Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-04-08

Under this head, in late number of the Sentinel
its correspondent, Anxious, has published
structures upon Mr.. Beecher, and his course In the
pulpit. The charges are, first, that he makes wbig
prayers, and breaches whig sermons the Sabbath
secondly, that in 1910 he felt inclined to make wing
stump speeches; and thirdly. that his gestures and
attitudes not scientific. Now the first charge is
pertinent to the subject, If true but il is not true TO
the extent, or in tie alleged and far any
part IT is true il is equally certain that Mr. Beecher
has purposey given expression, IN his exercises
on the Sabbath TO any political sentiment which he
had reason to suppose would be odous to any part
of his congregation. The second charge is both
unimportant and false Ii is unimportant, because
it has nothing TO do with politics 10 the pulpit;
and it is false, because if Mr. Beecher had felt
inclined to make stump speeches in 1910, he would
have done so. The third charge is impertinent and
puerile 1t is poor business to crticse ones gestures
and attitudes in public speaking. If the critic has
nothing more material to commend, Ut find fault with,
than gestures and attitudes he has no business with
MS subject. Anxious speaks of the Imagination,
fancy, and figures of the young clergyman whom he
attacks. suppose that he is unable to follow the
preacher in his sublime flights. MIR. Beecher, like
other clergymen. sometimes bathes the wings of his
Imagination in scenes of glory TO which the groveng
critic is stranger. He cannot soar above the
scenes of gross materially Mr. Beecher, like the
householder which brngeh forth out of his treasure
things new and DID," for these many years, has
labored with becoming perseverance, disregarding
his own personal feelings, for the success of his
people; yet Anxious to have written his article
while under the influence of bitter feelings, and more
in the spirit Of a partizan, than of friend OF the
clergyman as he styles himself There is something
Ominous in the newspaper attacks upon good men,
and they ought to be discouraged by the moral and
religious part of community. indianapolis ought TO
be distinguished for its high of religion it has
long been blest with clergy of a high order of
talents, and purity of life. If there is any complaint
to be made of them ii is for the length of their
sermons. Now concerning the time proper to be
occupied by sermon, there is this difference among
reasonable men-some suppose that sermon should
occppy longer time than about twenty-five minutes,
while others suppose that sermon might reasonably
occupy about thirty minutes. There are a few
extraordinary occasions which may call for longer
discourse, but these ought not to often in 0
mans life. Most of our clergymen, q think of no
exceptions now,) occupy from three quarters of an
hour to hour and half with their sermons. This
is abusive and ntolerabe and calls loudly for reform
There are two causes for this abuse and one remedy
As to the causes, the first is laziness. mean an
aversion to study their subjects. This laziness is
remnant of total depravity which still turks in the
hearts of those not wholly renewed. The second
cause is love of display This also is almost
always a remnant of the same total depravity
Touching the remedy of this abuse, the following
may be said the proper remedy is continued, labo-
rious study. 1t requires only moderate amount Of
study and merely such lazy might submit
to- to prepare a hour long, and 10 preach
sermon an hour and half long would require nc
great amount of sense. But TO condense sermon
into the reasonable space of twenty-five or thirty
minutes requires laborous effort. The effort is one
of clothing ideas with words, rather than of filing
up time with sounds. The energy and terseness Of
the English language is found and displayed only by
hard and perseverng labor Besides this, &" brevity
is the soul of wit" as Blackstone says. | have
thrown together these few ideas hoping to do the
public service, and exaeeting that they will be moi
otherwise than avorably received by those concerned
ARATON.