Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-28
BURDETTE IN THE PULPIT.
The Famous Humorist Preaching il
Chicago.

From the Chicago Inter-Oeean, 18th.
The true humorist is he who impresses
the world as much with the laughter he
provokes as with the tears he draws from
his listeners. He presents the ridiculous
and the sublime alike, and in doing so be-
comes impressive.
Robert J. Burdette is such an impressive
speaker Pathos fingers behind his smile,
and laughter is courted by tears. This
combination proves the great convincing
power to man. A man convinced by dint
of impersonal example listens uncon-
sclously to the noblest sermon, for it is the
simplest and most powerful
That Brother Burdette should therefore
preach is less surprising than one would
think at first acquaintance with the fact.
Bob Burdette's funniest lectures are always
sermons. He IS the one humorist, the one
lecturer on the American platform who
can soothe human hearts, who can with a
few words impress moral upon his hear
ers without apparently attempting to do
so. That he is able to preach is therefore
self-evident; that he should be fond of
preaching the word of God is not surpris-
ing. Nor is it to be wondered at that the
people are as anxious to hear him preach
in the pulpit as they are happy to hear
him speak on the rostrum.
Some 1000 people witnessed Mr.. Bur
dettes debut as a preacher in the West
Sunday night They went to Grace NJ. E.
Church, on La Sale avenue, early in the
evening. They went soon after tea to Sc
cure seats Some of them who came an
hour before the services began, found that
even then they were late. They found
every seat taken, and were content to
stand. They envied the more fortunate
late-comers who were given seats on the
platform. Long before the services began
the doors were locked on the inside, and
church-goers for once found the house Of
God closed in their faces, with no explana.
ton from the Cerberus within who guarded
the monster portals.
Mr.. Burdette spoke simply, yet with
great feeling. He was serious, but at
times he could not resist the temptation tc
say truths and preach morals in a vein
lighter than the sanctuary is accustomed
to. The people enjoyed the innovation
and laughed. But the sermon was good
1t was rarely good. 1t was model for
professional preachers to follow. 1t was
sensible, forcible, direct An old man
could profit by it, and every boy could
understand it. 1t illustrated the fact that
the man who has made all America laugh,
and who has made the heart swell with
the pathos that Turks behind the purest
humor, was competent to lead the confd-
ing and erring lambs as a shepherd leads
his flock.
"The text was appropriate to all, and
was found in ? Timothy IL, l: "Thou,
therefore, my son, be strong in the grace
embarrassment in Brother Burdette's de-
livery. His preaching during the past
summer at Merton Square, Pa, had evil
IDENTIFY prepared him for the pulpit and
given his speaking a grace even greater
than is customary with hin when telling
of the pilgrimage of the Funny Man. !"
He was attired in dark grayish-blue suit,
with plain white tie, and looked more
serious than Bob Burdette usually does.
He won the audience by his informality.
He seemed to take every one into his con-
fidence at once.
And when he said "my boy" and ''don't
SOW VIII OdlS every one IOOheu 10 nILn,
not only as a spiritual adviser, but as a
father. He spoke against the sowing OF
wild oats. He wanted no morals tam
pered with in old age or youth.
He wanted no man to live to be 50
years of age before he was % years
old Neither did he want a man to try
and regain thirty years of misspent life
within five years. He pictured railway
train losing days time in order to make
a spirit of few minutes. He pictured the
lives of martyrs, and told of Christ's mar
tyrdom in dying for his enemies. He
wanted all his hearers to live in Christ, to
remember Christs noble teachings and
profit by His God-like life.
There was no evidence of the profess
sional humorist in Mr.. Burdettes perora-
ton. 1t was noble effort, inspired, grace
full, impassioned, earnest, forcible and
touching. 1t fell from the lips of the
speaker like as from one inspired, "like one
whose voice sobs in plaintive tone that
smites the silence tenderly."
After the sermon many came forward
to greet Mr., Burdette and thank him for
the noble words he had spoken to cheer
them and lead them on to moral victory.