Morning journal and courier., 1881-03-18
Yale Theological School.

Lecture by Rev. Dr. John Hall, of New
 large audience assembled in Marquand
 chapel yesterday afternoon to hear the sec-
 ond lecture of Dr. Hall in his course on the
 Secondary Causes of Ministerial Success
 President Porter and the professors of the
 theological department occupied seats on the
 platform. After singing hymn, Dr. Hall
 gave 8 brief review of his last lecture, and
 then began his discourse. We who are min
 isters should look more after the children.
 On account of our excellent common schools,
 ministers are apt to forget their responsibih- ties towards the children in their early edu-
 cation. Take hold of the young the moment
 you begin pastoral work. Go into the infant rooms as often as possible. Influence the girls aright, for the women give the tone to our society and decide what are the proper amusements and enjoyments. Many great ministers have enlarged their influence by exerting their powers in behalf of the chil- dren-sometimes by talking with them on subjects of interest, sometimes by writing 1 little books that they can appreciate and un- l derstand. implore you, young men, to ex- ert all the influence you can in behalf of the welfare of the young. Now as to another
 source of power in the dealing of the pastor 1 with the poor In the cities the increase of pauperism is becoming alarming. You must | face this question of pauperism, for the church must take care of the poor of it's | members. Our churches lose many of the 1 poor, because these persons feel that they have no part in the services, and are not wanted by the wealthy people. God blesses the men who look after the poor. God blesses | the ministers who work for the welfare of the poor and labor to make life easier for | them The next department I designate 'oceasional services" as baptisms weddings
 and funeral services. Do overstate the case when I say that many of us, though very scrupulous in the preparations of our public
 services, yet neglect and depend upon the in | spirations of the moment for these other | duties
 l We. the ministers, have an important and l dignifed place in the discharge of our bap- 1 tismal duties. It is a supreme moment 1 when the mother dedicates her child to God, | and we must speak words of comfort to | them Do not r1nderrate the importance of | this ceremony to the family concerned. l Though in sermons people, women especially, l will accept as true in a measure all that IS l said yet if the minister makes mistake at
 a wedding they will ridicule him. The ut 1 most care should be exercised in order that all present at the wedding may realize the sanctity of the service and not go away 1 thinking that the minister has acted in a l ridiculous manner. Funeral services are the hardest minister has to attend, and need an
 especial preparation As general rule, do | not enter too much into the personal element at these services. For @ hundred reasons | that might be given, make your remarks about the person general. Let the Scrip | lures be carefully selected and then read in g | clear but subdued tone; let the words spoken be few and not of the nature of eulogy. Let the man be little spoken of, but Christ the resurrection of the dead emphatically l dwelt upon. Bring Christian common sense into all these duties.
 The last duty will mention is the ministry of the sick. It is sometimes the only oppor- ! tunity you will have of being close to the sick and their friends. In the first place 1t
 is unwise to make long visits to the sick ! They should also be very informal, and geo. ondly, the minister must not show the opin- ion of the danger by his face. He must en- l ter the sick-room in as sunny and cheerful 8
 mood as possible. Thirdly, inspire confi- dence and do not make them think that you come to fire your theology at them there on | the sick-bed, where they cannot get away, l because they wouldSnot hear you from the pulpit. Let your words be few and kind, I then pray with them and try to smooth over | their sufferings. Another hint. What may ! seem short time to the minister may seem l a very long time to the sick man. Make
 memorandum of your visits, keep their names
 before you in your studies, and let prayer go up at times for them, and
 it will do both you and them good. l Your best thoughts may come to you during your intimacies with the sick, and you will
 find that your experiences with them will be
 a blessing to you
 l If you cannot be an earnest and faithful
 minister you had better change your profes- | sion at once. The work of the minister is
 hard on body and brain, but it is Christ's | work, and even here earth are adequate rewards. good and faithful minister gets | joys that the world knows nothing of. You will find hundred things that the world will 1 applaud you for, and yet you will know that l they are not the worthiest things in you. You will find your chiefest sources of joy in works that the world takes no recognition of May God help us all to be faithful ministers
 The third lecture of the course will be giv-
 en at Marquand chapel this afternoon at 8 | o'c1ock