Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-01-18
The Reach of Preaching.
No. 3.

In former article we noticed one COM
mon error concerning the proportion of the
population in our towns that are reached
more or less regularly by preaching. The
idea upon which we based our correction
was that the family not the individual is
the proper unit in such estimates. The
same idea applies to another favorite theo-
ry with many ministers and laymen of the
present day. We refer to thedoctrine that
preaching does not reach the children and
youth of our congregations. The demand
is made that special sermons should very Of
ten be preached to the children, while a
recent article in the Chicago Advance from
the pen of Rev. II. Clay Trumbull, one OF
our live Sunday School men, goes to the
extreme Of demanding that all, or nearly
all preaching should be aimed at the chill
dren and at them only. Now we welcome
every agitation which tends to make preach
ing more direct, plain and practical. We
agree with the most earnest that sermons
instead of being dry and formal discussions
of abstract subjects, should be instinct with
life and feeling, and aimed directly at the
people who hear. We believe in the eye
TO eye heart to heart kind Of preaching,
but we do not think that the pulpit wholly
fails of reaching young as well as old when
it does not specially direct its words and il.
Illustrations to children as such.
The fact that children are among the
hearers should never be forgotten, but il
the families are reached, the children are
reached indirectly as well as directly by
the preaching. And is not this one law OF
all successful preaching that the preacher
should seek to engage all the forces of so
ciety in their material influence upon each
other? In this way his words reproduce
themselves constantly and continually
That preacher that moves fathers and
mothers to feel their responsibility, and tC
realize their opportunity for the christian
training of their children-who impses,
upon the young men and women Of his con
gregation sense of their obligations to
ward their younger brothers and sisters
and upon all teachers in day and Sabbatl
schools higher idea Of the importance 0
their work; is doing the best and most per
manent preaching for the benefit of tn
young. The fact is, the great object O
preaching in these days Of schools, bibles
books and newspapers, is to stir and NOV
to the practice of truths already held. Cos
victions are already on the side Of the Cos
pei. The Holy Spirit sees to that Bu
TO lead men to be "d0crS of the word
the thing needed Now amid the quicl
ening influences of the House of Praye
earnestness and the enthusiasm OF a preacl
er, and the effect produced upon old,
minds have a direct impression upon ii
minds of children, though they be not Of
enough to understand the whole course
an argument, or all the terms Of an appea
Here also another fact must be taken in
account, viz: that children do really III
derstand far more of language such as
used among adults than we think. Espe
tally if parents at home stimulate the a
tention Of their children, by suitable ques
ioning and encouragement, very smG
children will come to be able to gather We
much of truth and instruction from pla
and pungent preaching.
Indeed when all the facts which bear u
on this subject are duly considered we m
well question whether there is not an u
due tendency to mere efforts to amuse al
play with children in so called preachi
to them. Would it not be wiser to seek
instruct and move them, at the same til
that the preaching reaches and benef
those older.
Whatever room for improvement the
may be in the style and methods Of preaC
ing, we cannot but feel that pracuca ly
already reaches and influences all clIs
and ages to far greater extent than so
would lead US to think. While no devot
preacher succeeds in doing all the good
would to those who hear him, and of
feels to cry out, "Who hath believed
report?" yet he need not feel the ado
encouragement springing from such $
tistics about the number of those who
reached, as the two mistakes we h,
sought to correct would justify.