The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-08
A Preacher Who Does Not "Draw. "

might be OF much service.
A Preacher Who Does Not "Draw."
The Rev. HENRY P. THOMAS has been dis
missed from the pastorship Of colored
Baptist church in Newark on grounds which
are perhaps not novel in themselves. though
the frank avowal OF them is certainly ex-
traordinary. He has been turned out be-
cause he did not draw"
1t seems that the colored brethren OF
Newark did not proceed to this harsh ex-
tremity with indicate precipitancy.
month ago they served notice on Brother
THOMAS asking that he send in his resig-
nation, and giving as reason for the re-
quest the declining spiritual prosperity OF
the church under his ministry. HE Is
nice man." the President OF the Board
OF Trustees explains. AMI they wished to
avoid hurting his feelings by telling him
bluntly that he is a dull preacher. So they
put it in that way: but Brother THOMAS
refused to resign. He continued to preach.
and his dwindling congregations continued
to be less and less edited by his SER
mons. until at last their patience became
exhausted. and they have dismissed him,
cut off his salary. and told him frankly
the reason why. At the Same time they
have not tried to escape from their obliga-
tions under their contract with the dis
charged pastor. His salary Is to be paid to
him up to the date OF his dismissal. though
the church does not regard his services as
worth the money.
Undoubtedly. when church becomes thus
adversely critical Of the sermons OF its
pastor. the period Of his usefulness in that
particular part Of the spiritual vineyard
has come to an end. Instead Of cultivating
the nourishlng fruits Of godiness he stimu-
lates the growth Of the poisonous plant OF
discomfort with his message as delivered.
He initiates his flock and provokes them
to anger or at least impotence. instead Of
building them up in heavenly graces. He
puts them to sleep instead OF awakening
them to interest in their eternal welfare.
AS he breaches they are not thinking OF the
momentous theme he is discussing. but hop
ing that he will stop talking.
1t may be. however. that the fault Is not
with the preacher. but with the hearers.
1t may be that he sows good seed on
stony ground. 1t may be that they
yawn and slyly consult their watches
because their hearts are too cold to be
warmed by his spiritual fire. In times
Of genuine religious revival among our
Newark coored brethren. do they in
dulge in such criticism OF the merely rhe-
torical execution Of their preachers2 Is it
not possible that they. not Brother THOMAS.
are responsible for the low state Of religion
in the church
They charge against him that "he is not
q magnetic man and his sermons did not
draw" but il his hearers were magnetic
might they not have impaired the neces-
sary magnetism to him The orator Is
inspired to eloquence by his audience. If
his hearers are cold. his own enthusiasm Is
chilled. The magnetism must be reciprocal.
If Brother THOMAS was dull. may 1t not
have been simply because Of the dulness of
the spiritual appetite OF his church II he
was cold. may it not have been because he
was frozen by their spiritual frigidity?
May not their discomfort with him have
indicated his. rather than their. superior
spiritual elevation? May not their dis
taste for his sermons have been due to their
absorption in temporal interests. while the
discourses were occupied only with the
concerns Of eternity2
We ask these searching questions Of the
colored Baptists Of Newark because. after
all, the real bottom reason why they dis
charged Brother THOMAS. as confessed by
themselves. was that 1.-The finances OF the
church had fallen of" under his ministry
The depression that troubled them was
financial. not spiritual. He did not
draw" mo other fault is found with
him." says the President of the Board Of
Trustees. No complaint is made OF his
doctrine or his spirituality. 1t Is only that
he was not a paying preacher. He did not
bring In enough gate money.
Is 1t wonderful that the religious vitality
OF church run on such business principles
is at low ebb? Is 1t not creditable rather
he was not magnetic simply to attract
money? How could pastor enrich spirit
ually flock thus absorbed in the pursuit OF
material gain and measuring his value
solely by the finances OF the church ?"
Brother THOMAS Is more fortunate than
most pastors. whose chances Of getting
new places are injured by such a reflection
on their drawing capacity. He runs an en-
ployment agency. besides preaching. and
thus is pecunarily independent OF churches
conducted on money-maklng principles. 1t
is only justice to his dissatisfied parish
toner's to acknowledge. however. that 1t Is
hard 10 keep awake under preacher who
is both dull and long-winded.
Sad tidings come from Chicago, descrlb-
ing, though with insufficient details. tho forci-