The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-24
AS A PREACHER.
The Secret of His Wonderful Success In the
Pulpit.

| The Secret of His Wonderful Success In the
| Pulpit.
Probably NO minister in the country, oor-
tainly no minister in Boston commando the
power Phillips Brooks does to-day. Why:
not others as logical2 Yes more logical
Are they not as orthodox Yes, more so.
Are they not as eloquent Perhaps GO.
Do they not get as near to the hearts of
| their hearers? No! 1t is an instru ctiye
spectacle on any Sunday morning to sit in
Trinity church and watch the great congre-
cation. How they keep surginc in, said a
recent writer in the Boston Transcripts, till
every pew and aisle and entry way is filled.
| They crowd she chanoel They sit upon
the chnncel steps and even up against the
reading desk.
Who are these people2 Are they some
one ciassI DO the aristocrats come here,
while the poor stay away2 Or is it the
other way-do the populaoe crowd to hear
him. while the rich and cultured are con-
spiouously nbsent2 For answer. look
about you. Here are some of the rich men
of Boston and some of her most cultured
citizens. Here are beautiful and elegantly
dressed ladies. Ah, yes. this is tho rich
mans church. the Sabbath home of wea l.h
and culture! But look again. Those two
sweet-faced women in simple garb are
Quakers. Yonder sits coarse featured ne
gro, and these arc working people in neat
but simple attire. All are here The rich
and the poor meet together.
But what brings them here2 ls it the
music! No; the music 10 fine. but that is
not the chief attraction. Is it the church?
No. Trinity is the finest church building in
Boston. but that Is not the chief attraction.
This quiet, reverend audience il gathered
for more serious purpose. The great bulk
of these people are here because they wish
to hear Phillips Brooks preach. Is il then
some special occasion, and will these seats
be thinly filled in a week or monthp No;
this is no extraordinary occasion, and these
seats will be full for months and years to
come.
Is he. then. sensational preaoher2 Does
he rake the muck heaps of the oity? Not at
all. He disdaips all tricks and tawdry dis
play. Is his style cold and classical in its
purityp No; it is warm. simple. popular. |
His great heart 10 full Of warm, human
sympathy. He 10 fully In touch with the |
people. He knows their needs. No man |
moro truly enters into their joys and sor-
rows. To HIM cresds are but little worth, |
but life is all worth. His gospel is full Of
love snd sympathy and friendship. Truth |
takes on vast proper rtons under his skillful |
touch. New truths unfold and grow and |
blaze before us. Every verse OF the bible |
grows luminous. All truth is behsld a. re-
lated and Christ Ia Rt tho center. He, the |
manifest of men, the chief among many
brethren. tho loving Savior.
DIR. Brooks losss himself IN his theme. It |
possssaoa him. He is swift messenger of
light. To him the most noble and sacred
privilege IL to bs messenger Of life and |
light. He wants to do mon Rood-and
now. And 90. a. he pours forth his mes
sage, hin burden of soul, not looking at
them. they look intently ut him and strain
TO catch each word, Thev come to him to
DO fed and they are not disappointed. He
opens And expounds tho scriptures. lie