Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-02-07
The Pulpit.

mon OF rare merit from DIS pulplt Oh iast
Sunday. 1t was one of a series from the
text in which wives are exhorted to rever-
ence their husbands. The species OF his
sermon, homoletically speaking, was topi-
cal, in which there is but o single leading
idea. 1t is more properly an Grafton than
either of the other species of sermons, text
ual and expository. 1t is the model species
for the preacher. If he constructs text
ual or expository sermon it should be as top
ical as possible. Great pulpit orators select
this species for their greatest pulpit efforts
The sermon should be nicely proportioned,
and not like one of South's GIN oratorical
respects the best of the early English preach
ers), of sixteen pages, of which twelve were
Introductory and analytical, and only four
were given strictly to rhetorical principles.
1t is not pervaded by its own fundamental
proposition. 1t does not gather momentum
Is it proceeds. 1t is minus that oratorical
fire and force so generally characteristic OF
South. In the language OF one great WI
ter, topical sermon should be true ora
ton, rounded and symmetrical discourse,
pervadsd by one idea, breathing but one
spirit, rushing forward with a uniformly
accelsrating motion, and ending with al
overpowering impression and influence upon
the will In construction and delivery, Mr..
Strickland's sermon was quite model. No
where is the true orator and profound theo-
legion more apparent than in the methodol-
ogy Gas McChntock would say of his dis
course. Without this, it becomes simply
religious harangue, unworthy of the dignity
accorded the eloquent utterances of the sa
cred desk Again, the ability of the minis
ter is largely estimated from his wise selec-
ton of text. All down through the his
tofy of the Church, the Bible has fur
nished the basis of pulpit discourse.
Nelancthorn does mention, as one of the
errors of Popery, that the Ethics of Aristotle
were read in church, and that texts were
taken from his writings. Otherwise, the
Sacred Canon has always been used. Many
fail here They select a theme and adjust
it to text. Instead, the sermon should be
its natural development: the text should be
the keynote. The more bold the better.
Like a trumpet blast, it challenges attention
and gets it. AS Shedd once said: Moth
ing remains, but for the preacher to go out
upon it with his whole weight; to unfold
and apply it with all his ability"
Dr. S. quickly analysed the text, tarried
pleasantly but short time in the vestibule,
and theoretically reached the center of the
magnificent temple of thought, hanging
here and there the many beautiful and
touching pictures which adorned his dis
course. There were good many striking
things about this sermon. Almost every
sentence was rounded and formed gem of
wisdom. 1 speak of it somewhat in detail
Off he yxynO
were present. There was nothing super
fiuous in elaboration or illustration. Those
from history were grand and fresh, and were
a necessity. Illustrations should be used.
but rather sparingly, and only when the
calculation of the thought demands 1t. Then,
they form torrent of eloquence, sweeping
down all opposition, and enter and fill with
an ocean of feeling, the most sacred cham
bers of the soul
Notwithstanding the theme led US into the
most delicate and sacred scenes of home,
where ministers are now and then tempted
to abuse the exalted privileges of the pulpit
with hackneyed portrayal, yet the Ian
guage was pure and chaste, and the curtain
of home scenes was drawn aside with rev.
erence and appreciative dehcacy.
l would be pleased to elaborate for mo-
ment on the properties of style which ron
dered this sermon especially powerful, but
will content myself with passing remark
Here lies largely the great secret of pulpit
power.
DIR. Strickland possesses these excellent
properties of style-plainness, force and
beauty. Locke, Hobbs, Chalmers and Policy
are fine examples of plainness- Edward
Irving once said to DIR. Chalmers: "You
Scotchmen would handle an idea like a
L D IL l.
be seen, handled and felt. The minister
should be SO plain that he would compel his
hearers to understand. A man must speak
with force and penetration. The minds be-
fore him then seem to be "pricked with
needles and pierced with javelines His
thoughts cut through the dull and apathetic
parts, into the quick, and produces keen
sensation. Force is electrical; it permeates
and thrills" Beauty in style is well defined
by the Roman school of painting -multitude
in unity. Beauty is not merely the orna-
mentation. 1t springs into existence as
result of unity and simplicity as an accom-
! paniment.
The Rev. gentleman is not fussy either
with head, hands or voice. GESTURE ought
to be necessity. Then, if polished and
natural, as his is, it pictures almost with the
| power of an artists pencil The DIR. does
not slight the sound of or" like many of
us Southerners. Its trin lends music to
public utterance. 1t would be well if our
young men could occasionally step into DR..
! Strickland's church on Sunday morning.
They would not only hear the gospel, as it
comes from off the altar of consecrated
heart but they would enjoy the finest speci-
men of pulpit eratory and eloquence have
ever heard from our native ministers of the
South. Knoxville is especially honored
with able ministers
ROBERTSON