Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-08
LICENSED TO PREACH.
Twenty Students of the Western The
ologlcaI Seminary Graduate.
ADDRESS OF REV. DR. JOHN HALL,
Sensationalism Discouraged by the Emil
nent New York Divine.
COMMON SENSE PREACHING is NEEDED

head, OF GreensDurg, made an exceedingly
sprightly address before q large audience of
the faculty, trustees, students and friends of
the seminary. DR.. Moorhead spoke upon
the subject of "The Ministry of To- Day."
He thought that no two generations of min
listers have found the circumstances in
which their ministers were exercised exactly
alike. The ministry of to-day is likely to
meet with duties and difficulties DIFF
ferent z at least. in some respects from
any met by the ministers of any former
time. He addressed himself only to those
who were to be simply preachers. The old
fashioned theory used to be that when a
minister had message it was his business
to deliver it 10 those to whom it was sent
The more modern idea is not that he should
deliver it, but that he should spend his lite
in picking it to pieces to find out what it is
made OF, and where it came from. There
seems to be q great demand for investiga-
tors, while the demand for preachers is only
fair to middling. Yet, said DR.. Moorhesd,
if he understood the matter Alright they had
been trained to be preachers of the word.
Upon the latter lines the docto, made his
address.
At2 o'clock in the afternoon the Board of
Directors and Trustees met and heard the
annual reports. The Rev. Prof. II. T. Nc
Clelland, D. D.. offered his resignation as Pro-
fessor OF Theology. 1t was accepted ana q
committee appointed to draw mp appropriate
resolutions. There was considerable talk as to
his successor. DIR. s. ]. Niccolls. OF st. Louis,
President Scovel, Of Wooster DR.. Ketler,
Of Grove City College. and others were named
But man was not elected. A COMMITTEES was
appointed TO make n nomination to the board
NJ an early date. II was felt to be important to
MI the place soon.
The Commencement exercises proper were
held In the evening in the East Liberty Pres.
byterian Church, Penn and Highland avenues.
In addition 70 the graduating class, faculty
and ofnoert OF the seminary. thoro was o very
large audience present. Rev. John Hall, D. D.,
tho eminent New York divine delivered the
address, and, though he 10 no stranger TO Pitts.
burgers, there was not vacant seat, and he
never appeared to better advantage. In the
pulpit were. In addition TO DR.. Hall,
Rsy RSs,, GsGrgs ss T,.o, Hin, y d President Of the
Jeffers Professor OF Hebrew In the Seminary,
and Rev. DR.. Bruce, OF Franklin, Rev DR..
Holland, chsnoellor Of the Western University.
together with members Of the faculty, occu.
pied heats 10 the left OF the pulpit. To tho
right were seated the trustees, members OF the
alumni and many ministers, nearly all the
Protestant denominations OF the city being
represented. The graduating class and stu.
dents were seated in front Of the pulpit while
back Of them were the students OF the Penn.
EylYania Female College.
DIR. Halls Words to the Graduates.
The front OF the pulpit was banked with
flowers. After music by the Haydn Quartet,
prayer was offered by hev. Dr. Bruce. after
which DR.. Hill introduced DR.. Hall. The
speaker Of the evening said that he considered
IT a great honor to be even temporarily associ-
ated with such an institution as the Western
theological Seminary. Its history is well
the high character of its instructors commends
II TO all. He congratulated the graduating
class, and expressed his pleasure at meeting |
them as well as those who are pursuing their |
studies, and who hope TO shortly occupy the
same position. While his remarks would be
more especially for those about TO enter the
ministry, he would endeavor to SO shape his
TO al present.
