The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-03-04
How Beecher Makes His
Sermons.

Ralph Meeker contributes to the March
number Of Packard's Monthly an interest
ing account of "How Beecher makes his
Sermons :"
When he first commenced to preach he
wrote out a few of his sermons, until he
had enough other writing to correct his
style. Since then he has never written
out discourse in full. He has an idea
oil the week as to the subject he will
treat on Sunday. Still, there is no definite
plan in his mind until the time arrives.
Usually, he does not touch pen to paper
before Sunday morning and Sunday after
noon. Then he sometimes gets SO many
sermons under way that the one he in
tends to prepare is neglected until the
first bell rings, whereupon he throws
aside the incomplete work, and, blocking
out discourse, he hastens to the pulpit.
Generally, he writes what would make a
quarter of sermon, embracing the lead
ing points to be presented. In preparing
sermon he first "blocks 1t out" aud lays
the foundation with part of the frame
work. At the proper places he cuts win
dows, through which the audience may
SEQ the beauties of the Gospel The win
dows are designated by the letters GIL"
inclosed IN a line thus Qll.), showing that
an illustration is to come in at that par
ticular point. None of the illustrations
are ever written out beforehand or with
the sermon, but they are given as they oc.
cur at the time when they are needed.
Often, when in the pulpit, he finds the
windows in the wrong place. He always
has a variety of new sermons on hand, to
be used on special occasions. He said
that in old times the housewife kept a
batch of dough in the pantry, and when
bread was required, all she had to do was
to go to the tray and cut off enough for
baking So it was with his sermons. He
never breaches the same one twice, though
frequently uses the same text, but it is
always in different manner
In reply to the question as to whether
he selected his text first, or the subject,
applying to such text as would suit, he
said that a text may be compared to a
gate opening into the Lords Garden !;
many ministers, instead of unlatching the
gate and leading their hearers in TO pluck
the fruit and flowers, content themselves
by getting upon it and swinging to and
| fro.
He always makes it point to preach
his t st sermons on stormy days. for then
those who were in attendance say to their
friends
"You don't know how much you missed
by not being present, though it was
stormy day."
He we'll remembered the time when on
nearly every Sabbath during the winter,
it showed or rained, "for it came near
killing me-" said he laughingly.
Some one inquired il he studied his
prayers.
"Never," said he, Il carry a feeling
with me such as mother would have for
her children were they lost in a great for
est. / feel that on every side my people
are in danger, and that many of them are
like babes, weak and helpless. My heart
goes out in sorrow and anxiety toward
them, and at times seem to carry all
j their burdens. I find that when ones
heart is wrapped and twined around the
hearts of others, it is not difficult to
pray"
Another wanted to know if it would
not be better for IIr. Beecher to travel
about the country, that the people of var
ious sections might be benefited by, his
preaching.
NO." said he, "what would stove in
the Arctic regions be good for if it was
carried from place to place? Besides,
) more people come to hear me than I could
| reach should go after them. 1t is far
better for the United States to go through
my church than for me to go through the
United States"