New-York tribune., 1884-01-13
PULPIT SKETCHES.
DIR. NEWMAN, OF THE MADISON AVENUE
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

aWilllC anomaly Of Methodist divine ot Nlue rcI"-
taton serving Congregational society, without striking
his UNCONVENTIONAL cclors offending the eccleStS
tca traditions of these children the MavtOwer Per-
haps DR.. had weary OF doing the fonnd9
OF uiuer,ucy. although his hating places were prov
erlial!y fat and wcl-lknc -; and mindful OF Inc par
able OF the rolling stone. iougcd for local haau"h A
well ns n name: and perhaps too, the Congregational
society hungcrcd after infusion OF Methodist ierVor
and enthusiasm
Bat tho building Is strangely, ncomprchcnsbly ugiv
and orhdiing is perpetual aroni to tie traditions
of ecclesas culture md feeling. Under The stately
presence ~ 81 BarthoOmew's and Holy Trinity, not 10
sneak of the Temple Emanu- E-a within easy hatlinc
ihe squat half srocsquc structure little better
than crazy freak of this uh"rian iron age. Ap
preaching IL Is like going to an aquarium or panorama on
Sunday. u simply awidc-swecring amphithcauc in
corrugated iron. untigated without and within by the
slightest attempt 10 carpjsh hide lis hopeless ugness
enters at the circumference OF this huge tenn IKE
interior at the top noor l0ng with rapid grade to
tie focal "out which T. small. depressed Platform
Immediately behind l. nestled an organ. with curianHd
c'prir-arca flush with the wall The pews sweep III
cngthcing circles outward and upward from TINS pat
form.
A Scuntural text enscrOcl on the organ front alone
marks the place as set apart for holy uses No stained
glass 10 sacred Cn5l"ms. no CUSTOMARY dcceS7or's OF
Christian sanctuary to break the bare droar'ncSs'
APPEARANCE AND MANNER or THE PREACHER.
The congregation are sientl! drifting into their pcWH,
which are rented The organst is PLAYING rambling
voluntary when n minister dressed in conventional
black rock coat tightly buttoncd with aturned-d"Wh
collar and loosely bowed Titc cravht enters irom ne
hind the platform ascends the stairs with an elastic s"p
onnroaclcs the trncatN coumu which serves Tor pn-
nit and Cvcrcntiy stands bowed over the closed bIDe'
,vllc tbc ulartcttc and people sing the DnXolosy
This Is DR. Newman. He /. noticeable perSonagei ot
middlinc stature and funess OF chest ~hlch promises
endurance aud yolum" of voice. awcil-mode;led head
brow broad and rather depressed har deep chestnut
with HAT sanguinc auburn. long ana ton7nrNd
with some fifty years; strongly marked eyebrows VIII
m expressive lift at the OItcr corners while tie eyes al
first seem duh and inexpensive TIE features are
mobile finely chselied; frlH. ncXiho mouth rcadiy
Welding 10 the impulse of the speaker; IN shot mHca
such a face and plysognomy great actor would
know how 70 turn the finest dramatic purposes one
nIcbt suppose that the doctor had lately returned from
an apostolic cruise over the seas from lls rudy we'll
bronzed complexion.
few 0uiet words OF Invocation followed by rather
sensational setting OF the Te Drum and the long
PRAYER which betrays few If any tocHof the speakers
deno,ninational history 1t Is without energy or I'M
pulse unmpassOned very deliberate and neither euec'
I've nor memorable. The choir follow win the remark
able selection of a Sdlcus from the Episcopal Coio-
1nupiGn Office For I,ater Psalm of David Is read IN
alternate strophcs rcsponsycy Gy munster ana people
followed by tho proper GLOrI Iatf from the choir
The doctor then reads chapter from the sew Icsta-
mcnt in a singularly hCsatinC, stumbling manner
using small duodccmO while the great Bible lies "n-
opened The manner L. stlcss on iadcd an occasional
,nspronuneat,ons imperfect accents suggest absent
rndedncss reader all the while moving or sWa!Ing
uIeasily Oh hi5 feei.
