American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-15
RAY, i.t.Es.Y WaKD l. = Ci; Err,

h 4zard Of being considered demrn-
ted, or. ut least, sadly wanting IN
tast,. and Judgment. Public opinion
has placed him at the very mead of
the clerical profession III this conn
try, bat in the matter Of preaching
public opinion is not always the
best criterion. We have the temcr-
ity to say that there are at least
fifty diy,nes in the South alone who
are vastly his Suprriurs i'll Biblical
learning. i'll genuine eloIuence, i'll
expansive sweep of intellectual pow
er, in force of anaiN sis, in beauty
and grandeur of thought and ex-
preston. and high over all, in the
posSesSion and exercise of deep,
evangelical piety. We never es-
teeme.i Nr. Breeder as Il great di-
vine. but have rather regarded him
in the light of a pulpit !rmag"gue.
blending human enterprises ard
life activities with the rinis;rAti"isS
of the pulpit, thus rendering the
sacred desk OF non effect. Here IS
nothing IN his manner, his matter.
or his general conduct. that im-
presses the mind with the idea of
greatness. Has manntri>In. his silly
atirrtation. his tjIrat.ic;ii attitudes
aud sc.ticu!at,onS, do not ccInp"ri
with ouI ideas of the m.eku->s an.!
humility which should characterize
the pulpit, ana adorn the l'f- at an
ambassador OF CHRIST. Many pass
ages from his most popular dis
courses, which we have seen gGir"
the rounds of the press. are not only
ineIegant. but exceeding vulgar.
THE effects produced by his preacll-
Jug are often diSgracetnl iir "A Iciig>
ious a>semblage, and wholly unbe-
coming the soI-mnity that should
attach TO christian worship. Where
mirrh and levIty follow the utter
ances of a preacher, there cannot
be much zeal or spiritual JUNCTION in
his words. Such preaching will
never advance the cause of religion
or lead men to repentance. His
diScOurses are not without a peculiar
kind Of fascination, and as they are
mainly adapted to the wants and
wishes Of a progressive age, they
are popular with that class of pro
fesSed christians who want TO get to
heaven with as little selt:dcnial as
possible; but SO far as they may be
designed to arouse the mind to Il
consciousness of guilt, and the ne
cessity for repentance and faith,
they are as sheerly unint1uential on
the thousands who wait upon his
ministry, "as the burden of ii moon
beam playing upon a surface of ice.
Hence we say, that, as a successful
any man III the American pulpit.
la IL recent sermon, he INDUCED
in a good deal Of slang at the ex-
pense of the elder brother of the
prOdigal sou, and which has been
both praised and censurcd by the
press. Our opinion is, that the Use
made of this touching and impress
i've scriptural narrative 10y Mr.
Beecher. is but little short Of saci is
lege, if not its very essence; and II
he has been correctly reported, the
manner in which he distorted the
meaning and purpose III that irupur-
taut parable to l,ander To an Impair.
and vItiated public sentiment. WAS
an Insult TO the moral SENSE OF his
hearers, and for which IL should
have been missed from the pulpit.
Ami Yet this man Is made an i,ioi
at 10y his congregation, especially
so 10y the female ~orSn.pp.r> OF his
iinck. y iu,ilii & 20 his disgusting
isio,atry, and the ,qutl y ii>"uStIiI.
picture presented 10y MI. Bceciier ri
the Prodlgal ana his biu,her, tie
i'eop!e says:
AS tor the women, they Just go
down Oh their dear little dinpicu
knees and worship him. lie Is 50
sweet aud tender, so gentle and Yet /.
SO strong; aud his voice now
breathtS none softly than any lutr /
TIL their signs make the l.ces trem-
be on their bosoins; and Then il /
rings out with such vibrant clarion
tones that they fairly tiembic in
heir little boots. He is 50 smooth
and unctuOus, so eloquent and
EARNED, aud says, "a iittle more OF
he bIeast, if you please" with such
al air that all the Mrs. Potiphar>.
Jt New York, are compelled To re-
ire for ii moment, to shed u few
ears TO compose themselves. He is
he most gigantic ana successful of
he Reverend Cream Cnceses. The
,thcr day he spoke III his own iuim
table way about the pro,lieai son.
The young fellow who got what was
coming to him and went off and
,I-Iit it at faro and trutting races
Ind in cock pits, smoking uwenty-
i've cent cigars and drinking cham
,agne cocktails, and who, Instead