The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-28
Theodore (u,Ier's Recolyections.

one OF the latest and most enjoyable con.
'ributions TO reminiscent literature Ia the
autobiography entitled Recoiieetiors OF n
Long Life, by Theodore Ledyard Cuyler
d. d., LID. CThe Baker 4 Taylor Co }.
The exceptional scope of his experience
will he appreciated when we mention that
it is nearly sixty years since he became a
Presbyterian minister. and that at even an
earlier date he began writing for news
papers and magazines. There IL no one
better qualified than he To point out the
significance Of the changes undergone by
the pulpit and the press in the United States
during tha long and eventfu period. To
This subject an interesting part. but only a
part, al the boz X is devoted. OF the authors
many visits 10 Europe one was made as early
as 1912. and he has much to tell us about the
tate Of things in England sixty years ago
he was again in Great Britain during the
Civil War. and hears first hand testimony
to the sympathy for the Confederate cause
which prevailed UP TO the time when the
Emancipation, Proclamation was issued
Well worth reading. also. are his recollec-
lions OF the Americans eminent In public
or professional life or in literature with
whom he Was brought into personal con-
tact Among these may be named Daniel
Webster. Abraham Lincoln Horace Greeley
Washington Irving and John G. Whittier.
The famous American preachers, to whom
a chapter is allotted, include the Alcxan-
ders, DR.. Tying. Or. Cox, Dr. Adams. Or.
Storrs and Mr.. Beecher We shall glance
at some of the references 10 distinguished
men after noting DR.. Cuyler's observations
on the changes that have taken place in
the methods Of the American pulpit since
the days Of bis youth. These observations
will he found set forth In chapter headed
MY Work In the Pulpit"
The author does not enter al any length
into the controversy abort the comr ara
tive merits Of written or extemporized ser
mons. He thinks that every man must
find out for himself by practice which
method he personally can use to the beet
advantage. -Sorne men cannot extern
porize effectively il they try ever 80 hard;
there are others. like Gladstone. who can
think best when they are on their legs
and are inspired by an audience" As to
his own experience, the fact is recalled that
during the first few years of my ministry
wrote out nearly all Of my sermons. The
advantage Of doing this is that 1t enables a
young beginner to form his own style at
the outset by care full and systematic writing.
Spurgeon often when youth read some
OF his sermons, although afterward he
never premeditated a single sentence for
the pulpit DR.. Richard s. Storrs became
a most fluent extemporaneous speaker, but
for twenty years he carefully wrote all his
discourses. My own custom after a time
was TO write q portion OF the sermon. and
In the pulpit turn away from my notee to
interject thoughts that came In the heat Of
the moment subsequently returning to
my manuscript. This was generally the
habit Of Henry Ward Beecher. After
thirty years In the ministry I discarded
writing sermons entirely and adopted the
plan Of preparing few heads on bit Of
note paper Our author adds that Or.
John Hall wrote carefully. leaving his
manuscript at home; and 80 does DR.. Alex
andar McLaren Of Manchester, who IL
to-day by far the most superb sermonizer
in Great Britain. The eloquent Guthrie Of
Scotland committed his discourses to
memory and delivered them in torrent Of
godly emotion Other instances are men,
toned in which the use Of manuscripts did
not cramp the preacher. "Dr. Chalmers
read every line OF his sermons with thrilling
and tremendous effect. So did DR.. Charles
Wadsworth In Philadelphia. and 80 did
Phillips Brooks in Boston,
Recalling the American pulpit a. IL was
sixty years ago. DR., Cuyler notes that tho
average preacher was then more doc
trinal than he Ia to-day. Heaven and hell
were treated AZ tremendous realities, and
such themes as the attributes Of God, the
divinity OF Jesus Christ. the nature and
consequences OF sin. the atonenent, re-
generation. faith, resurrection and judR.
ment to come were pushed to the front.
Sermons were generally aimed at awaken
ing the impenitent. Al the present time,
on the contrary. "a large portion Of sermons
are addressed TO protesting Christians;
many Others are addressed to nobody In
particular, and there is less OF faithful,
fervid. loving and persuasive discourse
to the unconverted.' This. In our authors
judgment, Is ono Of the reasons for the
decrease In the number Of conversions,
He Is also convinced that there has been
decline In imprisoned pulpit eloquence.
There Ia change In the fashions Of preach
Ing. Students are now taught TO be calm
and colloquial to aim at producing epi-
grammatic essays; to discuss sociological