Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-21
EVENING STAR.


From the Boston Wdtctot1H
1t Is boldly affirmed by many ana quietly
sd by many more that the pulpit OF
to-day is losing power with men. This Is no
doubt n some sense true. The pulpit mas
tSday relatively less insuence than it had
half century ago. But Is the cause 10 be
attributed wholly, as many intimate, 10 a
decline In the style OF character or preach
ing? We think not. We think, on the con
trazy, that IL may be fearlessly sssertes that
there was never more ability, more learning,
more power in the ranks OF the Christian
ministry than there Is At the present time.
We believe, too, that ministers OF TO day
are on an average as devoted 10 their calling
as those OF q former generation.
But while ministerial culture has increased
greatly within the last hfty years, general
culture has increased In a still greater rs-
to. The clergy are no longer distinguished,
as class, for their learning. Education is
more dlhused, and is ola higher order among
al classes than IL was In the times OF our
fathers. The pulpit is not now, as then, the
chief popular Intellectual power In the land.
Ii divides Its influence with the lecture sys-
tenn and the press, which latter agency es-
pecislly has acquired prodigious potency
among us. Men need not go To church now
to gain menta stimulus and ideas.
More than this, far greater demands are
MADE upon minister than We're male a
generation ago. More literary culture is ex-
peeled OF the pulpit. An increased amount
of outside work is devolved upon the pastors
OF our churches. The minister OF to-day
must be a well read man in order 10 satisfy
the intellectual tastes of his bearers. He
must be an Intelligent observer OF the pro-
gress of events, know something Of politics
and OF whatever is agitating tle public
mind. When due account is ma Re OF the
drafts upon preachers time aud energy
apart from his regular ministerial work, the
visiting that must be done-snd many peo-
pie are thoughtlessly exacting In this mat
ter-the books. reviews, and papers that
must be read If he would keep himself at all
abreast OF the age and be ga workman that
needeth not TO be ashamed" IL ceases TO be
matter OF wonder that his energies some
times flag, and he Is not always so profound
or brilliant as his critics might desire.
1t is one thing for lawyer 10 make half a
statesman TO make single great speech
In session OF Congress, or for a scholar In
the eclusion OF his well-stocked library TO
turn OFF an elaborate review article once or
twice in twelvemonth, and quite another
thing for q minister, often harassed by the
petty cares OF household or the petty
troubles OF a parish, obliged to deny himself
many helps to Intellectual effort to produce
week after week, year In and year out, SER
mons that will interest and instruct an in
telligent and, perhaps, fastidious congre-
CATION. 1t is no wonder If, with ali that
Is expected OF II, the pulpit sometimes fails
to meet the popular demand.
But another and more serious difficulty is
found in the settled and growing aversion
among large class in the community To all
religious instruction. The dislike Is not SO
much OF the manner OF preaching as of
preaching itself. A late writer in the Lon
don Spectator candidly confesses this, and his
language has been echoed by many among
ourselves, thus showing where the secret OF
the want ofsympathy toward the pulpit lies
IL Is the sermon itself, whether good or bad,
that Is an offence. Men do not like TO listen
TO the claims OF religious truth and duty.
They are FESTIVE under the Instructions OF
the pulpit. We may endeavor to correct the
faults of the pulpit and to supplement its
deficiencies, but IL will be in vain so long as
this repugnance exists, so long as IL is what
the preacher says, and not his manner of
saying 1t, whether Objectionable or other
wise, that Is the real ground of dislike.
The alleged loss OF power In the pulpit
may be abundantly accounted for by some
one or other OF these reasons, or by all COM
bined, without disparaging the fidelity or
ability OF its ministration as Compared with
former age. The fathers OF our own de-
nomination especially are worthy of double
honor, In view OF the disadvantages aud
obstacles amidst which they labored aud
wrought such enduring aud noble results.
But the young men are worthy successors OF
the fathers in piety, in zeal, in conservation
TO their work. The writer belongs TO neither
class and, looking on them both, sees much
TO admire, much to excite thankfulness for
the past, much also to encourage hope for
the future