• U.S.

Religion: Poling’s Progress

3 minute read
TIME

Philadelphia’s Grace Baptist Temple, with its seating capacity of 3,000, was built for the late Russell Herman Conwell, noted for the sermon “Acres of Diamonds” which he delivered 6,152 times. Ever since he died in 1925, the Temple has been looking for “another Conwell.” Dr. A. Ray Petty, who came in 1926, shocked his flock by inviting Negroes and again, when 50 parishioners started to walk out on a sermon defending Al Smith, by directing the organist to follow their steps with Chopin’s Funeral March. Dr. Petty was soon replaced by Dr. Michael Joseph Twomey who abruptly resigned last April, explaining: “God says I go.” Tired of seeking another Conwell, the Temple last week decided to try something different—a Poling.

The Rev. Dr. Daniel Alfred (“Call Me Dan”) Poling is world president of the biggest Protestant youth organization (Christian Endeavor), editor of the most influential U. S. church magazine (Christian Herald), director of the phil anthropic Penney Foundation, a brisk weekly radiorator and ringing champion of Youth. “Dan” Poling’s parents were Oregon pioneers. He came early by his robust, gladsome Christianity. Aged 11, he perched on the rear axle of William Jennings Bryan’s carriage as the Commoner, stumping Oregon, drove into his county. When Bryan finished his speech he leaned beneath his carriage, shook hands with the spellbound boy. Aged 18, Poling was a spellbinder and preacher himself. Barely eight years out of Dallas (Ore.) College, this husky, clear-eyed six-footer ran for Governor of Ohio on the Prohibition ticket. Though he was four years too young to take the office if he got it. he traveled up & down the State behind a cornettist, making seven speeches a day. The War sent “Dan” Poling off with the Y. M. C. A. to investigate rumors that U. S. soldiers were misbehaving in France. In 1918 he triumphantly returned to announce that the rumors were false.

In 1923 “Dan” Poling was called to Manhattan’s Marble Collegiate Church (Dutch Reformed) and from its pulpit began his weekly radio talks. By 1929 Prohibition again needed champions. “Dan” Poling resigned from his pulpit. He used his rosiest platform manner on the Republican convention of 1932. then stumped 31 states by airplane, insisting to the end that the country was dry. Without a pulpit, he has since devoted his energies to turning out what he calls “smashing editorials” in the Christian Herald.

Last week, as he made ready to re-enter the pulpit, “Dan” Poling was 51, just beginning to grey. Since he is no Baptist, the congregation of Grace Temple expected him to make less use of their 60-foot marble immersion tank where white carnations are kept floating during baptismal services. Dr. Poling will probably omit flowers, allow a microphone to overshadow the tank.

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