146
March 1927
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
John Wanamaker—A Mastered Man By T, C H orton
T HIS title is given advisedly to a unique character—a man who became a master man among his fellows because he himself was mastered by strong convictions from which he could only be moved by demonstrable facts,:—a real, red-blooded Chris tian business man—John Wanamaker. The other day there came to me from his son, Rodman Wanamaker, the story of his life in two large volumes contain ing all together over 900 pages, but even then the half has not been told. It is like a fairy story of plains, valleys» mountain peaks, unceasing toil, days spent in the store, luncheon engage ments at noon, nights in business gatherings and Christian assemblies, meeting members of royalty, statesmen, financiers, making speeches at business, political and religious gatherings, serving as Postmaster General, reading, making notes, minister ing to all classes of people,—a man who was first, a Christian, with Bible in hand, immovable from implicit faith in its verity; second, a business man, with wonderful business ability and- a vision of greater and greater things; third, a politician, with clean-cut, definite convictions. My friendship with Mr. Wanamaker began over forty years ago when I was called to be Associate Pastor with Dr. Arthur T. Pierson—that prince of preachers and Bible teachers—in Bethany Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia (known as the “Wanamaker
answer the call to visit some sick or dying person who longed for the touch of his hand and to hear his voice in prayer. On his sixtieth birthday he told a friend that he could call about 4000 people in Bethany by name and associate each one with his fam ily or business. The following schedule of a Sunday at Bethany is a fair sample of Mr. Wanamaker’s Sunday service: 9:30 a.m. Spoke 10 minutes to leaders of Brotherhood of An drew and Philip. 9 :45 a.m. Talked 20 minutes to members of above fellowship. 10:15 a.m. Spoke to the Boys’ Junior Bible Class. 10:45 a.m. Sat with the men at the regular morning service and offered a prayer. 12:00 (Noon) Shook hands with those at the service. 12:30 p.m. Left Bethany and went home. 2:00 p.m. Attended and spoke at a meeting of the Tithesmen of the Bible Union. 2 :30 p.m. Opened the Sunday School. 3 :10 p.m. Made a short address to the Juniors. 3 :15 p.m. Expounded the lesson to the Bible Union. 4:10 p.m. Closed the Sunday School service with a short talk. 4 :25 p.m. Conducted the 20 minute closing afternoon “exper ience” service. 4 :45 p.m. Shook hands with those at the af ternoon service. 5 :30 p.m. Started for home. 7 :30 p.m. Attended the song service.
Church”). This Church seated 2000 people and a Sunday School building adjoining ac commodated over 3500 more. While John Wanamaker made a great name for himself as a pioneer and leader in the business world, he was also a pioneer and leader in the religious world, and he never let business or any other affairs, inter fere with Bethany Sunday School, which he founded when he was twenty years old, and during the time he was serving as the first regular Y.M.C.A. secretary in the United States. He lived for Bethany. He was the heart of it. It had the big place in his life. With him, Sunday was a day set apart for the Lord, and he spent that day at Bethany, where he was not only the Superintendent but the teacher of a great Bible class of over 1200 members. Even during the four years spent in Washington he never failed to take the trip to Philadelphia each week end that he might be in his place in Bethany on Sun day, traveling in this way—according to his ■own statement—nearly 100,000 miles. L oved by C ommon P eople The neighborhood in which Bethany was {located was composed of the common people (such as composed the early church), and :they all loved Mr. Wanamaker,—young and •old, men and women, boys and girls. How .could they help it? He was lovable and he 'loved them all. He had a heart like the »heart of his Lord, which could take them all Into its affection. Many times have I known him to slip -out of his private office, when important .business men were waiting to see him, to
7:45 p.m. Attended regular evening service. 8 :45 p.m. Spoke 20 minutes at close of ser vice. 9 :00 p.m. Shook hands with those at service. 9:30 p.m. Went home! He was also actively interested in the many organizations which were conducted by the church. U p F rom T he B rickyard When Mr. Wanamaker was nine years of age he was turning bricks in his father’s brick yard at two cents a hundred, and at fourteen commenced his business career at the magnificent salary of $1.25 per week. Whatever education he received was prior to that time. How will it be possible now, in a few sentences to tell a few of the events in the history of this Christian business man which will reveal some of the dominant characteristics which have made his name famous among business men? Walking two miles every day to his work and, when it rained, going barefoot with shoes in hand, carrying a paper with which to wipe the mud from his feet before replacing his shoes, in order to earn his $1.25 with which to help the home folks,—he would be an object of pity in these days. “Poor fellow!” you say? No! “Rich fel low”-—rich in those sturdy traits and funda mental principles which make real men. He idealized a department store, which at first made him enemies but has since been
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