The New York herald., 1879-02-10


Their chariot wheels whir in this Sabbath sunlight.
They come SO near they must mean some of to
join the procession HALL armies of God till we are
ready 10 JOIN the battalion OF pleasures that never
die Oh 1t would take long eternity to tell the
pleasures of religion. set the sunshiny door open
Come in ye who have found that the pleasures OF the
world arc mockery. You disciples of the dance
lock at the bounding feet of this eternal gladness
Oh. ye disciples OF sinful amusements behold this
stage on which kings the actors and y burning
world the footlights and thrones the spectacular.
Oh ye dead in sin. i is resurrection pun out the
JOY and ut thy right hand there arc pleasures for
evermore." This is everlasting sunshine.
EIGHTEENTH STREET M. E. CHURCH.
SENSATIONAL PREACHING SERMON By THE REV.
w. F. HATFIELD.
The Rev. w. f. Hatfield preached in the evening
in the Eighteenth Street Methodist Episcopal Church.
taking his text from Acts XVI. 25-"l am not mad.
most noble Festus. but speak forth words Of truth
and soberness." The preacher commenced by say
ing that Paul had sbeen arragned before the Roman
Governor the charge of preaching doctrines that
were contrary to the religion Of the Jews.
and at variance with tho laws and welfare of the
State. His peculiar manner and peculiar belief
had created intense excitement in the city, and the
priests and leading Of tho Church said. ut will
do to allow this fellow to proclaim his teach
ings publicly. for they heretca and he will preju-
dice the minds of the people against the teachings OF
the fathers. None tell what the result will be-"
So they determined to have him put down. 1mme-
dately he arrested taken first before Felix then
Festus and afterward the king 1t while Paul
delivering that masterly address to King Agrippa In
which he described his conversion that Festus who
was greatly agitated by the words OF the eloquent
speaker exclaimed paul. thou art mad!' To which
Paul replied the language of the text. There have
been other men, said Mr.. Hatfield. than Paul who
have been thought mad for their manner of preach
ing They have been charged with being sensational
with saying and doing things the purpose OF merely
in which woliye There is sensation in business In
temperance. in amusements. politics and religion.
newspaper is duh without a sensational report
either or an execution. murder or church scandal
In which the pastor or some OF the prominent men,
bers. or all. are implicated
THE TABERNACLE PASTOR.
There has been groat sensation recently created
in sister city by the peculiar subjects chosen and
the peculiar manner . in ,..l which they have been
from reports that the neighboring churches
are being emptied by the sensations of the
for what he has boen doing Some allcge that he Is
very unorthodox in his preaching and that the way
the pastors moral character If the brother has
done wrong Of course he ought to confess and for
sake it, but II the great crime against him is that Of
put him down have got bigger job on hand than
they ever had before Sensational no now is.
he will be. great deal more 80. Greater
will be the desire to hear him and greater his popu-
larity The question arises whether preacher
ought to be condemned for boing sensational in tho
pulpit This depends upon the methods no employs
and the motives that actuate him in his work. A
minister OF Jesus Christ who to draw crowd for
salary or to pay of church debt resorts methods
that unchristan and is not worthy the position
occupies But when minister wckedness all
around him: society corrupt, the government i'm
perlled by corrupt legislation the young and the old
going down to perdition il he has the interest OF the
people at heart he will do his utmost for their saliva
ton. He may advertise his text and topics he may
provoke his audience to laughter. but he will not
attempt to produce merriment for its sake. Tho
moment a minister steps aside from the ordinary
way, breaches upon subjects not usually chosen
says things differently from other minister's there
to declare that he has departed from tho
toms Of the fathers" This was the charge
made against tho Saviour. It made against Paul
and the other Apostles, and against all retormers
The recent temperance revival in city has been
nected with it. Mr. Murphy aud Mr. Sawyer have
produced great sensation by introducing religion
into this greatest OF all modern moral movements;
but there is power to from this dercest
Of temptations but that of the Gospel
MODERN ADVERTISING.
Observe the various methods employed by those Of
other professions to gather together the people.
Managers present to the public those plays that
the most sensational. Flaming handbilis wagons
covered with stranee devices ana persons arrived in
fantastic garb along the streets. Men Say,
This Will do for theatres and operas. and places
where wares are sold and money IL wanted; but it
will do to resort to such methods to get people
into the church hear the Gospel preached This is
He must ministerial Clothes have
measured voice and ministerial face,
aud preserve his dignity; he must be
friendly, but not too familiar with people,"
We hear it said, continued the reverend gentleman,
that the church has been built and thrown open to
all who choose to enter. and IL people will not
and hear the Gospel after all that has been done they
must bear the responsibility and not the Church.
Who think you will be most responsible in the day
OF Judgment those who built the fine church and
rented the pows and made provision for the poor
who. when they come to the door. are informed that
all the seats arc taken. but that they may ind
mediation at the Little Church Around the Corner.
those who poor and absent themselves from
In conclusion Mr.. Hatfield said Though would
not countenance all the methods that employed
for drawing large congregations. for many OF them
do more harm than good, yet would favor any Just
and proper means. even II it called sensational,