Swing (Jan-Dec 1953)

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'78 S« to Canada. They give the readers a conscience-prodding piece of advice, or a worthwhile thought from the world's greatest philosophers. These punch-packed messages are read by people from all walks of life; the lowly, the humble, the high, and God'fearing. One municipal street laborer who says he never goes to church remarked: "I always go out of my way to read those little sermons. They keep me on guard against the evil in the street; they keep me out of the gutter!" BREVITY is the soul of the message, according to the editor of the Wayside Pulpit sermons at Boston Unitarian headquarters. All have universal appeal, all are strictly nonsectarian. The idea originated some years ago with the Rev. Henry H. Saunderson, now retired, when he was traveling in Europe. He was impressed by the conti' nental wayside shrines. Arriving home, he decided to do something about the dull, drab bulletin board at his church. Why not make it a shrine with the written word? He observed that the bulletin board at his Boston church was either empty, or that it merely announced the time and date of the next service. Often the announce' ment was of an event long past. Rev. Saunderson conceived the idea of putting a different one-ortwo'line message outside his church each Sunday night with a pithy appeal to all, and readable from across the street. Soon he discovered many people of all creeds stopped to read inf his "sign." He thought the idea might have greater usefulness, perhaps na „ tional appeal. He followed up the thought by presenting his plan to almost a hundred different clergymen, asking for their opinions. Their decision was unanimous. They agreed to erect similar "signs" of the same size, and to share the expense of having uni * form sermons printed on a uniformsized card. SINCE then the idea has grown and multiplied, and even with all the other means of bringing inspiration and uplift everywhere, the unique Wayside Pulpits cast their words of wisdom in almost every state. Most "sermons" express some religious ideal with a common denominator, or an ideology of life acceptable to all. But few sermons are ever repeated. One exception which is an annual event is a wish for a Happy New Year to those of the Jewish faith. This one is used each year, written in actual Hebrew letters: "L'Shanah Tovah Tikusaivoo." The size of the card adopted to carry the sermon message limits its length. The signs cannot utilize more than four lines of twenty words each. Most are confined to two lines. Many sermon suggestions come from Unitarian clergymen, others from laymen, and still others from clergymen ' of other faiths. The Unitarian headquarters staff selects and edits all sermons. In nearly every community where there is a Wayside Pulpit, it is a habit of the people to read each ser ,j mon as it is posted weekly. The