The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-18

One Ct the unpleasant phenomena OF the
present day is irreverence In the pulpit.
The dark ages of superstition we're bad
enough, and there was some disregard for
the dignity OF sacred things in those days.
but the general attitude OF the clergy, at
least was digniied and reverent The old
fashioned minister OF Puritan times, WITH
his frowuing piety. his stern Ideals. and his
iron rule over the sentiments Of the COM
munity. was not always agreeable. nor was
his influence altogether good; but he is
considerably more admirable all things
considered. than some Of his successors.
It is well that the clergy Of today have
laid aside some Of the unnecessary formal
ity which hpdged them in former times
but there is such a thing as fiamboyant
irreverence in preaching, and it has be
come so evident within the last ten or If
teen years as to disgust every right-think-
ing person. The latest and most no.
torious instance of this is the Rev. Mr.
Sheldor's experiment in conducting a daily
paper "as Jesus would do it That
phrase. to a sensitive ear, is offensive In
the extreme. and 20 one Of ordinary in
telligence can fail TO see that to make such
an expression Il byword from one end of
the country to the other. is productive Of
anything hut reverence on the part of the
general public. The "Atchison Globe, 70
which is apt to be reckless in its speech.
even without provocaien. evolved this
headline for its account OF the Sne.don ex-
pertinent.
Jesus il Harness"
When Mr. sheldon comes to reflect that
he has provoked comments Of this sort. to
the disgust Of really serious and earnest
people Of his own faith. he may conclude
that his experiment has been one OF those
things which one would rather not have
tried.
Aside from the fact that a new slang
phrase will be added to the protane vOcab-
ulary Of street urchins. this theatrical pr
formance will prove anew the value Of
advertising. and it may create re-
action from the vaudeville style of
preaching. and relegste the sensational
pulpit orator to the oblivion where lie
belongs. Incidentally, it will establish
incontestable proof OF the value of
the unsectarian and secular daily news
paper, since the perusal Of Mr.. sheldon
edition Of the Topeka Capital" creates in
the subscriber an immediate thirst for in
formation as TO what is going on in the
world at the present day. It is reported
that most of the regular subscribers OF
the Capital have gene forth and bought
other newspapers in order to find out what
the news really was and the proprietors
Of Topeka journals are consequently
complaisant toward the Sheldon expert
ment They would not mind if the cereal
editor were TO continue his reign in
definitely. since in that way their rival
would be-practically wiped out Of existence
so far as competition was concerned.
But Mr.. sheldon is only the latest and
most sensational offender against the laws
OF religious decorum. Dr. Parkhurst's ex-
traordinary letter to District Attorney
Gardiner. the publication Of such books as
II Christ Came tc Chicago" and the syn
dictate sermons Of the only Or. Talmage,
are all part aud parcel Of the same sensa-
tionsl development In addition to this.
there is a cult OF evangelical believers who
make il a point 10 speak Of sacred things
in familiar and sometimes almost jocu az
way, dragging into the dust Of common
speech thoughts and feelings which Te-
served people do not discuss lightly even
with their intimate friends. II is about
time for sensible people to express them
selves forcibly on the necessity Of refine
ment and reverence in dealing with reli-
Eious subjects