DR.. Hall took for his subject "Efectiyepess
In the Pulpit" or Power in the Pulpit" This,
he said, did not mean any specific force for the
accomplishment of any specific work. All peo-
pie possessed 1, some specific power but the min
lister, In addition TO any specific power he
may possess, must also have the general power
TO preach the gospel. Some preachers possess
in this shape Of evangelism the power of pur.
suading men TO accept the gospel. 1t Is easier
TO be popular on that distinct line than
upon the lines pastors have before
them The orator has always been great,
and oratory in itself is powerful. From
Demosthenes TO Webster they have
ali been great men, but the difference between
them aud us is that they dealt with things here
below while we deal with those above
Among those things a preacher must do is to
inspire people with confidence in them as men
and as Christians. That was the first sub-head
of his discourse. To have the power you must
be holy, be consistent, be gentlemen, be sympa-
thetic men. The second element is 'Iet it be
obvious to you; people that you are firm be-
pastor that ne firmly believes. He may give
his own views on certain points, history and
what not and for certain time he may produce
degree OF interest. but for all time put the
truth of the living God before the people.
Preaching for the Masses.
Dr.. Halls third point was 'IntelligibiIity."
1t is he said. comparatively easy to speak true
things in such way that people don't under
stand them. Sensible lawyers and doctors
don't do that when addressing laymen, nor
should the preacher. A preacher only makes
a permanent impression only so far as he is
understood. Speak to your audience in
language they can understand, and set forth |
simple truths in simple language. Earnest |
mesa" was the fourth element. A preacher |
should push aside all self CONSEQUENCES II |
you would be power in the pulpit there must |
be absolute torgetfulness of self.
The fifth point was ''Setttng the truths of |
Gods word in their relations to one another as |
they stand IN the Bible" 1t is easy TO preach |
sermon upon certain virtues vices. But |
when he has denounced the vice or lauded the |
virtue be is met with the question OF how to |
get rid of the one or how to acquire the other. |
He might be behind the age, said DR.. Hall. but |
he confessed that he had little sympathy with |
the tendency to divide up vices into pieces |
and get societies to look after each, and to d.
vide up virtues into slices and get societies to |
push them along. He believed In teaching the |
people to trust in Jesus.
In conclusion, Dr. Hall urged the graduates |
TO preach in dependence Of the Holy Ghost, and
to preach the doctrine OF the Bible.
Given Their Diplomas.
At tho conclusion OF DIR. Halls address Rev,
Dr. Joiiers called the roll of the graduates and
they stepped to tho front of the pulpit, where |
they were handed their diplomas after n brief
address by the Professor. The class numbefs
20 aud IA Rs follows:
J. Newton Armstrong, New Texas. Pa,
James Baker, Bcalsylllo, Pa.i John q. Black,
London, PAT Charles L. bradshaw, Coal Valley
A, Crawford, Wbssling, W. Va; ], r. DrsEa
NolRnt, Pat william J, Fisher Van Buron. Pa,
Harvey q. Fufbay Short Creek, Pal J. T.
Godfrey, Martins Ferry. o.; Samuel b. droyes.
Martins Ferry, o. Francis VI. Hall, CIaysyilIe'
Pa; James Is. Hlll, Canonsburg. Pa; Basil Il |
King, Miiiport, Of Alexander Laird, suterviiIo,
Pal Ulysses l.. Lyle. Gross Creek, Pal William
q. heagle, RomIlton, Pa.i Henry II. Ryland,
j l'alrchRnoe, Pa; David NJ. SHILLING, Lonaoon,
Ing, Moi l.. o. Sutherland, Dallas, W. Va
Cochran. OF New Wilmington, Pa. died since
the beginning 81 the year. Al the close OF the
exercises DR., Hall hald an informal reception,
Tho Rev. DT. Henry J.. Van Dyke, of BROOK. |
lyn, has bean elected 70 the Chair Of Theology
~ Union Seminary. He will be an antidote 70
been constructed IN Princeton Theological
and DIR. George T. Purves. of Pitts.
burg is talked OF for the place. He ID also
hntidotal TO DR.. Briggs
Christ M. Il. Church.