The San Francisco call., 1897-12-21
Rev. w. w. Madge Makes
Some Strong Re-
marks.
He Calls Sensational Preach
ing Self-Glorifica-
ton.
Interesting Papers at Many OF the
Minister'S Meetings Yes
terday.

Rev. w. w. Madge does not approve
of sensational preaching. He made
that fact evident at the Congregational
Monday Club, where he read a paper
on that subject yesterday. he SAID
a sensational preacher was one VINO,
by facetious, eXtravagant or outland-
ish manner or methods, seeks to draw
attention to himself rather than to his
message or his Master.
According to this definition" he
said, the essence of sensational
preaching is self glorification. The SEN
sational preacher advertises himself.
He is not hard to find; look at the pull
Dit announcements. One of the morn
ing papers The ether day had this an
nouncement, "A Tip on the Races Can
you guess the text, The race is not to
the swift Bad preacher as he was,
he was a worse bookmaker, for the
sIowest horse does not always win"
Sometimes" he continued, the SEN
sational preacher finds his opportunity
| in the text itself. One preacher know
| had for his sermon on retribution this
! text, Thumbs and Great Toes. Some
| preachers add glaring Illustrations TO
their quaint advertisements. The more
| color the more sensation, and some
| times a solemn sacrament is made TO
| do service as drawing card. An I'M
mersion or a wedding holds a central
| place in the pulpit notice. The theory
is, get the public eye by your adver-
tisement. Get yourself before the pub
| lie, even if you have to marry a silly
couple in a lions den. Get there!"
Mr.. Madge then went on to say that
| having gotten his audience, the sensa-
tiOnal preacher must hold It's attention.
| He must strain every nerve to please
his hearers. He must tickle their ears
with pleasant words, witty sayings and
sparkling jests.
In conclusion he said: There are
many strong temptations to sensation
al preaching. What wonder some yield.
Perhaps the minister has been
called for that very purpose. He must
ill his church. Perhaps the rest of us
do not indulge in sensationalism be-
cause we are not sufficiently clever.
Sensational preaching certainly pays.
1t fills the house. 1t gives the appear
ance of prosperity. 1t helps to fill the
church treasury, and therefore the
sensational preacher is in demand
Did the Bible civiliZe the Jew, or
the Jew civilize the Bible?" was the alb
sorbing question at the Presbyterian
Ministerial Union yesterday. 1t was
the title of a paper read by Rev. DR..
Barton W. Perry. From the higher
| standpoint, he said, the Bible is the
product of the religious consciousness
of the Jewish people, and consequent
ly the Jew civilized the Bible.
Rev. William Gardner read a paper
on Church Fellowship" before the
Christian Ministerial Union. Professor
jefferson moved that DR.. Gardner be
requested to formulate plans for the
closest cooperation of the Christian
churches about the bay. The motion
was carried.
At the Methodist preachers meeting
yesterday Bishop NewIran delivered
an informal address. He spoke of the
recent bishops meeting in the East
He was invited to lead the meeting tNC
weeks hence. Rev. Charles Edward
Locke will address the meeting next
week.
The Baptist, ministers listened to ar
interesting paper by Rev. h. II. Jenks
on "Presbyterianism.'