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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1887)
PULPITS AND PULPITEEUa - ent of the character for success of the his hewer, in intellectual cajdicity ami preacher, or that there are uo sermons, spiritual force and discernment Such however feeble anil unimpressive in ut- elevation is obviously very difficult In - France, that are not mlcnl-.tcd to do a nuwbtsr of pulpiu in this coun- good, if only we would receive the good, try, the minister not only doe not stand To a certain extent, this last proposition above the hearers, but doe not even may be true, but it is not true far enough stand on a level with them as to most to cover the defect in ministry. Nor subject of ordinary culture, while in can it be said that the great topic of regard to his special subject, he is whoily christian instruction is less calculated unoqual to the task of bringing them than other topics to move the minds and anything of a fresh and informing char feelings of man; for it is undeniable that acter. Such a temper as this in the pul there are none which can be made to tell pit has a natural tendency to bo dull, to do more powerfully. In spite of man' nat- its weekly work with a listleas formali ural insensibility to the truth, and the ty, and the stereotyped impressions are coldness of his common love for it, this positively repulsive and wearing to most truth, when rightly and earnestly pre- people. There is nothing of warmth sented, finds sources of interest, and stirs or light, or anything approaching a liv springs of emotion in him, which nothing ing root of interest in such sermons, else can possibly da There is in it an A sermon that is destitute of any real attraction for his intellect, his iraagina- element of interest, which doe not im tiou, and his heart, which the lofitest press or hit an audience, can lw of no range of mere forensic or political ora- practical benefit After it is over, those tory does not reach. However indiffer- who have given a languid, limping at- . ent men may be to spiritual doctrine or tention, may endeavor to recidl some, spiritual duty, it does not account for thing that was said, but in vain. Nothing the prevailing unirapressiveness of the was said worth recalling. Far worse is : average sermon. If this were true, then the man whoso effort is to arouse the it would not be true that, with the very feeling of alarm. Ho doe not under same materials to work upon, another stand that there is a great difference be. ; kind of application of the same truths, tween stern and strong shaking, and i by preaching, has proved immensely sue- that style of preaching which run along cessful There is a tight and effective on a high pitch of shrieking denuncia. method of preaching, as of everything tions; what theatrical critics rail ranting. I else. Where it is continuously dull and It is to lo doubted whether such a style and ineffective, one is warranted in say- a this can bo made the intrumcnt of I ing that it is because of a chronic and any great religious awakening. Certain. insufferable weakness in the style, the ly this manner of preaching can uever manner and the general character of the be a general mean of moral deration minister. and acceptance. But evcu that i bet- Without attempting to explain fully ter and more appealing than the sen, what i wrong in the prevailing charao tional style; generally, very small men- ter of preaching, or suggesting the bet tal and physical equipment, and a theme, means of improvement, it may be said that a completely hide the man, a it that in this day of general intelligence, overwhelm hi intellectual grasp, when IhA tAna. and indnAnAAAf .im.aIiA film 4 - ima.1 if !h rkltlrtll ftti4kA.I must, in ordinary cases, be proportionate of the newspaper. The whole object of 'to the elevation at which he stand above this preacher, generally a loud-voicM
