The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-08-05
PULPIT PREACHING.


We are not among those who believe
there is much less ability III the pulpit
to-day than a half century ago. We
believe, instead, that a higher culture
pedominates among the clergy of the
present age, while far more comprehen-
sive views have gained hold upon
their minds. But the people have also
advanced. The Preaching of Edwards
would not suit Henry Ward Beecher's
congregation to-day, nor would White
fields please the hearers of Doctor Hat
field, in Chicago. Yet Edwards and
Whitefeld were men whose natural
abilities were in many respects equal TO
those of Beccher and Hatfield. But
ministers of the gospel in this genera
ton have had advantages in intellectual
training which were not within the
reach of those of the preceding genera
ton and il is presumptive and erro-
meous to say they have made no use OF
them. Placed in contact with the adj
vanced ideas which have arisen from
deeper research into Biblical truth, and
from a far wider and more searching
investigation of natural phi enomena, il
is a singing shame to any minister of
Chrisl's gospel ofwhom it may be truth
FULLY affirmed that these things have Civ
ell to his mind no new thoughts and no
higher culture. In many instances, how
ever, the full benefit which the revela-
ton of religious and scientific truth has
made possible has been enjoyed; still
there are too many exceptions. Preach
ers like other men are human, and
many of them allow either Incidence
or an absorbing interest in worldly af-
fairs to retard their intellectual growth.
and, in a great measure, destroy their
usefulness. In every congregation the
preacher will find some thinking minds,
that are constantly expanding by rea-
son of the incubation of the best
thoughts of the masters in literature
and science; and unless his own is um-
dergoing like enlargement he will soon
become unfit for the position he occu-
pies. Men are not content to sit under
the preaching of man who cannot
think as cogently as themselves, or
whose utterances are but a reiteraiiOu
OF what has been doled out to them a
thousand times before, or who, for want
of thought, tears his throat with his
thunder, and his clothes with the viO-
lence of his gesticulations. People
think nowadays, and what they relish
is IDEAS. Something that will cause
them to think still more closely and
intensely. 1t is refreshing to a minis
ter's congregation if lie will now aud
then leave the hard beaten path he has
% faithfully trodden, and give them a
discourse whose thought is based upon
truth carefully culled from geolC gy.
physiology, chemistry, astronomy, OIL
even mental or moral philosophy, and
intimately connected with the truth OF
the Bible. Pebbles of truth may be
gathered from the world of science.
which, scattered now and then through
the congregation will awaken greater
interest in God and his attributes than
the ceaseless pouring for a score OF
years of shot and shell, which. bursting
upon the heads of the ministers audit
ors send forth continuous showers OF
the wrath to come"
The requirements of religious hear
ers in this age of the world demand
that there shall be not only thought i'll
the pulpit, but that there shall also be
choice, clear, cogemt and concise diction.
Nothing is more lamemtable than to
hear some one whose education has been
OF intelligent hearers the most solemn
truths clothed in language which every
school boy would hold in derision. Ii
cannot truly be said that preachers ill.,
ability to use cor. ect English is a mat
ter OF no moment. Culture has risen
10 such a standard as to demand clear
and correct language, and the man
whose knowledge of the laws of syntax
is SO limited as that he will murder
the Kings English and at the same time
remain entirely ignorant of violating
any rule of grammar, ought to desisI
from preaching until he has taken a
thorough drill in the rudiments. So al
so as to the manner in which the dis
course is delivered; the people are ex-
acting; but the subject is too complex
to be considered at this time. The fact
is, ministers work, in order to fill the
demands of his congregation as to sus-
sustained merit in thought, diction and
elocution is incomparably greater than
that of any other professional man. He
is expected TO preach profound dis
courses twice every sabbath, pregnant
with soul-stirring ideas and spoken
with faulIless dictiOn. Such task can
not he accomplished so frequently with
EQUAL success. II is more Than Iercu-
| lean. The minister who with liberal
culture to start with m tkes an induStri-
Gus effort, with jmdicious regard for
his health. to so improve as TO keep pace
with the requirements OF his people il
doing ali that can be asked OF him. and
should eceive the hearty cooperation,
sympathy aud support of the entire
membership of his church.