Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-03-28
I'm mARouAND CHAPEL.

lures Before Yale. seminary - kAt1
Fourssensh Lecture Season Before |
Power of tho Pulpit NOT Waning- |
Preaching Deaned-what IL ought
to He.
DR.. John Hall, D. D., of New York, gave
the frst of series of three lectures, to be
delivered by him, on Preaching" before The
divinity school in Marquand chapel yester-
day at 8 O'Clock. This is the fourteenth
series of lectures on that subject he has de-
livered before the seminary In as many con-
secutive years. Accordingly he prefaced the
lecture with the following remark, II have
long believed that ought to be made leo
turer emeritus and should have been relieved
of this duty, but the faculty has thought
Otherwise
The statement has lately been made in a
leading New York paper that the pulpit has
practically lost Its influence and that if it
should happen some day that the minister.
had forgotten his manuscript and was unable
to address his congregation, and should say
after the singing Of the doxology, "The con-
Rregation will be dismissed" it would cause
smile Of real pleasure to pass over the faces
of tho audience.
wonder where the writer of that article
attends churchi
A few weeks ago In Richmond, DIR. Moses
Haupt completed his forty fifth year of min
istry in the same church. At a gathering to
casion, DR.. Kyle, alluded to the impression
that the pulpit has lest its power and said:
"Where will you find a lecturer giving ad-
dresses on the same subject twice . week for
forty ave years without either getting at the
bottom Of his subject or driving away his
audiences"
We are talking to-day of power that is
still present, and for which we are RESPONSE
BILE in making its influence felt over men.
In the earlier days the press did not fill
the place it does now; the one power which
was brought to bear upon the people was the
pulpit. 1t has still its place and influence
over men. The press is not uniform In its
statements of truth; 1t needs to be sifted.
We must hold to that power which brings
divine truth systematically to the hearts of
men, The minister should remember that
his power and influence is not In the sermon
alone: he needs preparation for hymn read
ing, and above all for voicing the praise and
petitions of his congregation to God In
prayer. We must combine the idea of SER
mon hearing with that of worship in order
to get the full benefit of the services of the
church.
What is preachiug9 Ever since the human
race existed it was necessary that some in 1t
should address their fellowmen on subjects
of common interest. Greece and Rome had
their orators. Nations before them had
some of their number to speak to them on
topics of vital importance to their welfare.
The herald had q distinct Office; it was his
duty to communicate the will Of higher
authority. His claim to be heard was not
in his personal, but in his representative
capacity. The preacher is q herald and his
claim to be heard lies in the power which he
represents, and his business ia to declare
fully the message of God. The herald is
then the minister who is called to the work
of declaring the gospel message.
There has been tendency to put aside the
Old Testament as q book which has come
down to us from the past, but which has q
small place in the preaching of to-day. This
is wrong. We must take the Old and the
New Testaments together if we would UNDER
stand them. Preaching has its foundation
In the Old Testament as we'll as in the New,
rs may be seen in the history of Moses and
Samuel. The schools of the prophets were
organized for the purpose of preaching ac-
oepted and revealed truths to the people.
In mentioning the uses of the pulpit, DR..
Hall made the following points: The object
of the minister is serve his fellow men.
First. The pulpit has ever been one of the
most powerful means of developing the
human intellect. This ia clearly illustrated
in the early history of New England and Of
Scotland one hundred years ago.
Second. It educates tho conscience by en-
abling men to decide intelligently on sub
jects Of morality and religion. 1t enables a
man to state intelligently his convictions of
truth and defend them If need be. Con-
science is not an infallible guide and 1t there
fore needs the educating, guiding and en-
tightening which 1t is the work of the pulpit
to accomplish.
Third. It 10 intended to form, and to a
certain extent does form public sentiment.
The word of the Lord ia a perfect rule of
faith and practice; it deals with the princi-
Piles of religious life and holds before the
people worthy ideals for them to attain.
Fourth. The great use of the pulpit, how
ever, is to guide mems souls to Christ, the
Lord, to preach the gospel to every creature.
To make the gospel effective you must
study the minds and hearts of your people.
Fifth. The pulpit aims to develop Chris
Christ. The church is the greatest factor in
society in promoting true benevolence and
moral virtue.
In conclusion DR.. Hall added:
First. If the pulpit is to be allowed this.
the minister must be devout, straightfor-
worward and trustworthy. What the min
| lister Is and what he ia believed to be will
vitality affect his pulpit work.
Second. His message is the truth of the
living God. He must reflect the mind of
| God to his hearers.
Third. Behind tho man and his message
must be the agency of the Holy Spirit, for II
lie his work to quicken the dead souls and
drive the truth home to the hearts of men.
The second lecture of the series will be
given this afternoon at O'Clock in the
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