The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-29
DOBLEY IN SERIOUS MOOD.
NE DTsCUssBs THE NEW SCHOO
or PULPIT INSrRUCTI0N.
Makes Predictions ReEsrding the Twen"e'n
Centsry sermon and the Probable IIehd
of Religious Entertainment = No More
H.r,h Criticism The Collection Methods

Harsh Criticism -The Couecs'oA '
Mrs. Dobley had prevailed upon Mr.. Dohiey
10 accompany her TO church and "A they walked
home together she commented on the beauty
Of the day, the warmth OF the spring sunshine
and the general advantages Of a visit To church
on Sunday morning in preference 70 a hohe
service with the papers as a text
ITS tho sermon that makes you feei hko
that said Dobley. The tendency OF the
modern sermon IL TO produce q feeling OF thor.
ough satisfaction with ones SELF. the ~or'o
in general and things as they exist. Some
times | find myself ~fancyins what the l"eh-
tieth Century sermon will be Ike 1 can nm
aatne that the church will become more popu-
lar than the theatre within the next ten years.
what a dreadful thing 10 say" exclaimed
Mrs. Dobley. you have peculiar ideasI
You cannot deny. said Dobley, "the radical
difference that EXISTS between the up-to-dste
sermon and the old style address in which
congregations we're uansfxed with a realiza-
tIon OF their unworthiness and general no-ao-
count conduct. Individuals imagined that they
ware singled out for a target and fairly siSzied
with embarrassmen as a ~foretaste OF what
they might expect"
Are you describing your own experienoes'
asked Mrs. Dobley. Perhaps other persons
whose condolences were not burdened with q
sense Of their shortcomings felt differently.
Tho style hae changed" said Dobley. ig-
norinx this last suggestion. Sin was at
tackled boldly: weakness was held up for re-
proach: there was only one line drawn between
right and wrong; future punishment was
dilated upon to an extent that used to shr1vel
ND the consciences Of sinners.
"Oh we'll, 1t wouldn't do TO preach like that
10 A modern congregation. said Mrs. Dobley.
-or they would go to sleep Just as they used
during the long old fashioned sermons
"Wha. alarms me. said Dobley, is to what
extent will clergymen carry the other extreine'
For instance. the interlude that followed the
sermon to-day was played In rag time Did
you notice it,"
Nonsense" said Mrs. Dobley. You simply
IMAGINED It because you are so addicted to thai
sort Of melody yourself"
THE entire musical programme IN a fssh-
ionable church" went on Dobley, is growing
more operate and dramatic There are over
lures, arias. waltzes even, played during a
service. There Is an aesthetic intent in the
decorations that appeals 10 the senses as well
as TO the soul. BY the time the sermon IA begun
the audience-that is. the congregation Is III a
comfortable. happy state of mind. They have
confidence In their pastor, They know no Will
not say anything rude that might hurt Their
feelings but that he will smooth them down
gently with epigrammatic polished phrases.
The modern sermon. instead OF rakinR W me
mind and narrowing the soul acts ms a balm
that makes the listener feel that the ordinary
negative sort OF good behavior, which the aI-
erage human being adopts as a standard Is all
that can be expected so long a. actual wrong
doing Is avoided. Sir Is no longer spelled
with a capital letter. II Is a common noun.
There was a good deal Of rant about the old
style sermon, just the same, said Mrs Dobley,
"and I think It was more Objectionable than
the common-sense way OF looking AT a con-
sregation as composed Of ordinary human be-
tngs. 1t was all force and fury. People are
educated UP to the point beyond that kind Of
appeal a.i, 49, s,r,o =, ssruo,s ,os h.sn
gradual as changes in every other form Of art,
said Dobley, but II has been getAns nearer
the period when clerEymen. gave limitations
10 illustrate various iirurative parts or ser
mons. ] have seen vivid limitations OF boats
row trestles with chasms on either side. tray
oilers climbing mountains, and even the swift
descent of a soul admirably illustrated by a
swift slide down a pulpit balnstrade:
How perfectly Ridiculous" said Mrs, Dob;
ley; 4 shouldn't think such sermons would
But they did, nevertheless" said Dobley,
especially at revival services. These limitations
won people, who could only. he reached by
such methods. This stage of the sermon re-
CURED considerable athletic ability and train
ing, 1t interested and carried away, people
that would listen 10 mere words With only
Il am glad that sort Of sermon is done away
with, said Mr.: DohIey. ! shouldn't ap-
But the common sermon j. far more sub
tle," said Dobley. 1t pat- Us ON the back
and makes our faults seem the neat lrst thing
the spiritual. but rather with qc,qeliue,.
Ii cites instances and individuals. It is mar
v~ellously polished, keen and Interesting as
an address. II fascinates with fights of rhot-
oric, glimpses of wit, ~snatChes OF anecdOto
and touches Of worldlincss. 1T is depressed,
refined, thoroughly artistic Instead Of pice-
our good POINTS before W. 30 that We are forced
10 admit that with all our %falllngs Se Nigh, ne
worse. 1t sends Ms home pleased aS a enid
The results are just as important and ms
great If not more than they we're 70 he sermons
T,s the results that count The world is better
than il used to be, and people are dong more
good Individually than they used to Think
to do for charity. Nowadays charity Is n fad
no woman can be in the social swim without
taking up any number OF charities. and net
but the real kind OF, good work-alnong the
slums, among the children of the poor and the
cgim mr. mos, lR bso Hna 2L cb ,H1T Gsn''I Wbr IS an Pos er3
vi WV " 'A'' ~ - : I llThAlA
the other day of "A society that has a corps of
trained housekeepers and cooks who 20 among
the wives OF laborers In the tenement districts
and teach, them TO sweep and sew and cook
substantial, nutritious, economical meals for
their families If tho pew school of sermons
is responsi' lie for this 1t must be better than
the other and
But can you imagine what the twentieth
century sermon will be- Fancy the horror
OF one of the old school Of divines who might
walk into a fashionable church some sabbath
morning and listen TO a modern discourse?
He wOuldnt know what to make of il.
He would have TO admit that It was more
interesting than the other kind, said Mrs
Dobley. and moro easy to live UP TO. Old
fashioned sermons made us feel IA though
we were hopeless.
But the up-to-date sermon makes YOU reali,e
that you ara a pretty decent sort. said Dobley
THAT is the best way In which to encourage
a desire for Improvement, said Mrs. Dobley,
As they entered the DOblcy dOnlCile md
repaired to the library,
Then tho twentieth century will. as | said
before. witness the decline of the popularity
OF the theatre and the Standing Room Only
aign at the churches ! can lust soc dimiv
the sort of a programme that Will be- offered
There will he a iull orchestra and high-priced
opera artists for the singing and the instru-
mental music, II will be possible 10 hanr
the greatest violinists, harplsts, Cornetists
and singnrs-not at the Metropolitan Opera
House but at church,
Then the incidental music will be yaried
and entertaining, There will ho low ripping
eccompanimrntS and Wagnerian thindnr-
ings. light waltz movements and martial meas
ures, all Indicated on n printed programme
with the names OF the artists and tho COM
posers.
"The sermon will begin with a general sum
mary Of events the world over. Foreign wars
and complications will ba touched upOn en-
tertainingly ana deductions drawn from their
occurrence usually to the eject that we "a
a nation manage our affairs much better tbnn
fha other fnllpWa The IlaGtinu pF tL. yt,kt