The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-08
RESPECTFULLY, TO TIE CLERGY

go, Did you ever know prayer"
Never knowd nothink. SIR
mot so much one short prayer?''
"No. sir; nothnk AT ali. Mr. Cnadbands he wos
prayin wunst at Mr.. Snagsbys, aud heerd him,
put he sounded as II ne wos speakin' to hisseit
make out noIhDk on 1t. Different times there
wos other gen'lmen come down 10 Tom all
roiher WINS prayed wrong. and all mostly
sounded TO be talkin' TO themselves. or passin'
blame on the t'others. and not talkin' to us. Ne
wos all about. BLEAK House.
There is no other profession so respected
and loved by mankiI d at large as the minis
terial. No class of men is so honOred aud
revered as the clergy And this is right. The
influence OF the gospel teachers, even out
side of religious impressment, tends to NOR
atty, responsibility. virtue. The occasional
discovery of an unworthy wearer OF the
cloth is no compromise of the profession or
of the thousands OF truly good members of
it. We are not, then, deficient in respect for
the pulpit, even though yenturing word OF
criticism upon the methods of some of those
who occupy il.
The difference between preaching the Cos.
pei OF Christ and advocating the peculiar
tenets of sect is worth discussing. The one
is all important-is the other 500 There is
no question among Christians as to the ne.
cessity of embracing the Gospels there a5-
solute need of mans believing in this or
that denomip a tional dogma? 1t is essential
that we bow in spirit to the Kings it es-
sential by what forn or ceremony we mani
fest our reverence? And IL any particular
me- de is requisite which of all the various
stcts have fallen upon it?
Are the dividing lines between denomina-
tons promotive of Christian fellowship?
Are the ministers advancing charity and
brotherly love when inspiring denomina-
tiopal zeal? When establishing in the minds
OF his Pensioners faith that certain form
ule of his sect is indispensable to Christian
perfection, is he not also manufacturing
doubt, unchari,ableness and intolerance
against others?
Is it not true that many OF the clergy
spend more time in vain glorious essays
at revealing the mysterious and pro-
claiming their own interpretations OF
uncertain Iasages of Scripture, than in
expounding the beautiful and glorious
story of the cross upon which all Christian
denominations can agree? Do not many
pretend deeper insight into the unfathom-
less mysteries of the Godhead than is ac-
corded to human prescience?
Is it not true that actual animosities have
often been engendered between neighboring
congregations by beiligerant doctrinal SER
mons? Are such snimosities conductive to
growth of Christian fellowship? Meantime,
while these naughty discussions are stirring
kHo ~ fl,a H.
man, what is becoming OF the
poor JOS" the less erudite,
the unprofound, the hum BILE of the spiritual
fock? Is it any wonder if one is heard how
and then TO say, He prayed q lot, but
couldn't make out nothink on it?' Or, OF
others, that they all mostly sed as the
t'other wuns pray ed wrong. and all mostly
sounded to be a talkin' to themselves or q
passing blame on the t'others, and not q
talkin' to u.s."
With uncovered head in presuming tc
comment upon the methods of presenting
the Gospel to mankind, we suggest that less
doctrinal opinionatiyeness and more atten
lion to the narrative of Christ's words and
works, would do mere to win hearts Il
Him. The inquirer goes to one church
to-day and hears certain intricate
propositions asserted. Next Sabbath from
sncther pulpit he hears the same passage o
Scripture differently construed. The thirt
Sunday the learned divine of still anothe
denomination sets at naught the othe
theories, and the inquirer, reviewing tn
three, with his head between his hands, i
ready 10 say with poor 10, ''they all mostl,
sed as the tother wuns prayed wrong"
''or passing blame on the tothers and no
tslkin to u.s.
Itnsgine an army in the field under
great leader who, though invisible, has Is
sued his command which his officers are +
give to the hosts. Imagine the commander
of the various regiments passing over th
! important lines that point out the march
! the discipline to be observed and the arms