Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-22
and after that we had in succession three
Presbyterian ministers settled over the Con-

Ifesosterian ministers settled over the Con-
gregational church and a. thev left us they
went back and Joined the Pres byierian church
Wen now Ii seems 10 me that while the ,pres
ident OF Brown University and the prasideur
Of the Theological Seminary az Newton
mlgh' see some OF the difficulties in joining
the Congregationa!isis, | want 10 know ex.
actiy where | stand and what particular
change of theology is contemplated and who
IS To De installed over the church | was con.
nected with for a third of a century and what
hey renouneed when they went back and
took the Presbyterian pulniIs again and
therefore wished if could, by The sIightes,
possible impulse, start that bali in
molten. agreed gladly with the president
OF Brown University that you cannot make
a perfect union and II is not desirable You
cannct plane men down 10 the exact length
aud height and breadth, but when religious
denominations are settling and unsettiing an /
rfseiiilng and the same preachers talking the
sam- theology and the same kind of ductrine
every dav from pulpts, | eontes. il looks 10
me like, if am permitted, this bt ing club
and not a church, like child's play. TAP.
plsuse
In further discussion of this subject, Blaine
said
went to one church all through nv boy
hood and ex-necessilate when | came u New
England | went into the Congregational
church. | would rather have kept in the
Pret"yterian. am frank 10 say, therefore,
that address myselt to botn. Now do not
thnk the Cong9e gati0nai Club, the presiden,
Il Brown University or the distinguished
frlend whom | admire for many reasons, the
president of the the theological seminary
hardly think that any OF these gentlemen of
the ministry or any of US in the pews. with
varying degrees OF pIety and at times no piety
al all, can believe that preaching of the
word today is effective as il ought 10 oe.
have my theory about that. Ny theory is
that literally spe king. the gospel is not
preached The command was 90 and preach
the gospel. We will undertake to say that
when you put non conductor, like pile of
manuscript, between you and an audience,
you are not preaching the gospel-you are
reading it. What would you think of a
lawyer at the bar With mans life depending
on what he could say to twelve sworn Jury
men II he should hand out pile of manu-
script and begin to read to them? What
would you think of a man in legislative as
sembty, who wanted TO convince his fellow
members OF the policy or impolicy OF any
measure If h. began to read to them? Every
one knows it would empty the hall directly
Now | want TO guard myself Heaven for
bid should want eXtempuraneous sermons
There Is no speech or s"rmon on religious
subjects that was ever worth a fig if it were
merely extemporaneously. There is a vast
difference between speaking extempore and
absence of notes. Nor do mean that a man
should commit a sermon. No one ever got
hold Of an audience in this world that was
trying to REM mber phrase in which to ad-
IL hrt,
audience who does not know where he begins,
what he Is gong to say, and where he will
end, and | ask any one of you if it doesn't
take about four times as much re Election and
labor TO prepare speech or sermon that is to
be delivered without notes, as it does to
@Site that 50 easilv read
The speaker aptly illustrated his meaning
at this point by an anecdote IN relation to
John Quincy Adams during his career in
Congress 80 years ago. The old man was so
eloquent and struck such blows rhetorically
and without warning, that George Evans ad-
mitte0 that his rtj0iner to an anticipated
attack OF the Massachusetts member, con-
sumed six weeks in preparation. In conclud-
ing Mr.. Blaine said:
| want txtempore speeches in the pulpit
that minister Of eloquence has been six
weeks preparing, and il YOU should 40 to all
the great places IN which they have been
gathered up in the penticustal season. Won
will never see the incorporation {, f manu-
sc lpt. | would have such influence as " hit
field had in the opening field | would have
such influence as Robert Cushman made in
the first season delivered on New England
soil | would have such influences as Paul
eXeFted before men Of Athens would have
invitation of that highest OF all spiritual eln-
quence when our Divine Master spoke to
them on the mount.