1896
After His Affliction Prostrated Him He Became a Methodist Preacher of Wonderful Power
The item appearing in the daily papers narrating how the grave of Edgar Pratt, well known as the "Ossified Man," had been robbed recently caused considerable excitement in the vicinity of Sodus, N.Y., where Edgar Pratt was born, educated, learned his trade, transacted business, and where his widow and her mother at present reside.
Edgar Pratt, says a Soclus letter to the New York Times, was a son of William Pratt, a well-known farmer, who for many years resided on a farm which he owned on the town line road between Williamson and Ontario, south of the "Ridge Road," so called. The family is one of the oldest in Wayne County.
The "Ossified Man" was born in the town of Williamson, was educated at the public schools in that village, and completed his education in Sodus Academy. He was a well-formed young man, bright, and fine looking. He came to Sodus about 1878 and went to work for Charles Delano, learning the trade of carriage trimming. He was not religiously inclined, in which respect be differed very materially from his parents and other members of the Pratt family. While the young man was working at his trade his father sold the farm, and with the family removed to Douglass, Butler County, Kan., the son Edgar accompanying.
The latter secured a position as stage driver. Through exposure on the stage route he contracted rheumatism, which eventually compelled his abandoning that vocation. His condition became critical. He recovered from his illness, and shortly afterward removed to Sodus, where he opened up a carriage trimming establishment. Rheumatism returned, and he was soon prostrated with his old ailment. Medical science was invoked, but nothing could be done. At length, being in destitute circumstances, his brother, Daniel Pratt, came from Kansas and took Edgar out West with him.
Shortly after this, ossification began to set in and the patient suffered untold agony. An exhorter came to Douglass, which was then comparatively destitute of religious influences, and Pratt became converted. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church and soon became one of the warmest supporters of that denomination. Ossification by that time had become so advanced that the man was taken before a board medical experts in New York City. The case had baffled the skill of all Western physicians who had been consulted. The New York surgeons pronounced the case a most marvelous one in the annals of medical jurisprudence.
An offer of $1000 per year during life and $5000 to the widow at his death, provided Pratt would contract to have his body delivered to the New York medical experts at his death, was spurned, Pratt alleging that his condition was due to an act of Providence. He claimed that he was suffering a just punishment for not improving his talents while young and before being afflicted with disease. His exhortations became so pronounced that his religious admirers built a wagon, in which he lay stretched out rigid as a block of marble.
During the last four years of his life he suffered no pain whatever, but was unable to move a joint. Starvation at one time threatened him, and four of his front teeth were removed, and through the aperture thin liquid food was injected, and thus was life sustained. In his carriage he was taken to camp meetings, where he was the centre of attraction on account of his condition and the earnestness with which he exhorted. It is said that through his instrumentality thousands were converted.
Offers from museums were refused, Pratt insisting that his mission was to convert as many to religion as possible during his remaining days. His faithful wife remained with him until his death, which occurred less than a year ago. Museum managers and physicians, even after Pratt's death, continued to deluge the widow and parents of the ossified man with letters and telegrams offering large amounts for the remains. This so alarmed the father that he declined to allow his son to be buried in the Douglass cemetery, but instead had the body interred in a flower bed in the dooryard beneath the father's window, where he could keep an ever-watchful eye upon it. It happened recently, however, that the father was drawn as a juror at El Dorado, the county seat, and during his absence the ghouls succeeded in robbing the grave.
Viewed from a scientific standpoint the case of Edgar Pratt was one of the most puzzling ever brought before the attention of medical experts. Pratt is believed to have been the only completely ossified man on record.
Showing posts with label judgment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label judgment. Show all posts
Friday, June 22, 2007
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Remits Dime After 7 Years
1920
Conscience Prompts Man to Pay Debt He Couldn't Forget
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Elmer Green of Mitchell, has sent Walter Simmons, Louisville hardware dealer, 10 cents which he owed for seven years on a baseball glove.