TIE EASE or TIE ACCUSTOMED ORATOR
This facring hestancy of delivery savOrs at first OF
something like the conyeutional English mtnneri'n'
The voice yet thin and makes no disclosures; evil
IDENTITY most OF the preacher j. left in reserve BY the
fine the following hymn is sung ly the congregation
tbe pews are pretty generally filed and Tho broad area IS
like sea OF faces all turned eagerly toward the central
personace the platform The Doctor settles back In
his deep armchair looks some notices. arises rcaos
then and Len stop further oui of his reserve ~
he reads his text and announces his subject Here ia
plainly well seasoned master Of the rostun and plat
FORM thoroughly woGcd TO tho ordeal Of facing great
and exacting congregations 1t is not selfaSsurncc so
much as long ripcncd scfforgetfuDcs9 IN thi7 business
of preaching that npars tine ease and elegance of
manner Uc approaches h5 work as II the actual busl-
nees OF the day had just opened.
His theme is resoluely grssped. not expert
mentally hut with the firm hold OF thor
ough generalization. he aTrangcS broadly defined
suMect an0rding ample for evolution, Illustration
and embellishments. There is easy pressure OF PioIC-
Inen with that 7, pose which with ripe preraiii
lion and successful experience There l. no hunting
for words yet the vocabulary does not suggest sVon-
ianeity and inspiration so much rs scholarly instincts
refentIye memory and we'll trained structural art
There is also nice taste and discrimination which avoid
Icdocty and slOycuness Of dction a. gentleman IN
etinctvely keeps clear Of litter and dirt
The speaker plainly enters h, wo:k with zeal ana nm
concealed enjoyment lie has caught somewhere long
Years ago ideal OF sacred oratoy so long ago that all
traces Of pupagc and effort mclowed into the graccs
of an unconscious method II is not the enthusiasm o
rcasoner dcmonsta;or who pcSsca for uinml haut
conclusion; il is something oi the play aud idealzaon
OF The artist who is in love with lo art AMI converts hS
labor into Joy. The voice gathers in richness and vol
une There are no LONGER signs OF hatcssncs or un
concern Now and fine ejaculation Of spontaneous
tho pln
corrugated ceiling The eyes have come forth from their
shade and ana gather u,c and nIe like car
buucles in these mlaSoncl crises. Aud these crises
are not articles 1poit- although they represent
doep underlying AIT delivery OF which the speaker has
long grown unconscious. The argument il kept clear
and ornament used with spaIimg band. Here and
there are stretches OF symmetrical lncly modelled para
eraphs. All the way along the O0isam and J'tsam ot
wide readiug.-ouchc- from m"er2hy. history! eira'nS
from the great poets al deity into the texture of
the growing discourse.
A LITTLE WEARY At 1HE END.
The voice disappoints in the sustained yigor and
abundance Of its mOauation and intonatlons Indeed
the preacher adjusts himself from the onts" 70 the
preliminary stages OF his work that it constitutes all the
way growing surprise and chmactcI1c OAly, In the
peroraon fires far spent and resource Of voice
and brain little 3VerdTGwn," as the bankers say And
while the great masters Of oat"ry wind up with snap
or counsel highly wrought conclusion the Doctor came
in rather fcoby and tamcy He uses gesture freely and
generally with both taste ana expression BOh hahoS
and arms are Piled with folded arms, one IL
reminded of Booth I'm HoHrt Then the hands extended
upward and quiveng In the air IN the heat OF delivery
recalls Edward Everett In Ms most mpassioned moods.
Dr. Newman incal descendant Of the school OF old
time forensic o,oquencc aud pulpit oIaory, school
rapidly passing away and being supplancd by epgram
,nstc nervous, ncisyo writing and speaking OF an
almost trcadbaIe honesty and simplicity OF method.
But Dr. Newman and mcn Ike him VIII never he without
,lar1a for the multitude aud IT viii DC well for the
Young and rising preachers not 10 lose sight Of the efcc
tiyeuess OF their method.
TIE AMENITIES or LANDLORDS.