The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-10-01
Preachers Must Cut Their Sermons.


among churchgoers that the preachers cut
their sermons short 1t says that there Is
disposition to disparage preaching nova
DAYS, and an increasing demand Tor the
curtailment of the sermon, so that, II a
sermon runs over thirty minutes, the hear
ers complain of its length. In giving Its
opinion upon this interesting subject, the
Examiner becomes very cautious, and yet
il makes this suggestive remark I'VE
are not saying that it would be unwlSe 10
shorten the sermon.
Another of our weekly contemporaries,
the Independent, INDUCES in remarks not
mike those of the Examiner. We learn
from the Independent that many good peo-
ple among churchgoers are tired OF the
sermon. and that some of them y ould even
like to abolish preaching. The nearer OF
sermon, we are told, is apt to feel that 1t
is tiresome, and that it makes churchgolng
heavy duty, so that he takes liStleSs
attitude during the preaching.
The Independent is grieved over tins
state of things, and yet it admits that in
some cases the preacher is at fault, by rea-
son of the fact that he breaches too long.
1t is lust inference, therefore, from the
statements made by the Examiner and the
Independent, that the ministers should dc
liver short sermons in subdued tone Of
voice, for the sake of those good hearers
who are bored by preaching that Is loud
and long. And yet we must express our
surprise that 50 many Of the churchSOlnS
people of these times slight or tiout the
preacAiuq. which is the chjef business OF
the minister Why is it that these people
regard preaching Us bore, and are anxious
that it shall be cut as short as possible, or
even abolished outright? What, let us
ask. can be more beneficial to the sinful
soul than a sermOnsOf lofty thought, nm
bued with holy junction, delivered with
solemn earnestness, appealing to the reason
and heart of a nearer, comprising his con-
science, bearing directly upon his conduct,
prompting him to righteousness, and I'M
peling him to strive for salvation, to pre-
mare for another world? What could DC
more uplifting, for example, than to listen
10 the eloquence of the Prophet Isaiah, or
of john the Divine, or of the Golden
Mouthed son of Secundus, or of any OF
the other mighty preachers whose names
adorn the history of religion, aud who, in
their til.e, overpowcrcd, transformed, re
created the very souls of the people who
listened TO them? We yet hear the roll
of their voices; we feel the spell of their
power: we behold them while delivering
their appeals; We are carried away by them;
we obey them. Were such preachers as
these ever regarded as bores? Did their
hearers beg them to cut their sermons
short? And if not. why not?
-Ncw York SIN.
Restlessness or listlessBess under the
preaching of the gospel is wicked What
is the preaching If the gospel but a mes
sage from high Heaven To the auditors
sent through the legate of the skies. duly
commissioned and sent forth to minister in
his high office? And shall those to whom
that message is sent treat it with indiffer,
ence or wish it cut short in its delivery
Can grace be said to abide in the hearts OF
those who sit under the ministry OF the
Word in such frame Of mind? But
short sermons are becoming fashionable
even among the clergy, and ''the people
want them Yes, the people wanted a
Golden calf, and when Moses had retired
into the mount that burned with the over
shadowing presence of the Almighty they
made one. and fell down before it and wor-
Skinned it. But was the act of the idol
ators proper? Grossly sinful as 1t was, II
vas scarcely more 20 than the acts of those
churchgoers who clamoP for short sermons
and can scarcely contain themselves for
thirty minutes under a sermon, while they
can attend the theatre, play cards, dance
or revel all night, without fatigue, and
wish the hours and the exercises length
ened instead of shortened As 10 those
clergymen who yield to this popular clamor
for short sermons, or are compliant because
short sermons are fashionable, how can
they stihe the circumstances of the inward
monitor who doubtless must tell them that
they are not doing their Masters work for
which they were commissioned. How can
clergyman properly discharge the high
functions of his Office in talk of ten min
ates ? 1t is not preaching, 1t is something
else. How can men who have received
the divine commission-'a8 We into all
the world and preach my gospel to every
creature" acquit themselves of their grave
responsibilities in this perfunctory manner
There is class of clcrgymcn who are dis
posed TO attach more Importance to the
prescribed services of the church than tc
preaching, whereas, rs truly said by the
y. Y. Sun, i,reaching is their ''chief bus
ness. If preachers are not thoroughly
furnished for their work is it not more
than probable that they have mistaken
their calling, and that they have entered
the ministry as they would have entered
the professions of law or medicine fol
their owa good rather than for the good OF
souls and for the promotion of the coming
of their Masters kingdom upon earth.
These are grave subjects, which by some
may be deemed out of place in the secular
press But, the press has become the
great teacher of the age, and claims a
"charter large as the wind, to discuss all
subjects which relate to the rights, duties
or welfare of the human race Its true
mission is the incubation of trath. Be.
sides, as the pulpit sometimes in the exer-
else of its high prerogatives, takes the
press under its especial care, and lectures
it roundly and soGndly, the press, in turn,
owes the pulpit duty of reciprocity. We
trnst IL has heen herein properly discharged