St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-18
IN A COSBY vein.
The Diverse Views OF AmbaS-
sailors Of the
Lord.
Clergymen Who Attempted to
Get Even With Critical
Laymen. ~
.
Old Nicklebit, Sister Allegro
and Brot her Bassoon
Protest.
News Items and Notes From
the City's Religious
Circles. 3


oldfashioned enough to believe that the
church was founded for the purpose of
reconciling the world to God, and that
all preaching should have for It's pri-
mary object the salvation of immortal
souls. There are other ministers whose
highest conception of their duty in the
pulpit is the presentation each Sunday
of graceful, philosophical essay on
some Live" or burning" question of
the day. There is still another class of
divines who seem to think that
the pulpit was intended to pro-
vide them with an arena in which
to air their personal grievances,
and make wOrdy havoc OF real and fan
cied foes. To such preachers the
chance for 'getting even" by ia liking
back at an absent adversary is far more
precious than the opportunity to pour
comfort into the visiting soul of some
weary and anxious listener, No one is
more ready than the average clergyman
to decry personalities in journalism.
even when the illusions are richly mer-
tied; but there are few newspapers of
the present day which can hold candle
to certain preachers in the line of thinly-
yelled innuendo.
Let us enter the church of one of these
elucidatOrs of divine mysteries. The
sermon has been about the duties of
Christian giving, and the subject has
been handled in manner more or less
able. Presently the reverend speaker
passes clear out of the range of gener-
alities, and then the fun begins.
sFthnrn
brethren, who contribute literally, it
may be out of your penury; of such l
can only speak in terms of highest
praise. Feline purrs of satisfaction
from some of the audience.] There are
others whose niggardly donations, were
they made known, would bring blush
of chagrin, it not of shame, even to
their case-hardened cheeks" PLEASED
sensation among the sheep, L. e. the
liberal giverS; CONSERVATION on the
part of the goats. 2
Soon afterward the sermon comes to
an end, and the congregation files out.-
"Well. old Nickelbit got it straight
from the shoulder this time" "Yes.
the old fellow caught it hot; pity he
wasn't there to hear the minister go for;
him. 4s
Such are the comments we overhear-
old Nickelbit wasn't there, after all Per-
haps he had been excoriated before, and
thought it the best part of, yalor to stay,
away. We walk hOme,, wondering how
old Nickelbit would have enjoyed the
''roaSt" had he been present.
A few Sundays glide away, and we.
visit that church again. This time it
appears that the minister has been en-
gazing in a tilt with some well-meaning
critic who had the temerity to offer a
suggestion or two concerning that bone
of contention-the church choir. Ac-
cordingly, on towards the peroration,
the congregation are solemnly asked:
''What shall be said of person who
will willfuliy place an obstacle in the
patn of those who are working hard to
improve the musical portion of the
ServiceS?'
Again we lipger to catch the criti-
ciSms of the departing church-goers.
81 guess the minister meant that rap
over the knuckles for Brother Bassoon.
Did you see how he bluShed as red as
carrOt?''
No; thought 1t was Miss Allegro
who was aimed at; noticed that she
fidgeted with her bonnet:strings during
the sermon"
Both speakers were probably wrong.
Sister Allegro and Brother BaSSoOn
were nervous, but guiltless. The real
eyil-dOer sat perfectly unmoved
throughout the TRADE, upheld by ada
tnantine nerve, not a muscle of his face
betraying that he was conscious of
being pilloried.
1t would be easy to give more Illus
trationS, but they are unnecessary. Let
us rather ask, in all kindness. what
good does this sort of preaching ever
do? Does it not, on the contrary, pro-
duce much harsh feeling and tend to
widen breaches between pastor and
people? Does it not, also, look as if the
preacher thought more of his own per-
sOnal dignity and self-impOrtance than
of the souls under his charge? 1t is not
a manly mode of warfare, and it does
not foster that mutual respect and es-
| TEEN which should always prevail. Be-
| sides, the persons singled out for such
attacks are generally conspicuous by
their absence, and so never hear the re-
| marks intended for them; or, il they do
percnance hear them, they are pretty
| apt to pass the coat on to some Neigh
boring sinner, whom they fondly think
it fits better than themselves.
I wish that some of the good religious
| people of my acquaintance, who still
| cling to their old-time prejudice against
theater-going, could have seen 1.-THE
| Old Homestead" at the Harris week be-
fore last. A sight of the sweet and
| wholesome play, with it's many true-to-
| life touches OF nature and its mirth-prO-
| voking situations, would have gone a
| long way towards curing these pious
souls of their austere pessimism in re-
| gard to everything connected with the
| stage. The old sweeping condemna-
| tionS. and the antiquated expressions of
| horror against things theatrical, are
| happily dying out. The more liberal
minded Christians of the present gener-
| alton have made the discovery that the
! dramatic world bears strong reSem
| blance to the church itself. in that it
may be likened to a net containing
| good and bad fish, or to field SOwn with
| wheat and tares. Who could have been
| made one hair s-breadth the worse, who
| would not rather have have felt himself
| or herself better, wiser and happier for
| couple of hours spent in the society of
| Joshua Whitcomb aud Aunt Matildy?
What sermon preached In any IF the
| pulpits yesterday taught more forcibly
TIE VIRTUES WHICH 20 10 make up
| Christian character than did the sweet
tempered, supplemented New England
farmer? Who could see his cheerful
ness, his charity, his readiness to place
| the best construction upon the actions
| of others, his simple faith in the gem
| of goodness inherent in his fellow men,
however unprepossessing to the outer
| eye. and not be made more charitable,
more forbearing, more truthful for the
| spectacle? Thanks to the ennobling in
fluence of plays like 1.-THE Old Home
| stead." the ancient, fossilized antago-
nism to the stage is fast becoming ex.
tinct.
Why should the ordinary citizen who
happens to own a horse and vehicle be
so churlish about Offering seat to his
less opulent neighbor whom he passes
on the road? | am not proud, and thank
fully accept lift from anybody, be he
| deacon, doctor or dustman; but, alas
| such wayside courtesies are conspicu-
GUS for their exceeding rarity. The
other day was Flooding YEARLY home