The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-06
What Others Say.

"Our Preacher is Just the man we
need. He will take in our town there
is so much dash and style about him..
The preacher referred to was not St.
Paul, neither was he John Wesley, but
man who is now preaching in the
State of California, and who, we trust,
does not lack qualities that are worth
more than "dash and STYLE" How (.
many preachers are there who waste
half their energies in trying to make
an impression? The man who cares
greatly whether the world regards him
as wise or eloquent or up with the
times is in danger of selling his Lord
at even lower price than did Judas. 4
How can ye believe who receive honor
one Of another, and seek not that
honor that cometh from God only?" A
thirst for the praise of men is not con.
sistent with the faith of Christ. "Men
will praise thee hen thou doest well
for thyself." The selfish egotist is oft
en- the object of the worlds praise, .
while he who, like his Master, goes
about doing good is, like his Master,
despised. In the last day he will
probably appear the most honored who I
has labored most for Christ and
Christ's Church.
PULPIT NoTICEs.-It is quite time
that some understanding was come to-.
among pastors in regard to this subject.
1t is fast becoming very onerous and
embarrassing service, if not an evil
and a positive nuisance. The pulpit
in multitude of our churches has be-
come all advertising medium" for all
sorts of things. Pastors are burdened
by their number and perplexed often q
by their character. Many of them are
thrust into the officiating minister's
hands after he has entered the desk.
He has no chance to consult with any
one nor to consider the propriety Of
reading them. Some Of these notices
have no business there, and yet he
fears he will be blamed if he refuses to
announce them. It is no uncommon
thing for preacher to rise with doz-
en- and even twenty "noticesn in his
hand to give out. We have known
ten minutes spent on them. and the
congregation wearied and often disgust
ed by the tedious routine, and in
measure unified for the sacred sp iritu +
al services of the sanctuary to follow.
We fear that the venerable custom
of committing Psalms to memory is
falling into disuse among the Psalm G
singing churches. In the 'good old
times" it was required of all the chill
dren Of four years old and upward to-
commit verses and whole Psalms and
recite them to parents apd Sabbath {
school teachers. Itwas good custom.
The amount of precious Scripture
truth laid up in store was q lifetime
treasure. Sabbath afternoon was gen.
orally devoted to memorizing Psalms
and the Shorter Catechism. Such 3
practice left deep impression charac-
ter. Are modern methods an improve
ment on the old? Will they make bet &
ter men and women? We trow not.
The condition of Europe is summed
up in the phrase, San armed camp"
This is the high-water mark OF the
civilization of the nineteenth century.
Italians, Frenchmen, Germans, Aus Z
trians-amiable, well-meaning, neigh
borly beings, who live, believe, love,
toll, kneel before the same altar, and
yet all of them busy in the same fear s
ful preparation for throat-cutting. An
armed camp means war at any time =
tomorrow, next year, surely some day, /.
for war alone will dissolve the camps.
The parent who sends his son or
daughter out into the world with a Z
genuine love and appreciation of fine Z
and noble literature has little cause to
fear that vicious companionships will
have power to draw them downward.
They will grsvitate to libraries and
lecture-rooms, to churches and Sum
day-schools, where they will be most
likely to meet those of like tastes with
themselves. &
"Any man that can learn to preach
L.. IL. .:..;E 10 hnrao .