The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-11-07
mo-. 27.
PREACHING.

The effect OF pulpit oratory is perhaps as
often visible on the couuteDances of reIi-
gions assembly, as in their lives and CON
dnct--upon their physical as well as mental
organs. II may be u wi,kedly curious sort
of employment-and there are many who
will doubtless repiobate us most willingly
| for our want of II bctter--to note the as
| sortment offaces--the ncnngrunus arrange
rnent CT featurcs--w which is usually compri-
srd in a large congregation mt church-tO
reflect on I'll. various temperaments there
brought together-thc predominatiug mt
dltaiions Of each indiyidual--and the inf
niltly differing shades Of interest manifested
on the sisagss Of the auditors,
At that corner sits the plodding mer-
chant, with face alternately clouded by n
denunclation rom the pulpit, or rlghtened
at the prospect of driving n good bargaiu
ON the mOrrow. ln the next pew reclines
a young female drvotee, whose sallow and
demure phiz now indicates the profound-st
piety--but anon expresses something very
like an attachment to the things Of this
world, IN its evident admiration of the ele-
giant border that encircles her own CASH
mere shall. Here is \ gentleman whose
anxiety To acquire religious reputation 10
drlineated upon his countenance as he lifts
his eyes toward the ceiling, while the prea-
cher descants on the beati,nde of the saints
or frowns with darkencd meaning on the
awful fate VI the ncorrig,ble sinner. And
there is lady apparently absorbed in deep
musings on the subject under discussion,
whose eountenance has acquired a sort of
mechanical compliance with whatever
strikes her ear from the pulpii-a kind OF
Geographic replication, in which the mind
has actually no concerD--for at the close OF
the discourse, she can never state what
were its principal topics ask her what thu
preacher said, and abe answers, /" oh ho
declared it was a ptry good hing to BE-
good"
One may here descry at glance, the
statesman, occasionally wrapt in the mists
of metaphysics, and the fogs Of politics
the prude, divided in her speculations upon
heaven and matrimony--the dandy catch
ing glmpses nj the same time of futurity
and his shirtruiIle-and the giddy belle
now gaping with listessncss, and now with
horror at the indicate notion of sulphur
and caloric made ready in sub.mundane
regions for the ID and his angels
But the strongest demonstrations of SYM
patty on the part Of the congregation arc
dscoverabic in time Of prayer. Some
dvines during this exercise, contract an
awkward habit of mounting, frowning and
writing IN n most irksome manner. These
physlognomical contortOns are generally
accompanied with verbal infections equal
ly harsh, cramped and uncouth. The
auditors insensbly acquire similar unnatu-
raj gestures, and bite their lips, draw down
their eyebrows, or " ring their nasal promi~
nenses, in all the restless and irritable ago
MES Of tedium and the Gdgets.
In Episcopal churches, especially, the
officiating clergymen endeavOr to throw
into their articulation IA deep aud hollow
soemnity aud while the liturgy is read
ing, one may observe among the assembly
a relative trait of feeling marked on Inca
ments moulded into an ostcntatious and
conceited expression, yerging somewhat
towards the iudicrous. Indeed the very
formal, high sounding, and in many instan-
ces magnificent diction in which the servi-
ces of the English and Roman churches are
written, contribute very much 10 produce
the effects we have noticed, and 10 Inspire
the hearers with an artificial awe most Ca
silly perceptible on their yisages, and in the
affected tones of their responses.
II is however both easy and customary
to find fault with, and to expose Inaccura-
cies among, public speakers. A remedy IL
scarcely suggested or recommended
Nothing more is necessary TO correct n
stiff and forced style of oratory, than "a
simple adherence 10 nnturs. Every at
tempt to depart from natural sentiment,
feeling or action, especially in the pulpit, is
displeasing. 70 speak acceptabIy, one
should merely feel what he uttrrs--a utter
what he feels. This constitutes the whole
charm aud the whole science of pulpit eio-
quente. Nantucket Eng