The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1875-09-23
From The Working Christian.

r. o''"1'0u heoliH2S, UNIONS and AS.
scclatlons to appoint one brother to
preach and another to close. In most
instances the word preach seems to
have been understood, whether the
effort to attain to its definition was
successful or not but almost inva-
rlably the meaning Of the word close
has been misunderstood. In my lcxi-
con, when used in the abb connec
ton, it means to end, finish, con,
clude, complete, and to bring to a
period, not to end or finish the ser.
mon which has just been preached,
but the religious services in which
the congregation has been engaged;
and this is generally done by sing.
ing, prayer and tho benediction.
On the contrary, most preachers
think that allusion is had to the SER
mon, and, instead Of closing the OK
ercises, they proceed to close or fins
ish the sermon, as if the brother who
preceded had just got the frame
work arranged. And how does. lie
do it9 BY putting down a part of
the floor. Thon he puts on q few
shingles, and perhaps somo of the
weather boards, all of which requires
a great deal of time but does not
afford shelte". Instead of closing up
the framework OF the sermon, he
most generally tears it to pieces and
scatters the material in such man
ner that no one is able to collect it
again. ,r...
MANY good sermons have been
completely ruined, from q human
standpoint, in this way. Isn't it
natural to suppose that the preacher
has flushed his own sermon when
he has worked on it week Is it
natural to suppose that another
preacher could finish it better in q
few moments of time than the one
who gi"es weeks thought to it
Let the completion be bad, good or
indifferent, the house that is finished
needs no other workmen for the
present.
But again, l think that the cons
gregation deserves great deal OF
credit, for there are times when en-
durance under adverse circumstances
ceases to be virtue. However, the
good brother who is to close does not
think of this, nor does he consider
tho fact that fatigue makes men and
women heavier and benches harder.
For one hour more he goes on after
the regular serlnon has been preach
ed, repeating the Same thing that
has beon said or something else that
could have been said in ten minutes,
and which, maybe, wonld have had
a better effect if not said at all.
From twenty to thirty-fve min.
utes is long enough for any sermon
except on q few occasions. There's
fore, that the sermon may have the
desired effect and that tho coDgre>
cation may not be punished, lot tho
brother appointed refuse to close the
sermon. lie may close the exercises
by singing, DC.
l am like the man who sent for a
lawyer to write his will. The law
yer having come asked him what he
owned. Nothing in the world,"
said the man; "not even this bed on
which l am. But l have six chill
dren, and want to will them ten
thousand dollars apiece" "But,
sir" said the lawyer, Chow can you
will them that amount if you have
nothing2" "Why," said the man,
cit is my will that they shall make
it before they die"
| have no authority to forbid the
closing of sermons, but it is my will
that it be done, whether the will
effect this end or not. CACTUS.
Port Royal Railroad, August 81,
1875.
a boy in Jamaica was driving q