New-York tribune., 1875-02-08
DIR. JOHN HALL on PREACHING.
THE PREACHERS COMMISSION.

THE PREACHERS COMMISSION
OPENING OF THE LYMAN BEECHER LECTURES on
PREACHING BEFORE THE YALE DIVINITY SCHOOL
"A HISTORICAL CHURCH TO DEFINE TIE
PREACHERS FUNCTION-TTs NATURE TWOFOLD-
DIVINE LIMITATION OF PULPIT THEMEs-sCIENCE
AND SPECULATION RULED OUT-RELIGIONs Sub
JECT-MArTER NOT UNEMPIRICAI-
fF.oN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
NEW HAVEN Feb. 4-Tne fourth annual course
Of lectures on Preaching on the Lyman Beecher
foundation. before the Yale Divinity School. was
opened at Marquand Chapel at p. IN. to-day by the
Rev John Hall, d. D., of New-YOrk. Dr.. Hall spoke
in substance as follows:
Much though the speaker admired the cithoHDy oi
the school IN going outside OF the circle OF New LHe"n
bred men-the stamp OF whose thinking was on the
whole country-and outside its denominational limits
TO ask lin 10 deliver the present course be had con-
sented almost against his better judgment, ana only
upon the representation, first that the scope oI t"e
foundation would admit OF general treatment OF
subject which, in its strctness, he mad never had ume
thoroughly TO investigate; and. secondly, that by r.
volving orbit much less resplendea than ns pre-
decessors. he might yet serve men, Ike himself, con-
sderably on the hlther side II the extraordinary.
moments glance at the Church would suggest certain
principles which might guides 10 the sneses-
tions Of the First then, TIE Church might be
looked at IN two ways as an element IN universal MS
~
birth, DEATH OF resurrection Of Christ as might
seem best. and coming down TO the pres
ent. In the latter aspect, Il was to De
noticed that tie Church was no merely voluntary
organization Ike benevolent society, toward which
ones attitude matter Il option 'ui creation OF
Providence thing historic in the largest sense 10
tnat organization were given officers and ritc'. TIE
sls officers we're apostles sent forth with special
functions and notably miraculous for each stage
OF the development Of the Kingdom OF God had -
special props the supernatural which, Nhen the new
phase became estab .ished, vaushed-the framework
removed from the flushed arch the wrappngs ifom
the effected graft Unto succession 10 that ministry
the ministry Of to-day laid cainnot 'actual success
SION IA in certain wings Of the church, but such as
true American citizen ght clam himself 10 possess ~
succeeding in citizens duties 10 the sFneIs Oi Tie e.
laration OF Independence. Tue chief ri,es Nero Uip
ts1n-ign Of union and the Lords supper-s-Sn Of sus
tanned communion with the Lord jesus. These
rites were ADAPTED at once 20 mans physical
and spiritual nature. aud, from that bor'!cr
land had arisen Their mystic ahuse - as. iu
psychic problems covering the same border land, nee
romaucy and &c had produced dIstOruoIs-dui
their aUuse through excessive secularz ition as in
making them requisites 80 political citizenship NOTION
ago the North uf Scotland and England had Illustrated
well these abuses respectively This ud suggest tie
need Of knowing the history OF such Institutions OF
these rites the members OF the Christian ministry were
the natural ceebrants not by OF superior wisdom
or holiness from their undertaking that particular
service This cursory would suggest the sphere
OF the ministry. and letter OF directions might be
summarized the words 90 ye, therefore, aud teach
all nations baptznc," e., and teaching them to OBJ
serve all th ngs whatsoever have commanded YOU"
But the TWO words for teach were different; the hIot
meant mako disciples" the second meant teach
So the ministry first % disciple men, ana secondly
10 teach men. Sometimes the functions sht properly
be separated but usually they were 70 be combined he
.rrI q
New Testament teachings those of the Old ~ ustra
ing them: those Of the sDrts iustrucn- Never
theess this letter Of directions definite guide and
lessened an awful responsibility to a grave one
Bv inference the command excluded much that had
crcpt into the pulpit II excluded oi instance Science
as such. The speaker had DO quarrel with -reuce; he
was profoundly grateful 10 rs students for their contr
buttons to the sum Of knowledge the seeming breach
between Science and Religion only a threatened
one and arose from SceEces leaving u proper sphere
STILL Science had its own students, metAo.s, pupl.-
and the Church the place Tor II, save IN Incl
dental fashion when Chalmers UTILIZED Ms astronomy
In this Incidental way all things might help the
Preacher Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may
know bow 70 refuse the evil and choose the good
Speculative preaching also exc uied b. THIS rule
Many Young preachers took essentially thls position OF
a Sunday: Il have been thinking this matter
over; have come to such conclusion for such
reasons; IN week or month NAV
| cnange view That was wen Tor Tue ncliou Vl
phIOsOpHers-Plato, III the Academy, ana thr rest IL
uOeTs. for scholars Tor MAJ tLlucSf ana r'-
views out for the pulpit TJ preach ia 7uch fashion
WAS uOundess CDnc-lt in dsalag y srs 10 %" 20 u
chance phase ~ ones thinking ani !, was, Tor religion
Ike DuilllDg heavlug Dog ahch1rlug 10 = HOdlluE
| timber setting up "a landmark or snow. IRON 5utH
preaching the natural popular revIs!on woni ne 70 IN
due bondage to authority for the very SAKE OF some
thing stable This rule also shut out various minor
INNS 10 ~ rtra drarn DETAILS OF r'tuausm. The
speaker wore IN his own pulpit the Geneva gown anu
bauds-heredltary In his own country, an aucieut EAD
az scholars and clergy good 70 aide ones uugalhl
| fne ureachpr's man. when thclr own inner nan
/ should be scruuulzei. But he should never thnh o
ureacniug q sermon on ne mystic 81 utdhce ul lht
GENEVA gown and aauds-e-ucCIlV il authorities were
AZ logyerneas concerning them. - also WOud -dcer
| dOtaIsn be rhut out. There Ntfc LP'soODo',
/ p-eSbuttrot. Dtde0aOi, In the New Testament Dut
| no HiereiS OF the infant chdr-L-l l'.t t M.
significant The pTtr~ty name common 70 Jt"l'u
and PAsan religions alike would have been an lmp"T-
tant OF Christianity b. this rule hgain
the teachings OF Christ would Deei To be emphasized ln
| proportIOn their Importance. Doly Ol D4FlhI'9
Wan a pretty good phTdse-thunhs ana great toes OF
subordinate lmpUT auce-udeed bat hard 10 IOse es-
pecialIv IN AdOnibeZeks time, when their loss meant 40
more drawing OF bOwtrings neeness OF fO0t IN war
TINS rule did not however prOh'Dt method ~ Thought
and of address suited 10 the needs or the times
the only proper preaching 20 the umeS.D
In conclusion, two thoughts were TO Ic Dorne n mnd
first. tnaJ the II the teaching was far more a
lIntter Of experience than Huxley and Spencer would
have men thuk-eycn needs nrl ple>sless guilt terror
/ of God. reconciliation, Triumphant hope unseinsh
living and second v that however poor tae TEACHING
matter cTltcIsIn as II were On'y ones pest, the
Spirit engaged 10 make Il efficient lhe speaker IN
common with all ministers OF quarter century . SCI
vice, nad preached an exceeding muutude oI Wcik
sermons; ia almost staggering IedllLItis OF WHICH,
II was his sOlace, believe IN the Holy GAost
|
TIE LATE SENATO BUCKINGH1N