The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-05
.eEmntx Pevs."

Is there a lack of interest in religion and
religious work? Many preachers seem to
think there is, and that it is their duty to
devise fetching means of increasing their
congregations. Lately a number of SEN
sational. dramatic and realistic devices
have been resorted to for the purpose of
increasing the attendance at certain
churches in New York and elsewhere. 1--WE
cannot fill our pews; the people are not
willing to hear sermons" say the preach
ers in justification of their pulpit sensation
alism.
What has been referred to as an up
to-date idea" for filling the pews was tried
at Trenton, N. J., last Sunday. by the Rev.
Mr.. Fixes of the First Baptist church. 1t
was quietly advertised among the MEM
bers of the congregation that number of
the prettiest girls of the church would be
selected to act as ushers. Before the ser
vice began there had assembled an audi
ence much larger than usual, drawn no
doubt not to receive spiritual instruction,
but by curiosity to see who would be Sc
lected, and how the girls would perform
their new duties. And not only did the
collection plates around, with the result,
so it is reported that the amount of offer
ings received was considerably more than
on the Sunday previous. The pastor, it is
said, was so we'll pleased with the expert
ment that he will make the feature of girl
ushers and collectors permanent. MIR.
Fixes probably thinks that If girl walters
in a beer garden can be made to swell the
business of the place, pretty girls ought
also to increase the business of the church.
Another "up to date idea" was employed
by the Rev. MIR. Dennison, in the Church
of Sea and Land, in Henry street, New
York. He had in his pulpit number of
toy balloons inflated with gas. He said
they represented human souls. When
they were unhampered they would rise
but when held down by something in the
way of an anchor, they could not soar. He
Illustrated how whisky held the soul down
by tying balloon to a whisky bottle. To
show that filth anchors the soul, he tied
an old tomato can filled with dirt to one
of the balloons. To illustrate the effect
of secret sins, he tied a wooden snake to
| the enc Oh lLS SNiillSp INC
could not, of course, rise beyond the length
| of the string BY way of showing what
the effect would be of cutting loose from
sin, he clipped the cords and the little
| balloons fioated to the ceiling. 1t was
probably good show for the children in
| the audience,
I'VE cannot fill our pews; the people are
not willing to hear sermons" say the
preachers. as quoted above from the New
York Herald. Possibly the preachers who
make the complaint are not giving the peo-
| pie the right sort of sermons Possibly
they are trying to fly too high. It may be
that many of them, instead of preaching
the plain and simple truth in plain and
simple language, are preaching, or trying
to preach, over the heads of their people
| 1t may be that they make their service
! irksome, instead of an hour of refresh
ment to the soul. Many of them pad their
| sermons with meaningless phrases in or
der to stretch them out for certain num-
Der of minutes, when their ideas could be
better conveyed in half the time. 1t might
be a good idea for preachers who see their
congregations dwindling away TO try to in
terest the people by making their sermons
shorter and sharper. before resorting to
theatrical efforts to draw crowds.