The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1870-05-03

+ lu tie Cong gatuua. churches thg
sp.ui 0t religious Worship appears q
De Ola taa decline Ono reason ot thlt
IS. doubtless that tho principal part 81
cur church service is tUe sermon and
asa general rale tbo lass there 81 81
tbo Gospel ia 81 lAe groatar satisisc.
ton it sitas Iaa Ola iog. who
bad some taste for foitEiou instruction
from the pulpit, are rapidly dying outi
the people are thought % be more gene
orally instructed, aud 40 ,ha congre-
cation Of the period demands he aa-
fiaU every sabbath, which shall bo as
innocent as possible of the common
teachings O. iho New Testament II
tac singing is performed By quafictto
or O single female, il female 14 can
be found to do It, time SO employed is
not grulged, but otherwise the praises
aud the prayers are expected TO be
short aud swift
Oar popular ministers have ropu-
tation for cloquenco, and originality,
not in presenting the claims ot tho gos-
pei, but in discussing the exciting and
absorbing topics Of the day, or some
question ul modern science or philoaO-
ply, falsely so-ealled, IN reference to
which they cram Tor tho occasion II
the preacher has a touch of the harlo-
Quin, and q graceful facility at a quip
or Joke, he will draw tho largest
crowd, but at the same time bring 40
vital increase to the church. Minis
ters Of this class, who attract great
numbers Of curious hearers, have Sc
mousIy demorahzed the Congregations
al churches aud ministry, and done an
Immense injury to the religious scnti-
ment of tho people They are mere
popular lecturers, whose performances
are at best a substitute for Sunday
theatricals,
The evident tendency in our church
es is to u decline OF the worship of
God, and more earnest worship OF
the sermon and the minister. So, il
the sermon ceases TO be entertaining
or exciting, or il it treat Of repentance,
faith, love TO God and man; or II the
minister is independent and impartial
in his relations to his congregation, the
leading men" Of the parish those
Dlotrephesian projects OF modern Con-
gregauonalisn) pronounce his use
fulness at an end, and proceed to cast
down the god they have set up. Many
not finding the sermon sufficiently
original or outrageous, abandon the
place designed for the worship OF God,
and seek to satisfy the unnatural cray
ings of their moral nature on the garb-
age of religious newspapers, on the
moral romances Of the " Plymouth pull
pit, or the gassy serlo-comc platltudes
Of lecture room talks.
In contrast with our mode OF wor-
ship, the greater part Of the Episcopal
church service consists OF reading large
portions Of Holy Scripture, either by
the minister, or rosponsNely by the
congregation; praying IN the words Of
eminent and good men Of different de-
nominations; chanting and singing the
praises Of God. The sermon occupies
but little time, and in many respects is
not OF much account, especially among
the High and Dry party; though the
more sensible ministers briefly illustrate
some Scriptural truth, and conclude
with an earnest exhortation to a better
life This kind Of service certainly ap-
pears better to fulfil the purpose Of re-
ligious worship than the eternal oratory
of our churches. The Episcopalian APP
pears TO be content if he can 90 to
church and join with Others in reading
the Scriptures, in praying and chant
ing, though he hear no sermon. The
Congregationalist would not trouble
himself to go to church if the sermon
was to be emitted; such a service
would be to him as incomplete as q
shirt which consisted only Of col
lar and wristbands Where there is,
therefore, desire for the quiet wor-
ship of God, and the communion with
His Word, it is not strange that il
should seek satisfaction in the Episco-
pal church service, rather than in the
Congregational oration from which
God and tho Gospel have been care
fully excluded.