The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1909-12-17

deaconS are a little weak on the dec
trine OF perseverance," and do not
keep the matter as uncOmfOrtably
constant before them as they might
have dune.
4. You empty pe"S are regular
sermon killers. / may seek the pow
er from on high and prepare my ser
mons with the most faithful study
and painStakiDg care, yet when |
stand before you empty pewS your
hollow gaze and vacant looks freezes
my zeal and kills my enthusiasm.
You put out all the fire l had in 'he
sermon. And then you never have a
word OF comfort to offer. In this you
are very like some If my members,
but am glad to say, not all, for
some OF my members are not only
qualified to appreciate a good sermon
but have the grace of heart to speak
OF it for the comfort OF the preacher.
L think it but fair to you however to
say That while you do not commend
my sermons you never condemn them.
And as | look at the vast array Of
empty pewS l can almost imagine
myself hearing you say: He must
De a mighty sorry preacher or more
OF his members would hear him."
| might be disposed to agree with you
in the Impression, only other folks do
not agree with you about this, and a
great many OF my members do net.
And SOHe Of my more parCial mem
berS even go 81 far aS to say they
have heard worse preachers than l
am.
! 5. You empty pewS discourage the
few who do attend church. and that
too almost as much as you do me.
, You cool their zeal I'd weaken their
interest and lead them to believe that
the cause is dead. | could not like
you because you weaken their faith
in my ability and make THIN believe
they need some one who Can draw,
when the fact Of the OuSineSS is, as
you would know if you knew any.
thing, that what many need is relig.
lon Of the contagious kind, and a
little enthusiasm of the catching
sort.
6. Finally, you say to the world
louder and far more effectively than
any iDtidel could ever hope to do,
that Religion is a ?ailure." The
world knows you empty pewS are
here, the devil knows you are here,
infidelity knows you are here, and
you are saying in thunder tones that
reach clear down into eternity that
Vital Goodness is at a low ebb and
that religion in Grenada is almost
played out" You are entirely too
numerous in this church to suit Inc,
and l much fear that ysur kind
abounds in, all churches in town.
| suspect that il the truth were
known. that you are a numerous set
in this town with large family connec-
ton in all the churches. for l fear
your family is not at all particular
about church creedS but feel much at
home in any OF our churches. But it
may be that l will leave you some
time and possibly v look upon
your familiar forms again, tut l
you this parting word of inform
alton, viz: what you all need is to b.
set down upon" l have been sci
down upon by a limited number my
self. but that does not cure the evil
is not l who needs to be set
upon. but you. II more of you
set down upon there would be
fewer OF you empty, and there
would be less need to set down upon
me, and the cause of religion would
here as never before, and SIM
nerS for whom Jesus died would be
converted and some Gay 60 shouting
to the skies. You will not
me. but | shall desert you some
these days and where / 90 1 mean
to see to j. that you do not come.
And some day l shall 90 home to God
and in that home of many m lnsiOnS
there will be no empty pewS-all the
seats will be gladly taken.
Now in the confident assurance
that you will not repeat what 1 have
'aid to you, to the hurt and mortifi-
Of some of my members, | bid
you for the time being a cordial good
Dye. fully believing that you will all
with me when l next occupy this
and it is barely possible that
our numbers may be augmented
,elah.