Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-01-18
THE TYRANNY
OF THE TEXT"

A minister in one of the pulpits Of
this city yesterday morning lnaugu'
rated a new departure by declaring
he would not announce his text al
the beginning of his discourse ou'
would evolve his subject gradually
He thereupon closed the Bible and
began to speak on religion IN the
home. He handled his subject in a
practical and impressive manner,
showing from the Pentateuch that the
Mosaic religion was virtually that OF
the home. Nearly every scene IN
connection with home life had some
reference to the revelation made to
the ancient people, and the history
of the Israelites was kept fresh be-
fore the minds of the younger gen
Grafton. The Passover Feast was
especially striking in this way, as ii
was incumbent upon the father, the
king and priest Of the household, to
explain the ceremony, in all it's de-
tails, to the members of the family
Apart from this all the words spoken
from Mount Sinai were to be re-
hearsed to the little ones and made
to assimilate with their lives.
We have no intention of re-
producing the sermon. But it was
meat in due season to all present.
The speakers introduction set many
to thinking. He said he had recent
ly read an article, written by lay
man, which bore the headline at the
top of this article-"The Tyranny OF
the Text" While, he said, at came
from without the CIRCLE. G., the
ministerial class-it might be no.
ticed and acted upon Notwithstanding
The layman who was author Of the
article referred to has voiced the
views of others of the rank and
file. Preaching from texts is very
ancient and carries US back to the
early days of the Christian Church,
when mystic, known as Origen,
flourished. This good and we'll
meaning man. however, seemed to
have discerned nothing else in the
plain statements of scripture but
allegoricS. and he had spiritual
meaning or application for all that
had been written. His history is sad.
We cannot reproduce it here, but any
one who has the interest to do so
can find all that is desired in any
encyclopedia.
The example set by this disciple
has been followed by the great bulk
of Christian teachers ever since.
Many people in our day, however,
can sec no good reason why holy
writ is dispensed so sparingly-a
verse, or often half verse, being
about all that is considered necessary
as the basis Of pulpit discourses.
Why not have expositoEial teaching
occasionally. which would give the
hearers a better acquaintance with
the Book Of Books? Every man has
not the opportunity to Il become
o Bible student Many have not the
leisure nor the books. Some have
not the natural requirements for be-
coming students of the word.
While much can be said in favor OF
the present method equally as much
can be said in opposition. \ boul;
entitled "Vagaries of the Pulpit
appeared many years ago. which
showed how little some occupants OF
pcws know of the book from which
sermons are delivered weekly. A
self-constituted preacher on one oc'
casion announced that his text would
be found in the 10th chapter Of
Isaiah-"Let every tub stand upor
its own bottom" 1t is unnecessary t
state that no such words appear il
the Bible. nor are there 70 chapter:
in Isaiah. The mans hearers, how
ever. did not know any better.
\ canal boatmau, who had addeC
preaching to his duties in life, OF
one occasion in addressing a crowt
Of people Of his own standing, sait
he could not read. but his text woult
be found somewhere between thu
Book of Generation and the Book o
Revolution-S5-".sASnd he played upon;
harp of a Thousand strings-Spirit
Of just men made perfect
"In one of Wilkie Collins's novel:
s'The Moonstone," q crude chalacte