Introduction
It is next to impossible not to pick up and thumb through a book with the title of “Whistling At Snakes” and difficult to put it down after sampling the wit and wisdom of The Baptist Courier’s late columnist, Horace Sims.
The Courier published the first batch of his short essays, “Horace Sims At Large,” in 1997, followed by a second compilation of his columns, “Horace Sims Still At Large,” in 1998. Both were timed for distribution at the annual meetings of the South Carolina Baptist Convention in November.
These books, like his “At Large” pieces, achieved immediate and lasting popularity with the Courier’s readers. Many turned to his column first before reading anything else in our publication.
Horace always managed to take life seriously while looking at it lightly. He could always find at least a little and often a lot that was funny. And this was so whether the egg was all over his or somebody else’s face.
He had no peers as a teller of sidesplitting tales. Some were even true. Asked about that, he explained, “All the stories I’ve written are based on real events. They tell true happenings.” Then, breaking into a smile, he added, “Some of them may have been embellished for the enjoyment of the reader.”
It was nearly four years ago that I, as the new editor of The Baptist Courier, sat down to breakfast with Horace at Shoney’s in Greenwood with an offer for him to write a regular column that we later named “At Large.” His writing, so deceptively simple that many never realized how much work he put into his craft, quickly captured a huge audience that stretched well beyond South Carolina and even the United States. In fact, readers in at least 14 states and 27 foreign countries requested copies of his books.
In November of 1998, the Courier honored Horace at the Abney Memorial Baptist Church in Greenwood, where he had been pastor for nearly three decades, citing his contribution to Christian journalism and South Carolina Baptist life through his column.
Last May, only weeks after his death, the Courier again paid tribute to its former columnist by presenting the first annual Horace B. Sims Jr. Award for academic excellence in the field of Christian studies at North Greenville College. Horace was to have delivered the college’s commencement address and receive an honorary doctor of divinity degree, which was awarded posthumously.
Horace held only two pastorates, Abney Memorial and Cayce’s Middleton Street Baptist Church, which no longer exists. He graduated from Parker High School in Greenville and attended Furman University. He served a term as president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention in 1982. At the time of his death, he was the convention’s parliamentarian and a trustee of Connie Maxwell Children’s Home in Greenwood.
He was a regular contributor to the Greenwood Index-Journal newspaper. His writing also appeared in the Greenville News, South Carolina Wildlife magazine, and two Southern Baptist publications: Mature Living and The Church Musician.
This is not the book that the Courier wanted to publish. What we anticipated was to print another installment in a continuing series of column collections in time for release at the November state Baptist convention. But Horace’s untimely death broke our hearts and changed our plans. It sadly became necessary to produce a “complete Horace Sims,” an anthology of his writings made available for his faithful following.
“Whistling At Snakes,” drawn from the title of one of his columns, is the result. In addition to all of the Courier columns that Horace wrote between 1996 and 1999, this book contains some of his articles printed elsewhere, along with material never before published.
In his introduction to “Horace Sims Still At Large,” the Courier columnist wrote, “I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I have enjoyed writing them.”
We hope so, too.
Don Kirkland
Greenville, S.C.
August 1999
Foreword: A Legacy of Laughter
South Carolina Baptists are blessed with a rich history filled with wonderful legacies of those who have gone on before. Men like Richard Furman, John Broadus and Basil Manly left us with great educational legacies. Luther Rice, Janie Chapman and Martha Franks gave their lives to fulfilling the Great Commission, and in doing so left behind terrific missions legacies. We also enjoy historical legacies from some of our founding fathers, such as William Screven, James P. Boyce and Oliver Hart.
I believe Horace Sims left a legacy as well. I, his son, had a tremendous opportunity to get to know this man of diverse interests. He was a parliamentarian, collector, historian, author, humorist, woodcarver, trustee, husband, and a friend. The relationship that I shared with Horace Sims was fourfold in its nature: he was my father, pastor, mentor, and my hero.
