The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-13

Southern Churchnan Remarks
Ed.toriaIy on the Subject.
Brief Church Notes.

The Southern Churchnan Of this week
contains q leading editorial CT Misuse
Of the Pulpit. in which there are taken
to task rather severely those preachers
who have habit of discussing current
events. timely topics and 50 on from
the pulpit. 10 the exclusion of the gospel.
The Cl2urchrnan says in part:
One of the unfortunate fashions, which
seems TO be growing. is the misuse OF
the pulpir-the using OF it for other pur-
poses than the preaching OF the gos-
pei. The evidences OF this growing evil
nay be found ii almost any Saturdays
raper. with its list of subjects" on which
alleged sermons are 10 be preached on
the following day. and additional and
stronger evidence may be found in the
Mondays papers. With their startling
headlines. telling OF the timely topics and
re current events which have engaged
the attention of many preachers, 10 the
exclusion Of the gospel.
For long time it was our happy boast
tha- our church was free from this IN
l.appy Invasion, and that this type OF
t1rea ching was not heard from her pull
pits But. unhappily, this comforting as
selt;on can no longer be made, ard cur
rent questions are 10 longer foreign to
her pulpirs
FOR many reasons this seems an unfor-
tunate state Of affairs S0ch subjects.
however interesting they may be al the
riire. can never be OF such importance as
To displace. even temporarily, the one
great theme of the preacher OF the GOSPEL.
Such a man # he stands for anything,
ought 10 stand as the advocate for the
greatest divine teaching. as the impartial
friend Of all, as one who can so to and
syr?2rath:ze with every type ard class Of
men. and when he begins 70 discuss CIR
rent questions he is almost sure 10 lean
to some class or side or party, and so
lose his position OF leader OF all He is 10
20 to men, not with a solution OF their
Trttlerns. but with a remedy for their ills.
and this remedy not one OF his discovery
or invention, but the one great divine rem
ely, once for al made known 70 human
i1y in the person and work Of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
"Aad again. without shadow Of Gisre-
spect, we say few preachers are ole
OF speaking with authority or these cur
rent questions that face our nation. These
questions are Of far-reaching nature and
profound and complex character. and only
. specialist, after long years OF study. is
equipped 10 speak on them with authority.
The superficial thinker Goes only harm
by bringing himself. his theme and his
oGice into contempt. He is set as a spir-
ftlal guide and leader, and when men find
him superficial and unreliable in one point
they distrust him in all.
The ChuTchn1an quotes approvfngly from
the utterances Of Bishop Lawrence Of
Massachusetts. OF the tendency Of certain
ministers TO preach? about the coal strike.
and concludes as follows:
May the day be fer distant when this
misuse OF the pulpit shall make any mark
&C Roadway in this church,
On Sunday night, at the Fulton Baptist
Church. the pastor. Rev. W. S. Leake,
= hi c
country from heather lands. Mr.. LeatIe
Is preaching series OF sermons on the
Ten Commandments. ard will discuss on
Sunday night Image Worship. The first
sermon of the series, preached last Sun
day night, was heard by large con-
gregation.
Pastor c. p. steaIey Will preach at
Broadus Memorial Sunday n gtt. subject
intermediate State of the Dead In
which he VIII show that the Obstruction
ist'' theory Is contrary to the teaching OF
Scripture. ard that soul sleeping" is not
the doctrine OF inspired write s: that
perish does not mean ''ceas;ag 10 ex-
ist' At morning service the subject viii
BIZ ''orthodox Expression and Heterodox
Heart"
The Rev. John Lewis. a native Of Wales
who has charge Of q BAPTIST Church il
GAINESVILLE Va. has been invited TO come
70 Richmond and preach at Calvary
Church some time in January.
DR.. j. B. Irav-thnroe vii? rreac', in tha
morning at Grove Avenue on Blessings
IN Disguise" In the evening his sUbject
will be "Our Opportunities.
The Rev. n. Ashby Jones viii preach IL
the morning at Leigh Street on The Sec
ond Mile Relisicr.' At night his subjec
VIII be "A Definite Deed"
DR.. J. S McElroy viii preach in tbs
morning ct the Second PRESBYTERIAN
Church IN the afternoon the pulpit vii
lie filed by the pastor. Or. Russell Cecil
r bier G onvicted.
Convicted OF h!ghwa. robbery in tht
Hastings Court yesterday afternoon
Charles Spencer (colo-ed) was given ter
years in the penftentiary. On motion OF
Mr. Harry Smith attorney for the ac-
cused. time was allowed by Judge Witt
IN which TO argue for a new trial.
just beforc the noon recess was taken