The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-06-28

NEWSPAPERS
MONOPOLlZE PUBLIC
ATTENTION
Seven Days in the
Week.
Congressional Cracl e
Tells Why Printed Ser
mons are Going Out
of Fashion.
(By William e. Curtis. Correspondent
Chicago Record. d.Herald)

by William e. Curtis Correspondent
Chicago Record-Herald)
Washington, June 20-I asked Mt
Spofford, the oracle of the library OF
Congress, why the publication of ser
mons had gone out OF fashion.
Because of a growing and healthy
dislike of formal instruction on the
part of the American people," he re-
piled, land perhaps a growing lack
OF reverence for the learning and opln.
ions Of the clergy. The people of this
generation have more respect for the
opinions of a newspaper than for
those Of the pulpit. The newspaper
monopolizes public attention seven
days in the week and has seven chanc.
es to express Its views to one for the
preacher. Then, again, there is dis
taste for homillesand for sermonizing
and the members of q congregation
who listen to one or perhaps two ser
mons in the week from their own pas.
tor are not eager to buy sermons OF
other pastors in addition. Very sci.
dom nowadays is congregation no
enthusiastic over the deliveranee OF
its pastor as to demand second
hearing or an opportunity 10 read his
words in print. Sometimes historical
ana anniversary discourses are print.
ed In pamphlet form for the preserva
ton Of the facts, but not usually for
the propagation Of opinions, and
friends OF those upon whom eulogies,
may have been pronounced frequently
publish the discourses SO that those
who did not have the opportunity to
hear them may read what was said
There is, also a prodlgious differ.
enoe in the size of the preachers In
several respects" continued Mr.. Spot.
ford. In the old DAYS the preacher
was always the great man of the com
munity. He was the oracle; perhaps
the only learned man, the only college
graduate in the parish, and was there.
fore looked up to with. the reverence
that was due 10 his cloth and the
admiration that was due 10 his learn
ing. Today our ciergymen do not ex.
ercise that influence, for obvious rea.
sons. They are apt 10 have men in
their congregations who are just as
wen educated as themselves and In
whose opinions and learning the pub.
lie have quite rs much confidence
Therefore the clergyman is no longer
dictator In social, moral spiritual and
often political and commercial affairs
as he was two huIdred or even one
hundred years ago. Increase .Mather
and Cotton Mather. his son, were as
absolute autocrats as any despot thai
ever sat upon a thTone-'the Brahmin
caste Of New England as DR.. Holmes
said. i am Sir Oracle. When ! ope
my lips. let no dog bark Shake
speare never described more distinct
tive character than those two extra
ordinary men, father and son.
There are very few clergymen in
these days whose sermons are worth
printing. Some OF them are mere
pump-handles 10 pump the wisdom
and the knowledge out. Of the reser-
yoirs. They could not for heaven H.
self get out OF the rut of the textual
theology they have learned in the
seminary, and they won't learn any.
thing else; even out OF the Bible
Their sermons are without spark
OF human vitality or love or originate
ty."