The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-18
SENSATIONAL PREACHING.

Rev. Mr. Iamson, OF Burt's Corners. Oregon,
said from his pulpit on a recent sunday that.
u any Of the young people Of Burt's Corners de-
sired 10 attend his church In the evening for
the purpose Of sparkling" he would say
amen" TO it. He hadta daughter (then in the
church, and he would rather a lover would
court her in the church than in the psrlor or al
the opera Experience had shown him that
fathers Of marriageable girls were often very
perpleXing distractions. and he proposed in
this way 10 aid the young people. While he
did not want his people 10 attend the theater,
he would not rob them Of legitimate pleasures;
so he stated that he had invited the village
band 10 come in ON Sunday evening and play
the hymns and such worldly music as would be
heard in orderly homes and sacred concerts.
The young men OF the Corners ought Ia make
a handsome Christmassgift 10 the obliging
pastoI.-l Exchange.
We have not studied geography for
some time, and have never heard OF
"Burt's Corners" In Oregon, yet we will
take it for granted that there is such a
place in the State, because there is no
denying anything that appears in
print. We do not remember to have
heard Of Rev. Mr. LsmsOn, either, but
are glad that minister with so much
good sense and such a profound knOwl-
edge Of human nature lives in the land
Of Webfoot
The extract given leads US to jot down
few thoughts concerning the at.
tractiveuess Of our churches for the
younger old, for that matter. The
time has passed when hard-shell ser.
mons will draw congregations. People
prefer to stay away from church alto
gether to being bored by the prosy and
canting utterances of old-time minis.
ters. Call the modern evening lecturer
who occupies the pulpit a sensational
preacher, il you will, yet he il is who
/ draws the crowds. II he is not recreani
to his trust, he can teach Christianity
and morality, aud give interesting dis
courses to his hearers at the same time
The element of mirth and good nature
predominates in US all, and he who, by
his pleasant conversation, even though
I he should refrain from any mention o
Omnipotence, keeps young or old from
strolling the streets or visiting saloons
does more service to humanity, anC
more good to the cause of Christ, thar
those who preach old -fogyism from
their pulpits, and keep their attendanc,
TO the minimum. After an evening il
popular church, the pleased congrega
/ ton file out and return home with
better understanding Of the beautie
and pleasures of this world than il sus
pended In Imagination over a burning
lake for an hour or two. Those wh'
have been in the latter condition ar,
much more apt to seek the saloons anC
other forbidden places than the light
hearted attendants at popular lectur
ers church. There are two or three en-
tertaining speakers among Portland'i
clergy, aud more are needed. The frs
requisite of minister is the ability t,
command full pews. To do this, b,
must be an agreeable aud accomplished
thinker and speaker. Having achieve,
a reputation, his audiences grow
steadily, and unbelievers visit hi
church, first through curiosity, ant
afterward for enjoyment. Securing
their attention and arousing their inter
est, hs can, by his system Of pleasan
and moral discourses, lead many NOR
to adopt the tenets Of his church than bl
forcing the Bible down their throats.