Newspaper Page Text
August 4, 1909.
deliver such sound wisdom
as can come only from a s
vigorous and untired body.
"The marvel is that the
such unvarying success.
"Of later years, churches
peculiar intensity of the der
and to introduce here and 1
idea. In Atlanta fnanv of t
\ *
have adopted the annual le;
feature, insisting that thei
weeks of each year in rest
supplying them with the w
vacation would be an imuo:
"The practice should be n
stitute the rule rather than
sheer standpoint of se'f-inte
makes sacrifices to send it
vironment reaps immeasuri
and spiritual profit.
"The effective preacher c
lectual horizon is kept broac
wholesome. Nothing so coi
this condition as contact at i
peoples and things, and acc<
of life. Such a preacher, hi
ed to concert pitch, returns
ming with inspiration, beti
physically and spiritually to
fronting the eternal problei
and the devil.'
"Of course, the less well-t
er towns could not afford
wealthier neighbors, but th<
the observance of economy
approximate policy."
THE MEN IN
It has been observed th;
pews have kept the peoph
pulpit has become corrupt,
business men speak on rel
uniformly find them sound
ward the skeptical isms tha
public attention from certai,
religious periodicals and mi
who attend important reli
blies, conferences or assoc
when the unprofessional la;
firms a devout faith in the
plicit confidence in the au
avows unfaltering belief in
evangelical religion, and if
stand on modern criticism 1
common-sense, positive wa
that he has settled convicti
with the accepted faith whi
ered unto the saints.
To assert that this is dm
interpretation is begging th
Qt*P K1 itnrlorprc A /% 4-U~
t*i V iy? niiviv IVIO, nil^ UU LUC
of skepticism as readily as
the Bible is allowed as a wit
learned and unstable wrest
own destruction." These rr
rI fating ir-> -*. -f ^r. v
THE PRESBYTER]
to his flock from the pulpit
ound mind supported by a
y meet the situation with
have begun to realize the
nands upon their ministers.
there the salutary vacation
he wealthier congregations
ive of absence as a regular
r preachers spend several
or differing pursuits, and
therewithal minus which a
ssibility.
tade so universal as to conthe
exception. From the
rest, the congregation that
s preacher into a new enable
dividends in pleasure
>f today is he whose intel1
and world-embracing and
riduces to a maintenance of
cguicii intervals wun otner
:ss to new ideas and angles
s physical energies recruitto
his congregation brimter
qualified mentally and
aid his parishioners in conns
of 'the world, the flesh
o-do churches of the smallto
be as liberal as their
ere is no reason why, with
, they could not effect an
THE PEWS.
it the hymns sung in the
i sound in faith after the
When serious, practical
ligious themes, we almost
in faith and intolerant tot
are being obtruded upon
11 professional chairs, semietropolitan
pulpits. Those
gious conventions, assemiations,
may observe that
yman is heard from he afGod
of the Bible and im
muriiy 01 nis Word, and
i the familiar doctrines of
there is occasion to take a
le does it in such a direct,
y as to admit of no doubt
ons, and that they accord
ich was once for all delive
to his being unskilled in
e question, for if these men
y not blunder on the side
on the side of faith? If
ness on this point, "the un
the Scriptures unto their
len sustain and defend the
* ' ? * ?
4
[AN OF THE SOUTH.
Scriptures in their literal, plenary mean
dency of the natural heart is toward
natural man receiveth not the things o
God," but here we have a class of mer
telligent and discriminating in the affai
life, holding unhesitating allegiance to
of the inspired Word. This can not be 1
praved human nature, nor of being "unh
stable," the Scriptures themselves beir
The obvious and adequate explanati<
men in the pews are trained to weigh e
scale of ceniiine merit Tli<?v
turn, endorsed by the wisest world-pol
know them by their fruifs." With the
and straightforward look, they see the g
ing evidences and demonstrations thai
God's book, and with the hearts of hoi
ling to see and weigh facts and acce]
which these facts warrant and require, t
der to the sacred volume a whole-hear
and allegiance. While a fledgling profe
ing his dissertation to show that some
cident of Bible history is an anachron
tical man of affairs, accustomed to weig
on its merits, discerns the thought ai
God in the sacred pages and with imm
tion says, "I know whom I have believe
The difference between the two is 1
tical man is a searcher after truth that
it and use it in building his own chat
character and happiness of others, whit
ist" is prying into the chronology, or
etymology of the Scriptures with the h
ering "some new thing" that will give
The result is that out of his own spe
he evolves a formidable rubbish heap t
fain have the public believe, has intrinsi
business man is seeking nutriment for
structural material for strong character
happiness, while the adventurer in Bit
is seeking recognition as an explorer, o
sensation in Biblical criticism, expei
shown that such novelists can sell their
frequently get well-endowed chairs in ric
The time is approaching when a halt
in reckless trifling with truth, and it \v
man who will give the command. He w
tolerant and will withdraw his patronag<
mand a show of hands and a classificati
ists, and that the sheep shall be divided f
He will even serve notice on the univers
high walls shall not defend nor their en<
nish aid and comfort to, enemies of t
such notification there will be deferer
and with its demands there will be gen
ough, though perhaps reluctant, compli
the day when the bone and sinew of soc
hood of the church shall assert its autl
sume its rightful position in maintain
confirming th* faith r?f th?
<-> pvupit.
"The Westminster" wisely says: "T
especially in religious matters, is givi
what was always his."
ing. The tenunbelief,
"The
f the Spirit of
i, the most inrs
of practical
the authority
the fruit of de;arned
and unig
judge,
an is that the
vidence in the
ur Lord's die11
> , X C Midi 1
ir clear vision
jreat outstandt
the Bible is
nest men, wilpt
conclusions
hese men rented
confidence
ssor is preparcustom
or inism,
the pracjhing
evidence
nd method of
ovable convic
ed."
that the prache
may know
acter and the
e the "specialethnology,
or
ope of discovhim
notoriety. culative
fancy
hat, he would
c value. The
the soul, and
and enduring
dical criticism
r as the latest
rience having
books and can
:h universities.
: 11 i --it- ?
win uc canea
ill be the layull
cease to be
He will de011
of religionrom
the goats,
ities that their
dowments furhe
truth. To
itial response,
uine and thorance.
Hasten
:iety, the manhority
and as
ing truth and
rue liberality,
ng to another