The Portland daily press., 1898-01-22
SENSATIONAL PREACHING.
A Portland Preacher Strongly Con-
demnS II.
STEREOPTICON ILLUSTRATION
OUT OF PLACE ON SUNDAY.

The Minister Should Preach Truth Strong
Iy and Simply.
REV. j. B. Shepherds Address to Portland
| MinistersO
| If were to preach q sermon on sensa-
t;onalism would choose as text, Isaiah
xxx 90, 81.
land though the Lord give you the
bread of adversely, and the water of aff1lc-
tion. vet shall not thy teachers be re-
moved into corner any more, but their
eyes shall see thy teachers; and their
ears shall hear word behind n a. thee ssh saying
turn to the right hand and when ye turn
to the left.
Do the times demand the sensational
element in..the pulpit?
Before [ attempt to answer this ques-
ton. another question must be answered.
What is:sensational preaching? / call that
preaching sensational that has for It's sole
object the increase of the.size Of congre-
CATION for purely worldly purposes, that
Aims at numerical and financial success.
Numbers are not to be despised, and
money is needed to carry on the work of
the church. But the man called Of God
to preach the gospel of Christ must
preach whether men will bear or forbear.
1t is burden laid upon his soul which
no earthly consideration can release him
from Many man called of God to
preach has never had multitudes to hear
him. Nor has he reaped large monetary
reward. Just as true is it that men who
have had large numerical and financial
success. in the ministry do not possess the
slightest comprehension of the dignity
- %I,oi,r <fS how aob
the gospel simply for the living it brings
them. They are willing to use any means
to reach q certain kind OF success even If
PRINCIPLES be sacrificed to obtain it. The
house of God is turned into house of
merchandise. The preacher is the GALES
man, the Bible is the stock in trade, the
pulpit is the counter, and the applause
of men the medium of exchange.
Sensationalism has it's root in the pres
sure brought 10 bear on the pulpit, to use
ways and means to bring people to church
in the hope OF getting money from them.
Church edificeS are ereci ed which in size
and costliness far exceed the needs and
means OF the people. They must be paid
for, so large numbers ofpeople must attend
| in tho hope that a small sum OF money
| from each one will make large aggre-
gate. Many a good man has been caught
| in that trap. He has been cajoled into
the acceptance of call by a few shrewd
| laymen who see in him an agency to help
| them out of their difficulties. If he is
young, pliable and talented, he is to them
as newly discover ed mine from which
they may draw on for sometime. A large
salary is offered such man, not because
the laborer is worthy of his hire but on
the principle that fast trotting horse
brings large price because of the great
stakes he may bring his owner. Fast
trotters break down, and SO do men in
the ministry of the church OF God for
same reason. They are not able to stand
the pace that is set for them. OF course
a broken down minister is not of much
more use than broken winded horse.
When the collection is taken for the aged
and infirm clergy, the pittance the church
run on sensational lines gives, shows the
true value it places on the man who broke
down in its service.
The snare OF all snares is to make
money the sole object for the building of
a church. A church that exists for any
other purpose than the preservation and
increase of spiritual life is not church,
and can never do the work of a church.
10 be entertained, to be amused is no
part of the salvation provided in Christ.
| A beautiful edifice, good music, able
preaching, social position and financial
strength consecrated to the service of God
| are gifts which are acceptable to God.
are a curse and not a Blessing.
Sometimes good men and true are de-
luded and befooled by the idea that the
churches are competitors for the patron
age of the community. 1t is figured out
that there are just SO many church goers
and just SO much money in community.
A spirit of rivalry must therefore take
possession of the churches to secure the
lions share of all this. Attractions are
advertised after the plan of running places
of entertainment The press announces
that noted singer will hold forth at the
Church of the Holy Amusoments on sun
dsy. evening. mmThe public are assured that
the sermon will be short and nothing is
said of the duty of worship, praise and
nraver. In another church full musical
programme isEad vertised withsa sermonette
about current literature. The church OF
Modern Piety offers in addition to music,
and a brief sermon, an organ recital.
new adjunct to the pulpit is the stereopti-
con Circulars are received every week
by the clergymen of the city containing
the signatures of men who have used this
machine TO the large increase of their con-
gregations They can be bought on the
installment plan and you are assured
that they will soon pay for themselves oy
the large increase of the offerings. The
stereopticon will have its day to be sue.
ceeded by the photograph, by the use OF
which minister and choir can be done
away with and the entire act of public
worship can be gone through with by
machinery. When all these things fall
meal tickets will be issued to all who
attend public worship and trading stamps
will be given to all who contribute
nickel on the plate.
But it may be asked, Do you not be-
lieve in the cultivation of taste for good
music? Do you not believe in the pic
torial presentation of Biblical and rellgr
ious history. Most assuredly. What L
contend is that the Lords day is not the
time for this work. If the sterepticon is
to be used let it be done on a week day.
If an organ recital or a sacred concert is
to be given let week day be chosen. Ii
a lecture on literature be given let 1t be
done on week day. But let the Lord s