The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-02
INTERNATIONALLY.

order of the threefold menu above men
toned is far more in accordance with The
laws of gastrOnomic science. Now, ! won't
quarrel with the dessert, though I'm still
glad to get 1t, but must insist that, If we
are to have dessert at ALL 1t ought not TO
come first. or second either Nor would
civilized epicure think it just the thing
to shovel down ham and turkey without
a little previous toning up. Then. let the
preacher serve an introductory soup. Be
sure. though that II is soup, not slop
Just to ill up on, Some pulpit purveyors
seem actually to think that soup of the
introduction is simply to keep the audi
ence quiet until their own slow pulpit
fire can warm UP the substance of the
gospel and the weightier matters of the
law. Rather, let the Introductory soup
be soup-warm. pungent, appetizing--then
viii the audience be equal to more solid
viands But every sermon, like every
feast, ought to have n good taste so
bring on the dessert. There is significance
in every close. and the closing of a sermon
ought never to be laborlous, but always
triumphant. We speak Of the power of
first impressions. Alas. there Is a power
of the last impression which proves half
fatal TO many public discourse. Happily
for preachers. the usual practical applica-
tion of the sermon facilitates our closing
opportunity. Out of the heated depths Of
intellectual and moral conviction let come
the maj easy ebullltlOn,
No pot is ever formidable until it has
boiled over. Have you never watcheda ser
mon of truly great promise rise nearly TO
the top and then subside into a sort of
fiat, ignoble simmer? The sermons which
profoundly and lastingly impress nearly
always reach climax Don't forget the
day of small beginnings, but be sure to
remember the day of big BINDINGS.
There is another threefold aspect of the
Will bp
threefold sermon menu last mentioned is
purely accidental. refer now 10 that
trinity of faculties In the audience 10
which the sermon especially appeals, viz,
logical, imaginative and emotional. Logic
is always in order. for IL is the working
method OF reason. and reason must go all
the way. The logical man may be some
times tiresome, but he Is always respect
able. The flowers of finer speech bloom all
the better for the solid roofing of reason,
Logic Is the personal honesty OF thought.
BE logical, then, and always logical, but
hut be a little cautious about hourishing
the syllogism. Men thought logically b.
/ fore the world over heard OF the major
| and minor proposition and the conclu-
sion. The sylloglsm is a skeleton, and only
anatomical and logical eranks love skele-
I tons.
/ Next comes imagination He is not as
much in evidence as reason. but he has 10
be In every good sermon. The Imagination
! Is the eagle OF our intellectual empyrean
YES" says Dr. Dry-as-dust. 81 know it,
spread eagle" Well, then, doctor, for
/ your benefit we will change the figures and
assert that. In the commonwealth OF mind
! Imagination Is the only manufacturer, jlst
rs perception is the only foragsr. Memory
comparison, judgment. sensibility and the
balance are all either middle-men or con-
] sumere The fact that we walk by faith
and not BY slight Axes the high rank Of
Imagination in the realm OF religion. II
tho things hoped for become substance in
faith; II we are to endure as seeing Hin
who is invisible; II earth holds intercourse
with heaven. then must there be Nor
curry among our spiritual faculties. and "a
imagination alone belong the wings. Some
preachers undoubtedly do too much fyiug
but I'm afraid that many others do too