The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-11-27

others. The speaker also stated that
because his interest is tagging is need
lessly neglecting the greatest institu-
ton in the community.
Blames Extreme Views
Those who find fault with the
church, said the pastor, are of two
extreme views throughout. On the
one hand is the critic who says that
the church does not have the social
idea developed, that one is not made
to feel that he is part of the scheme
of things within the church. Another
says that the church today is too anti
quated and that it does not keep
abreast of the times. On the other
hand is the Pathfinder who regales
the social policy of the church which
buttonholes its prospects and endeav
ors to wish the church upon him"
Another objector states that the
church is too up-to-date and that it
has too many modern improvements
and harks back to the good old days
when church-going people were devout
and reverent The answer to this
complaint was that the church is just
what its members make it and that
the non-church- goer should select the
church which conforms the nearest to
his ideas. The speaker here recited
little jangle to illustrate his point:
If every member
Were just like me,
What kind of a church
Would my church be-"
He stated that there should not be
go much criticism of the church from
the outside, that those who desire re
lgion should support its institutions
by regular attendance and that proper
interest contributed to this end would
either eradicate the Objectionable
points or aid in correcting them.
Preacher Between Fires
In speaking of the criticism of the
sermons of the ministers, Dr. Rae said
that again the two extremes are noted,
for some say there is too much creed
others, not enough Some say the min
lister is too serious, others, that his
sermons are too light. The objection
to long sermon is matched by an
other that it was not long enough.
What can the poor preacher do?"
asked the speaker. "He can't meet
both extremes but must do the best he
can. l don't believe it matters how
long or how short the sermons are to
some people as long as they are not
cut so as to touch their personal hab-
its. Most of the objections to the
sermons preached are made from this
cause, that the doings of some people
in the community are criticised by the
pastor in his sermons, and the doors of
evil, with aching consciences, cannot
bear up under the fire of ministerial
criticism"
1.-THE preacher makes mistakes the
same as other persons" confessed the
pastor, "but he should always be given
credit for doing the best he can. If
my sermons displease my congrega-
ton it is only fair that / should know
about 1t and if | am wrong / will do
my best to rectify my errors. 1t is
not expecting too much to ask for the
right kind of criticism. There should
be more open-hearted, man-to-man
talks between the minister and the
members of his congregation. We may
not always agree but we can at least
know each others point of view
Is Helpless Man.
The preacher has met almost the
same kind of criticism as have his
sermons, said DR.. Rae. He is some
times talked about by members of his
congregation when he is not given an
opportunity to answer back. did it
ever occur to you that the preacher is
the most helpless man in the commun-
ity?" asked the speaker. mo man is
more open to attack on his moral char
acter-or in any other regard or more
unable to defend himself than is the
preacher. And there is no man in the
community who needs and deserves
the support of his congregation any
more than does the minister, just for