The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-30
Convention Aooresses.
Address TO THE OLERG Y.
BY H. N. HIGINBoTHAM,
Wednesday Evening, Oct. 20.

Wv
A humorous friend of mine once told
me that he liked being an Episcopalian
because it gave him an opportunity to
talk back. A greet many people within
and without the churches, and within
and without social organizations, often
feel themselves called upon to express
their views upon some particular topic;
but they are ever held in the leash Of
circumstances that seem eternally TO
hedge them about. A great many times
in my life | have felt that perhaps l
had pent within my consciousness some
intellectual force that might be OF bene-
fit to mankind, and l have-but far less
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS at times rather
strong views on church matters. 1t
never occurred to me that ] would be
called upon to express them; l never
considered in my mind what l should
say if | were called upon, and | freely
confess that now l am facing the &C.
cepted duty of addressing myself to the
clergy, and do not mind saying that l
am very nervous about it, and question
whether l can deliver myself with any
particular advantage to the occasion.
BY inheritance and early education
am member of the Universalist Church
and as such have occasionally devoted
what might be called spare time to the
consideration of the affairs of the or
gsnization.
have never gone so far as to serious
ly weigh the responsibilities OF the
clerymen of the Church, or to question
whether their duties we're all performed
or their privilege taken ample advant-
age Of. Since receiving the rather inn
perative invitation of Mr.. Nash to speak
on the general topic, IAN Evening With
Ourselves" and to occupy asuppositious
pulpit with the clergymen In the con-
gregation, have undertaken to corre-
late some of the ideas that have come to
me from observation and experience. to
the end that possibly what | might say
should not be entirely without practical
value. A Christian minister must sit in
the pit of the theatre of life occasionally
to properly understand the criticism
that comes from the unframed mind.
Many impressions for good or for evil
are made upon the average human mind
by the acting of clergyman. His atti.
tude toward his fellow-men and his con
duct in general society have much to do
in forming an estimate to be placed up
on the sincerity and wisdom OF what he
may utter from the pulpit. The clergy
man should stand with us in darkness
that we may see the light; the clergy
man need be neither sanctimonious nor
austere to gain the wholesome respect
of those with whom he is brought in
contact He may proceed with his daily
life with familiarity and frankness.
This may occasionally expose him to
embarrassment, but it is better than dis
tance, ever present solemnity, or notice
able dignity of carriage. | would at
once, however, assert that the influence
Of the pulpit is not always advanced by
a too conspicuous and partisan partici'
patton in temporal affairs, or in the dis
cussion of public questions. Public
questions affecting the moral welfare OF
a community. of necessity trench upon
the strength of the doctrinarian, and
battle should be given in the name of
the church whenever the danger line is
reached.
1t is in such crisis as this that feel
the worldly wisdom of the layman may
be of assistance to the clergyman. He
is shoulder to shoulder with the masses;
he has his hand upon the pulse OF senti-
ment; he knows how deep a certain
movement or social rebellion is. IL the
clergyman, feeling impelled, for the
good of his parishioners, to take for his
text a political or social question then
agitating community, would before
preparing his sermon seek the advice of
laymen, some few of them, | believe in
many instances the power OF the pulpit
would be more efficaciously exercised.
and the possibilities for good measurably
multiplied.
A clergyman may be entertaining,
often amusing, without being undigni-
fed. A clergyman should always bear
in mind that the composite intellect
that he is addressing is far below his
standard of thought. far below his stand
ard OF education, far below his standard
of knowledge of the Bible and OF the
tenets OF the church. A minister is
elevated in pulpit in obedience to the