Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-05
WORK In THESTUDY
How Our Preachers Prepare
Sermons.
GREAT DILIGENCE EXERCISED
On the Part of All of Them IN Selecting
and Developing Their Subjects.
Study and Hard Work.

Inc Ntt. III. JUN JdSAcOu hCNti
uses manuscript 10 a pulpit. While
preaching he stands apart from the
pulpit. He has an ideal method OF
preaching sermon. Early in the
week he determines his subject, max
ing his choice from q dozen topics
which he has in mind. lie studies il
thoroughly, reading whatever he can
find on the subject. Then he writes ii
out at one sitting somewhat hurriedly,
not TO commit 10y memory, but to ar
range IT in somewhat symmetrical
form. He writes at great length, usu.
ally covering the field fully, aud, as he
tersely expresses it, II I'LL myself on
the subject" He sometimes writes q
hundred pages; then again fifteen
pages will cover the topic. Finally he
devotes much time to meditation and
study, and when church time arrives
he Is able to speak instructively and
elo1uently without notes of any kind.
Mr.. Jackson always speaks 10 . we'll
filled auditorium and he 10 one OF the
most popular clergymen in the city.
The Rev. DR.. Campbell Fair also hal
an ideal method OF preparing = sermon.
HIS time is 90 we'll filled that study fol
the coming Sundays sermon beginl
late Sunday night after the days work
is over. On arriving home from evening
service he eats q hearty meal, really
the first worthy the name, of the day.
Then ne kneels down and asks God 70
direct him In the choice of q topic.
On arising from his knees he reads the
/. psalter and scriptures and out of the
lessons for the day, or some portion OF
them, a topic is suggested. Then again
his choice of subject 10 determined by
some happening of the previous week.
He s,udiesscarefuiiys and on Monday
examines all the books in his library
which bear on the topic. sometimes
he scans thirty or forty books, noting
down points, until Thursday when he
has everything worked up on it. He
then puts his theme into an orderly ar
rangement according to 8 consecutive
way to present TO his congregation.
Friday AFTERNOON he devotes to media.
tion and quiet thought. He lies down
upon sofa and with pencil and paper
In hand jots down the sermon which
passes before him like a panorama. He
generally writes much more than he
can use, for his sermons are limited Ia
twenty minutes, so he goes over his
PENCIL notes carefully condensing them
If necessary and writing them out in
ink. DIR. Fair is All early riser and q
close student. He is up and in his
study shortly after 4 O'Clock each
morning IN the year, and has three
and one halt hours quiet study daily
before breakfast. He retires early also
habit preventing him from remain.
ing up after 1880 O'Clock.
The Rev. w. l.. Dawson OF the Joy
Memorial church chooses his text ant
topic early In the week and then cons
it over until he is thoroughly imbued
with the TOPIC. He studies 1t until
| Saturday night, when he writes il out
for the next days delivery. the Rev
Dawson is considered . rising young
| clergyman and his sermons are received
with close and favorable attention.
| The Rev. ID. +. Bradley, who IL
preaching 80 acceptsby to the congrc.
CATION at the Park church, claims no
particular method of preparing ser
mon Usually he selects hls subject.
outlines 1T, gets all the facts and thinks
il over, jotting down the main items.
lie writes all his ser mons, for he finds
| that he can do better and more accept
able work with written than al ex
temporancous sermon. He Gays he
oftentlmes has a sermon brewing
many weeks ahead upon a subject
which requires much time TO work out
His favorl;c way is TO preach serial ser
mons. for he feels that topic can he
treated more fully and the study car
be more thorough. He seldom breaches
n topical sermon, selecting generally 9
Bible theme from which an important
+, subject or lesson may be brought out
HIS sermons are exposltory rather thar
| topical.