The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-01-02


the ministers and debating societies all
over the country, and society is en-
riched with many curious stories of ex-
perience in regard to stolen sermons.
Several of the associations have taken
up the subject for debate, and most of
the religious papers are discussing how
much minister may safely borrow of
somebody elseS material without put
ting the borrowings in quotation marks.
One of the odd things disclosed by the
discussions is that the identical sermon
of DIR. Parker's which DR.. Lorimer, of
Chicago, has just been accused of pla-
CHARMING from was preached verbatim
by another Baptist minister, in Canaan
daigua, N. Y, in June last. His hear
ers were SO delighted with the discourse
that they requested il for publication,
and the pilferer had the audacity to
consent, modestly saying in his letter,
:" wish that it was more deserving of
the honor you confer upon it."
An American preacher visiting En-
gland some time ago accompanied his
friends to hear London pulpit celeb
rity. At the close of the service they
asked him, triuinphantly: did you
ever hear anything like that in Ameri-
car" The next morning he returned
from an early walk to the breakfast
table and answered the question by
reading a portion of sermon by DIR.
Greenwood, the famous minister of the
Stone Chapel in Boston.
The Evangelist tells good one:
"A Universalist clergyman, now in high
standing, is said to have entertained
his people on one occasion by delivering
one of DIR. Dicks astronomical lectures,
and on another by repeating the sub
stance of one Of DIR. Chapin's eloquent
discourses. A few years ago Boston
congregation was astonished at the
learning displayed in the sermons of
youthful candidate, to whom they were
about to give call, when schoolboy
told his father that part of the preach
er's sermon was a piece which he had
learned in order to declaim, and sure
enough the congregation had been edi-
fed by one of Frederick w. Robert
sons discourses."
The Methodist has picked up several
pleasant instances on the practice of
borrowing" "a minister occupying a
prominent pulpit recently preached
sermon which greatly pleased his audi
ence. One of his pensioners, with
great graduation, enlogized the
sermon In the presence of another min
lister; few questions we're asked, and
the next day the minister gave the
eulogist paper containing In full the
sermon with which he was so greatly
pleased, but his pastor was not the
author. A minister already invited to
one of the leading pulpits of the
church is reputed to quote literally
without giving due credit. Upon an
important occasion he delivered SER
mon of remarkable beauty and power,
all the material Of which was obtained
from chapter in q book to be found in
many ministers Libraries. An EXPIRE
siding Elder and Doctor of Divinity,
at a conference session, preached with
great JUNCTION a sermon which was taken
bodily from volume of sermons which
was in the library of more than one of
his hearers. A preacher now occupying
metropolitan pulpit, upon exchange
with a brother minister, produced a
profound impression by delivering in q
mastery manner sermon which his
deceased father before him had been
wont to preach with remarkable power,
and which was published in memorial
volume with others of his fathers pro-
ductions."
The editor of the Baptist Weekly
has been abroad, with open eyes and
ears. He heard visitor preach before
Baptist association in New Jersey q
splendid sermon. A venerable pastor
expressed his willingness to give 25
cents for copy of it. Another pastor
suggested privately it could be had for
less, being sermon of DIR. Halves pub
lished in the old National Pulpit. AT
an installation in New Jersey Baptist
minister gave the audience sermon on
the difficulties of the ministry, which
was slavish following out of one in the
"Homilist." In New York one evening
he heard minister give one which the
same book furnished. He further says
that in New Jersey Presbyterian pas
ter gave to the press a temperance
lecture of DR.. Cuyler's as his own. He
adds that he knew a Presbyterian pas
tor in New York city, now deceased,
whose nearly every sermon was take
bodily from Toplady, Guthrie, 7
"Homilist," or any volume of sern. "A.
he could lay hands on.
One of the most praiseworthy1 ,sses
of sermon appropriation bappel red q
long while ago in Western New Work
A minister had been accustomed to
preaching heresy and was hauledfup be.
fore his presbytery to answer for his of.
lenses. He suggested that the best
way to straighten out matters would be
that he should deliver before the pres
bytery carefully-prepared discourse
in which he should set forth the
doctrines he held. This was accepted
as reasonable, and time was set for the
delivery of the discourse. The text was
passage in the Epistle to the Romans.
bearing on predistination and election.
The accused brother was listened to
with deep attention. At the conclusion
Il the sermon the members of presby-
terry were one by one called on by the
Moderator to express their views as to
its heterodoxy or orthodoxy. Some
| denounced IL bitterly and. one or two