"I owe you 10 cents on a baseball mitt I bought seven years ago," Green writes, "so I hope you will forgive me and let me know if you will accept the dime. The Lord has saved me, and I have had no peace because I haven't paid you. I want to make everything right so I won't have to come up short at the judgment bar of God."
1896
Gods on the Average
The average Japanese god is sixty feet high.
The latest fad is to tell people's characters by their teeth.
The foundation of a church at San Como, Guatemala, has been shifted seven inches by the growth of two large white gum trees.
Conscience Prompts Man to Pay Debt He Couldn't Forget
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Elmer Green of Mitchell, has sent Walter Simmons, Louisville hardware dealer, 10 cents which he owed for seven years on a baseball glove.
"I owe you 10 cents on a baseball mitt I bought seven years ago," Green writes, "so I hope you will forgive me and let me know if you will accept the dime. The Lord has saved me, and I have had no peace because I haven't paid you. I want to make everything right so I won't have to come up short at the judgment bar of God."
1896
Gods on the Average
The average Japanese god is sixty feet high.
The latest fad is to tell people's characters by their teeth.
The foundation of a church at San Como, Guatemala, has been shifted seven inches by the growth of two large white gum trees.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Sermon — "Prepare To Meet Thy God"
Ohio, 1905
The Protracted Meetings at the First Methodist and Presbyterian Grow in Interest
Rev. Wean, of Bryan, delivered another one of his splendid sermons at the First M. E. church last night, taking for his text, Amos 4:12: "Prepare to Meet thy God."
I take it that the person who tries to dispose of Jesus Christ has a problem on his hands. With the coming of Jesus into the world there has come a responsibility upon all mankind. With all the means of knowledge of Christ and the love of God to-day can we shirk this responsibility? I never found an infidel who did not expect to be a witness at the time when justice was meted out on the great day. Science will agree with the Bible altogether after a while. We all agree on this one point, that some time there will be a judgment.
This meeting with God somewhere after death at judgment is an important event. God is impartial; no matter who we are we must all be there. Death levels all. The rich man comes at last to the grave, the pauper although he has lived apart from the rich man they lie down together. The young lady who spurns her mother's prayers, denies her father's Christian life and goes out to the world's pleasure will be glad to come back to find a place by them at death.
Death knocks at no door, he comes unbidden. Death furnishes a good living for the undertaker. Death is a mighty monarch marching forth in the land. Don't treat it lightly for it is an important event. If I never attracted attention in my life I shall attract attention at death. The oldest, worthless tramp who is crushed beneath the wheels of the car attracts the attention of the large crowd. The unconcerned and frivolous, think when in the presence of death as they have never thought before, but the time to think is not over a casket, think in life.
In the name of God, in the name of all that's good why is it so hard to get men to prepare to meet God? You will get ready for a whole year for a wedding, you will plan for months for the pleasure of a friend. Why wait to prepare for death? I do not take much stock in death-bed repentance, many a man would be unwilling for his heart to be laid bare, many a girl would not want her companions to see her heart. What will it be when all hearts are bare before God and the angels?
Prepare for death, prepare to meet your God. Get ready for the time when the Great Judge shall mete out justice without partiality. Oh, prepare to meet God, you haven't a moment to lose. All God has done and said, all His plans are that you may be ready to meet Him. Jesus is such a loving Savior, come to Him now.
—The Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, Feb. 1, 1905, p. 3.
The Protracted Meetings at the First Methodist and Presbyterian Grow in Interest
Rev. Wean, of Bryan, delivered another one of his splendid sermons at the First M. E. church last night, taking for his text, Amos 4:12: "Prepare to Meet thy God."
I take it that the person who tries to dispose of Jesus Christ has a problem on his hands. With the coming of Jesus into the world there has come a responsibility upon all mankind. With all the means of knowledge of Christ and the love of God to-day can we shirk this responsibility? I never found an infidel who did not expect to be a witness at the time when justice was meted out on the great day. Science will agree with the Bible altogether after a while. We all agree on this one point, that some time there will be a judgment.
