New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-29


minute or more its head cooked knowingly on
one side. and evidently dissatisfied with the
tenor Of my remarks uttered long-drawn and
sonorous "Baa" of contempt, and then trotted
on seemingly in high dudgeon. This discon-
certed me not a little for "A moment. but as no
one laughed | recovered my equanimity,
and by means of anecdotes concerning my
Oriental wanderngs. and especially by stories
relating TO the methods Of the shepherds and
to the ways Of the sheep In the far East, sue
ceedod I'm interesting my hearers to such an
extent that | imagine the sermon Of my friend
on the following Sunday must have fallen very
fiat. since h has always looked at me "A little
soury since then, and has never asked me to
preach again
Perhaps ! may be parloncd. therefore. for
following with more than ordinary attention
the deliberations 81 the Church Congress just
held at Birmingham. whore sermons. their style.
their delivery. their originality. and. above
all. their length appear. usual. TO have
constituted the principal topic Of discussion.
just as they have at each gathering OF that
character no matter whether its members be-
longed TO the Roman Catholic, the Reformed.
the Jewish. the Mahometan even the
Buddhist faith. To appreciate the Importance
accorded 10 this question. IL Is necessary to
bear In mind the Influence which II exercises
upon popular sentiment toward religion. Bad
or Indifferent sermons keep people away from
church. or else cause attendance there to be
regarded as a matter of duty rather than Of
inclinaton whereas. good ones. the con-
trarv not only have the power Of attracting
large crowds to the place OF worship. but Of
swaying public sentiment in the right direction
Unfortunately. eloquent preachers are as rare
al af4 or successful
speakers. and at ono of the recent Church
Congresses held in England. eminent bishop
went SO FAR as 10 assert that were those who
ASPIRE to fulnl the sacred mission OF preacher
20 be compelled before receiving licenses TO
submit To a test Of oratory the pulpit would be
closed 10 800 out OF every 1000 clcrgymen or
daincd To make matters worse II Is always
the least eloquent divine who breaches the
longest sermons. and who perhaps uncon-
sciously endcavors to supply with quantity that
which il lacking in quality. At least so II
seems To those who sit under him. No one
has ever been heard to complain of the length
Of a good sermon on the contrary. one Is
ant 10 find it too short. and to feel inclined to
ask for more II is the Indifferent, common
Mace sermons alone that not oniy appear TOO
long but are too long. and 1t Is these alone
no matter how earnest and pious the man by
whom they preached. that iurnish cause
for the uttcrances at the Church Congress OF
Birmingham.
Long sermons were all very we'll In medieval
times. when the clergy may be SAID To nave
enjoyed the monopoly of learning ana wheh TIE
preacher awaited himself of the opportunity 10
teach To- his congregation things OF when they
would otherwise have remained ignorant but
to-day a fair proportion of the layinen VINO HI
thc church are In every respect the elual Oh
their pastor I'm point of science and book iore'
while they are generally his superiors In point
If knowledge and experience Of the world Ihe
sermon has therefore. lost It's rason detre' ana
is often calculated to eNasp"rate ana hr''a'e
the listeners rather than appeal TO their p"S'
feelincs Even the most religious and God
fearing men cannot help resentins the necessity
of maintaining silence when they hear the
preacher making from the pulpit statement
which they know to be erroneous. They long
TO take up the argument, to talk back; To MS
cuss matters and show the priest the error of
his WAYS But they cannot. They nave To re-
main seated and to keep their mouths closed
no matter how much they may f,Ime and fret
about the subject. And when this continues
Sunday after Sunday il gradually commences
to dawn upon them that church attendance
such AS this IL more conducive to irreligion
and To anger than to piety and peace ana ac-
cordingiy they stay at home. For we DO not
all resemble Queen Victoria's father ana uncles'
who were wont when in church To Keep up
running series of loud comments upon the ser
mon during the entire time OF It's delivery IN
terrupting IT with such remarks as, Tor IN
stance: by C., that's So or by c. put
that's a d-n lie" or else with a peremptory
intimation that the sermon had lasted long
enough.
Emperor William Of Germany, aithough ne
does not initiate his great-grandiather III
criticising tie discourse during the progress OF
It's delivery, nevertheless follows In hi' FOOT
steps with regard - limiting Its length. and
shortly after his accession issued strict com
mands to the effect that rome of III" court chap
lains should preach more than ten-minute SER
mons BY many this act Is regarded as con-
shutting one OF the wiseSt measures or MS
reign and there is every reason 10 believe that
1t has contributed in no small degree to the ex-
traordnary revival Of religious sentiment
throughout Prussia that has sgnalized his occu-
ancy of the throne Certain II IL that a ten |
minute sermon IL far more effective and bene-
fetal than one of twenty. thirty forty. or even |
sixty minutes 1t forces the preacher to be |