The hydraulic press., 1858-09-18
R| The Red Bluff Be6

having "less appreciative talent in
literary or intellectual sense" than
any other people amongst whom its
editor ever lived; merely because they
did not attend certain Divine's ex-
cellent preachment on recent occa-
sion.
If non-attendance at preaching
proves lack Of intellectual apprecia~
ton, neighbor, we fear there is pre-
cious little in our town-or in our
State for that matter.
We have frequently seen the par
son of this place addressing himself
to an "appreciative" audience Of six
persons.
There may be some other reason
for this than the one the Beacon gives,
and which it would be well for prea-
cheers themselves to know. 1t is
barely possible there may be some
thing lacking IN front Of the audience
occasionally. People of the most
religious and "appreciativo" minds
may possibly tire Of the Journalism and
dogmatism Of the pulpit, and think it
more religious to stay away from
church than to attend it. The warm
life Of Chrlstianity-its heart-gushing,
catholic beneyolence-may, perhaps,
not always illumine the pulpits of Ca
lifornia; and when it is lacking if any
worshippers are found in attendance,
they are animated more by sense of
duty than by any expectation of spir-
itual profit. We are willing to ad-
NIT that the pulpit contains some of
the broadest minds and. sweetest hui
manitarians that now bless the earth
with their words and example, and
that the clergy Of our own State do
not lack talent, earnestness and de-
votion. But for all this, it is palpa-
bly, evident that theytau to reach the
popular heart.
1t will not do to maintain the cha
racter Of the clergy at the expense of
that of the people. The prevalence
ofintelligence and religious sentiment,
if not Of religious feeling, amongst
Americans, is too we'll known to per-
nit their indifference to religious lee
lures to be accounted for by accusing
them of want of appreciation. The
amount Of intelligence amongst Cali
fornians is asserted, by ministers
themselves, to be above even the Am
erican average; consequently, there
should be more appreciation Of elite
rary or intellectual excellence here
than elsewhere. The inference is
plain, that if our people do not attend
church, it is because there is not suf-
fcient inducement. They will not
patronize religious meetings, any more
than they will concerts, the drama, or
circus, unless their wants are met
And what do they want in spiritual
way? Doctrinal sermons-sulphur-
Gus denunciations-narrow views
illiterate repetitions of things ''famil-
lar as household words '-the dry
ears from which genius long since
shelled the grain? No-yet such is
the entertainment usually offered
them, and hence they stay away
When a new preacher comes to town,
he draws, for awhile, larger audiences
than his predecessor could command
towards the last of his ministry; not,
because people run after novelties,
but because they wish to see whether
.his man can give them what they
want. If there is inspiration about
him-if he can make their hearts
glow-cause the tears to gush from
long sealed fountains-touch them
Win greater love Tor their fellows land
plant in their souls the roots Of those
higher motives which blossom in good
deeds careless Of forms,-if he is
this and can do this, he wiU never
tack an audience.
IF, on the contrary, his mind be
fashioned in the narrow mould of sec
tarlanism, and dry exhortations to the
observance Of dryer forms take the
place of those electrical qualities
which alone can move the heart-he
will certainly lack an audience.
If the clergy of California would
address themselves to that want of our
people to which we have alluded-to
their innate love of virtue for ats own