River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-11-29
Friday, Nov. Goth, 1872.
a Free Lecture. In two
Parts.
BY BOB.
PART TWO.

know thrt threc-fourths of the common
invitations are the result of fashionable
hypocrisy. BE charitable and never
abuse men for believing what you once
believed yourself. Have due respect
for honest convictions, though you may
deem them only supersttious notions
BE sure to keep good natured with the
children. Be pleasant and affable to
them. They are men and women in
miniature, and few years only will
pass over their heads before they
are men and women in reality. Never
be clownish. especially before the young.
They initiate bad habits quicker than
good ones, and we have too many clowns
in the world already. Neither should
you play with sharp tools, or trife with
temptations.
Make your sermons proportioustc,
seldom, if ever, repeating. Never read
your text but once, as the second read
ing implies a want of confidence in
your hearers, anil cultivates in them
listless habit If they fail to retain the
first reading they will fail to retain the
second. Mark that. Do not dilute
your thoughts with too many useless
words. No one des res TO wade through
quart of water for spoonful of vine.
Never attempt to roll large logs when
there is plenty of timber you can handle
easily, nor fret away your time with
twigs when you should be handling
cord wood Make your words like bull
lets. A pound of feathers weighs six
teen ounces. A pound of lead the
same, but the lead is more suggestive
1t not more persuasive.
Keep out of the clutches of politi-
clans. Politics corrupt morals. IF
model layman is nominated for office,
hungry Islander soon has him in the
wind. He is next liar, thief, yea,
murderer. How much worse then for
the minister. Eschew politics for these
reasons. Yes. avoid religious politicians.
They are dangerous.
Do not be easily deceived. A brook
may be shallow, though you cannot per-
ceive the bottom. Suspect the diver
who always brings up mud. Nay, new
er be credulous A squirrel in the
rustling leaves will make more noise
than an elephant.
Be not vaccillating. Look ahead
through the distance, and have your
eye on star instead of a weather-cock.
Eat what is set before you, asking no
questions and bestowing no praise
Never be gluttonous. Your sleep will
be sweeter over an empty stomach than
full one. Keep the ears open, but
the mouth closed. Speak ill of no one.
Let the devil make his own fun, carry
his own mails, settle his own quarrels
and foot his own bills. Yes, keep your
distance from sin, and preach a straight
gospel. But above all, attend to the
laws Of health and life, and never
preach in an i'll ventilated room. You
cannot serve God and violate His laws
at the same time. 1t may be i'll man.
ners to sleep in church, but | doubt
whether it is worse than preaching to
a sleepy audience. Better suffer with
cold chan languor, but avoid either ex.
IRENE. When WEAKNESS comes in do
uotion goes out, and the sooner both
preacher and nearer go out the better
If drowsiness prevail.
Avoid rhetorical fourishes, and come
down 70 plain talk. Avoid stills, nasal
twaugs, sasred tones, set phrases and
mechanical lsanncrs. Never wear a
long face, but become as little child
using PLAN words aud telling familiar
stories. Your master did thusly, and
che common people heard him gladly.
Relate your own experience, as you