Daily Republican., 1879-11-08
why Church Pews are Empty.

Of why church pews are empty, and il
the main we are compelled to say tha
We agree with it. That congregation
are getting smaller cannot he doubte
by those who have given the subjec
ordinary attention. That there is de
cadence of spirituality in the churche
must be apparent not only to the paste
Of a congregation but to the congrega
tion itself. Something must be tn
matter, what is it? Some may say tn
pastor either breaches too long or to-
short, too loud or too low, and tha
there is no spiritual feeling in his Ser
mons. We need not 20 to New York
Philadelphia or Chicago to find empty
psws in churches and general dullnesi
prevailing, as they exist in this city
and those who ought to fill them are
not found generally tramping the
streets or focking to public houses.
They are found very eften doing at
home in there parlors, reading light
literature, gossipping upon trade or
talking about the results Of the cleo
tions, and the prospects for the next
Presidency. Preachers have for long
time been looking this thing in the
face and they have endeavored in
the face of all these discourage
ments to preach doctrinal Fer
mons and delivered long dry theo-
logical essays on some imaginary hid
den mystery that but few care any
thing about, and while they are wading
through pile Of manuscript and prac-
ticing the rising and falling infections
Of the voice, the sleepers, not hearers,
have made themselves comfortable as
possible in corner of a pew until
awakened by the announcement of the
next hymn, or by the hustle of the few
who may arise or kneel to engage in
the closing prayer. OF course this is
not applicable to all preachers, perhaps
not to a majority of them, but i. is
plainly evident that in far too manv
cases worship with them is but task.
and they go about their work as a hired
servant, determined to do as little as.
they can for the wages they receive.
This insincerity on the part ofpreachers
has led to a spiritual dearth in the
churches, which the faithful ministers,
for we are glad to say there are many,
have failed to overcome. Both ministers
and people have shut their eyes too
long to the picture which We have
drawn, and now that they are begin
ming to open them they find that it is
difficult matter to regain the ground
which has been lost. There are other
causes which have led to this decline
in pulpit influence, and the fault can
be traced to the people as we'll as to the
pastor. Our excellent contemporary TO
which we have already referred, thinks
that amongst other causes, is the effort
of Protestant churches where rituaism
has been abandoned, to make church
nni,u xpitI | 4
ing, and that it therefore devolvss
upon the clerical fraternity to consider
wherein they fall short and by what
means they can command the attention
Of the people. Perhaps what is more
needed is sincerity of feeling and earn
estness of expression. The great ma
jority Of ministers when they preach
sonvey the impression that they are v
not quite sure about the truth of what D
hey utter, and go allow themselves
10 run along in the old ruts and
ire content to repeat theological
formulas, from which the potency "
las long since departed. The pulpit =,
leeds to be brought more into commu-
,ication and sympathy with the out 1t
ide world instead Of hiding i. away u
behind curtain Of ritualism which ''
lare not b. approached. There is q
lead of more assimilation between ~
'reacher and people, more real, warm u
learted genuine christian love and :"
and the preacher should
peak to his congregation as man to
lis fellow man instead Of holding him - -
elf 30 far above them on the 81 am
lolier than thou" principle. and read -
ng them theological essays on c0ctrinal '
distractions. Real earnest christianity II
instead of being hidden away behind =
he rusty ages of literature, is always %
resh and made 80 plain and easy to y"
,et at that wayfaring man, though o'
ool, need not go astray in endeavoring
o find it, and one of the greatest wants C
t the day is for ministers to practice it W
more than to indulge in learned disqui- i'd
itiOns which tend more to confuse than Il
o enlighten. People as general a,
hing are always ready and anx- Il
Gus to hear preaching Of the right a.
tind and they will appreciate preach. IL
,r though he be slow of tongue and Il
lacking in pulpit eloqusnce, if he is =,