The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-15
SHORT SERMONS.

SAM JONES is picturesque. So, II might
with truth be added, is cowboy. Sam
Jones is useful, in his place. So, also 1t
may be said is cowboy. Not all that a
cowboy does or is, is either useful or pic
turesque. This is the case with Jones.
We are thankful for the good he does. We
are sorry that in common with us all, he
labors under the disadvantage OF being
finite. II in his moments of weakness he
kicks at preachers whose views OF duty do
not coincide with his own, we are dis
posed TO be lenient in our criticism. The
course he 80 follows gratiiles him, pleases
the crowd and does hot hurt the preachers.
Centred Baptist.
ALI the popular measures adopted by
our non-Catholic brethren in making relg-
ious exercises attractive might well be used
by ourselves with much benefit to religion
and to congregations II is certainly not
un-C Catholic or irreligious to utilize the
pleasant and beautiful in religious matters.
One feature that might he added to some
of our churches with propriety and benefit
is an attractive sermon by competent
preacher. All OF us are not so eager to be
enlightened that we can listen with profit
to u mere formal sermon delivered by
poor speaker. Sinners and converts must
be attracted 10 the churches, not by side
shows or sensations, but by a proper inn
provement in what il essentially proper
and regular. A careful study in elocution
and an intelligent study OF English litera-
ture would help very much in making the
regular sermons delivered in some churches
a source Of pleasure and spiritual profit
Catholic Progress.
fN,,r ,.a,.ea ,.....Ia Tho fnot that tL,
Raleigh cashier was "a great Sunday
dispatches herald the fact III il was fact,
which we have no doubt that all the
other rogues were great sinners and never
made any profession OF religion? We are
too apt to be deceived by such statements,
and indulge u suspicion that prominent
Sunday-school workers won't do TO trust.
Thousands upon thousands of enthusiastic
workers in the Sunday-school have lived
honestly all these years, and never been
mentioned by the ncwsmonger. Let us
not forget them when the dispatches bring
us the sad news that one Sunday-school
man has run oil with other peoples money.
Moreover, ii there were not so many hon.
est Sunday-school men, the cashier intent
on stealing would assume some other role.
Ii il were generally ndcrstood-which II
is not-thai profane man will not steal, the
last one OF these rougish officers would go
toswcaring like sailors. - Wesleyan Chrididn
AdrOcate
TnE supreme court deserves the hearty
thanks OF all lovers Of law and order for its
decision on the SUNDAY closing law in II.
Louis Il puts new life under the ribs OF
encouragement and Is a great triumph for
Temperance. All the friends OF temper
ance rejoice, both for the immediate re-
form they expect this decision
| TO make in the city and also for the
impetus il will give in the State at large TO
| the cause Of temperance. The opinion
brings relief TO, thousands Of weary
watchers, who rejoice in another stride
forward IN good cause. We are confident
that the law, enforced In IT. Louis, will DC
u great blessing 10 the saloOn-keeper.
themselves. IL will surely better the
morals and be great benefit and blessing
TO the city in every way.-NiS- Continent
OuR own experience as nearer is that
a sermon Is always enlivening. positive
| pleasure, when the preacher Is In earnest.
We have found that our interest in q ser
mon IL not wholly determined by lis intel
| lcctual strength, by the amount Of inior-
nation II imparts, or by the excellence OF
It's literary finish, or by the gracefulness Of
| its vocalization. For us, a sermon may
have all these solid merits and vet be
dull" On the other hand. IL may be
| defective In all OF these important regards,
and vet keep US awake and hold our inter
est To the last word. II the preacher IL
conscious OF his work, II he Is inwardly
thinking how fine his performance Is,
| or, n he Is charmed with his own utter.
ance, listening To the music Of his own
/ voice, he will be dull even II his discourse
Is frcigh,ed with good matterand put with
/ Ciccfonian grace. II, on the contrary, he
il doing the best ne can do, and doing his
work with the sole purpose Of touching
the hearts and influencing the conduct Of
his hearers, his every word. however light
in It's freight Of matter. and however lack.
ing in scholastic merit will hold us In un.
tagging interest We are reporting the
results OF our own experience as a nearer
Of the word; Is u not the general expert
cnce7-C Christian L<dfer Unin,Tsdiisi).
TnE Jews, without the bcneRcent inilu.
enccs Of their Sabbath, could never have
stood the strain which they were subject
cd 10; they would have been extinguishcd
long ere this. IL was in verify the heaven.
" angel who brought them rest, recupcra.
ton, consolation, renewed fortitude and
made them on the whole the race with
the greatest average Of longevity. What
Is their position nov? Their Sabbath Il
swallowed up by the dcvouring pursuit Of
the goods Of this world. With many Il
may be the primo Necessity Of obtaining
the necessities Of life. Tho Sunday, what
do they 10 with ~ DO they mako Il q
substitute for the jewel which they have
surrendered No. large number Of
those who voluntarily or Involuntary
spend their Sabbath I'm the shop OF
counting.house sdtk recreation on Sunday
ut the card-tablc. The excitement Of
work h replaced by the increased excite
mcnl In the wake Of gaming. Some Of
thcm may attend lhc sunday morning lee.
turcs, but then they have 20 rise early
forgetting the fact that the night previous
had not been spent ~ the Friday evening
should have been, at home, IN the family
circle, devoted "a rt, business cares dis
caricd. hut probably at ball, an enter
taintment, meeting, or nj the club
house, where rest H. out Of the question a,
much M In the oihcc. Hcbuir Standard.
ATewa Destroyed.
PORTLAND, Ore, May il.-The cniir
I NJ