Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-19
STND.E READING.

preached on the day before. We have
glanced oevr those reports. What strikes
rs, after such reading. IS the want OF
freshness and effectiveness in the man
uer and matter Of these sermons. Among
the preachers whose sermons are re-
ported are 10 less distinguished mem
hers of the clerical profession than Hep
worth, Rockingham. Beecher. Bellows.
Morgan. Dix. Stephen II. Tying, Jr., and
De Witt Ta!maEe. Here axe The names
of seven Of the most famous ciergymen
in America Yet We find their sermons
commonplace. lacking in forcetulness,
and even dull. This dizziness cannot
arise from any want Of interest in, or
lack Of susces,iveness attaching 10. the
;ue,haus.ibI- ;rrths on which Chris
tiauity Is foam lei. Jumping at p con-
cIusion. W. :ra We discover an eL-
PLANTATION IN t- s.raining frequency OF
every preachers Efforts n the pulpit.
The pleasantest task becomes moncto-
nous, at last, by too frequent occur
renee, even to the freshest minds.
Tie history Of authorship is full
OF instances where the very clev-
errs: men, by undertaking work
which gave the mind a. set stint
a contract to fulfIl-have impaired the
quality of their writings. if, indeed, they
have not Inflicted irreparsble injury
Epon their minds When SCOTS neces-
sites drove him to hsck-writing, the
quality OF his work showed a lamenta-
bic falling OF: Thsckeray's brilliant
pen almost became dull, even to the
borders of boredom, when he undertook
the task of furnishing the bulky mate
rails for his "virginians;" and even
Dickens, with the freshest of minds,
let his work of love become his cruel
task-master. at last. Do no: our minis
ters Preach too frequently The set
task Of sermon a week may become
wearisome 20 the most arden. minds;
and without the inspiration Of actual
events to infuse new life into the work
Of the pulpit, there may naturally be no
less of dizziness In dissertations upon
religious subjects than there is Of weari-
someness of statement and argumenta-
ton in newspaper articles upon the end
less subject of politics. What We are
saying must not be taken as derogstory
to the work and Office of the minister OF
the gospel. We know Of no more faith
tul, conscientious work than is done,
year By year. without murmuring, by
the clsrgymen OF all Christian denomi-
nations. But We suspect that their
tasks come with regularity and stated
frequency which is not conducive to in
spiration or vigor of style in preaching.
We know only too weilwhat the treadmill
of daily EDITORS duties will produce in
the way of duilEess and want Of vivac-
ity. We know what kills all ardor and
wears away the edge Of elastic mental
action. The work Of the brilliant
IyceUm lecturer IS the result of leisurely
!. bor; the orator who arouses the enthu-
z!ssm of his Iartisans on the stump has
had year or more in which to collate
his facts ard shape his fancies; and the
lawyer who sWsys the hearts Of jurors
Is Lindled with The glow OF sharp de-
hate and the keen incentives of contro-
versy and success. We bespeak for our
friends of .'the cloth" greater ralaya-
ton, less e1acting character and recur-
renee of work. and a heartier sympathy
e. the hands Of their Deighbors and
friends who make no profession of a
personal interest in the fsr-reachIng and
diverse matters Of religious doctrine and
belief. And yet there always exists the
danger Of attempted originality in dis
covering a newer fashion, the reverse OF
~ Improvement upon that which is old.
Fer instance, we have before US report |
Of sermon by Rev. Hugh Morgan, de- |
ivered st the Cooper Union on Sunday,
March .. Departing, with premedita-
ion, from what he chose to call the |
'trsadmiIl style of preaching. the rev.
srend gentleman proceeded to deliver .
discourse upon The Traits. Tricks and |
Conversion of g Live Yankee" We |
,arnot remember q so-calied religious |