Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-17
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PULpITs,

great deal Of lumber Is piled IN and worse
than wasted for Pulpits; and il would be well if
this was the least count in the Indictment
against them.
The dictionary tells Us that the word is taken
from the Latin pHlPitHm, the front part of the
stage IN Roman theatre, where the actors
performed their parts. We are not to under
stand that primitive Christians patronized the
GtreS. or that theatres were used for churches
but the analogy of architecture furnished the
name. more recent periodical authority be-
fore us says = If this model of the pulpit need
ed confirmation. it would be found in the ann
b0HfS iron Latin GRlbO, both, descriptive of
ltS aScents at either end) Of the churches of the
third century, the earliest formal pulpit archi-
lecture. These were low. sometimes semi-circle
platforms, where priests and deacOns stood to
road and sing some parts of the service and To
preach. Such was the spiritual church. J" There
the spiritual teachers Of the congregation are
they read the Bible. conduct the service and
exPOund the Holy Word. Pulpits should be
formed tc this purpose.
The prevailing fault is, they are too high
douOly high. The platform on which the
preacher stands strains the necks Of those close
about to look up to him, and strains his neck to
look down to them. This may account for the
habit some preachers have of looking away off
over everything-at nothing; and of the amen
corner brethren, listening with their heads
down-a great temptation 10 fall asleep, and a
man pleading with his neighbOr in earnest
looks him IN the face, or tries to- lie must do
this In order to be understood and felt The
human face sharpens the intellect; il is sug-
geStive Of thought and reflective of impulse
All this power and sympathy is lost. and many
a good sermon shoots over our heads because
the preacher, though meek as Moses, is stuck
up too high.
Cut down the pulpit stairs reduce the ''rise''
and number of them by one half; and then five
sIxths of our churches would be about right in
that particular. and the preacher will not end
his flight when he has mounted them
Once, this year. we sat with pain under A
good preacher who, though young, and origin
ally well endowed in that respect, had a strained
voice. Our posture was uncomfortable enough
with head laid back at an angle of forty FIVE
degrees bat his crOokiDg over to confront the
hearer was agOnizing Think of the tubes and
pipes and nice machinery of voice being bent
IN the act, and who can wonder that Clergy
men sore throat Is so common? ? Lawyers
speak as often and as long without this damage
TO vocal organs The reason is they have more
rests and variations in rvply and reioinders;
but principally because they stand on the same
plane with their auditors and speak to them.
This sitting under the droppings of the sane
taary ought TO be done away with.
He would be a bcnefactOr indeed that took
saw and hammer and went the rounds cutting
down high pulpitS We hope brethren whose
otherwise neat and comfortable churches arc
already afflicted in this way will not wait for
them to rot dOwn-grudging the paint and gin
geTbread work that has been thrown away ON
idem-but abate the nuisance.
modern pulpit, in our eyes, is successor to
one that the Mahomets coffin, was suspended
between heaven and earth, on the side of the
church. The incumbent resolutely came down
and took bis stand in the altar before table,
yowlng not to ascend it again until the trustees
had modified it
One who has done much at church building
gives US these figures Elevate the platform
four inches for every twenty feet in the length
Of the house. Then, the less boxing ND the
better. Especially do not frame up to the
breast or shoulders Of medium man. stand
ing Three feet Is a good average accommoda-
tlOn, from the top of the platform to the top of
the bookbOard. The old Episcopal churches
remnants Of the ante-revolutionary establish
ment, corrupted the pull pit models of the coun-
try. The reading was done in the lower desk:
the preaching In the upper. With them the
sermon was not meant fer much-a small part
OF the service, put in toward the last The
popularity of many Episcopal ministers now
stands in reading the service beautifully and
ImpressIyely-not in their preaching For
such, a section Of n hOgshead would do. re-
strsining all action, and holding the manu-
script close up TO the eyes.
Our pulpits, for their uses, require room and
occupy them at once Before rising te speak
the preacher likes to survey the congregation,
not euriOusly, but for purpo e. We have one
instance OF these high boxes being useful Rev
Mr ! was speaking 10 an illiterate con-
gregatiOn on visible and 9. invisible - Nv
brethren, perhaps you don't exactly get the
idea Of visible and invisible" Raising him
self to fullest height Do you see me now 9''
1es. = This Is visible" Hiding himself
hehlnd-'' Do you see me now" No"
- Well, this il Invisible
1t happens in this, as in other things that
science Is economy, and good taste fayors cheap
ness The model pulpit costs less than these
unsightly and uncomfortable piles
Religious congregations arc flesh and blood
they worship under the operation Of natural
laws not to be disregarded. If we may pro-
mote the effectiveness of preaching, the health
Of the labOrers and the comfort of thousands Of
hearers, then not too much space Of Importance
has been given to this subject.