Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-28

DIR. John Hall did not limit his in
fuence by being a sturdy Presbyte-
rian. Phillips Brooks was felt, and
is felt as a national force. though
he never affected independentism.
Beecher, Deems and Talmage-
great men all OF them. but great as
they were, they will soon be little
more than traditional names. They
have left little that is permanent.
So is every one that doeth like
them.
Neither in New York nor else
where are present day preachers as
great as the men of thirty years ago.
Living evangelists are far below
Moody and Finney. Living pastors
do not approach the great preachers
of that group who have now all
passed away. We have tent
stretchers. and hymn box peddlers
and photograph vendors, and faith
healers, and reformers Of all sorts,
but no Moodys. We have musical
programs and splendid buildings,
but no Storrs or Brooks in the pull
pit. Great men in the American
pulpit were never before so scarce.
1t is difficult, If not impossible. to
point to one Of the first magnitude
now living.
Why is this so? For one cause
more than all others-commercial-.
ism. Prophets are scarce in ma
ton that falls to worshiping Nam
mon. Israel was never so prosper
Gus as when Solomon reigned, but
Israel had no prophets then. David
had his Nathan. Ahab had his
Elijah, and Manasseh had his Isaiah,
but Solomon had no messenger of
God to reprove him Of his idolatry,
and immortality. In his glorious
temple there were any number Of
petty priests burning with infinite
precision 1.-THE fat and the two kid
neys;" but in all the land there was
no prophet. So we have abundance
of men Of a certain sort. Many
of them make admirable members
on a musical program. and say
beautiful little pieces between the
choir acts. Dainty auditors swoon
away under the influence of sacred
entertainments, but the sermon
must be pretty. and 1t must not be
long. Preaching is scarce because
it is not much in demand with
commercialized people, who prefer
to be soothed rather than saved.
Some men in the pulpit, of today
would preach If they only believed
the Bible But by what is some
times called the higher criticism"
and kindred rationalism of q scien-
tific sort they have been emascula-
ted. With the fear of the critics be-
fore their eyes they come into the
pulpit as Agog came into the pres
ence of his royal walking
softly" Commanding pulpit power
is impossible in the absence of con-
fident faith. Men who preach with
authority must be great believers.
81 believe, therefore have spoken"
is both David's and PauTs account
of the earnestness and eloquence
of their speech.
Pertinent in this connection are
the words of old Basham Miles, in
Pages "Old Gentlemen Of the Black
Stock" He says: THE pulpit has
lost its power; thrown away its best
prerogative-the gift of preaching.
The clergy no more believe with
power, because they no more believe
with strength. Why should
1 go to hear a young man of far less
knowledge thea myself, holding
forth to worldly. people worldly
considerations to induce them to
embrace a religion of which the
Founder preached the blessedness
of sorrow. The poorest preacher,
sir. is impressive, so long as he
believes himself the minister of God.
may not accept his message. but
if he believes in his mission 1 shall
respect him. If. however, he ques-
tons his own credentials I will not
listen to him"