Morning journal and courier., 1880-04-02
Yale Theological School.

Dr. Hall, of New York, on the Work of
 the MinEstry-A yVeII.FiIIed Chapel.
 Rev. Dr. John Hall, of New York, spoke before the Yale Theological School at Mar quand chapel yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock, delivering the second lecture in the series on Preaching" The chapel was well filled, there being but few vacant seats. Quite 6 number of clergymen and elderly laymen, and a fair sprinkling of ladies helped make up the audience which the renowned and genial New York divine had the pleasure of addressing. The students sang a hymn with power and unison. Dr. Hall, in opening, spoke of the requisite sterling piety for the ministerial ofice. Installation, though oft repeated, could not be substitute for sanctifcation. Ministers vera subject to temptations such as all Christians encounter, and have special need for exalted life because of the position they occupy. Frequently in war the enemy are charged to pick of the leaders. The mo- ment a minister falls below the standard of goodness or rectitude, the news is cirou- lated widely all over the land. But consid- ering the temptations to which ministers are exposed, the standard of the ministry is high, and we need not look at the profession we have chosen with blush. The speaker rec olIected reading of body of the clergy in England who, in one of their gatherings, re- ported and discussed 34 temptations to which the ministry is exposed. First, we are habit ually applying the truth to others, and easily forget that it applies to ourselves. Just so some of the best medical men neglect them selves or go to other physicians to prescribe for them. A doctor who prescribed for pa tient, on sending him away, bade him come and report to him if the medicine did hi m any good, as he himself was suffering from the same complaint and wanted remedy. Just 50 eminent lawyers have been known to draw their own wills so awkwardly as thus eventually to make business for the courts. We must keep it in our hearts that we must live up to the same truths we preach to others.
 Second, there is danger to our pride In addressing men we have the sympathy and spur of numbers. You want to throw your- self into the address. You want to magnify the idea or subject. You want to make it attractive, and in so doing you will shoot above the mark of your own experience. I think that the actor must throw himself so intensely into the work, into the characters he represents, that his sensitivepess becomes deadened.
 In the next place, Dr. Hall said, we are in dlnger of indulging mere professional feeling. We have such a routine to go through and the minister's mind is burdeued, too much so often, think, for producing the best work that is in him. We would do more if less were put upon us, and if the work be done under the pressure of domestic care, infelici- tous connections, or infelicities in his congre- gation, then it is that the temptation to rou- tine work is strong. The minister must shake of all mechanical, or machine, or routine work, and put his life and soul into It.
 Again we are in danger from loss of faith in our fellow men, which next to loss of faith in God is the greatest calamity. You will have pastoral condolences. Because Roman ism carries such condolences to an extreme and perverted use, Protestantism need not altogether hold back from condolences, but it must point to God as the sole place for abso- lution. With this important limitation the pastor may receive condolences. Dr. Hall, further pursuing this branch, added that the pastor upon hearing these confessions of mis- doing must guard against losing faith in his fellow men, and find a remedy for misgivings in Holy Writ, prayer, and faith in the power of the Holy Spirit to regenerate all.. In the
 
 forth that another danger lay in assuming an appearance of earnestness which he could at all times feel. A minister no matter who, must try to enter into the spirit of the peo- pie and his work. We are to condemn the man who buys a piece of land somewhere out in Colorado and deludes thousands with false hopes that there is ore there. Such men lose infinitely more than they gain in the bad effect upon their own consciences. So men who are dependents upon churches, like the musicians, or sextons, who have no piety in their heart, when they fall, fall utterly. Ellis sons when they fall fall very low. Let there be reality in the work. Let it be real, sincere and not insincere. I know we are liable to be charged with lack of enthusiasm, or to use that questionable word, don't 'fenthuse." But we are accountable to God. Let us stand right with Him and our consciences, and in the long run we shall have the people with us.
 The next injunction from Dr. Hall was, be not worldly. The idea was conveyeI that the minister must not drift with the current, but hold fast to his course. If he drifted he lost his taiismanic power to reprove. Religion was elevating, and it elevated many who re- fused to be saved by it. But elevation was not piety. Let us be intent upon saving men. Worldliness has many forms In 1 Oorinth it was sensual, dssolute, degraded. In Ephesus it was, great is Diana of l the Ephesians. It is a mistake to think world l Illness is alone for the rich. In New York | Sabbath schools we find ragged urchins to I whom we give shoes and clothes at Christmas l days who tell us that they go to their favorite | theatre twice @ week. The next thought of | the lecturer was that the minister should l the care of others. With hearty, earnest | appeal the lecturer closed. The third lecture | will be given this afternoon at o'clock