Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-12-26
Good Advice 10 Preachers.

The best trained and managed
voices that we hear belong to street
vendcrs of patent medicines and
other wares sold by these travelling
people. The proprietors of side
shows at fairs and carnivals know
how to manage their voices. Preach
ers do not. As general thing they
have little idea of the power, the
capabilities and the influence Of the
voice when well modulated. Even
those who read sermons often blum
der through their manuscripts, exer-
cising about as much interest
amongst the audience as one of Edi-
sons talking machines. Badly
trained and managed voices are not
confined to the uncducated exhorters
and raw licentiatcs. Seminary grad
yates and preachers who have the
right to ornament their autographs
with initials at both ends, are about
as faulty as are the little fellows that
enter the ministry from country
homes and mountain coves. At the
session of the North Carolina Con
ference Bishop Morrison in speaking
to the class received into full connec-
tion made some admirable sugges-
tions. If the Bishop had thrown in
a few chunks of advice on eating or
rather the feeding of ministers, they
would not have been out of place.
Many ministers ruin health, voice,
throat, usefulness by gorging the
stomach on all occasions. They
think it their prime duty to eat and
drink everything set before them.
Half the ailments of preachers come
from the intemperate and sinful in
diligence of pampered appetites.
But here is what Bishop Morrison
wisely says:
"First be careful of your voice.
The man to whom God has given
good voice has a wondeful gift. BE
careful of your voice and don't abuse
it. Too many preachers let their
voice take charge of them instead of
taking charge of their voice. Begin
prcacli'"e in a conversational tone.
Preach to the man -" the rear scat,
and listen to the echo of your o-n
words. Control your voice. You
can do this with your will, for the
will is the man. You are before
your audience to lead. Let every
one present hear every word you say
and every syllable, if possible. You
can make even commonplace utter
an'es interesting by expression.
Eave a good tone to your voice.
The Lord help the man with the
gospel tone.
Second, take care of your Ian
guagc. There is no language too
pure, too clean and too chastc TO
convey the Gospel of Christ. And
there is nothing SO disgusting to
common sense people rs the use of
slang and coarse language in the
pulpit. Take care of your language
in the pulpit and with your associ-
atcs. SO many men have their in
fuence ruined by careless utteranccs
among their companions. If you
find you have desire to use coarse
language ask to be relieved from the
work Of the ministry. Never create
laugh at the expense of dignity.
"Third, be careful of the little pro-
pricties Of life. Custom has clothed
the ministry in black, and let us wear
it. | have seen men in high places
in the church with unkempt appear
ancc and careless dress, but this
should not be. There is happy
mean between the clown and the
dude which the preacher should
adopt, so as not to call attention to
himself.
"Be careful of your pulpit man
ncrs. Never beat the Bible. The
Bible is too sacred to be pummcled
by any man. Walk three times
around the church rather than step
over the chanccl railing. Have mouth
keeping grace. Keep charge of any
one else until he can take charge
of himself. Your influence as minis
ter will be effected by these minor
points"
When the stomach is tired out it must
have rest, but wo can't live without
food Kodol Dyspepsia Cure "digcsts
what you cat SO that you can cat all the
good food you want while il is restoring
tho digestive organs to health. 1t is the
only preparation that digcsts all kinds Of
food j. w. Bell.