The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-05

and begin to analyze the sermon they
come TO the agreement that there was
tremendous loss OF fuss without any
feathers. They argue that they both
learned that story by heart when they
were children and went to Sunday school.
and besides IL was the same chapter that
was read at the breakfast table the very
Sunday morning. Now, they are both fond
of Bible readings, but they object to have
their minister palm that story OF on them
as n sermon, for they know as well as he
does that IL IL nothing bait ground work.
Now. that kind OF a discourse is easy.
You will never be sent 10 a sanitorium
on account OF nervous prostration. II you
make a practice OF delivering such kind
OF sermons. and / can tell you now that
n you keep IL up you'll find plenty OF seats
I'm your church TO accommodate your
hearers every Sunday. and some TO spare.
But the minister who lays the founda-
ton and then builds a superStructure
right before his audience so that they can
all enjoy the style of architecture and be
profted thereby. he's a hard working man,
and never entitled to be classed with lazy
preachers or course he's got to DO a
lot OF reading, and a lot OF studying of
human nature. He's got to dig down
where there's gold II It's gold he's after.
and he's got TO listen to the song Of 1T
the bird now and then, and to stop long
enough 10 zee the bird Is singing in or
der TO tell yon and I all about It His
diploma and college experience don't
amount 10 anything unless he's willing
10 roll up his sleeves and then deNe and
delve until every week he finds some new
things TO give TO his hearers when they
come TO listen to a sermon. Preach SER
mons that are sermons and you won't
have any trouble in filing your churches,
but don't for goodness sakes keep on try
ing To palm off Scripture readings for the
real article, for your followers know bet
ter. ~ tHt
II theatre actors should put as little
labor into their profession as great per-
centage OF ministers do. the theatres
would have to shut UP their doors for
want OF patronage The same rule should
apply to the churches. but because the
cause is an elevated one we overlook lazi-
ness I'm the preachers and continue to en-
ploy them year after year because they
make a respectable appearing fgurehead.
but all the while they are allowing the
church membership to dwindle because
they don't propose to do any very hard
work
Every minister of the Gospel is simply
n servant OF God who can aid his fellow
men by his example of God-fke life,
and by talking to his hearers In simple
language laden with thoughts 30 intense
ly interesting that everybody Will want
TO listen and thereby receive a blessing
In politics it's the office that counts. but
in religion the office counts for but little
unless the heart of the man and the soul
is imbued with the Spirit OF the Master.
A bishop OF the Methodist church be-
comes a power I'm the community IL he is
in touch with God, otherwise ne Is a use
less figurehead. The same with all other
church officers. But you who are pa
rishioner. and aim for no higher position.
II you are a devout person you are also
a power among men and you have All
equal power with God with the highest
church officer i'm the Christian world The
Almighty allows no one man monopoly
IN divine things There IL the difference:
A high church officer can speak TO no
more people than layman can and he
NAV be a better teacher, but God recog-
nizes the great and lowly alike IL their
faith and obedience be equal The Scrip
ture tells US this very plainly. That $
why there's no humbuggery about them.
Religious humbugs are bred by man af-
ter ne gets 10 the point where he pre-
fends to monopolize the saving grace.
ITO be Continued.)