The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-11
The Dragon Of the Pews.

The Dragon Of the Pews.
DR.. Holland, in Scribner's Monthly,
says:
Let us have plain word about the
greed for sermons, so prevalent in these
latter days. We doubt whether there
ever was time in the history of the
Christian Church when it's ministers were
placed in so awkward, difficult and un-
just position as they are to-day. Great,
expensive edifices Of worship are built.
for which the builders run heavily in
debt. That debt can only be handled,
the interest on it paid, and the principal
reduced, by filling it with large and in.
terested congregation. That congrega.
ton cannot be collected and held without
brilliant preaching. Brilliant preaching
is scarce. because, and only because,
brilliant men are scarce, and scarcer still
the brilliant men who have the gift
of cloquence. So soon, there
fore, as man shows
that he cannot attract the crowd, ''down
goes his house." He may be scholar, a
saint, a man whose example is the sweet
est sermon that human life ever utter
ed. lovely friend, faithful pastor, a
wise spiritual adviser, and even a sermon
izer Of rare attainments and skill, but if
he cannot draw crowd by the attractive
sacrificed to the exigen les of finance.
The church must be filled, the interest on
the debt must be paid. and nothing can
do this but man who will ''draw." The
whole thing is managed like theatre. If
an actor cannot draw full houses, the rent
cannot be paid. So the actor is dismissed
and new one is called to take his place.
There is an old-fashioned idea that a
church is built for the purpose of public
worship. 1t is not bad idea and that
exhibition Of Christianity which presents
a thousand lazy people sitting bolt up
right in their best clothes, gorging sugar
plums. is not a particularly brilliant one.
1t was once supposed that Christian had
something to do, even as a layman, and
that a pastor was leader and director in
Christian work. There certainly was a
time when the burden of church was
not laid crushingly upon the shoulders Of
its minister, and when Christian men and
women stood by the man who was true
to his Office and true to
them. We seem to have out
lived it, and thousand American
churches, particularly among the great
centers of populations, are grooming over
| discontinue in the sad results. Instead
of paying their own debts like men, they
Law them on the backs Of their founder
ing ministers, and if they cannot lift
them, they 60 hunting for spinal columns
| that will. or tongues that hold charm
FOR their dissipation. 1t is wrong and
as soon as sensible men have read this ar.
| ticle.
| But we are consuming too much OF
their time. The great dragon, with its
multitudinous heads, and arms, and feet
is to meet them next Sunday with its
mouths all open. 1t has done nothing
all the week but sleep, and it is getting
hungry. Woe to him who has not his
two big sermons ready! Insatiatc mon
ster, will not one suffice!
NO" says the dragon; NO. says
his keeper and feeder. Brains, paper
ink. lungs-he wants all you can give
and you must give him all you can. The
house must be filled, the debt must BE-
paid. and yor must be popular preacher
or get out Of the way. Meantime the
dragon sleeps, and meantime the city il
badly ruled; drunkenness debauches thu
people under the shield Of the law, har
lotry jostlcs our. youth upon the side
walks. obscene literature stares our daugh
| tiers out Of countenence from the news
| stands. and little children with no play
| ground but the gutter, and no home but
; garnet, are growing up in ignorance ant
vice. If this lazy, over-fed, loosely artic
ulated dragon could only be split up int
active men and women, who would shu
their mouths and open their eyes AMI
hands, we could have something differ
ent.. But the sermon is the great thing
the people think so. and the preacher
agree with them We should like t,
know what the Master thinks about it.
yncI.E..t,n~- ~.