Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-09-16
SUNDAY READING.


ing, budding, rearing and expansion of all
new forms of religious belief. Naturally
enough the transition from this consideration
to that of the subject of Culture in the Pulpit
is easy. The crude assertions of new reve
lation of things divine, however acceptable
they may be to the uncultiyated mind repel
those of higher degree of refinement There
is no heresy more offensive than that of inele-
gance of diction and slovenliness of speech, in
the ears of the nice, the discriminating and
the critical. And quite as well must the
statement OF any form of unbelief be embod
led in the most acceptable and polished terms
to obtain liberation and audience by even the
most Indifferent frequenters of our churches.
But polite, cultured clergy is absolutely re-
quisite to the holding of the higher forces of
society loyal to the accepted forms of belief.
Cleanliness and even fashionableness of attire
is necessary to entitle the visitor to place in
what is called the best circles of our social
life. 1t is our belief that for all the uses of
established religions-the religions which are
recognized as legitimate-a highly educated
pulpit is indispensable. An element in our
lives which holds its place in the secular mind
by so slight tenure as any formulated creed,
must be fortified by every auxiliary possible
of attainment or it will not sustain itself.
Culture then, as we believe, is an essential
condition in the conservation of established
creeds To be unquestioned, or if questioned
at all, questioned politely and considerably,
forms Of doctrine must be stated so cleverly
as that at least the taste will not be offended.
He who presumes to come before the people
in professional character to talk of SO alb
stract thing as the Love of God to Man
must take care lest he bring his creed into
disrepute by an otfense against decent rheto-
TIC or the laws of well framed English. So
abstruse theorem as that Of the Resurrec-
ton of the Body must reach the ears of the
ministers congregation i'll terms of correct
statement or he will endanger the credulous
capacities of his more educated hearers. An
offended ear is the next thing to an offended
understanding; and mortal man, fallible crea-
ture that he is, is like to reject that which is
not presented i'll an acceptable form. We
have Divine Authority for the statement that
it is easier for camel to go through the eye
of needle than for rich man to enler the |
Kingdom of God. Of this is an Interpolation
by designing priesthood to induce the
wealthy classes to support the church, it only
shows how long the prejudice against wealth
has been popularity cherished.) If we accept
~ &c h. l. IL
more is it the duty of the clergy to attempt to
save the souls of the rich! We are only too
well aware that the rich are not always cult
waited or even fairly educated but they are
generally observant enough to detect a rehec
ton of their own ignorance in Others and hu
man enough to resent it. And, certainly,
people who are polite and cultured, spite of
their poverty, have right to be saved; and
there should, therefore, be an educated and
refined clergy maintained in their behalf.
Says recent commentator: "To properly {
perform the functions of minister is not easy.
4 man who assumes to tell other men what
they ought to do to secure salvation, should t
be very sure in his own mind that he is tell
ing them rightly. He should also exhibit i'll
his own life the practical benefits of what he 3,
teaches, else people will answer, Physician, l
heal myself !" This is obviously true. 1t is t
Is true as our own assumption that while : :
and evident piety and exemplari y
ness of personal life and demeanor are admi- S
able and acceptable in the clerical habit, they
must not be regarded as proper and accepta-
lie substitutes for that winning faculty known q
IS suavity or that yet more charming accom-
,lishment known as polite learning. If the q
cultivated and refined are to be reached only
through their tastes-as masses of men have s.
'een awe-struck with gorgeous splendors, ma h
este architecture and impressive solemnities s.
nothing more unobjectionable can -
re employed to bring them to recognition P
nd acceptance of the beauties and eternal a
alue of the Faith. But to speak in more g
srious vein, would not the religious world be .,
etter off if the clergy of all the Christian CO
.cts were always prepared to expound with CO
earning and correctness of statement the al
aith of their holding2 If true religion can be 80
if the Creators ways toward IN
ian, and His plan of salvation may be exactly ca
ated; if the strange history of Christ and
ie marvellous beauties of his character can IT,
E correctly presented and portrayed; if the