The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-04-21
The Influence Of Preaching.
Providence Journal

No lecturer or political orator or
speaker upon literary topics, whatever
his ability, could continue yeer after
year to address the same congregation
every week and maintain his reputa-
ton. Yet this is what is done with in-
creasiDg reputation by many preachers,
by some of even ordinary ability. The
average congregations of the most
gifted preachers equal the occasional
audiences of the most popular lecturer
or orator, and their sermons, when
printed as literature, hold their own
with the popular history Or novel. The
fact is that all favorable conditions
unite to give the preache, an unrivaled
opportunity of addressing and influen-
cling his fellow-men. He speaks
from an exalted position. Even when
denied his ancient claim to be prophet,
an oracle of God, OF teacher Of divine
truth, he has the authority of the
church behind him. He speaks of the
most easily moved Of all human feel
ings-the religious emotions. Bo!h the
fears and the hopes, often the con-
science and the reason of bis hearers
are upon his side. He deals with sub.
jecis which in all times have been cons
sidered sacred and which his hearers
have been taught from infancy TO re-
gard as Of transcsndeDt Importance.
The preachers vision has been ex-
tended and his range of topics enlarged.
Once he dealt mainly with the past or
with eternity; now he deals more freely
with the practical problems of the pres
ent life. No doubt tho pulpit is still
IN, oor%o;y, 1Sropftp-o opo,, tn tho oborro
of narrroWness.
II it ever seems to be barring the
way, it is only that mans vision may
have time to make itself clear The
advocates of any reform or haresy have
cause, therefore, to be patient with the
clergy, and to be confident that they
will be found on the side of truth when
the truth really becomes plain. Even
if the religion of Jesus Christ should
have TO be materially modified, it it
should eventually give place to relig-
ion of humanity, it will be found that
nothing else has contributed 80 much
to make better faith possible as the
religion that has been supplanted.
There is an unconscious evolution GO
ing on within the church, IS in the
world outside, and its preachers arc all
contributing in spite Of themselves to
the "one far-off divine event to which
tho whole creation m0ves." Heretics
or saints, we are all probably building
better than we know. Further than
this, preaching has all important intiu-
ence in educating and refining the Peo.
pie.
The clergy have largely created the
f~,- ~, lr f,fs
ing, and the general Intelligence 50
characteristic OF New England people.
For many years they were the main
educators, they filled the professors
chairs in the colleges, their carefully
written sermons commanded attention
AMI moIded public opinion. Their
place has:been taken by specialists in
the colleges and by journalists in the
press, but it should not be forgotten
that the pulpit has been Influential in
creating the demand 10 which these
public servants minister.
The growth OF journalism and other
great educational forces has narrowed
the preachers sphere, but the one left
him is large enough 10 satisfy his aspi-
rstions. 70 discover the eternal law s
of right and wrong and to strive to
bring human conduct into accord with
the highest standards, to speak to the
conscience OF man and convince him oi
his sinfulness, 10 awaken aspirations
after a nob!er life and TO make that life
alluring, TO disclose the temptations
that besot mans path at every step and
to iBfuse into his heart courage auC
wisdom to resist them, is now tht
preachers sphere. 1t is when coniinint
himself most closely to this work tina
the pulpit is more influential.