This meeting with God somewhere after death at judgment is an important event. God is impartial; no matter who we are we must all be there. Death levels all. The rich man comes at last to the grave, the pauper although he has lived apart from the rich man they lie down together. The young lady who spurns her mother's prayers, denies her father's Christian life and goes out to the world's pleasure will be glad to come back to find a place by them at death.
Death knocks at no door, he comes unbidden. Death furnishes a good living for the undertaker. Death is a mighty monarch marching forth in the land. Don't treat it lightly for it is an important event. If I never attracted attention in my life I shall attract attention at death. The oldest, worthless tramp who is crushed beneath the wheels of the car attracts the attention of the large crowd. The unconcerned and frivolous, think when in the presence of death as they have never thought before, but the time to think is not over a casket, think in life.
In the name of God, in the name of all that's good why is it so hard to get men to prepare to meet God? You will get ready for a whole year for a wedding, you will plan for months for the pleasure of a friend. Why wait to prepare for death? I do not take much stock in death-bed repentance, many a man would be unwilling for his heart to be laid bare, many a girl would not want her companions to see her heart. What will it be when all hearts are bare before God and the angels?
Prepare for death, prepare to meet your God. Get ready for the time when the Great Judge shall mete out justice without partiality. Oh, prepare to meet God, you haven't a moment to lose. All God has done and said, all His plans are that you may be ready to meet Him. Jesus is such a loving Savior, come to Him now.
—The Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, Feb. 1, 1905, p. 3.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Sermon: "Is the Church on the Breakers?" or "The Great Apostasy"
Elyria, Ohio, 1919
Sunday was a memorable day at the First Baptist. Three large audiences heard Pastor R. K. Neighbor and Singer R. W. Carr.
It is impossible to report the three addresses, but we can give our readers a sketch of the afternoon sermon, which was on prophetical lines. The matter discussed by the preacher was an answer to the question: "Is the Church on the Breakers," or, "The Great Apostasy."
After the preacher had clearly shown from the gospels and from the epistles that Christ and the Apostles never promised that the church would conquer commerce and inaugurate a reign of righteousness on earth, but the church was until the return to the Lord to remain and suffer in sincerity he gave the picture of the present condition of the church.
He showed the drift of at least two of the great denominations, the Methodist and Baptists from their meetings. He showed how the Y.M.C.A. had left the first great note of their organization, which was the salvation of young men, and for a great part had gone over to social and mental uplift.
The preacher declares that present church conditions need not shake the faith of any in the Lord Jesus Christ nor in the power of the gospel to save. Christ had clearly foretold the very conditions that exist today. The failure is not with God but with man.
In bringing his message to a close the minister spoke very rapidly and threw forth many sentences that should make Christians think. We give some of his concluding statements, just as he spoke them:
"God's call to His church is to come out of the world. Let us go forth there unto Him, without the camp. The friend of this world is the enemy of God.
"God's testimony through his church is against the world. John the Baptist did not face Herod with fawning flatteries; Jesus Christ did not seek the praises of the Pharisees.
"Peter and John did not smooth down their message to please the men in authority; Paul did not strike for freedom by condemning the corruption of Felix.
"The ministry must bear witness that the world has taken and with wicked hands has crucified the Lord.
"The ministry must do as Christ did — testify to the world that her works are evil.
"The church cannot take the witness stand for the world; she must condemn it.
"The church cannot accept the righteousness of the world, she must spurn it.
"The church cannot run with the world, she must leave it.
"We have no fluttering flags of truce to tender; we have no peace parleys to publish; we have no ringing compromises to consider. Union with the world is impossible, communion is forbidden.
"The church of God is not an entertainment bureau, vicing with the vaudeville and teaming with the theatre.
"The church is not to be furnished with equipment for fancy fairs.
"The church is not detailed to delight the world with dramatic displays and comic concerts.
"The Lord never commissioned the church to provide recreation and to furnish amusement.
"The social committee is not the sword of the Spirit; the fun and frolic league is not quick and powerful unto salvation; the amusement bureau is not the power of God unto salvation.
"The Lord Jesus never developed new and startling stunts to hold the masses.
