Evening journal., 1912-04-27
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Preacher Who Gave the
WOrId New Kind Of Sermon
By Holland

The Rev. Joseph Parker, who was
for many years the pastor Of the great
City Temple at London, whose con-
gregation was numbered by thousands,
established "A reputation in Great Brit
ain as a pulpit orator which in many
respects compared with the high
reputation which Henry Ward Beech
er gained as a pulpit orator. DIR. Par
ker died in 1902. He visited the United
States several years before his death
and whenever it was announced that
he was to preach his experience was
similar to that which Beecher met
with whenever there was announce
ment that he was to lecture or preach.
In his physical attributes DR.. Parker
resembled Deecher somewhat. Both
were short and stocky men. Both were
broad and deep chested. Both had
great muscular power and possessed
both physical and mental endurance
Both were very fond of nature, and
each was in the habit of utilizing the
phenomena of nature for some of the
most effective and eloquent of the
metaphors or rhetorical effects con-
tanned in his sermons.
OF all the clergymen who had gained
great prominence in pulpits across tue
sea none was esteemed by Beecher a
warmer friend OF a more congenial
companion than was DR.. Parker. Each
understood the other, and it was Dr.
Parker who was the first to point out
the fact that Henry Ward Beecher
taught the lessons of the possibility OF
the sermon and instituted the depar-
ture from the old and conventional
method of sermon preparation and de-
livery.
II think l am safe in saying" said
DR. Parker, after Beechers death,
that one of the greatest Of the les
sons taught by Henry Ward Beecher
was that which many preachers took
to heart and by which / myself was
greatly influenced. Beecher gave the
world an entirely new conception OF
the possibilities Of preaching. When
I first heard him my whole idea of the
sermon was enlarged Before Beecher
came to the pulpit the sermon was
usually a wordy analysis. very often
most dreary creation, and was quite
likely 10 be a pedantic display Of
learned ignorance. The preachers we're
apt to make tremendous onslaughts
upon absent doubters and dead intl-
dels. Then, too there was the con-
ventional and orderly arrangement Of
premises, and the firstly and second
ly and thirdly. an order which put
many hearers to sleep. Beecher did not
in his sermons utilize inoffensive plat
itudes nor did he make any infantile
homilies, or prepare soothing condi-
ments for delicate souls.
What Beeched taught the world
concerning the sermon was this-that
il could be an amazing combination of
philosophy, of poetry. of emotion and
human enthusiasm This combination
always oentered i'm Christ It was all
J intended by Beecher to bring men into
right relations with the Father-not
| by dry logic or by hairbreadth dialec-
/ ticism. but by showing that oven hui
NOR was not inconsistent with religion
and had at times high place in reli-
gious thought and life. That he be-
lieved, was true of all the honorable
emotions of which the human temper
ament is capable. With Beecher the
sermon was not an object TO be gazed
at. but a warm and glowing gospel 10
be received-a divine gospel adj
dressed to the sinful. the broken
hearted, the lost and the hopeless.
Il shall always believe that Beech
er's pre-eminent claim for traditional
memory is due to the fact that he was
the first Of all the preachers Of the
English tongue of whom I have had
any knowledge. to show what the real
opportunity and service of the sermon
could be. and | acknowledge my in
debtedness to him for that lesson"
Copyright. 1912. by e. j. Edwards