Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-21


 lie Worship Discussed--An Interested
 AudIence-Time of Next Lecture.
 There was the usual large attendance at Marquand chapel yesterday afternoon of students and pastors of the several churches in the city who had assembled to listen to the able discourse of President Robinson, of Brown University. There were also num- Der of ladies present, who seemed to take deep interest in the lecture. President Rob- inson in commencing his address said: The diminished attendance on public worship in our day as compared with a century ago, or even within tho memory of living men, has excited wonder andremark. It is estimated that at least one-third of those who do not attend public service could do so if they would. One will assert one cause for this, and another another. The effort to explain this indiffer- ence has thus far failed It seems to me that a very large variety of causes are at work to explain the phenomena referred to. I pro- pose to dwell on the causes as found in the public mind. First, then, there is @ general feeling of doubt in the minds of men or skepticism Yet the truth is that the faith
  never greater than to day. Yet there has come to be doubt as to the traditions of our holy religion and there is a general feeling that there has been a gen. eral belief that there was to be grand revision of the traditions of the Bible. Anoth- CT cause is the present existence of Christian literature. The press everywhere teems with Christian productions These things all kl,oS, ,Io,,a 1zoa,N f~nS, 1n house of God. The secular papers often publish sermons, and men often have before them sermon better than they could expect to hear Sunday. Then, is 1t strange that he should seat himself in his easy chair and read an excellent discourse? Do you blame your fellow man then if he fails to come and hear you preach when the world is so full of Christian literature The Sunday school has contributed largely to draw men from public worship It is, however an agency of i'm measurable good Practical Christianity in our dsy has developed the Sunday school and more are brought into the church from this agency than any other work Yet it has been brought to light that the attendance on Sunday school and also the attendance at church is more than ought to be required of children How irresistible is habit when child has not been trained to attend public service, and he has not been found there. Would that we could bring back the old state of things, when the min ister was liable to be disturbed by the chil- dren in the congregation. Better so than the continued absence of the children. Another thing. It is said that costly church es and expensive pew rents have driven people from the churches. I do not believe it. The churches are open to everybody. l be. lieve in expensive and beautiful churches, so long as we don't leave future generations to pay the bills. Ought there not to be a ref ormation in building many churches in small communities where the population is not sufficient to barely maintain one with that liberality to which the Christian minis ter is entitled
 Now come to the most delicate part of this course of lectures, ''Ihe doubt of the minister" You young men do not read the fathers did. We are too apt to assent to the truth while we do not consent to it. This feeling enters the mind of the student and comes in to trouble the mind of the staid and well formed mind of the preacher. Then again there is the danger. of surrendering the true orthodox doctrines and accepting other dogmas, perhaps some of which you will accept. You will hear, young men, the dogma of your congregation and may try to conform yourselves to the doctrines and be- lief of that church. You may stand up be- fore the congregation and teach, yet it may convey no vital force to the people. What is needed is not clear and formal explanations In this day the people are too much inter ested in their preacher. One of the dangers of our times.is in being too much minister in stead of being flesh and blood and filled with geniality and pleasant thoughts. The object of our ministers has seemed to be how to make sermons and if they do this they will be like an old clock whose weight has run down and 'tchucks" but fails to strike. Slaughter. It has been affirmed that the mode of beneficiary instruction is injuring the Christian ministry. I don't believe it. Maintain self-respect and others will respect you. In Gods name stand up and be what you believe God has called you to be, Chris tian ministers. Again. if there is any class of men that should be stimulated to work it is that man who has been called to preach the gospel. Beyond any doubt the ministers are better and more broadly educated than any other profession, either law or medical. The theological schools stand at the head of the other schools. A man who graduates has been studying for seven years He goes be- fore the public for the first time and the danger is that he may try to produce a ser mon that will please the ears of the public. The repetition of old sermons was referred to and the speaker deprecated the reading of old sermons that had been written ten or fif- teen years before. He would as quick think of going up in his garret and putting on an old coat that he had worn ten years before. Shall we ever escape this blighting mildew of preaching old sermons? Think of that man who stood in wonder pulpit for forty years Or. Bacon) and never repeated a sermon. What we need is living men. May God give l to you that great function to which you are called. V It was announced that the next lecture of the course would be delivered on Thursday afternoon, February 9th.