"Peter never started a baked bean bazaar to catch the masses. Paul never led sinners down to Egypt, where he furnished garlic and onions to suit the taste of the fastidious.
"Were Elijahs and Daniels and Peters ever manufactured by pink tea socials? Were Luthers and Knoxes and Melancthons and Wesleys ever sent forth from magic lantern entertainments? Was D. L. Moody the mighty evangelist because he knew the cunning art of presiding at a church oyster supper? Was Chas. H. Spurgeon the mighty man of God because he was an adept at serving soup?
"The church must forever abandon catching the wily world by rat trap methods.
"Away with the kitchen, back to the cross,
Away with the gravy and back to grace,
Away with pastry and back to purity and power in life.
"The line of demarcation between the church and the world is being lost; the church is becoming secularized; the bride of Christ hath forgotten her first love."
Preaching tonight at 7:30. The children's choir will sing.
—The Evening Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, April 28, 1919, page 10.
Note: "rat trap" methods is my guess. I couldn't figure out the word that was printed, something like "eatch." The whole last section, the preacher's remarks only had quote marks for the first couple paragraphs, but clearly they're meant to be his quotes throughout. I made a few other touch ups to help clarify the apparent intent. The typesetter had some troubles. As far as the preacher's concluding remarks, I think they're very powerful. He makes some excellent points and the way it's all phrased — it even says he said this last part quickly — you can tell it came across in a powerful way. Great points! I left "vicing," that's pretty clearly what he said, and a neat phrase, too, "vicing with the vaudeville." Also the whole last section shouldn't be so many paragraphs, but it sets it off nicely and is how it was originally presented. I like this article, which has a weird heading "ADD TO CHURCH," which has to be just the phrase the guy meant to say to the newspaper, "hey, add this to the church news, " and they mistakenly printed it. And last thing, then, the Church News cut (graphic) they used was inserted in the typeset page upside down.
Sunday was a memorable day at the First Baptist. Three large audiences heard Pastor R. K. Neighbor and Singer R. W. Carr.
It is impossible to report the three addresses, but we can give our readers a sketch of the afternoon sermon, which was on prophetical lines. The matter discussed by the preacher was an answer to the question: "Is the Church on the Breakers," or, "The Great Apostasy."
After the preacher had clearly shown from the gospels and from the epistles that Christ and the Apostles never promised that the church would conquer commerce and inaugurate a reign of righteousness on earth, but the church was until the return to the Lord to remain and suffer in sincerity he gave the picture of the present condition of the church.
He showed the drift of at least two of the great denominations, the Methodist and Baptists from their meetings. He showed how the Y.M.C.A. had left the first great note of their organization, which was the salvation of young men, and for a great part had gone over to social and mental uplift.
The preacher declares that present church conditions need not shake the faith of any in the Lord Jesus Christ nor in the power of the gospel to save. Christ had clearly foretold the very conditions that exist today. The failure is not with God but with man.
In bringing his message to a close the minister spoke very rapidly and threw forth many sentences that should make Christians think. We give some of his concluding statements, just as he spoke them:
"God's call to His church is to come out of the world. Let us go forth there unto Him, without the camp. The friend of this world is the enemy of God.
"God's testimony through his church is against the world. John the Baptist did not face Herod with fawning flatteries; Jesus Christ did not seek the praises of the Pharisees.
"Peter and John did not smooth down their message to please the men in authority; Paul did not strike for freedom by condemning the corruption of Felix.
"The ministry must bear witness that the world has taken and with wicked hands has crucified the Lord.
"The ministry must do as Christ did — testify to the world that her works are evil.
"The church cannot take the witness stand for the world; she must condemn it.
"The church cannot accept the righteousness of the world, she must spurn it.
"The church cannot run with the world, she must leave it.
"We have no fluttering flags of truce to tender; we have no peace parleys to publish; we have no ringing compromises to consider. Union with the world is impossible, communion is forbidden.
"The church of God is not an entertainment bureau, vicing with the vaudeville and teaming with the theatre.
"The church is not to be furnished with equipment for fancy fairs.
