The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-22
RELIGIOUS REA: I DING.
!. THE n pars1o1,oaYI or PaEAoHTHo.

yi a, THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PhhAonfn " e -
Sir Dyce Duckworfh, one OF London's most
distinguished physicians. delivered an az asi-s
dress on "CiericaI BreAkdoWn's some Weeks
ago to an association of gcierg ynea, Wnlen
excited considerable interest," He Is strongly
OF opinion that the clergy break down nowsat
days 10 larger numbers than. formssty Pc
cause theywork much harder thgn they nse0;
to do After pleading Tor physical test ~ =
condition OF entrance to the ministry ne.
went nn to specify some OF The varieties OF
obreakdowns to which even healthy, .preaeherg
are liable The clerical sore throat received
its due shareof attention. Sir Dyce think9:
nothing can be done for that common eviiex
cept by building up the system generaltyry
diminishing the amount OF speaking, and
exercising care as to the right metnods OF
producing the voice. A breakdown sof the
digestive system Is much more easily.
handled. Meals should be-must be-reg-s
ular; and the meal known In England as
a tea-dinner or meat tea should be avoided
like poison. It Is responsible for 8 grent
deal of dyspepsia. An unwarrantable de-
gree of abstinence III the feason OF Lent and
the practice Of receiving the holy communion
fasting, are condemned In no measured
terms. Clergymen and lRymen are urged 70
take good cup Of cocoa or tea before ieav--
ing home and to fling to the winds any scru-;
Dyce goes right to the root OF the matter
when he declares that prolonged and monot-
onous spells induce low health and con-
seouent mental depression and lack OF zest
for the routine Of life. A thorough holiday,
change, of environment and proper dietary
offer a far better cure than repeated doses
beef tea and a course OF expensive medi-
cfnes. Such good and sensible advice rom q
physician ought to be all the; more acceptable
6ecadse Of its unsel6shness. q 81
Preachers are taught many rules about the
making and deiiyerySot: sermons, but they
are taught far. too little about the preserya-
don OF health on which the effectiveness OF,
their preaching depends. The physiology OF
preaching ought to bulk far more. largelytn
theological training. OF late 1t has been en-
phasized to some extent, but there Is ample
room for further improvement DR.. Joseph
Parker, the famous pulpit orator OF london
would make agood professor OF the physio7
logy.o preaching. He has given special at.
tention to the subject, formed definite ideas,
and has had the advantage OF testing them In
long and varied experience. His bow abIdes,
In strength because Of the physical vigor he
gathers In the care OF his body. Everybody
who has heard him knows the marvellous
compass OF his voice and the freedom from
huskiness which characterizes 1t even at the
end OF a long sermon. Clerical sore throat
has no terror for him. He does 0not know
what it means, and never Intends to know;
that most undesirable knowledge. His ssecret
Is the use Of cold wster both inside and out,
He says that II you want to have throat TO;
work with, you must take sip OF Iced water
every five minutes before entering the pulpik
That Is far better than spraying the thront
with bromine or inhaling pine oil, He be-
lieyes In q cold water bath before preaching,
For years It has been his habit to go right