Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-05-15
A Letter from Goodland.

a Letter from GO0dl0m0s
In the REGISTER Of April oath, there
is an article signed "Marion,n which
deserves attention. It is concise, court
eous. and written In good spirit, and
| will be answered in the same way
The columns of the REGISTER will
prove that T. G. is not chronic grum
bier on any subject, and least of all in
regard to preaching.
II "Narionn wants to know T. C.'s
show for understanding the business
of preaching, it may be stated that after
ten years. careful preparation, forty.
one years ago to-day, he was licensed
to preach the gospel, and has stood to
his guns from that day to this, as can
be certified by many in Southeast Mis-
souri,.
In the case of the sermen referred to
in "Marion's" article the text selected
is one among something over two
thousand, on each one of which T. G.
has very carefully prepared sermon.
t. G. knows just what is in that text,
and what is necessary to explain it,
and he knows that it was not touched
by the speaker.
"Marion" possibly supposes that he
said severe thing in the sentence,
"Mr. T. G. must be wonderfully wise,
that, in moment of time, by looking
the preacher in the face, he could tell
that the sermon did not touch the
text"
T. c. did not affirm that he ascertain
ed the discrepancy by looking in the
face OF the preacher. The Judgment
is merely the enunciation Of tho estab-
lished rules of Biblical Interpretation,
recognized by all theologians. Saying
severe things in regard to T. c. is not
always safe. He heard the introduc-
tory prayer made by the preacher, and
II tho whole word of God 10 of use to
direct US in prayer, there was in that
case no more of the spirit of grace and
Of supplication than there is Of grape
juice in tanners vat. The heart Of
that preacher is not In his work.
Having thus disposed of the preach
er, T. G. returns to Marion" J" for whom
he has none but the kindest feelings.
Marion" WAKES eloquent over the
obligation to attend to preaching, and
the danger Of neglectinR it, and the
prevalence of that neglect, That is all
very we'll. But he needs to know that
the obligation to hear depends on
what is spoken. "My son, II sinners
entice thee, consent thou not. Cease
to hear the Instruction that causeth to
arr. Relovede belleve not exeAy spiEit,
but try the spirits wheth6Y lsg of
God. Prove all things, and hold fast
hat which is good" The application
If these laws will bear great deal of
nearing insthese day. It is to be la
that it bears the hearing ofI
much that nowadays is called preach
ng. What is preaching? It is theI
OF. the word of God, with
J view to, the salvation of men.
Preach the word, IL the injunction
aid upon the pulpit, and when the
vord of God is preached, the command
nd promise to the pew are, Hear,
nd your soul shall live" And when
he word is not preached to win men
o Christ, the obligation to hear does
ot arise. The best thing to be done
}, If that preaching enters one eaf, let
go out at the other, a soon a4 bossi-
lie. To define exactly how >XuchI4
he responsibility Cor ~ loss of lohls
o-day rests On thy p1lpitandl how
,uch on the pew, you'd ket the
mits OF newspal f arti But it
safe to say that ere il much Of
ne gospel of Christ the ~ to-day
3 there ever has bed that when
is driven out of Il Bit, it does
OF leave the house, ID to the pews.
!. G. is one of largs,clgs who go to
,e places where pray and sermons
re wont to be made, the hope that
they cannot hear apF(fer or sermon,
ley may at least seesofl And when
,e pulpit fails us, as Il lid sadly in
,e instance referred to, ke 60 to the
ews. "And how it con let doctors
H." but 80 1t Is that gospel Of 81
ruth, Purity and, Peac cannot be q
lad fully by one man in " face Of
mother, nor by one womsf another.
ut passing these facts s Yeteaz4 ,in-
} the faces Of old meu6 9h women,
lgged and wrinkled thouabthey be-,
et they. are full of the peal of apd,
I'D bright = With the grac of.a6d,
hich has enabled them h spend inlU
,ietness and peace, Gin god ess andl
,nesty, lives that have y lbaeI &
Sc than q long, hard, han hand
apple with poverty, and
And If we turn to the face ralng
en- and young women, sd 4
,owledge, but equal HepS 3
ID Faith, and allthe oths mentatr lr
inciples Of that6ospel I b con- s. &
lily growing inx g6p &
aches both preaeh Bal
ae, honest, upE J.
wing, forbearipg b ht 4 i ln1. j
seeing this goeR Z. C.s has "a @i I
rge, happy, snd nSstnl expsf&6ts
d cherishes AZ the apple OF. HIS eye, \
e memory Of The placea which -hoI !,
. seen the most Of IL. And Iacc6rdH
gly he prays that God would bless |.
9 Presbyterian church In Ifonton. !,