The New York herald., 1878-11-23
ABUSES OF THE PULPIT.

LECTURE BY REV. r. II. PATTIsoN, OF NEW
HAVEN, ON towards CASTLE"
"No preacher" said the Rev. 7. H. Pattison, of
New Haven, last evening. 'can be charged with dis
honesty because his text is borrowed
one; but his sermon. according to popu
lar superstition. must be entirely original
/ appear before you with title which makes no pre-
tence to novelty. The late Frederick W. Robertson
said :-'Coward's castle is that pulpit platform
from which man, surrounded by his friends in the
absence Of his opponents, secure of applause and
safe from reply. denounces those who differ from
him. Thus defined and applied the phrase seems
to be no unsuitable text for lecture the
abuse of the pulpit. the disposition the hand
TO limit ii the grandeur of its prerogativc and
the other to exceed the commission to preach the
Gospel the whole world The most obvious
coward is he who is pulpit thief. Some
famous divnes said to be in special
request with experienced appropriations" The
lecturer told couple of comica anecdotes about the
stealing of some of DR.. Guthre's sermons and then
continued How long pulpit thief can pursue
course. his own skill well upon the intel
ligence and culture Of his audience. popular
London preacher had once finished his third
tence when stranger sitting in front Of him. ex
claimed, That's Sherlock After the next sentence
son!" The preacher bit his lips, but pursued his
discourse. third comment. That's Blair" was,
however. too much for his patience, and lie cried.
Fellow you don't hold your tongue you shall
be turned OUT" The interrupter looking him
full in the face retorted, toI and, And that's ~,
trade in sermons, which are Autographed and
supplied to clergynen at so much year. He then
depicted the controversial preacher as thc nosest
was condemned to listen to one of these windbags,
who spent considerable time in proving that the
ON the judicial bench. he looked up and
said, go on. sir; the Court is with you
so far Dean Swift warned young cergymen against
preaching against atheism and also against pounding
into Plato, Socrates and the other philosophers.
'For my part" said Mr. Pattson, Il listen to
these valiant dvines exterminating the mummies Of
dead without feeling that Whately spoke with
admirable common sense when be said that
there was no use in swespng chamber II
pulpit pugilst distinguishes himself by fitting
against what he calls the scientist. Once year.
however, the ground OF battle il shifted. The weary
one. the mourner. the ANXIOUS, tire ignorant who
church for spiritual light. are rewarded with
party. admire the old negro who. when asked
during the days OF slavery whether there any
truth in the report that he had been preaching insur
rection, said, i don't know what instruction
means AIassa; / preach de resurrection Unless
I am very much mistaken that Is what the
cong recatiou wants TO hear about, aud what alone
will satisfy the sinful and sorrowng soul in Gods
house" Several witty anecdotes were repeated con
ccrning preachers who have prided themselves
being personal in the puipit-alnong Others, Whit
field. Latimer South ana Paley. Hc Is a coward who
is afraid 10 trust in his ministry 10 the simple Gospel
ism In the pulpit. In justice IL ought to be
said that it IL only the inevitable swing OF the
pendulum back from the dulness which Rowland Hill
declared to be the objectionable sin. Chryeostom's
auditors used to applaud him. and he repeatedly
proved them. Other preachers have not been 50
modest Like actors they have anglcd for the smiles
their audiences In sermon preached IN the four
teenth century. and still preserved in . European
library arc marginal notes sae directons for guid-
ancc In delivering certain emphatic passages
down--stand up.rnop yourselt-now shrek like a
devil!'
and suggestion for the illustration of his subject aud
closed with apt poetic quotation. descriptive OF the
model preacher
Such Paul,
Were he earth, would hear approve and own.