As my father, he instilled in me the morals and values that his father instilled in him. He taught me how to fish and to throw a football. He prayed for me, and in doing so taught me how to pray. He loved me and taught me how to love. However, the greatest thing that my father did was lead me to Jesus Christ. He knelt with me in our backyard as the rain began to fall, and I surrendered my life to Jesus.
As my pastor, he was a servant, always putting his sheep before himself. He preached the Word of God with conviction. He preached the Word as our source of truth, and he taught me about the treasures waiting to be found within its pages. He provided wise counsel for every aspect of my life. He fed his Lord’s sheep faithfully all the days of his life.
As my mentor, he studied to show himself approved. To say that he loved to read would be a huge understatement. He loved knowledge and kept a constant stream of it flowing into his mind. He taught me that nothing is worth compromising your values or beliefs for. I watched as he showed me time after time that all men are created equal. It didn’t matter to him if you were the pastor of the largest church in the convention or the usher at the smallest church; you were equal in the sight of God—and in the eyes of Horace, also.
As my hero, he faced death boldly and courageously, placing himself in the Creator’s hands. His faith stood strong through life’s toughest trial. He never questioned or complained about the cross he was called to bear, but rather, he lifted it to his shoulder and followed after his Lord.
However, the most important lesson that he ever taught me was how to laugh. I learned from him that laughter can be one of our greatest acts of worship. The foundation of Christian laughter is the joy of our salvation, the variety and creativity of God’s creation, the blessings that He bestowed upon our lives, and the blessed promises of His Word. That is what enabled my father to laugh as he walked through the valley of the shadow of death. For, you see, the source of his laughter was “the peace that passeth understanding.” Take this book, put aside all of your stress, worry or sorrow, and laugh—for the legacy that Horace Sims left us was laughter.
H. Bryant Sims III
Calhoun Falls, S.C.
July 1999
Thomas Addison
Photo by Butch Blume
“After reading Horace Sims’ work and illustrating his stories, I’m only disappointed I couldn’t collaborate with him,” says illustrator and cartoonist Thomas Addison. “He reminds me of people I’ve grown up knowing—people who could find humor in any situation.”
Addison’s editorial cartoons have appeared in the Greenville News, the Anderson Independent-Mail and the Williamston Journal. His work has also been included in Pelican’s “Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year.”
A muralist, Addison has been commissioned to create historical works for communities across upstate South Carolina. His current project is a series of color prints depicting the history of the Piedmont community.
He is a graduate of Western Carolina University and holds a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. He has taught art at Palmetto Middle School for 21 years.
For fun, he plays bass guitar and sings with his cousins in “Saluda River Catfish,” a group he affectionately describes as a “nitty-gritty dirt band that plays gospel now and then.”
He lives in Pelzer, S.C., with his wife Roni, daughter Emily, 13, and son Joseph, 3. The Addisons worship at Powdersville Community Church, where Thomas assists with the music program.
July 1999
Whistling at Snakes
©Copyright 1999 The Baptist Courier. All rights reserved. For information, write to: The Baptist Courier, 100 Manly Street, Greenville, S.C., 29601.
Grateful acknowledgement is made for permission from the following companies to reprint material in their control:
“Mama’s Banking System,” from Mature Living, (date unknown). ©Copyright The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
“My Aunt Was a Real Princess,” from Mature Living, July 1983. ©Copyright 1983 The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
“Bring Them In,” from The Church Musician, September 1981. ©Copyright 1981 The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
“The Rains Came Down,” from The Church Musician, (date unknown). ©Copyright The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Selections from “Minister’s Desk” first appeared in the Greenwood Index-Journal. Used by permission.
“What’s It Like to Be a Paperboy?” appeared May 16, 1982, in the Greenville News-Piedmont. Used by permission.
“How Great Thou Art” ©Copyright 1953. Renewed 1981 by Manna Music. Used with acknowledgement.
“Let Others See Jesus in You” ©Copyright 1924. Renewed 1952 by Broadman Press. Used with acknowledgement.
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” Public domain.
Book design by Butch Blume.
Illustrations by Thomas Addison.
Published by The Baptist Courier.
Printed in the United States of America.
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