The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1890-05-10
PREACHING FOR MEN.

NolhNh lAAhNt tINI w lntus i4F 81 y E
Sunday in every congregation
womeN largely outnumber men III
the pews. Because women are
faithful in attendance at public
worship and men stay away, the
cavilhng criticism is raiseg that
religion is an effrmlnate recrea-
tion rather than 4 manly ebllga-
tien. Many preachers sigh and
are troubled il mind Sunday after
Sunday b cause, ia rapidly glanc-
ing over the pews before begin
ming their sermons, they see Il
throng Of women who are less in
need of pulpit adnionltlon AMI !
teaching, while the men whom
they are more desirous of Inluanc-
ing ale not there. Religion seems
to have power with women, but
prayers, sermons and hymns
weary and bore the men. The in
evltable effect Of seeing many
bonnets and few boards IN front
Of them IS to tempt preachers to
minister to those who are there to
listen to them and to adapt their
sermons to women rather than to
men. But TINS only makes Il bad
matter worse. How can nen be
brought into the churches? Tins
is one Of the most serious prob
lens in the work Of every earnest
and practical minister. MANY of
the clergy after striving for years
to find solution Of the question
are content TO preach only for and
to women,
Perhaps the best way Of meet
log the difficulty Is for preachers
to recognize the fact that religion
must be adapted to mea and pre-
sented II direct, businesshke
way. II the women are always ID
church there IS less need Of preach
ing to them. If the men are sell
dom in the pews there Is tho
greater ueed of bringing them IL
) by services and preacnng which
viii appeal to them. There cal
! be no danger of preaching ths
] women out Of TIE churches. The,
I have always been there, aud the
, will be the more likely % reman
e If Their athers, husbands an
! brothers are brought IN by direc
. preaching to men. Let preacher
. look upoa it as their mann busi
ness To make religion and essen
g TALLY manly thing, ami to Civ
+ men something lucid and earnoy
to think about and live by, an
t they will hnl the vacant pew
q gradually filing up with mer
II Let them reflect that If relIgio
y had bees designed 20 be mainly
Il gospel tor wS.uen, the Bible wou
's have been l1rgely a record Of q
virtues and TRIALS of plous wome
Al abouudlng IN patience and laitl
II Is is not record of that sori
Or There are nine men to one woms
e, ia the lists Of Scripture patriarch
d prophets, apostles and martyr
St. Paul's writings fill iars
Is part Of tho New Testament, ri
- he was not only a manly mi
ID himself, but he preached to ms
le in strong, uucompromlsin
y manly way.
Is If there be any single quail
re in which business men ot his ii
h take Characteristic pride il is 90
nc of being practical. Ministers
k preaching to men will do we'll
v remember this when they cloo
es their texts and outline Their Sc
to mons. Let them realize that tn
Of have message to deliver to me
'rs that they have business to tral
rd act with mems sonIs; and
h the N 90 about it with a. mu
be earnestness aad dIrectness as N
display IN Their weekday affai
Short sentences, few wor
'nS sharply de6sed thoughts, eli
rs' and lucid reasoning, and |
q. direct and PLAN presentation
a. essential truths a'e the qualities
e, preaching which will CONNIE
a. a. sermons to practical men. Rae
" ric Will not suffice to bring II
AZ into church. They have their s
day newspapers aud stanl ii
ion need Of literary diversion. 81
,cb plicity of style, directness d
,cy peal, earnestuess of manner
q bfoAd-daylIght gospel of 9,
80 nonsense Will fill the pews VI
rha men; and women will be all
oce better for that kind OF preach
The best modern preaching
men ls outside the range of
,on- illogical controversy and acade
ire, argument. 1t Is not literary
be form or markedly intellectua
vice tone. 1t is not embellIshed :
D it tags of poetry, artificial riot
ar picturesque descrigss M.