Morning journal and courier., 1885-02-28
LECTURES ON PREAoHING.

Last of the Series by Rev. DE-. H. M.
Storrs Before the Yale Theological
Students-A Plain Practical Talk
Solidity VS.. Waverfng-SemethiR TO
Lean UpOn-Manner I'm the Pulpit
Teetering Not Wanted - The Old
Lumberman who Knew what He
Wanted.
The Rev. DIR. b. M. Storrs delivered his
closing lecture of thu course to the theologi-
cal class of Yale college yesterday afternoon
at Marquand chapel His subject was
Preaching and the Religious Aspect of Our
Nation" He said: In my lecture on Thurs
day we looked at some of the hindrances
which have attended religious efforts in this
country Enough of that and viii come
nearer to the subject. It has always been
our habit to contemplate the preacher
in the pulpit. How should he act
and what about his personal appearance and
power in his position. We must see and
feel his power over man, his power to guide
them, to influence them, and not his power
of eloquence, although the eloquent points
will fall in in due time. We must see his
power to hold mems hearts and teach them
what is right as teacher of Gods truth.
What Professor Tyndan said Of the teacher
we must say of the preacher: "He must
make the hardest work agreeable" The
preacher must save the growing lives COM
mitted to his care. In securing sinners o
generally bad man is better to secure than
hypocritical man, because the conversion
of bad and wicked specimen will carry
more weight than in the other case. Let
there be no hollow or uncertain sound among
your people as they walk about. Be to the
core what you appear upon the surface. As
you 60 out to preach the preach your
people will watch your life to see if you
carry out your own convictions. Always be
men superior to your circumstances, and al
ways conqueror when you undertake. A man
with shaky mind is not the proper
person to lead people to their God. The
great solid leadership must not totter or
waver. Your success depends upon your
people being at home with you and not your
being at home with them. Prayer meetings
are frequently spoiled because the minister
is too wise He knows too much and is un.
appreciated.
1 think the personal pronoun has come
to be universally used in preaching, but
when I was put through at Andover
turning with a smile to professor behind
him) was diligently instructed to avoid
egotism We were taught to use the edi-
torial eve" What the earnest preacher
wants is you and he is intent upon having
you.
A theology with bones in it is good. But
your people will not want to live on bones
alone, neither will they want to live on jelly
alone They want solids. They must have
square positive faiths.
The speaker then related the following an
ecdote: "YoQ all remember the story of the
lum herman from the forests of Maine who
came to Portland for minister He was one
of the bosses of gang of woodchoppers. He
told them he didn't want any weak preacher.
Send one,' he said, who believes in hell fire
and birthstone. He's the only one who can
hold them."
up and down in the pulpit He is constant
Iy balancing about on the center and appears
ridiculous. Avoid all such affectation, as it
is held in contempt.
To bring people back to faith use a kind
Of inclined plane rather than one abrupt at
the bottom and slide them back. Heroic
remedies sometimes destroy.
I say to you, my young brethren, that your
whole power in your ministerial work will
depend upon your personal acquaintance
with Christ. Covet sufferings There is no
time when you can know, Christ until you
suffer personally and seek him for relief.
Then you will appreciate Christ. You may
say, "Where will go when I have learned
al these necessitiesP say go anywhere.
When I lived in Cincinnati a young
man wrote me from the Oberlin
He wanted to know where
to go to strike out into the ministry. He
pictured GU. such place as he thought he
ought to begin in. It was in some romantic
country town+with nice congregation made
up of social high standing people and the
like. I-wrote him that such place had not
yet been discovered this side of Jordan and
I advised him to pass over. That man should
have gone into the forest and hewn his own
timber Later 1 saw him diligently working
ut missionary work in Chicago.
All Christian work is weak unless you
pitch in and claim that which is invisible.
Moving on year after year you may become
over the mournful worse before
you The American preacher must be unti1-
ing. You make the nation q Christian ma
ion and the whole world will fall in its
wake. This great nation moving through
he space of time will eventually drag every
hing after it.
In closing the reverend gentleman urged
he young ministers to establish themselves
olidly and firmly when they went out to
)reacb.