The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-10
EATTLE. SUNDAY, JAN. 10.
THE EUrUHE OF THE CHURCH.

A clergyman does not need be great
pulpit orator, skillful theologian, or
dislectician, man OF imposing physical
presence; he needs to be grest-hcarted,
sincere, kindly soul, whose unselfish
aspiration is TO warm the homes and
lightup the hearts of his fellows with the
humanity Of Christ's spirit. and in this
spirit that seeks 70 sink personal fame
he will find II, for manly, sturdy, simple
sincerity OF this sort generally captures
oil hearts. Many are called to the pulpit,
but few are chosen; many have no more
business there than coarse-haIred I'M
feeling man has with fine-so uled woman
for a wife. Upright and downright
strength and sweetness of life and spirit
chains the hearts of men to the church,
because there is a true man in the pulpit.
The world is sometimes cynical, but
after all in the long run the judgment of
the world is just, if sometimes trife too
keen and shrewd in its criticism; it gen.
orally surrenders to sincerity, humility.
sweetness and selfsacrifce if when
touched they always ring true
metal. Such men do not have to
explain empty pews and a dwindling
church by whining about infidelity, ag-
Mysticism and the increase of religious in
difference; the churches Of such men are
full, not because they are eloquent, or
handsome or full of personal gifts or
graces but because their hearts are in
their work, because their large humanity
fastens upon the business and bosoms OF
men; they sink self so sincerely in their
work that men first wonder, then bless
and finally follow such men. The human
heart is just as sensitive as it ever
was to religious influences, but it
between the touch of dead and living
hand. Theology and the metaphysics it
stands for has little power today to as
semble, much less perpetuste, living
church, but the preacher who has caught
the tender responsiveness of the Masters
voice. who tries by the Masters
simple method to put himself into init
joys and sorrows of the people, is seldom
without church and never without dis
ciples. Human nature Is quick to feel
whether a man is walking abreast with the
best OF himself. whether his speech is only
beautiful gift or the breath of beautiful
life. The spirit of Christ that raIks as well
rs talks is the real power of a pulpit
Speculative theology today commands
small consideration compared with the
practical ethics of Christianity. The
steady drift Of the time is toward substi-
tuition for the whole dogmatic system Of
belief OF tangible code of ethics founded
on the teachings of Jesus. Christ gave
man an example and inspiration toward
righteousness. The doctrine of eternal
punishment is gradually being spurned
by most denominations, and the Roman
Catholic born doctrine OF probation has
been accepted by many Protestants as an
ecclesiastical compromise with the spirit Of
the age, which believes with Tennyson
that zone shrek of hate would jar all the
hymns of heaven" The God of eternal
rage is no longer preached, and ancient,
ironclad creeds are come to be regarded
as imperfect and traditional garments of
eternal truth. Christ has come to stand
for an ideal Of the best in human nature
and history. The holy spirit is become
the soul OF man in communion with the
world and its fellow soul.
With all this gradual but undeniable
disappearance of dogmatic theology and
preaching there has come a vast deal
more of true religion.
There is no disposition 10 treat churches
despitefully nor religion with contempt.
There is increased reverence FOR that holy
living that secures holy dying. There is
less dogmatic theology preached, but finer
and lar more frequent imitation of Christ.