congrega-: congrega-: tion Avas dismissed Avith the benediction. . - It is interesting to note that, responding to the J reverend doctor's treatment, the emaciaion is dis- P appearing and he congregation gaining in adipose fj tissue. Since the church has iioav entered into com- U petition with the theatre and the A-ariety show the I satanic spirit Avhich obsessed the congregation i 1 seemingly disgusted and has gone back to Proctor's t' and Keith's. The Rev. I. Franklin Goodehild, D. D.. J is receiving the congratulations of his friends, and , J at the next assembly of the Baptist minister will f f probably be elected moderator. |