St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-08-22

to themselves the greatest benefits of
the meeting, nor reflect them upon 9TH
ers. Where WEAKNESS is present. de-
VOtiOu is absent.
Now Is not our two sermon system
measurably responsible for the non at
tendance of many upon this last ser
vice, and for the exhaustion of body
and SluggiShncsS of soul of many who
do attend With but one preaching
service, is it not probable that the
sabbath evening prayer meeting would
be more largely attended, the exercis-
es more interesting and the results
more desirable!
". Is tie t'rO Sermon System con-
sistent rih tie end sought IN preachingP ?
|. WITH RESPECT TO THE QUALITY
OF SERMONS.
a country pastor is expected to visit
the scattered and widely separated
members of his parish about as r.uc;-
as the family physician. This with the
various other duties pertaining 70 his
calling, so takes up his time that ordi
narily but a small portion of the week
can he given to actual study. Now
suppose II minister to have Il given
amount of talent to bring to bear upon
the elements of sermon making. does
it not hold to reason that if this time
and these talents he divided between
tirO preparations. each must be inferior
to the product of the same time and
talents concentrated i'll one. No prIn-
ciple in mathematics is capable of II
clearer demonstration than this. You
have ii cube of gold beat it to twice
its original surface. if You please but
what You have gained i'll surface YOU
have lost i'll depth. and have not in
creased its value. You have Il gallon
of wine want more. Add Il gallon of
waite, and the result will he two gal
Ions: but what You have gained III
quantity You have lost in quality, and
have not therefore increased its value.
The same principal holds good i'll scr-
monizing. y minister has Il given
amount of stock. If obliged to beat it
to twice its surface. it muSt be proper
tionatcly HiH. If obliged to dilute it
To twice lis quantity. it must he pro
Portionaliy rcdk.
,. RE>rECTING THE DELICACN OF
SERMONS.
The effect produced 10y II public ad-
dress depends much upon the manner
of its presentation. In order I" good
delivery man must Ice familiar with
his subject. He must know suh>tau-
TALLY what he wants to sag. if he would
sag il with ease and grace. Thorough
preparation hcgcts confidence. not AT
all Inconsistent with humanity. hut
necessary To an easy, clear and torcihl,
delivery.
But the public speaker who ventures
before an audience with superficial
preparations. sees the facts ne Wants to
present. If. indeed he sees them at all.
IDS through Il glass. dmhly. lie
may catch Il glimpse of an angel i'm
pIi>onrd in Il block of marble hut III
his forced and ha>ty da>hrs of mallcr
and cliscl. he may bring ont That
which more resembles an Egy ptiau
mummy than an angel. He may
catch u glimpse of
"fuil many a -rm. "i purc~t ray ~rIrnr-
but in his haStl awe tor them. he may
in ing up nothing hut m"d y >rn>a-
/ tive speaker l. not unconscious of such
failures. and this consciousness prudu-
ccS confusion and embarrassment.
/ which render clear and forcihlc drliN
/ cry i0tpoSs,6ic Some ut these emhar-
Easements would at least he modiI,cd
if not entirely. uhNiatcd. if he could
/ give the time To one preparation which
/ he is accustomed to divide between two
Another requisite to good delivery
! is the active presence of physical encr-
/ gN and mental lire. These forces at
much i'll demand in public speaking
and therefore. easily exhausted. Sup
pose Il minister to have Il limited
amount of this kind of vitality. ENpc-
riemcc will teach him the propricty oI
regulating the outlay. not according tC
the dcmdnd, hut according to the sup
piy. If in connection with all the Other
demands for these forces, which the
sabbath is sure to bring, he has tive
sermons To preach. he must let hi,
moderation he known i'll all his minis
trations. But if he has only one ser.
mon to preach during the day, the cast
is quite different. He can then mar
shal all his physical, nervous and men
tai energies, and bring them to beaI
upon that one effort. The improve.
ment that this would make in his deliv-
cry must he apparent to all.
Now let us consider two sermons 4
day.
3. WITH RESPECT TO THE EFFECT
PRODUCED ON THE AUDIENCE.
1t is law of physical nature that Il
a certain amount and variety of whole
some food be taken into healthy
stomach, it will there be TRANSMITTED
into that which refreshes, invigorate:
and strengthens the whole body. Bu
if in an hour after eating a wholesome
meal another be swallowed, the etfect
is exactly the opposite. The functions
of nature being unable to appropriate
this mixed mass, it is left to corrupt, tC