"The church is not detailed to delight the world with dramatic displays and comic concerts.
"The Lord never commissioned the church to provide recreation and to furnish amusement.
"The social committee is not the sword of the Spirit; the fun and frolic league is not quick and powerful unto salvation; the amusement bureau is not the power of God unto salvation.
"The Lord Jesus never developed new and startling stunts to hold the masses.
"Peter never started a baked bean bazaar to catch the masses. Paul never led sinners down to Egypt, where he furnished garlic and onions to suit the taste of the fastidious.
"Were Elijahs and Daniels and Peters ever manufactured by pink tea socials? Were Luthers and Knoxes and Melancthons and Wesleys ever sent forth from magic lantern entertainments? Was D. L. Moody the mighty evangelist because he knew the cunning art of presiding at a church oyster supper? Was Chas. H. Spurgeon the mighty man of God because he was an adept at serving soup?
"The church must forever abandon catching the wily world by rat trap methods.
"Away with the kitchen, back to the cross,
Away with the gravy and back to grace,
Away with pastry and back to purity and power in life.
"The line of demarcation between the church and the world is being lost; the church is becoming secularized; the bride of Christ hath forgotten her first love."
Preaching tonight at 7:30. The children's choir will sing.
—The Evening Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, April 28, 1919, page 10.
Note: "rat trap" methods is my guess. I couldn't figure out the word that was printed, something like "eatch." The whole last section, the preacher's remarks only had quote marks for the first couple paragraphs, but clearly they're meant to be his quotes throughout. I made a few other touch ups to help clarify the apparent intent. The typesetter had some troubles. As far as the preacher's concluding remarks, I think they're very powerful. He makes some excellent points and the way it's all phrased — it even says he said this last part quickly — you can tell it came across in a powerful way. Great points! I left "vicing," that's pretty clearly what he said, and a neat phrase, too, "vicing with the vaudeville." Also the whole last section shouldn't be so many paragraphs, but it sets it off nicely and is how it was originally presented. I like this article, which has a weird heading "ADD TO CHURCH," which has to be just the phrase the guy meant to say to the newspaper, "hey, add this to the church news, " and they mistakenly printed it. And last thing, then, the Church News cut (graphic) they used was inserted in the typeset page upside down.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Future for Israel Great
Iowa, 1922
Net Result of War Palestine's Liberation, Says Evangelist
"The Israelite, a Missing Link in the Philosophy of History," was the subject of an interesting lecture delivered by Dr. J. W. Lawrance, evangelist, at the Bettendorf Tabernacle Thursday evening. Dr. Lawrance said the one net result of the World war, which cost millions of lives and billions of dollars, was doubtless the liberation of Palestine from the control of the Turk.
"Scripture prophecy outlines for Israel as a nation a great future," said Dr. Lawrance. "Although for 2,500 years they have suffered under the chastening rod of God, yet God's mercy has not departed from them. They are the indestructible nation, and now we observe a great nationalist revival among them in Zionism. The present movement may fail for the time being, but it has offered a striking opportunity to see the national virility of this people, even though, for a few centuries, they have been scattered and have not had a national life or home."
—The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Davenport, Iowa, April 14, 1922, page 14.
Net Result of War Palestine's Liberation, Says Evangelist
"The Israelite, a Missing Link in the Philosophy of History," was the subject of an interesting lecture delivered by Dr. J. W. Lawrance, evangelist, at the Bettendorf Tabernacle Thursday evening. Dr. Lawrance said the one net result of the World war, which cost millions of lives and billions of dollars, was doubtless the liberation of Palestine from the control of the Turk.
"Scripture prophecy outlines for Israel as a nation a great future," said Dr. Lawrance. "Although for 2,500 years they have suffered under the chastening rod of God, yet God's mercy has not departed from them. They are the indestructible nation, and now we observe a great nationalist revival among them in Zionism. The present movement may fail for the time being, but it has offered a striking opportunity to see the national virility of this people, even though, for a few centuries, they have been scattered and have not had a national life or home."
—The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Davenport, Iowa, April 14, 1922, page 14.
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