New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-23
CHRISTIAN UNITY.

Ih6 COunClI came 10 OfteI at ~ a. ih' yCo''l
day Dr. FossOf the Methodist Episcopal Church In Thu
chair After the usual half hour prayer the Secretary
commenced the regular business Of the day by reading
the minutes of the previous sessions which, after some
corrections, were accepted The Committee appointed
% draft plan Of perpetuatng the Council reported thai
tiey had considered the subject very carefully, anC
WOild submit the following three resolutions:
1soS o bs s o Of I'd judging from ht experience Of ID,
5ss,5. @ss1s o e annual Of Evangelical Ike
e. Ssss.0t Se' Ssst judic.toTes Of The following Evan
ss5 Ps'C@ssTS such b5 aSy determination tie Standing
Committee shall supply the vacancy he! discretion Tue delegates
sSsSa 3 Episcopal; German ReforPed Daeh Reformed g.
SI,,oDs Mois,ian Prss6yerAn Evangelical Denominations
.S a.. a Of ns caa ncf bodies and to act
Committee Of ana 10 90 81 t'. u . tb
% OBJECT I1 of the Council Council '' '''''' ~ ~
&Sese resolutions caused lengthy discussion in which
D1s Matthews Crosby, Schumacher Bacon, and the Rev.
H., Blair took part. They were, after some discussion,
hd on the table until after the Rev Henry ward Beeeher
delivered ms address, which was upon the sixth topic IN
she list discussion, namely: Preaehins- the prmi-
ttive and apostolic element Of success"
AIR Biecber Sad There Ia common impression that
preaching has fallen on ana tnSS ~ rs mo pnge d .h inc
pulpit does bear the same relation to religion that 1t
Snce for ms 10 know whether been enfeebe
aeD and if there has been, what have been the
saG T tef tbe ngt has failed believe it has gained
think it was never so strong as today The comnu
pulpit almost alone 10 supervise or perform has been
Distributed into c great n " notwSfanSbs S these
Changes when come mp as the result Of the dstributiye
i1drTce of civilization. think still the pulpit towers
higher and absolutely though not perhaps
relatively, than 10 ever was at any previous time IL is
true that the impression is different, and that this I'M
preston a certain extent is turning away from tle
ministry q great many young men and 1t Is very desra
hp therefore, to look no the matter IN Its olg-
nal clements and draw back the Thought ana the tesng
o the young this sacred function OF preaching now
make great distinction between preaching ana the
general work Of the ministry man may DC soou
md not le preacher on the other hand, man may
be an excellent preacher and lar JIom Peing goG9
restor or general administrator These very different
ruslities of which shall speak in moment, sometimes
ncot i'm lugle men, more often are dlStlnuled so tlN
nr ono NJ The gifts is found in one man. Mhy II takes
irr ar five men make good, round sound minis
ter What preaching theni In gong OacK 20 ihe ne
forn,ed and which He set His apostles 70 perform,
seems to me 19at gUu better than t6s he end
~ rrrpcniug is the entire moral eleNauoll OF nuuan
by Nlipping il into the conscious presence and
syroTty of God" That is the thing sought Dy peaeh-
~ n IS not simply to instruct or refine man these
ann of preaching, as such, is the immediate eleya
ton Of mans moral nature so that II comes ,S to
conscious presence and under the GreS uc'J % Sng
Divine Soul That ia the work. ana that WOik III luat
iolm is original with Christianity ihere , Ta s E,'n,
deal Of provision FOR teaching anu TINS L6S' IC v an
the ODD Testament administration l5ut IlHV NulCu
Is Original o1det Of men that shall steadily and
universally and continuously, as long as tne
race lasts make their business TO ht up Dy dec per
@ ne, hing men from their lower condition into the
1iyira atUospbere so that they become sons OF God
now now Sp% various ways hut the direct instrument Of
TIL as distinct from all other agents as preaching ana
the human soul in It's living, human FORM understand
preaching to be the art Of one SOM Graphing directly
over or to it down, but contrary WISE IN glorious en-.
