Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-10
b. Bi hop
" urren
A. Gambler

terly refused the part of a political agi-
tator. When his carnally minded disci-
pies showed sympathy with any such
mistaken and worldly conception of his
mission, he rebuked them; he would have
none of 1t.
Nor did he set up a new school of phil
lOsophy. nor appear as the critic or ex-
FOUNDER of any system that had been
before him. His was a more serious and
sublime work than that of an academic
lecturer. Nor did he assume the role OF
a dealer in the dainty wares of literature.
He concerned himself only with the
spiritual. But by bringing the spirits of
men under the life-giving powers of the
world to come through his gospel he has
elevated political systems. enlightened
thought and ennobled literature. And
those of his servants, coming after him,
from the days of the apostles until this
good hour. who have followed most
closely his method have done most
for the advancement of mankind polit-
ically, socially an intellectually. On the
! other hand. the preachers who have min
flied the spiritual world, have done least
for the amelioration of material condi-
tions and the promotion of secular inter-
ests.
In truth, preachers who drag into their
pulpits all sorts of secular subjects,
gion. not only fail to improve the mat
tiers which they thus treat, but they fail
also to save themselves from deteriora-
tion 1t is a distinct token of an en-
feebled faith when a preacher ceases to
believe that the Gospel is the chief agen-
cy of salvation, and his diseased faith
then tends to derange his conduct, which
in turn makes the paralysis of his faith
more profound. The final upshot of tho
whole process is seen in a man who re-
nopnces the whole programme of Chris
tianity and takes up instead every pop
ular prescription of the nostrum mong-
ers who cry every morning some new
panacea for all human ills.
Many such are abroad in the earth.
More is the pity. They do not give their
hearers a good quality OF the earthen
wares which they offer from the pulpits
which they have reduced to the level of
the platforms upon which fakirs stand
to cry the sale of patent medicines.
What execrable science is poured out
by the pseudo-scientists of the pulpit I!
They call over the names of great scien-
lists which they have learned from the
cyclopedias, and in their name proclaim
theories which would disgrace the YER
lest sciolist.
The pulpit political-economist is no bet
ter than the pulpit scientist. he talks OF
the great economists from Adam Smith
to Prof. Sumner, and in their name
sets forth social expedients which ig
norance only could conceive and folly
only could foster.
And then there is the pulpit philosopher
prating of all the names he can pro-
nounce. from Thales to Herbert Spen-
GER! What nations does he not expose
as the final solution of all mystery and
the completion of all knowledge
At all these freaks the ignorant and
half-educated stare in blank wonder,
while good men grieve and wise men
turn away in disgust.
Meanwhile our sad, sick world. fam
ishing for the bread of life. walks on its
weary way to the grave. o the tragedy
of It all! o the shame of the comedy in
the pulpit confronted by the tragedy in
the pewi
Might we be done with all this folly
and hear more frequently the gospel Of
rest on the day of rest! zen would our
Sabbath be a delight and we should dis
cover in the holy JOY, like the reverent
gladness of the ancient Psalmist, that
Gods way is in the sanctuary.