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

(Continued)
Then 1 says. Squire Howard. you've
had your eyes on the ground so long you
don't know that there's anything on top
OF the earth but gravel and grass II
you'd only 20 out at midday and look UP
at the sun or on a clear evening and
look at the stars and planets with all
their beauty. and consider the imme.sity
OF space In which they move, and then
say 20 yourself, What is 10 prevent man
expanding in that direction, no matter
what his surroundings may be? Then
you'd begin to live and have being such
as God Almighty intended you 10 have
But you've perverted your nature, and
so all OF the beauties Of heaven and earth
have gone TO grass, so far as your con-
ception is concerned. Rhode Island, OF
course, has small territorial limits, but
a calf in a pasture Of Rhode Island can
get as much free air 10 breathe as a
Texas steer can. and q man can expand
heavenward is as lmitless n territory as
can a resident of New York State The
humble occupant OF cottage has as
much monopoly OF the atmoshere as a
Vanderbilt, and can soar in his spirit
TO the third heaven with as much velocity
and satisfaction as the German Emperor,
and feathers about Il. Squire Howard,
I've no doubt you render good deal of
Justice I'm the courts because you've
studied and practiced law all OF your life,
and as a consequence. you are looked up
10 by society, and what you say you are
held more responsible for than most folks,
because your listeners are apt 10 believe
what you are talkin about--out want 10
tell you now that you ought 10 nave
found out by this time that the way or
eternal life amt found in the ordinary
statutes. and II you want 10 talk intelli-
gently and consistently on that line, go
home and read your Bible"
federation broke in and tried TO apolo-
gize for what / said, and walked half way
home with him so as 10 make MIN reel
more comfortable But I've come 10 the
conclusion the more we are made uncom-
Portable at times the better and more gen.
erous beings we become.
There has been n good deal Of com
plaint OF late years because there has
been such small attendance at the various
houses of worship throughout the country,
the reason being largely ascrlbed 10 "a
growing custom that approaches Sabbath
breaking i'm the way OF attending outdoor
picnics. excursion parties, driving for
pleasure. bicycle riding taking a ride on
excursion steamers. and so on.
But these are not the only reasons.
They are the reasons why some folks
don't go TO church. for Sunday is the only
day that many OF them have an hour 10
themselves In that they can use for ex-
panding their lungs and for enjoying the
open air and the sunshine, and for view
ing the beautiful pictures that God has
painted here and there on the hillsides
and In the valleys Pictures that were
made for them as much as they were
made for anybody else 20 see. who may
have ample time during the week TO look
at them But there Is no particular rea-
son why they should not attend some
place OF Worship in the evening, whore
they can congregate and offer thanks
giving for the blessings that they have
enjoyed during the day.
why don't they go I'm the evening? I'll
tell you why. It's my opinion it's because
there are so many lazy ministers Now,
that sounds awful harsh. doesn't 81?
But after ALL minister OF the gospel
who neglects 20 perform the duties that
are assigned him 10 perform is just as
much entitled TO be called lazy as any
body else Is who neglects his work
What do mean by such talk? Wei,
I'll tell you what I mean. I don't mean
to say that any minister neglects to per
form marriage ceremonies, 10 visit his
parishtoners occasionally. and 20 attend
to the social business of the society. He
does all that because it's easy. These
are what might be called the play part
OF his duties. they are all enjoyable past
times as a rule. requiring NO special effort
to perform them. But when he goes
into the pulpit and gives his hearers a
Bible reading and allows II 20 be put
down as sermon, that marks him as a
lazy minister!
Now. Mr. Webster says that n sermon
IS public discourse for religious In
structon. grounded on some passage of
Scripture" and II ne had never said so
the people would have understood that
sermon should be that kind Of a dis
course. Grounded on Scripture. But
that doesn't mean that II shall be all
ground work There must be a super
structure. There's the trouble with lots
OF ministers, they've got tremendous
lot OF foundations. but they have never
even laid the sils OF the superstructure
that is necessary to the completion OF a
good sermon Why don't they7 Simply
because the man who is a little inclined
to shirk will find IL compare lively easy
to take Paul's Journey 10 Rome. for in
stance. as a topic. and I'm following him
along put IN a little emphatic ges-
ture here and there. and key
his voice up and strike n dramatic atti-
tude whore he can make them effective
I'm certain places. and because he has used
up little nervous energy I'm HE discourse.
he can temporarily impress his hearers
that they have listened 20 q pretty good
sermon.
But when John and his wife git home