New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-03

hno ,In ~, he ndersto0d III there has any
appearance OF speaking with authority or the m
of superior insight you will pardon II IN view OF the
fact the topic assigned imposed the duty oi
sying.
HOW 10 PREACH TO THE MASSES.
THE CONDITIONS OF PULPIT EFFECTIVENESS ANoNG
THE MULTITUDE.
BY ~ Rev. ". II. IT, Murray Of BosoA
In the afternoon the Rev. w. H. ii. Murray
delivered the following sddress on the subject HOW
Can the Gospel be Most Efficiently Preached to the
Masses"
He said: There are three words that attract atten-
ton in the wording OF the subject they are :" Gospel
efficiently" and masses" The thoughts most mate
rally suggested are. first. that the Gospel can DC
preached lnsufcienty, that is without producing to
desired effect the audience secondly teat this en-
lack of 1t the part OF the preacher must 1
Gospel message and Expresses and third that as yet
the Gospel is not preached to the masses
THE NECESSITY OF CORRECT CONCEPTION OF THE
GOSPEL.
Now, far the efficiency or ineicency OF preach
ing connected with the outward or accidental habits
of the reacher-such the style OF his thought ano
manner OF its expression, do not propose TO speak
One far wiser than to mako suggestions along this
line has already even in this city, delivered MS inter-
ances and press OF the country has spread MS views
to the rem0est OF the land 1t Is the necessary
rightly conceiving Of the Gospel message ltse rather
than how he expresses his conception oil it, to which
propose call your attention. IL Is the matter NOT tae
manner OF preaching upon winch 'ue p'cacnei eA
All will agree this. that 1t is necessary In any I'M
dertakng that he who undertakes 1t should have right
ption touching the thing to be accomplished the
means necessary therefor. and the method 10 De pu
sued IN efforts accomplish it. Now, the preacher
in the exercise Of his functions SUCH comes directly
into relation with this principle.
TEXTUAL PREACHING.
Preaching Is an undertaking. In its narrowest sense IL
is an undertaking to expound the verbal text Of the
Scriptures In its largest it Is undertaking TO
interpret the whole nature OF God. make these two
distinctions because the methods Of preaching
gested thereby are being exemphed In our pupts to-
day. Ny suggestion would be that the one method Is
SO much the other both IN its influence on the
accomplishment OF the desired end touching The audi
cnce that 1t should be abandoned radically modified
This is correct prncple that no one can give tortn
what he has first received and he VINO attempts 10
portray others the nature Of God can do no more
than reflect upon their mind that image OF DIVINE ex'
ceency which has been already imprinted On his own
That which the preaching gives FORTH therefore, u and
can only which the preacher has previously re-
ceived. Now no who studies God only In the texts
feet medium. The imperfect here used, refers
to quantity, and not to quality Of expression No
ton, can do justice to the qualities that
inhere in the Deity There is that In God that no
word Of hu speech and symbol or human Thought
can express. Statement sinks down exhausted when
called upon and urged forward 10 make such an effort
The word abors under the load OF d significance which
IL cannot lift The works OF God must be studied IN con-
nection with the word God before the OF
preach God at least in that fulness and sweet
ness and majesty Of beng IN % ~ih Mn'n en
for the pulpit therefore, which makes the
preacher only or chiefly wise IN verbal exesess Ia di
OF theology, Is not merely faulty IL Is superlauvely
faulty Aud whoever breaches along TINS line OF pre-
OF studying and Interpreting COD breaches compare"
lively impotent gospel No as potent TO per-
and benevOlence whch stands back OF the command.
Ser.a bepeyoience in human government animating
its laws, standing parent to all ITS legislative enact
ments, inspiring its policies, which makes the com
uds NJ
1t only when this which might be called the divine
il becomes potent 20 ALL and beloved by all Them and
only then does the citizen feel in his own soul the pres
sure OF PauPs Injunction, " 80 We SUBJECT unto the
higher for the powers that be ordained Of God"
MORE SATISFACTORY WAY.
So much for what might be called the texual method
OF preaching. There is wider-a more potent. and
conceive more satisfactory method, both OF study
Ing and Of Interpreting the nature of the Deity II also
uses the inspired word indeed based upon it, But
side it, brings to its support the collateral evidences OF
naurG and to the o..1s assistance Of 5 ap
dcation Of this method may be said TO rest first upon
poverty % mere human man angGsSe h TO give S ss
truly the words OF any being must be duly considered
OF being referred God should be mentioned the
works Of His spirit In human hearts Ii Is his own SOUL
worse to the better-from the altogether sinful TO
the approximately holy; that tue preacher a,
and ""t the sweetest expression Of the divine
nature and goodness. The evidence OF inward
seriousness mghter than the evidence OF the text No
Quence Of logic weld TO the disciple OF Christ lay
clerical such assurances OF faith in DEATH such po
tent per suasiy Of speech in life that which
comes him from these inward operations OF the spirit
II is from himself then her this indweng OF God
in nm that preacher draws his mightiest inspra-
ton This the power which stands back OF his speech
when speaking, and which, like the wind behind the
cloud, gives 1t both energy and momentum.
SUCCESSFUL PREACHERS.
Who has not amazed at the power Of this expert
mental preaching as issued from lips that marred
il by grotesQue expressions and gross exaggera.
tonsl Who has not the fine briiaDcy OF scholar
ship fade away and pale into obscury before the almost
lurd fervency OF style OF expression which, while 1t
Jared upon the delicate earnesness OF the refined was
admitted even. by them to have IN 1t the
when here and there. at Intervals, this
style Of preaehIn S this method Of interpretation
OF ones inner consciousness has found tongue quail
fed to give unhndered and eloquent expression.
We have the testimony OF speech forth from
the mouth of the preacher as King might be pictured
riding forth from tue gates of his palace blazing with
the insignia OF royalty, stately with the dignity
OF unQuestioned rank, In selfconscousness Of power
before which the multitude bent In willing obedience
We have seen IN his country and 10 our own age great
greatest that has appeared, grow up aud evolve ats
being the preaching of the Gospel the inter
probation OF God to hu IAN hearts not In harmony
SMh Literary finish nor with iseoSscal
OF the uness OF experience aud emotions born Of
the operations OF the Spirit human bOsoms. BY the
ferveney aud fire Of their exhortatons By the giving
forth Of what the Spirit had mlnisered unto them.
without reliance upon learning, their testimony made
less made proclamation OF God that Welcomes
down before rotten trees trembling fall
20 down before the gale In country and city their sue
Of trade and the focal points Of American Gull
Gul u Wsat ouara a ka