Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-05
WORK OF 4 CLERGYMAN.
ONE OF TIE CLOTH CHATS A
WHILE ON THE SUBJECT.
Many Demands Made Upon His Time.
Always Subject to Sudden Calls-1Iethod
Every hing.

Always Subject to Sudden CaIls-1Iethod
of Making q sermon-Keeping Track of
Every hing.
The central figure was prominent clergy
man Of New York His pleasant face was
scanned with the lines OF thought, while his
pen scratching rapidly over the paper was
laying the framework of one of those brainy,
vigorous sermons which have been SO often
reported. Looking up and observing a visi-
tor, whom he had been too busy TO notice be-
fore, he courteously motioned him to a seat
and proceeded TO the completion Of his task.
''Yeu catch me in a busy time," he said,
pleasantly, as the pen ceased moving and he
threw himself back in the chair with an air
of relief. THE general public seems to be
under the impression that we ministers have
nothing to do bat to laugh and grow stout,
preach sermon or two and enjoy the good
things of this world" said the clergyman.
This idea, strange to say, is shared by some
members Of our own congregations, who, If
they took the interest in the church they
should, would soon learn to know better
Not long ago l was accosted as ca-ne
out Of my study one morning by an old
parishioner Of mine with the remark, 'Ah,
how do you do! What do you expect TO find
to do that viii enable you to xiii the time
between now and next SundayF
This, am sorry to say, expresses the idea
formed By the masses of a clergyman's life
Idle! No, indeed, we are not. l have been
in both the business and Christian world for
over twenty-five years, and l never worked
SO hard in my life as | have since became
minister
A CLERGYMAN'S WORK.
"1he world of laborers and mechanics are
crying out for less hours, yet we work from
fourteen to nineteen hours day, Sundays
included. To be sure, there is q certain adj
vantage in our business-for such / must
term tin the fact of its not being monoto-
nous. We generally try to spend our morn
ings in our studies, but we are subject TO SO
many interruptions that l do my best think
ing and almost all my writing after 0 p. H.,
and have for nearly twenty years. We are
public men, the servants OF the people, and
should be at their disposal at any hour OF the
day or night. l have always made myself
easy Of access, and hold myself in readiness
to extend sympathy or do good where good
can be done. We are subject to sudden calls
for funerals, baptisnls, weddings and sick
calls, and are expected to lend an ear to the
wall Of sorrow from whomever it may
come
''As minister you arc justly expected to
give consolation. To do this you must give
the matter your undivided attention. Then
comes the preparation of our sermons. This
necessarily takes time, and 4 great deal Of it.
1t takes thought and study to enable a cler-
gyman to present to his congregation Sun
day after Sunday end year after year
thoughts that Will reach their hearts, and
preach sermons which will not pail upon
them, and do moro harm than good by turn.
ing them from the church with a feeling
akin to disgust at the minister's poverty OF
expression or meagerness Of thought.
''Wh hat time l can get from my sick calls
and other drains upon my time l devote 10
study, but l have not an idle moment, and
have no opportunity for social calls what
ever. Ny method of making q sermon IS this:
In the first place / settle on theme early in
the week, read about it, investigate it and
think about it until the inspiration seizeS ne
to write, and then it is ny habit to write it
at one sitting 1t is done by simply letting
my thoughts accumulate. Everything
man reads, sees and thinks about in his life
and travels is held by the cumulative power
which stores up ideas. There are occasions
when a sermon comes like flash and is seen
from beginning to end by pure Inspiration,
and some of the best sermons lever preached
have come in that way, suggested by some
thing l had seen or somebody had said"
VITAL TO SUCCESS.
Are these studies all retrospective, deal
ing entirely with the traditions of the pastE'
They should not be, but l regret to say
that in some cases they are, and this accounts
for the failure some men make as ministers
of the Gospel. They seem to forget that the
world is progressing, that every year the
people to whom they preach are becoming
better informed on al subjects; that the
minds of the young, Ike sponges, are absorb
ing all the knowledge they can, and that
each generation is becoming better informed
than the last. These points are vital to the
success of a clergyman. He must not only
keep abreast of the times, but, if possible, in
advance Of them, as a school teacher must
ahead of his class Once let your congrega-
ton pass you in this education, so that they
look down upon you from the height Of their
superior knowledge, and your usefulness Is
destroyed. The narrowness of your views Is
at once detected by their better trained in
tellects, and the truths YOU may tell them
lose their value. a congregation look to
their minister for guidance and for help. and
it is folly for the blind TO lead those who can
see or the weak to assist the strong.
Not only that, b.t how is minister 60
ing TO preach telling sermon on the wrongs
existing in the world unless be reads about
them, hears of them or sees thems The read
ing minister is obliged to do in this day to
keep track of these things and watch the
world is prodigious. The reviews, magazines
and new books, to say nothing Of the ltera-
ture Of the past, CT which you spoke, that
minister must necessarily read would take
all the time of an ordinary man. I read his
tory in its bcoadeSt sense. | read everything
pertaining to the world Of all nations secular
and religious | do not think q mans heart
can be enlarged or his sympathies be where
they ought to be unless he becomes &C.
quainted with the affairs of this vast uni
verse, 10 all OF which lie can well apply the
Scriptures ard find in each incident 4 con-
firTnation of the Word Of God. To 60 this re-
Quires q student and thinker, and O think
ing man can never be an idle one. We often
work the hardest when to outsiders We seem
idla-r-New York Tribune
CuasIaa.ay the ras..ass u.a thar a.nc
tenths Of The actors lead. the wonder n la:
they are not more c. the mercy o. theatrical
Spectators than II toe casa One q them
said 10 NE las: winter;
The working actor has no business to
NARY, for he can never have q home.
People talk OF stock companies, end NY
friends outside OF the profession tel ne that
ought to Join q stock company, 30 as 70 be
able 70 I've IL New York all winter and have
home OF ny own Do you know how many
applications Daniel FrohUlan had last sum