, 1874-07-12

|
THE MODERN PULPIT.
! ALET1Ea FROM TIE GEy. q. G. NOLL1Ss.
! To the Editor Of TAe Chicago Tribune:
Sir: The learned German uueifell says that
without the pulpit, Christianity would not last
century blight would fall upon our ciyiliza
ton, and the world would inevitably relapse int
state OF barbarian. While many may reicc
! this Us mere prootless assertion few will den,
thu: there is good gronnd for Cowpcr's posi-
| ton:
| Tile pulpit In thr sober mss
| OF its legitimate, peculiar po,Ters)
Must stand acknowledged, while the world shah stand
The most important and effectunl guard,
Support, aud ornament Of virtues cauBe
| Indeed, q moments thoughtful study will dis.
| cover two notable things concerning the pulpit
Tirst, through long ages it has been the source
OF tremenduous moral sud religious power.
Second. from Some cause, that power has been
! greatly diminished and seems to be SO rapidly
losing it's hold upon men US to intimate that the
day may possibly come when the pulpit shall be
as obsolete as the stone atar Of tie ancient
Druida. This Is enough to invest the subject
with great interest, and to challenge Tie sober
attention of an enlightened people. In view Of
the manifest fact that once i1an:easura5.o
power which swayed the world, is now
APPARENTLY WANING, DYING,
Indifference and reckless eomplacency are both
alike unpardonaple-
Surely it is high time that preachers. at least,
recognize the actual Status OF the pulpit that
they open their eyes to the ugly rocks in the sea.
diligently examine their charts, and prepare to
steer through the storm Of night which. unless
all signs provo false, will bo tho most pcr1ous
ever known by the Church 1t is my purpose to
determine the origin, ecope, aud burden Of
preaching Is q religious institution but more
especially to find tho cause OF the mournful de-
cay which is gradually destroying tho tnignsiest
motive power ever known among men,
In paseing, I, of course, recognize the fact
that there is in the printing press calfe tia:
would naturally be expected to circnnlscrIbe tho
pulpit and greatly modify tho power of this
preacher; but it does not necessarily even weak
en- that power. It's legitimate efIoct should only
be to strengthen tho preacher, by throwing la
energies back into tho ono appointed sacred
channel, and by giving him an intelligent and
appreciatiye people to lston to his message. The
pross is perpetuaily engaged in dlsentanglipg,
eliminating, and distilnE truth: in digging at
the great problem Of human lifo and govern
nlent; in portra5ing the fearlnl consequences Of
md md honor Of virtue. Unnless. then. ig-
norance DO tie ground of reli gion,
the pross is not q 7nthless euemE, but a power- |
this pleasant consideration, ve |
must acknowledge that the press. in changing |
the face Of the world, and in giving undreaned- |
1f movements aud combinations to lfefs great |
battle, has laid strong hands upon tho pnplt, |
and has placed the ministry under solemn neces-
slty to abaudon Its long train Of baggage |
wagons. throw aside every incumbering weight |
Ind. with the simple armor and sword Of Chrnt, |
begin to war for the TRUTH as it has not done in
he 1aet decade Of years. Let US now think |
more deeply, get down to the root, and discover
he eficient cause, which, unless it be removed. |
mist, soon or late, bring Iremediab!e ruin upon
ne
now ALREADY woRN-HITTES PULPIT.
We live in period of human history that |
night fttingIy be styled tho Me:eoric ago.
is characterized by breathless hurry,
lash, and boom, followed By intervals OF eilet,ce
nd night. The very atmosphere about our
seads is tremulous with abnormal excitement.
nd the spirit OF peace, like frightened bird.
las flown beyond our horizon. Mems neryes
AVE become intensely electrified, their brains
ire feverish, and ell their lives are hurried.
rrue here aad there may be seen some eccentric
Individual who is content to live and work IN tho
# men rush scrambling wildly on, as though
tung and driven by the very demon OF desper-
:c unrest.
Society. to q mournful extent. is tor1nentod
'ith fictitious wants, and is given up to fictitious
RAYS. It ia fast growing plc.horic with that
virit Of miserable proteneion which compe1s men
nd women to affect to be sntat they h,lo,o Mey
re no'-wise when thoy sre ignorant, rich
i ;l1en they are poor, good when they are bad.
here is, in fact, q hollowness and mere out |
ideJness, d venesring OF bright colors, about all
ur modern civilization, very suggestive OF tho
onch-shel1: it was once tie palace of living
rcature; but now it is empty, or flied only With
eaonant air, which tr1es to cheat us into
lie poetic belief that it is. tue musical
eurmnging of tho imprisoned occan-spirit.
Whoever intelligently considers the condition
nd tendency OF society, both in secular and
ac:ed departments, must be led to e1clairn, with
mpatlence is universal; prido Is stronse: than
ovo OF lire or the fear Of death: SO that mon,
omen, aud children are everywhere possessed
18th the idea, that, even though they resor: to
senre, keep up with the since. Wo
ote the marks OF this vain and restive spirit in
.e way re build our houses. aud The way we eat,
10 way We talk and read, the way we walk or
'do; in short, the eatno trace OF
VANITY AND HASTE
; upon all our moa.rr ways.
ln education, t-.- time vas when it required
ard wotk, thorough drill, and restricted app-
a.Ion to few studies. to make the respectable
cholar; and the old-fsshioncd school-course
Ioracc " Beware OF tho man OF one book !" and |
gam the nnBwer Of the taunted loness. - ONLY |
ne, bnt lion !" For while, on account Of tho
,bor. time and patience necessary, comnara-
aucated scholars, yet they were men Of |
:rong ability, because OF splendid disci-
line. OF aolid and massive attainment.
rom long study. Now, there is an immense
mount Of sham in our educational svstem.
here are fine buildings. costly libraries, Boards
Education nad Institutes. There ia PLENTY Of
ghterl, h,Gh-stilted theories, aud abominabie
eSime; but there is very little OF sterling worth
i our initiating, decorating machines called
:hooa. Every child in the land is giyon an
rmful OF textbooks. but only 8 few ever sot :
zen sn,a:teung knowledge Of what is in tAom.
!u1ried all over the universe within al incredi-
y short tiuo, they return with vague notion I
eEersthinE.-a positive knowledge OF nothing.
Perhaps The influence ct tlis nineteenth
tntuly sE!1t has noMLere fallen With uato