The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-26
Rev. Oscar F. Flippo's Lectures.

| Rev. oscar r. FHppos Lectures.
'IcE IN THE PULPIT, AND WHO PUT n
THERE was the theme of a very Interesting
Lecture by Rev. Oscar F. Hippo, Of Baltimore,
delivered in the Baptist Church, OF this place,
ON Monday night. We cannot. CT course. in
the brief space allowed us in these columns, fol-
low the speaker through his address closely, as
the multifarious thoughts and their elaboration,
| consumed nearly two hours. An exuberance OF
humor and an elevated moral sentiment were
SO admirably blended and evenly balanced,
were instinctvely observed amidst the most
amusing passages. The audience seemed
to feel that tile Reverend gentlemen was aiming
to teach lesson Of usefulness, Of religious dtl-
ty, and inspire higher respect for the pulpit
and the cause. it represented, while indulging
in flashes Of humor that kept in constant play
the lighter and more worldly emotions. Indeed,
it was an effective sermon, combined with an
amusing lecture, and lost nothing of either
property, in presenting the elements of both.
Ice was placed in the Pulpit by the sleepers in
the congregation; by "neck twisters"-those
who strain their necks to catch the features
and dress of every one who comes in-by mat
tentivc listeners; by late corners; by disaf-
fected members by contentious in the congre-
cations by ''baptized mules" as he felicitous-
ly termed those who were sJubbornly holding
back The interests Of tile church to crafty an
affected firmness in preconceived notions; sci
entific singing, etc. Under these various heads
he happily deineated the 'strue inwardEess'' of
the particular offenders, ridiculing in the most
refined humor and appropriate illustration, the
the manner and the motives that actuated. Pass
ing from the pew to the preacher, he graphically
portrayed the method by which Ice was put in
the Pulpit Oh the part of the minister, sketch
ing in admirable life-likeness, the s-p-le-n-d-i-d
preacher who revels in the aroma of flowers, the
music of gurgling brooks, the encllantment of
golden sunsets, without leaving a thought pom
the minds Of his hearers of the great scheme of
redemption. The ''prefound' preacher, rich
in the lore of the classics, and delving into the
labarynthine mazes of metaphysics, would
sweat and toll through his brain-work, forget
ting that there were hungry hearts before him,
tlirsting for the bread of life, while he was
dealing out to them the dry htIsks Of a cultiva-
ted intellectually, unaccompaned by the
ssoul tlow'' of the speaker.
In varied figures and thoughts he presented
the manner and the method of Putting Ice in
the Pulpit" by preacher and hearer, inspiring
profound reverence for the high object at
which he was aiming, at the same time he
excited the insuppressible risibles of the audi
ence.
The Lecture, indeed, was mosaic of clabor-
ate thought, innocent fun, and deep moral and
religious instruction, and was close with an
impressive and grand presentation of the pow
er Of earnest prayer and soul-felt picty in the
Pulpit and the Pew.
OF course we have not aimed to sketch this
remarkable and very interesting and instruct
i've Lecture, or to touch the numerous methods
by which, the speaker assumed, Ice was
put in the Pulpit, but merely to give the inn
preston made upon the mind in listening to the
address, as attractive for its profound corccp-.
ton, as it was felicitous in its illustration and
impressive in the religious lesson inculcated,
ANGER, OR THE FOLLY OF GETTING MAD.
DR.. Fippo's Lecture OH Tuesday night upoA
the above subject, was most admirable hit at
all kinds OF feucs, dissentions, qnarrels, jars,
iealousies and passions. In beginning, he said
that the world entertained an erroneous idea
of the true hero. At the head of its catalogue
of idols stood the names of Alexander, Caesar,
and Napoleon, men who have left behind
them long records Of their war achievements,
and had also left the evidences in their life
and death, OF 3 woful want of the elements OF
true greatness, in that they were the slaves of
their own ungoverned and ungovernable pas
sions. He is alone worthy Of the name Ct
hero wfo successfully battles his own inward
enemies.
The speaker gave many illustrations of the fol-
ly of getting mad, the most of which were lu-
dicrous in the extreme, and excited tile heartiest
laughter. His anecdotes were directly applica-
bic to the subject i'll hand, and were related
inimitably.
The Lecture was not only witty and anus
ing, but embraced many passages Of deep and
stirring pathos, and the most practical COM
mon sense imaginable. But we have not the
space to notice it as it deserves, and must con-
tent OURSELVES Will Sayttls, tiltI We HAVE never
listened to anything more entertaining and at
the same time instructive. 1t set his listeners
to thinking Of their own shortcomings, and
doubtless sent many from the church with the
determination to make the future more pleas
ant for those with whom they are thrown in
daily contact.
We understand that Mr.. Flippo has a lee
ture prepared entitled ''The Defeat of Old Fo-
gyism, or the Onward March Of Mind,' which
is brimfull of the keenest wit and gravest sense,
and which will be delivered upon his return
from the White Sulphur Springs. should snfi-
Gent inducements be held out. All those who
have ever heard the lecturer will be only too
glad to listen again, and those who have not,
should not miss this last opportunity. We are
certain that he will be greeted on the occasion
OF his next visit by large audience, which
would doubtless have been the case this time
had the weather been more favorable.