tsafm Tor tnS pi Ipf u n ne art ~ bTnEnc living
AL human nature contact with human nature IN or
dr. that II may become regeneraed There Is the truth
of the ideal and there is the truh as 1t is
under the symbolic forms in books, aud there
i tbs truth as it exists in sentiment or in emotion and
my that IL IL the highest form known IN the
Universe 1t the written or organized form Of truth
but Is the vital act Of emotion that cOsutues he Hgh
est form Of truth, and that the Dyineshall eau u ~,
ventoni no! Proysoni9 tae PrsSonng o tHe @pSPgI
stFumentaty but to make this the central one namely:
prrience az the things that lie Is preaching filed
with the Holy Ghost so that he thinks, thro6s IN every
and aspiration which no wishes TO endue other
men with-that man. all on fire, Is torch In
men And Il is the peculiar human element, sancthed
and inspired by tue Divine Spirit that constitutes the
agency and the distinctive element IN It. TINS, hen
is the central idea IN preaching Ihere may be some.
thing more something that adheres TO It, and coberes
whit Like all developments it is complex and always
will be complex Nevertheless 1t IS necessary, Tor few
that we should understand what the primitive
and what the essential psychological element which
distinguishes preaching from all other works which are
essential in building mp the Church OF Christ on earth,
and elevate the whole human race. don't suppose that
the teaching Of pure ideas viii be discounenanced IN
age, which Is so preeinlhehIy metaphy seal ana
philosophical; neither ,wolld dlscounteuance them.
aud abstract truth Is not preaching what lie doing
Teaching. man that instructs his congregation by
written discourse is not preaching what Is he doing
Teaching There just that difference between old
Hsbrewstc idea and the everlasting Hellenistic idea
head first. And Paul stands between them aud says
by wisdom that the world is to be converted"
What is II by II is by that power which from
nhamed human heart. That is the thing tt IS going
DO It. IL entirely @ 70 me Greek idea OF the
Christ says, heart first, head aiterward Tile
Apostle in the Day Of Peutecost, aud after.
ward, when the Holy Ghost touched the human heart
was rot much TO enlarge their round OF knowledge
give tue piercing intensity and peculiar mag.
Detic power by which he carried their hearts away cap
tive aud brought them up God; and you shall find that
any growth IN religion always has cOntagiOn I'm it.
Hearts cOhcre together as the links Of cham DO but
feeling coheres as flames do Is the power OF the human
heart infamed by the Holy Ghost tat makes religion
quick powerful, Irresistible; and it is tins that belongs
distinctly 10 preaching Livery minister las 10 have that
In him tbat Is going 10 meet all the Of cOngre
CATION He ought to understand them when be Is theo
logical student You ought TO know when lie is school
master, and lot a preacher. To-day am a minister
and tomorrow l am voting citizen. 1 never
should cOntound the one with the other.
There is pa legend end , eongeeted with the MS
posed TO be the point where Paul was bcheaded IL is
said that vigorous was the blow that head when
touched fountain spranR up and there they are now
don't suppose the historical character Of this tale Is
strike three times the first time the fountain Of love-
second the fountain Of thought and third the fountain
from every maLs head knocking against the community
wherever he breaches. 80 that While believe IN many
clear understanding when he preaching, aud when
organizing whether he IS preaching whether intel
leciuaizng whether he S. undertaking his people.
BOmemes they do and sometimes the other Here are
the three great elements ~ CHRISTIAN preaching, and the
in intense conviction; Second In intense fervOr; and
audience he must believe what he says whether ~
not For the time being he ought % h.,o a. 30
tat It Z ike tre III him; ought TO b. 20 him more t6aD
lhe that s preaching the truth successfully for,
as IN battle Tor inc uinS pens ne thlAs H 81
with which lie is defending himself. For the
truth and that truth glowing luminous must Oil to him
Tic Whole Heaven. 1t Is Intensity OF conviction that
sonvies Next comes ferYor. You say Are then to
Lufi mr. dczks