Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-15
Prayers and Sermons.

Dr. Burton Advises Study of Litur-
 Sies and Short Prayers-keep the Ser.
 mons Short.
 At Marquand chapel yesterday afternoon Dr. Burton, of Hartford, continued his series of lectures in the Lyman Beecher course ot lectures before the theological students. There was large attendance Dr. Burton said substantially: You will observe that understand myself to be speaking to body of young men most of whom are expecting to enter the ministry of non-hturgical churches such as have ministered in have had considerable fellowship with liturgical churches and can discuss their ways with friendliness. In the first place l wish to speak of prayers. In our Congrega tional service there are three, the invocation, the central and main prayer, called some times the long prayer and the closing prayer. These should be kept distinct. First, because they do cover different fields. They do not lap over upon each other, one being the re- production of the one that went before. The invocation is calling down Gods blessing on what is to follow. It is not to be proceeded by any act. So each prayer has it's character and use and should be put to that use alone. This rule is violated very, very often. At 8 funeral of 8 member of my church 8 pastor of 8 neighboring church was invited to con- duct most of the ceremony, leaving for me the closing prayer. In his prayer he started out into long ten minutes effort in which everything in general was mentioned and the personal traits of the deceased, which hoped he would have left for me, were de- scribed. Such prayers in church weary the people. The first prayer must sound the keynote and the service must be full of it. It is wrong to start on a journey at the highest speed. I don't like to use the word art in connection with religious service, but there are laws of art which should be obeyed unless the whole service be a failure. By proper deference to these rules two fundamental things are secured. That un- derdowing unity and unwasted vigor, that fuil and fresh play of faculty on the part of the congregation. Perhaps some may doubt that unity of service may be secured by those various preamblings leading gradually up to the end. Look at the great liturgies. Take the prayer book of the Protestant Episcopal church and observe how that undertakes to get congregations on to the Lords supper From the first of it we could not surmise that the supper was coming at all. There-is a prayer; the collect for the day; the epistle and gospel for the day; then prayer for the church and finally the notes for the holy table begin to break in.
 Now consider the long prayer, so-called. While you may keep on calling the long prayer long, if you wish, see that it is not. found that I was being timed by three of my congregation who were not too devout to take ont their watches and not too timid to tell me of it. I thought I would reform but when closed my eyes in prayer time was forgotten. I then left out all but two or three essential items and exemplifed them, but found the exemplfcation was too great. I then would place an open watch on the pulpit and look at it when I closed my eyes and when opened them. But even then would lose myself in the prayer and all no ton of time would escape me. Finally got 8 stenographic reporter to take down my prayers in order that might see what had been doing in those minutes. He reported them faithfully. There I saw the whole prayer in black and white. most of it being black I then shortened down to ten minutes at the longest. am constrained to keep certain brevity, being convinced that this nineteenth century cannot pray more than ten minutes. They can keep their heads down, but don't pay attention, and their thoughts for the last half of the prayer it would not be profitable to explore. The growing opinion is now that while a sermon is not to be belittled, the worship should be amply provided for more than in the old time. A sermon should usually not exceed thirty minutes. If at the end 1t finds itself in the midst of heavenly gale let it sail on and the people won't grumble In prayers the minister should conceive God very distinctly and make the whole move ment out toward God. I sometimes think it would be well to put form of God fashion ed as holy art can before the eyes of the minister. It would certainly be better to pnt the whole attention upon such an idealized form than upon the congregation. A clear vision of God lifts you above human fright which is apt to be severe on timid ministers It produces self abasement necessary in true di0fiaH1 fo dIvy simplicity. I would advice much familiarity with the liturgies of the church at large. It is good thing to study them. You need not go under bondage to them, you need not reproduce them in their form. Read them and catch their devout spirit, feed your religious imagination on their old time asso- citations having in them the voice of long gone generations They will sbate your ec- centricities and make you fit to lead in wor- ship. Again it is we'll to consider public prayers beforehand if you would have them what they should be. Don't write or mem- orize them. It Is well to premeditate and pre- arrange them in their outlines and leave the cures brevity and thoughtfulness, saves us from digressions and omissions. Digest your scriptural lesson thoroughly. Lat yoRr prayer start from that. Pastoral visitation makes good leaders of worship. How can a man be self-conseious
 
 from his pastoral visits that down there be- fore him is a mother anxious for her sons welfare a man so poor he cannot sleep, poor families, and all about you men and women full blown for the gospel. Study the bible.
 will speak of the minister's management of other Larts of the service at another time. presume you would all like to have me give you recipe for managing your cheirs and presume the choirs would like to have me oive tham a recina for managing you never had any trouble with 8 choir. It is not necessary for 8 minister to have 9 technical knowledge of music. If man is an intsrmeddler, sort of a picayune Pope, of course he will have trouble.
 Congregational churches do not believe in priesthood. They will admit of quite wide diversity of the mere order of service. In my church many things are done that did not used to be. If there is any little change not tGo merked that think will help add to the general sfeot am apt to sIip it in and give them nibble at it. Don't swamp the people with innovations in a food. Dr. Burton will lecture this afternoon.