Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The seventh volume of sermons from the famed Atlanta preacher takes us from 1929 into 1930, a period which of course includes the beginning of the Great Depression. On "You Mother Heartbreakers" the Reverend makes some daring remarks about the consequences of "slippin' around"; "Death Is On Your Track" is a moving meditation on the loss of friends and relatives; "The Flood Of Alabama" evidently refers to a Mississippi flood in the 1920s which according to Gates was probably the result of a hurricane; "Straining At A Gnat And Swallowing A Camel" makes some daring remarks about a "mixed congregation"; "I'm Going Home On The Heavenbound Train" uses baseball metaphors to make its spiritual points; "Scat To The Cat And Suie To The Hog" is an exhortation for husbands and wives to be nice to each other even if the man is "ugly enough to look in a churn of sweet milk and turn it to clabber"; and, the final sermon, "David And Uriah" on which the reverend is interrupted by a sister who points out that "here sits a brother not very far away, been had his hat set for me." Deacon Davis suggests she must be talking about him and Rev Gates observes, rather testily, "I'm sorry to be identified with folks just like you" before reverting back to his Bible story. Another fascinating glimpse of African American church in the 1930s.

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