Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-04-18
MORNING LEADERl n
WARREN OORRRsPONDENCE.


pms SermO1s.
WARREN April 10, 1859
Elder Knapp closed his lAbors in the Baptist
church two weeks ago. He wound of with
grand eclat. The last exercise at the church
was general benedictioD, after which the au-
dienee were requested to come around and bid
him farewell and take him by the hand. On
Monday morning largo congregation assembled
at the station where parting Hymn was sung
The Elder announced when be came here that
he intended to remain until he had coVerted ev-
cry sinner in the town; at the time he left about
60 had been hopefully converted, Al Of whom
have united with the church so It is fair to
conclude that our town is not oyerburdened with
sinners, for he certainly would not play tho
braggart, or go away with his work, thus un-
dertaken, but commenced. The meetings haye
been kept up since and several persons have
been baptiscd.
II is about eighteen years since Profession
al Revvalst of the Orthodox faith has visited
this town. Our churches were going along
smoothly, doing what they could to advance the
cause in quiet way, and were living in harmo
ny with each other, observing all the rules of
propriety towards each other. which christian
spirit and good peighborhoOd would seem to re-
quire. There seemed to be but little party feel
ing manifested Since the advent ofllhe Elder,
however, the latent spark Of party feeling has
been aroused, and much off seems to be abroad
Proselyting is now the order Of the day; and is
spreading into other churches The coming of
Elder Knapp has aroused feelings and will en-.
gender partisan action which cannot fail to fes-
ter and burn for long time, and twenty years
Of consistent christian conduct will hardly do il
away. II is painful TO contemplate the injury
such men do tho cause Of true religion
Elder Knapp is said TO be the Spurgeon Of
| America. He may compare fayorably with
Spurgeon in some points; but judging from
that gentleman's published discourses he un.
doubtedly has the Elder at advantage as to elu-
cation and general culture The London Spur
geon does not display very much depth of
thought, or originality; neither does Elder
Knapp; the London Spurgeon does not think
down $50 to speak, into the heart Of any great
moral question, and bring out philosophy
which is to be applied TO the duties Of life and
make men better, holer and christian like in con.
duct neither does Elder Knapp; the London
Spurgeon does not come up to the intellectual
stature Of such men as Beecher, Bushnell
Chaplin, Finney, Parker, Barnes, Wadsworth
Mclvane and host Of other able Divines
which this country affords; neither does Elder
; Knapp; the London Spurgeon has eecentrcity
of speech and action; so has Elder Knapp
the London Spurgeon has a dreadful funC
OF denunciation, so has Elder Knapp L
will be seen that there are some points of re
sembance, while there arc undoubtedly more o
, q want of resemblance. We cannot Judge ac
eurately Of a man to read him on paper W,
. must see him, know him, get his individuslit,
before we can fully appreciate him. and it maj
be that there is a certain resemblance in th
d characters Of theso two men; but If 40. coarse
| ness and Vulgarity IN the pulpit are more in de
mand than had before believed possible.
IS BY the way, how refreshing it is to tur
o from the contemplation Of the dark spots in th
10 religious world which partisan advocates Great
"A TO tho ministry of such men as Beecher an
I. Chaplin. One who has the means of securin
I the reading Of the sermons delivered by thes
men every Sunday need no further preaching I,
The publishers of Boston paper-IRs Ban
N ner Of Light-keep reporters at New Yor
h who report the Sunday morning sermons
70 these men geographically, and they are pul
,e lished each week entire as delivered. In thi
oS way Beocher and Chaplin are made TO preac
!, weekly TO hundreds Of thousands of peopl
y, and the good they will do can never be est
IL mated.
ne Recently Beechor has preached upon "doiI
as good" "rules aud ordinances" and up'
"christian conduct" These sermons are exec
"a lent, replete with thought, and glowing al
a. sparkling with the pearls which his rich fam
drops as freely as clouds in April dischar
rain drops, and they are as refreshing to Il
thirsting soul as an August shower is 70 I
IFS parched earth and orisped grass. They are f
- Of life and health full Of christian charity a
christian feeling, full of real goodness and co
vey practical lessons which all should stud
No ono can read them without feeling bette
nober and truer TO himself and his fellows.
in The price Of the paper containing these se
NO mons, fresh from the lips of two living me
,is is $500 per year; or $3.50 in clubs Of five
~ more. JUNIUS JR.