The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-09
Spirit of the Press
Prcaching-GoOd and Bad.
North Carolina Baptist.

North CdrOllfld 6dDL!Sl.
There is preaching and preaching.
Some is mighty good and some is AZ
the other extreme. We've heard both
kinds. Some eighteen years ago we
heard a sermon by the great DIR.
Deems of the Church of Strangers of
New York City He was preaching in
the old Presbyterian church at F'aison,
in Duplin county. He had preached
in that county when a circuit rider of
the Methodist church. He had many
friends in and about Faison, and had
them and talk Christ to them. He
preached for nearly two hours and
the people said go on. go on" We
felt SO sorry when he quit
He didn't talk philosophy or poetry
or science or politics. but just told
the old, old story in an attractive.
plain way, that even the children
could understand. That afternoon he
talked to the young people. On the
way from Col. Isham Faison's home
to the church he picked up cotton
seed and used it as a text for a talk
that the wee tots and the old folks
enjoyed. He was preacher. He did
not overreach his audience. He did
not try to show himself Off
We heard Newton Dwight Hills in
his great Brooklyn church some five
years ago. His theme was Tennyson.
1t was not a lecture, not an address.
but q sermon, he said. He quoted
from the great poet in his sermon
and in his prayer and the choir sang
one of Tennyson's poems Well. 1t
was nice and pleased the mind. but
we felt that a great opportunity was
forever lost to preach Jesus. the Sa-
viour, to that large audience. That
was not preaching. SO far as culture
goes, it was UP to the standard. But
the mission of the pulpit is greater
than cultivation or education--it is for
salvation.
When Rev. s. ]. Porter went to
Kansas City on a tour of inspection
he met an old North Carolinian who
had grown rich in the busy Western
city. The old fellow in talking to Bro.
Porter about preaching, said: Tar
Heel | tell you. science and poetry
and such like are all mighty nice. but
they won't do to call up moulners
on The preaching that rays is the
heart, for it is the heart that Christ
wants to reach by the story of His
| life and death.
When the convention met in Win
ston several years ago DR.. f. {. NC
Connell preached in the First Baptist
church on Sunday morning. His theme
was THE Old Story of the Cross y
was powerful. And after the sermon
| a sweet singer of the First church
| sang. Tell me, the old, the old story.
! The whole audience. and the church
| was packed was moved and many
were crying for real JOY. Brethren
| that was preaching reinforced by the
sweet gospel of song. When we want
| to hear o talk on science or literature
we get a ticket to some Lyceum
| course; when we want to hear polltlcs
| we go out to a political rally; When
we want a concert we go to hear an
! orchestra: when we go to the house
! Of God we want to hear the gospel or
| Jesus life and death. And we like
the message to be so clothed that we
can comprehend it and so that the
plain unlettered folk can take it in.
| A man who had heard a speaker said:
| I'D like him better if he'd talk plain
United States" A pretty sensible
comment There is nothing superior
| to the strong, expressive Anglo saxon
| words They are short and easily
understood. They are better than the
long Latin derivatives that form I'M
passible barriers in so many sermons
around which the poor audience has
to travel in it's Journey to the lonStd
for finally of the preacher.
| A little girl heard distinguished
lecturer. His fodder was too high for
| her. She looked UP in abject helpless
ness. He casually referred to a pink
sash" He was at once on her level
She nudged her neighbor. She under
stood. Profundity at the expense OF
clearness is asininity. The speaker who
counts rhetoric of more importance
THAN results would better be blowing
soap bubbles sure enough.
| And so the world in its sorrow and
sin, in it's despair. in its extremity
1 4 dow 1-Nf ~
| not find in science, in education. in
poetry. in philosophy. the healing fol
their wounds or the star of hope fol
which they are lon cling. Their burden
of sin is not lightened by the sacred
concert, and their sorrow is not turned
into joy by the latest discovery OF
science. There is hope. cure. a
support. The preacher is sent by Goo
proclaim tit is his one theme. his
one mission. his one message. Come
Irnto me all We that labor and are
heavy laden and I will give YOU rest,
| is the remedy for human heartbreaks
and human sorrows. Let the pulpl'
IteIl the message in nlain, simple words
full of love and tenderness. The Holy
Shirt will do the rest And there
shall be gladness in the house Of Goo
and 10y in the souls of men.
The Southern White Mans Attitude
Who Votes for Roosevelt.
Richmond News Leader.
| Somebody favors The News Leader
with a copy of this hand bill:
A Massachusetts Woman
sold her husband to another for
90 CENTS.
THAT NAV be all he is Worth, but thu
NATIVE BORN SOUTHERNER
WHO VOTES FOR
ROOSEVELT.
OUGHT TO FEEL
Cheaper
THAN THAT.
| Composed and published by Macl
Fulton. Dunn. N. c..
Much truth is expressed here in
few words, although the author dit
not go quite far enough. 1t is diff
cult to see how any man. whethe
native-born Southerner or not VIII
has interests in the South or who 70
any reason desires the peace an,
prosperity of this section can vote I,