The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-05-24

fast Trey were BORN. Wickedness was
never made so interesting as in the lar
monious periods of this highly emotional
transgressor of laws of God and man.
Byron followed the sentimental path.
Interesting Williams, full of sensibility,
Astounding in eloquent misanthropy,
telling how they felt in melOdious solilo-
quies and apostrophes to storms and stars,
entranced the reading public. Goethe,
in portion of his career, played the same
role. Manfred had is counterpart in the
Sorrows of Werter. Crimes that subvert
social order and happiness were depicted
as the mere consequences of the operation
of the great principle of elective affini-
ties" Doing right, in a quiet way is
something so dull When the masters
OF literature set the example, and sue
ceeded so well, it is natural that q multi
tude of feebler torches should be kindled
at their fires. Sentimental poem, dramas,
novels, the name of which is legion, have
followed. The literature of gush is very
abundant at the present day. They
whose morbid appetite Graves such food
can find it in melodramatic romances,
stretching through several volumes, or
in the numerous weekly journals devoted
to this sort of trash.
1t is not the passion OF love alone that
furnishes the occasion and the material
for gush. There is plenty OF room for it
within the sphere of religion; for even
the most sacred truths are capable of be
ing made an instrument of it, and the
most sacred feelings turned into
vehicle for its indulgence. The
brigand who devoutly prostrates
himself before the image of the
| Virgin is not the solitary example Of
/ religious sentiments divorced from con
science and practical principles of duty.
/ The " luxury of tear is priced by
many Protestant worshippers who are
not sc.upulous about paying their debts,
and may even look with undue admira-
ton upon their neighbors' wives. They
enjoy their own emotions, go to church
to be wrought upon, and pine after an
ecstasy Of excitement which they count
| as the main thing in religion. Their
/ devotion is almost exclusively an affair
of the nerves. Sensational preachers
cater to this class of hearers. There
must be something startling, thrilling,
overpowering, or nothing is done in The
pulpit. They reverse the prophets les
sons, and find God, not in the still, small
voice, but in the whirlwind and earth
quake. Their sermons, though on a
different order of topics, are really in the
vein of the Pirates Own Book, and the
awful tale of the Expiring Buccaneer.
/ The clerical acrobat mounts the pulpit,
and at every extraordinary leap or
gyration his expectaut and admiriDg
auditors exchange slances OF mutual
exhilaration. II rs voice, now rising TO a
I deafening shout, and anon sinking TO an
almost inaudi5le whisper, makes the
souls Cor nerves. of his flock yibrate
with alternating sensations, even when
! It is a07. It pro,terea aihH Besides the
/ tempestuous gush, there is the softer and
/ more unctuous species. Years ago, in
missionary convention, the famous Dr.
So-and-S 70, corpulent divine, was con-
/ Guiding the services. An acute nearer
remarked sotto voce, do not like that
man and yet he appears affected''-he
meant moved -" he weeps over the
hymn; but, added the speaker somewhat
/ cynically, " in the case of these very fat
men, there is little distinction to be
made between tears and preparation"
Not long after that same fat divine
confessed himself guilty of shameful
ofIenses against morality. Heaven forbid
that we should disparage honest feeling
of any kind, or genuine religious emotion
when ii expresses itself in tears. The
parableOf the penitent publican is enough
10 dissuade from such q cruel error. Yet
the publican said very little His words
we're few. He did not wax eloquent over
his misdeeds or challenge others to ad-
mire the contrition of one who had been
50 bad. True feeling, it needn't be said, is
always simple 1t is a law OF the emo
tions that they exhaust themselves by
demonstrative expression, and leave only
the ghost or counterfeit presentiment OF
themselves behind. What are called
pulpit tones are fossil feelings, feelings
once alive in somebody at least, but
which have left only their shell as kind
of dolorous monument of things dead.
Religious teachers should not satisfy
themselves with moving the sensibiliues
/ of their hearers, unless the feelings OF
| conscience are stirred likewise. They
/ should attach no value TO feelings which
are not transmitted into conduct, and
which do not prove their reality in the
abiding principles which they generate.
eff We love Me, keep Ny Command
ments." is q text which might prOtitably
be engraved on the walls OF our churches.
And the habit should be discouraged OF
talking much about the feelings. 1t any
one wishes to commit crime, let him do
IL and take the consequences, but not
talk about the distress of feeling II any
one wishes TO repent. let him cease TO do
evil, but not weary our ears with tales OF
| his mental anguish" In the domain
| of religion, let there be everywhere alb
| solute sincerity, realities and not shams.
One Hundred Years Ago.