Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-14
Popular Preachers

Surprise 10 sometimes expressed that
preachers like Mr.. Beecner, DR.. ralmaga,
Mr.. Muuha1. Mr. Moody ana Mr.. Sam
JOnesdraw immense congregations, while
many other preachers OF unquestioned
/ ability and undoubted piety are not
always able to interest the regular mem
hers Of their respective churches. Tue
surprise is natural. but the explanation
Is not difficult. The popular preacher
studies human nature as we'll as the
Bible. His first aim is TO get people to
Listen 10 him. because be knows very well
that be cannot do them good il he cannot
reach them. H. adopts a popular style
OF pr' aching, and talks about things
with which people are familiar, and in
which tn y are Interested. At times he
may appear to be almost irreverent. and
at others too sensational, but whatever
his manner or his thought may be, he
keeps steadily in view the tact that if be
can only hold the attention OF his audi
ence he Will be able To tell some truths
and teach some lessons that will be pro-
ductive OF good results.
DIR. Talmage is regarded as a sensa-
tional preacher, and, perhaps, not I'M
justly so; but where is the preacher who
IS listened to more eagerly, or who has so
large a congregations 1t is true that hi,
listeners sometimes laugh and sometimes
cry, but be succeeds IN putting thoughts
into their minds which do them good.
They remember what be saws because
they understand him. He takes hold OF
tlings which belong TO everyday lie, and
treats them in such way as to make
people think and to determine to lead bet
ter and cleaner lives.
Learned essays on Scriptural subjects
and doctrnal sermons doubtless have
their uses but the preachers who confne
themselves to them will talk to sleeping
congregations or empty pews. There is no
use to try TO make people accept what
thep don't want. In a contest of that
kind the preacher is certain to be second
best. 1t is an easy matter for preacher
to determine whether he is accomplishing
much or not. If his church is filed at ev
cry service with eager and interested lis
teners he is justified in concluding that he
is doing good work. A thin congregation
is warning that he is making a mistake
of some sort, and il he IS really anxious
to do good he will try to ind out what the
mistake is, and endeavOr to correct 1t.
There are some preachers who have so
much pride in their intellectual gifts and
their learning that they would rather have
The reputation OF preaching sermons
which show marked ability than sermons
which interest and attract the masses.
Their lack Of popularity annoys them of
course, but they take refuge in the
thought that they are not understood
that it is their mission to teach only intel
lectual equals. They doubtless accom-
plish Something, but how little compared
to what they might accomplish by put
ting themselves in sympathy with those
they undertake to lead towards a better
litel
Mr.. Beecher is great thinker, but even
he would not be able to attract such i'm
mense congregations II he were not a
man of large sympathies-a great orator,
able to touch the heart as we'll as to con-
vince the mind. There are, however, very
few preachers the equal of Mr.. Beecher.
1.-THE preaching generally were more
like that Of DR.. Talmage, Mr.. Moody and
Mr.. Munhall the churches would be full
always, and full churches mean a
deeper interest in the great truths of the
Christian religion.