1920
Dakota Preacher Sends Gospel Twelve Miles Away.
DEVILS LAKE, North Dakota. — The Rev. P. H. Case of the Presbyterian Church here has perfected his "preach by phone" system, until any one on the circuit within a radius of twelve miles can take down the receiver and find himself at church.
—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 2.
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
How The World Has Moved
1910
Less Than a Century Ago Railroads and the Telegraph Were Deemed Impossibilities
Alexander Wells, an old citizen of Wellsville, Ohio, has a copy of an interesting and novel document issued by the school board of the town of Lancaster, Ohio, in 1828. The question of steam railroads was in its incipient stage and a club of young men had been formed for the purpose of discussing the points at issue. They desired the use of the schoolhouse for purposes of debate. This was looked upon by the members of the board an innovation bordering upon sacrilege as indicated, which is the document in the possession of Mr. Wells. It reads as follows:
"You are welcome to the use of the schoolhouse to debate all proper questions in, but such things as railroads and telegraphs are impossibilities and rank infidelity. There is nothing in the Word of God about them. If God had designed that his intelligent creatures should travel at the frightful speed of 15 miles an hour, by steam, he would clearly have foretold it through his holy prophets. It is a device of Satan to lead immortal souls down to hell."
Such sentiments possibly reflected the feeling, to some extent, in the days of 65 years ago, but they sound strange at the present time, when the "device of Satan" is daily carrying people over the land at the rate of 60 or 70 miles an hour. The world has progressed somewhat since 1828.
Less Than a Century Ago Railroads and the Telegraph Were Deemed Impossibilities
Alexander Wells, an old citizen of Wellsville, Ohio, has a copy of an interesting and novel document issued by the school board of the town of Lancaster, Ohio, in 1828. The question of steam railroads was in its incipient stage and a club of young men had been formed for the purpose of discussing the points at issue. They desired the use of the schoolhouse for purposes of debate. This was looked upon by the members of the board an innovation bordering upon sacrilege as indicated, which is the document in the possession of Mr. Wells. It reads as follows:
"You are welcome to the use of the schoolhouse to debate all proper questions in, but such things as railroads and telegraphs are impossibilities and rank infidelity. There is nothing in the Word of God about them. If God had designed that his intelligent creatures should travel at the frightful speed of 15 miles an hour, by steam, he would clearly have foretold it through his holy prophets. It is a device of Satan to lead immortal souls down to hell."
Such sentiments possibly reflected the feeling, to some extent, in the days of 65 years ago, but they sound strange at the present time, when the "device of Satan" is daily carrying people over the land at the rate of 60 or 70 miles an hour. The world has progressed somewhat since 1828.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Novel Use for Phonograph — Dictates Sermons
1909
Dictates Sermons Into Machine and Then Listens to Them
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 6. — Rev. R. G. Ramsay, pastor of the Northminster Presbyterian Church of this city, has evolved a brand-new idea which he finds so helpful in the preparation of his sermons, that he believes other ministers will adopt it as soon as its real utility becomes known.
It is nothing more nor less than to dictate his sermons into a phonograph, then turn on the machine and listen to the reproduction of his own voice. Not only does he then get a clear idea of just "how it will sound" when his congregation hears it, but he saves time and labor writing out his notes, and by listening to the repetition of the sermon two or three times has it fixed in his mind so that he does not need a manuscript in the pulpit.
"I have entirely escaped the feeling of physical exhaustion that always followed writing out a sermon with pen or typewriter," said Mr. Ramsay. "I find, too, that my memory retains better what comes into my ear than that which I merely read. It is a great saving on the eyes, as there is no strain on them whatever. The phonograph records provide an easy way of retaining a record of each sermon, and if I do not want to preserve any sermon, I can shave the records off and use them again and again. The expense is no larger, I believe, than paper and ink would be for the same number of words. I believe that if ministers generally knew what a help the phonograph is they would all use it."
Dictates Sermons Into Machine and Then Listens to Them
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 6. — Rev. R. G. Ramsay, pastor of the Northminster Presbyterian Church of this city, has evolved a brand-new idea which he finds so helpful in the preparation of his sermons, that he believes other ministers will adopt it as soon as its real utility becomes known.
It is nothing more nor less than to dictate his sermons into a phonograph, then turn on the machine and listen to the reproduction of his own voice. Not only does he then get a clear idea of just "how it will sound" when his congregation hears it, but he saves time and labor writing out his notes, and by listening to the repetition of the sermon two or three times has it fixed in his mind so that he does not need a manuscript in the pulpit.
"I have entirely escaped the feeling of physical exhaustion that always followed writing out a sermon with pen or typewriter," said Mr. Ramsay. "I find, too, that my memory retains better what comes into my ear than that which I merely read. It is a great saving on the eyes, as there is no strain on them whatever. The phonograph records provide an easy way of retaining a record of each sermon, and if I do not want to preserve any sermon, I can shave the records off and use them again and again. The expense is no larger, I believe, than paper and ink would be for the same number of words. I believe that if ministers generally knew what a help the phonograph is they would all use it."
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