The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-10-24
DULL PARSONS.
The Fanny Things said by Spwgcon
About Tedious Preachers.

MIR. Samuel Morley, member of Parlia-
ment, presided last evening over the third
anniversary festival of Christ Church.
Westminster road, which is under the pas.
toratc of the Rev. Newman Hall. The tcr
was served in Hawkstone Hall, and the COM
pany aitcrward adjourned to the church,
which was profuscly decorated with flowers
in perpGtuation Of an old custom observed
for many years at Surrey Chapel
The Rev. G. ii. Spurgcon was present,
and spoke at length on the subject of
preaching. lie remarked that Mr.. Morley
had said that the habit Of staying away
from places Of worship was getting common
lie would ask the honorable gentleman
whether he himself would like to 90 aud
listen 10 some Of his reverend brethren. -
He confessed that rather than 90 and hear
them he would have the gout. cloud
laushtcr) Those who had the gout would
appreciate what he meant. 1t was awful
(Rencwcd laughtor) lie had the privi-
lcSc once of hearing a reverend brother
he would not say how, when or where: but
he always considered that he should be re-
wardcd iOr it ut the resurrection Of the Just,
lLaughter.) n preacher should try to
make his preaching good. In Germany it
must be made evangelical to the extent Of
sixteen ounces to the pound, if the church
is to be kept full but regular attendance
at places Of worship there had gone quite
out of date. Would any man go and listen
to some German divincs if they preached
their books ? If he were bad with the
headache, and wanted to sleep, he certainly
would so. They had some Of the best books
printed from the German, but they had
some almighty dry books, which could iu-
tcrcst no person unless they wanted to have
sin taken out of them in the same way us
Eve was taken out of Adam-whcn in deep
sleep. (Roars Of laughtcr.)
If a preacher did not preach WELL ''pray
him up added Mr.. Spurgcon. If they
did not profit. let them still 80 on praying.
Any of them would preach well when
they preached to congregation COM
ing fresh from their knees. They would
back the pastor up in everything as one
man. There should be no hesi,ancy, no
questioning it was church work, therefore
the clergyman should be backed up and
carried through. He should be the point
Of the wedge: let each behind push on, and
the deed would be done. What splendid
history, exclaimed Mr. Spurgcon, the Surrey
Chapel people had, and if they did not do
wonders for God after Rowland Hill thew
deserve TO be tied to carts tail and
whipped. QLaughtcr) They did not know
how down in the dumps sometimes man
who had to cheer every one else was. They
should speak kindly words to the pastor
whonovcr they saw him. There was story
often told Of a man in the Gray's Inn road
when there was fire. The escape was put
up, but it was found to be little short
There was woman to be rescued who was
near the window the fireman went up, and
just as he reached the top the people gave
three cheers, for they thought he had
reached her, and he did. But he said he
could not have done it if it had not been
for those cheers just at that moment They
should give .hrcc cheers for the preacher,
Instead Of giving him a greeting which
would put him in trim to preach in do
lorous manner (Checrs) When he oc-
cupied the pulpit and saw two or three old
ladies shaking their heads, he always
preached to perfection those who smiled
and were pleased he thought were pc.sons
Of great Judgment (Iaughter.) In con-
clusion, he said they would all remember a
verse which he thought was by Sir Walter
Scott, and which he would apply to them
as church-workcrs "On on, on, were the
last words Of Sturgeon" Roars of laugh
ter. r.)-LontlOn Ncws