The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-07-26

hawk laid the brain open above the
left eye.
Although with the forces united at
this post we may live in comparative
safety, General Wright has prudent
ly determined not % proceed further
till an escort of sufficient strength be
provided to warrant him in running
the line from here to Fort Lyon, in
Colorado, without risk 10 his men.
Why Churches are 50 Empty.
What is the reason why attendance
at churches generally is becoming
smaller and smaller, notwithstanding
the great increase OF population in
all our cities? 4 committee of cler-
gymen appointed by an Orthodox
Conference At Cincinnati year or
two since, to investigate the cause of
the indifference about public wor-
ship, made the startling statement
that the attendance at the churches
generally is not so large in that place
now as it was in 1850, although the
population has increased more than
iOur-fold. They, of course, could
come TO no conclusion as to the real
cause, though to outsiders, from n
different standpoint, il vas obvious
enough, and that is tire unreasonably
long sermons Of the preachers. This
may not be q palatable truth to those
who labor hard to produce an elab-
crate sermon or two every week
Blu: ask ten of the first nOn-attend-
ants you meet the cause of their ha-
bitual absence from church, and il
they are candid, nine OF them will tell
you it is the long, prosy sermon.
Americans are q restless people,
and after a week of active pursuits,
VIII not stand or cit ous, i'll u con-
strained posture, a commonplace
speech or sermon an hour long. A
familiar talk, or exhortatiOn of fif-
teen minutes, like the admiINble dis
courses of the late DIR. Lowell of the
West Church, Boston, is sufficient.
He always left his crowded audiences
longing instead of loathing," which
is the true art of preaching, as one
Of Dickens characters says Of letter
writing.
/ / can readily believe the above
statement rs to Cincinnati, as / oh
serve by their daily papers that the
churches of all denominations have to
advertise rs regularly as the theatre
or circus, with particulars and topics,
and cordial invitation to attend,
not forgetting to add that ''seats are
/ free" But although the machinery
of advertising, preaching IL theatres,
opera houses, circus tents, &c., may
excite a temporary interest, the only
way 10 fill the churches permanetly
/ is for preachers who dilute their SER
mons into an hours length to con-
centrate their thoughts into one OF
twenty minutes. Let them try it for
six months, and the church will be
/ filled.
I This whole matter OF sermons needs
refolm. In late articles in the Lon
don Times and in Blackwood's Mag
azine on public worship, the writers
say there is no subject on which 50
much intellectual labor is uselessly
expended, and on which nine tenths
cl the public are so profoundly in-
different, as in the composition OF
sermons; they are all too long. OF
course there are exceptions to this
general view, when occasional dis
courses on some striking topic of the
hour will bear more elaboration by
really able men.
The state OF this world is very diff
ferent from whai it was two or three
centuries ago, when the great mass
of the people were ignorant and need
ed instruction of an educated priest
hood. Now, in the general diffusion
Z ~ ~.'-.~-.:-- ~>a ;->>~n; n;7sas~, u, =. :
are not many communities where the
average of the hearers is not about
as well informed as the average OF
their preachers. The good attend
ance at all our vesper services, where
4 formal sermon is usually dispensed
with, shows how the popular feeling
runs.
have nov in my thoughts 4 soci-
ETY. over which preacher with an
aflluent mind and fluent delivery
was settled five or six years since;
his church was then filed with intel
ligent hearers; but as he preached
without notes, his sermons were sell
dom less than an hour long, without
method, discursive and diluted; and
it was 4 common remark in walking
home from church that no one could
tell what really was the distinct sub
'ject of the sermon. He literally
preached the society to death; his
hearers steadily fell Off (except on
vesper evenings) till only thirty or
forty were left,-when he left also,
and the church was closed.
! God forbid that 1 should say one
word against public worship. l only
wish to make it more attractive, or
rather, less repellant. But l doubt
that long sermon, to drowsy, list
less, uneasy audience, is any legiti
mate part of public worship.-"R." :"
IA ChristIaE Register.