The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1890-10-10
THE M. E. CONFERENCE.
Synopsis of the ElOquene Ad-
dresses Friday Evening.

Aob OhOuSh oCotO III thOOO "A'O "AShS>
to hear them. The subject for the even
ing was the anniversary of the Educa
tional Society. Rev. H. G. Jennings, A
NJ, spoke fret, and spoke of the bene
fits of educating the youth of the coun
try and especially young ministers. His
remarks were progressive and liberal
and were well received.
Among other things he said that it il
impossible to maintain the Epwortt
League on religion merely. A revival
of thought is necessary. When the
world is converted, it will be found thai
the M. E. church has done one-half the
work. There must be more thinking in
the next generation, or there will be
less copquests made than there are to-
day. Young people should and must be
able to give a reason for the faith thai
is is in them, and to do this must have
an intellectual conception of their reli-
gion. To be able to teach others ought
to be the highest ambition in preach
er's heart All this depends upon the
fathers and mothers of to-day. The
Chautauqua literary and scientific cir
Giles are doing evangel work in this re
gard. They are not superficial things,
and college principals are giving them
their approval. What is needed is not
an undenominational, but an interde,
nominational union, each church main
tanning a Distinguishing principle. l
would give to Baptist church, but moth
ing to a Union church, without some
particular principle.
The teacher of to- day should impress
the pupil with the synthetic, not the
analyucal view of life. Everything in
the universe works in unison, and man
has not the right to judge what or what
not he was made TO do. One man will
do nothing and be poor all his life, be-
cause he acts upon the analytical view.
Another, acting upon the synthetic
view, will constantly improve until he
is fit to associate with the angels. 1t
pays to take little trouble, that is what
we are here for. Nothing should be put
off, studies, sermons, etc. Some peo-
pie, ministers as we'll as others, are
shiftless intellectually and morally. No
wonder that the congregation is restless
when the preparation of the sermon is
left until Saturday. TIL re are four
great forces in the education of the peo-
ple-the home, the church, the school
and the shop.
Rev. R. NJ. McKaig spoke next, and
his remarks were particularly address
ed to young ministers in the shape of
advice. He is thoroughly abreast of
the times, and his words were bright
and well taken by his hearers. He urg-
ed a collegiate education upon young
preachers. There is now lack of sac
erdotal power in the pulpit, tor which
he was glad, as the people have been
too much priest-ridden since the reve
lation II q wiShph that tha prIast- oft
might i,erish from the earth forever.
1t is saiJ that now a. DAYS the preach
ers d. rot help the political parties
Both arr 80 bad that the ministers feel
that hey are between the devil and the
deep SEA, and manv take to the
WOODS o Prohibition. They are attend
ing more 10 preaching.
Theology is the grammar of philoso
ply, and there is some bad grammar,
it cannot be denied. 1t is not large
enough 20 devote our lives to. The COS
pei is great enOuth to save the world.
Preache - spend too much time writing
gilt edged invitation cards, and the peo-
pie are really going TO hell trying to
make ont what it Is. The gospel is alive,
and the, devil doesn't want better joke
on a man i an to get bum to preach the
ology in the third person, neuter gen
der. The life of preacher has more to
do with this theology than theology has
to do with his life.
The presence of the Holy Ghost can
make a success out of rams horn or
out of the jaw bone of any Of us. But
there are few necessary things to sue
cess for young minister.
First, he must be loyal to himself at
his best. There must be no fictitious
nr oftifr1Hh in tho Tho
Devil uses every means to induce fcti-
tiousness In the pulpit. A young man
must have a thorough preparation in
order TO know how 10 use himself at his
best. Don't try 10 initiate others. You
can learn TO be Ourself better at a col
lege than at theological school.
Second, intelligence. The pride of
ignorance is always hindrance in the
purport, IS well as the pride of learning
sometimes. A person can be better
qualified. and not the less sanctiied.
In these times God demands thorough
preparation. The preacher must be
posted on the questions of the day, for
if he is not, it is natural that people
won't hear him in spiritual things.
Many have failed on that account.
There Is vast deal of thought and lit
erary power in the pen.
Third, be loyal to the revealed truth,
and know what the word of God teach
es. A knowledge of the Latin, Greek
and Hebrew languages is needed to see
what God means. The reason that sin
is not cast out of the churches and So
ciety more is because it is fondled
and called pet names. The people
think that the preachers are fooling.
There is coming into church an over
flow of shoddy politeness. The preach
er must be fearless, but act in loving
spirit. He must not be still for fear of
saying something offensive to someone.
If he means a spade he must say spade,
and not an instrument with which the
green sod is turned. He should speak
of Jonah in the whales belly, not of
Jonah as off duty in submarine custo-
dian. If the congregation will sin dur
ing the week it is the preachers duty
to make them know it on Sunday, and
God holds him responsible for it.
Fourth, he must be loyal to the times
in which he lives. Wesley, Whitefield
and the others succeeded because they
spoke according to the spirit of the
times. If God wanted you to preach
those sermons he would have had you
born then. Some preachers erect straw
antagonists in their pulpits and knock
them out in finished style in the first
round Some talk of everything else
but usefulness, card playing, etc., while
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