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VOL. LXXXVII. R1CHMC
Sensational Preac
Some years ago the following communication,
.-igned E. X. B.f appeared in the Chicago Titnes/Irrald
(now Record-llr.arld):
PKK.ICH TUB OOSI'EI..
'"If you wish to know the secret of the decline
of the power of the pulpit and influence of
preachers, you have only to look at the advertised
service in Saturday evening and Sunday morning
papers, and then, on Monday morning, read
the synopsis of sermons (?) as published, consisting
of addresses, lectures, essays, speculations,
and tirades on all subjects, fie is a rare preacher
who dares to declare the whole counsel of God to
his hearers, as did some of the old-time ministers.
A Moody can still fill the largest hou?e, a Spurgeon
had no need or use for stereopticons to fill
his tabernacle. Such men as these recognize God,
and Spirit, and Christ, and depend upon them in
their work. They take in hand the Bible as their
sword?the old liihle that for eighteen hundred
years has wrought such mighty work in the world,
before the men whom God did not consult in its
preparation, had begun thei/'S^vestigating and
criticising and ruining, au/^4A*.,hreaking up the
faith of thousands. SuyJj^eh/go from closet to
platform with bowed hend^s^J^togder hearts, accompanied
by the Spirit of^l
lieving they have God's message#
speak through them?earnest, fait lit til/hen, who
believe their God to be 'the same yesterday, and
today, and forever.'" Such men will not need to
depend on brass band, or pictures or sensational
utterances for congregations, for tbev depend on
God's Spirit, who never fails them who put their
trust in Him. Presidents and professors and
preachers are 'out-.Heroding Herod' in their attempts
to outdo each other in their vague and demoralizing
speculations. They are specialists gone
crazy on their sociological hobbies, substituting
their vagaries for God's mind. Then, let schools
and teachers and preachers go back to God's
Word as it was and is, back to Christ and His
commands, back to the Spirit, their Comforter,
and the pulpit is safe."
Who dare say that B. N. B. exaggerates? If we
lead the daily newspapers of today we find that
sensntirmnlicm in flin milrvif :--4 1
.......... ... |'iii|>n im." * iiiuii-n-ru IIISIVI'I
of decreased during the last fifty years. All kinds
of sensational advertising can l>e seen in order to
draw the people to the churches. How often does
a person come from church disappointed and
chagrined, because he expected, after a week's
toil and worry, to hear the Word of God that would
frive him comfort and strength for next week's
troubles, and spiritual food for his soul. But instead
he had*to listen to scientific tirades or spec..1
. ? -
'nations on Darwin's evolution theory, or on politics,
or on other secular subjects, so that the man
or woman who came to hear comforting, inspiring
and strengthening Gospel, that would make them
feel good for the coming week, went away disgusted
and disappointed. Tf this happens often
V
)ND. NEW o\;%^S, ATLANTA. OC1
king: "Ecclesiastic
By Carl Theodore Wettstein
they will go to other churches, or, worse yet, will
go 10 no cnurcn.
We have preserved soiue of these newspaper remark?
during the last years, and we are sure the
reader will find them highly interesting reading
matter.
THE l'REACHKB OF DOUBTS.
"God gave the truth in His Book. He calls men
to preach that truth. The truth of the Scriptures
is spiritually discerned. Why should a man accept
a call to preach the Gospel which cannot l>e
apprehended by the unaided mind, and then upon
a purely human basis of reasoning, ignoring the
supernatural in the religion of Christ, go forth to
proclaim doubts? There is a dreadful reckoning
?<... ...i? i-- " ?
loiiuug n> imn uuiii ? neii iiu aii?wBHi 10 mill who
called him to preach the unsearchable riches of
Christ. Let the doubting preacher tnke the Bible
and study it by the enlightening help of the Holy
Spirit. Let the preacher of doubts cease to preach
at all, go to the mourner's bench and get a genuine
case of religion, and then, if the Holv Spirit calls
him to preach, he will have something better than
doubts to proclaim.*'?Terns Christian Advocate.
SEN RATION.\I. PKF.ACHINO.
"When a sermon or lecture is to lie delivered on
a notable person or an historic event, the publication
of the subject is almost imperative. When
a minister is to conduct a memorial or commemorative
service, or when he is to handle an
absorbing or attractive nuestion. due intimation
of hi* purpose is evidently expedient. Hut can it
bo reckoned either wise or fitting that a minister
should habitually proclaim bv advertisement the
particular theme on which he proposes to descant
on the coming Sunday? Presumable, he will deal
with some aspect of Christian truth or religious
experience; and, generally speaking, it is sufficient
that his hearers should learn what his topic is
when he commences his discourse. Hut the impropriety
is greatly aggravated when the subject
is announced in some funny or fantastic phrase,
or in some passing and aptless quotation from a
3At?1llnr QllflrAl* Wnoh 1*1-- 1
.w?<u> niiuivi. liuui uucB niv iar mure 1IK6JV
to appeal to people who are in quest of what is odd
nr droll than to those who are seeking God or
needing Christ. But, indeed, it is exceedinglv
doubtful whether, as a rule, these devices really
increase the attendance at church. The notification
of strange and diverting topics may repel as
many as it may attract; and it certainly tends to
l>eget in the worshipers a spirit which is neither
prayerful nor reverential. Tf the praetice of pre
announcement is to be adopted, it is surely proper
that the language used should always l>e so brief
and unmistakable in meaning that intending
hearers shall have no doubt as to what the preacher
means to he at. Tt will at least be admitted that
no species of strategy or quackery should ever be
employed bv ministers to induce people to come
to worship in the hon?e of God."?Prrsbytfrtav
op thb South.
WesternPpesbyteriam
\L PRESBYTER!AN t
<iERN PRESBYTZRJAtf
OBER I. 1913. . j
:al Mountebanks"
SENSATIONAL TO 1*108.
"The etTort to attract sensation-seekers to the
Ix>rd's house on the l/ord's day by announcing
sensational topics in the public prints is quite
frequent, if not increasing. There are occasions
when the preacher's theme may be properly advertised
if it be a worthy one and the verbiage not
misleading. There may l>e advantages in
regularly announcing in advance scriptural topics
in dignified form. But we must believe that sensational
topics degrade the pulpit and are an
affront to sincere worshipers."?Religions Herald.
WIT.T.I AM II OF GKRMAY.
The (icnnan Emperor had an opportunity to
speak at the Yatho affair. The officers of the
General Synod of the Church of Prussia came to
see him. In the course of their conversation he
said: "It certainly is a cause of regret that n minister
of the Church had to be expelled on account
of heresy. But there have always been men of the
Yatho type and there will he such at all times.
me i.nurch of Christ will always get rid of lier
adversaries. Tito l>e>t way to protect ourselves
against heretics and heresy is to search the Scriptures
profoundly and to take firm hold of the person
of .Ipsus, of Christ our T.ord and Saviour 1 v
true faith and love."
{SENSATIONALISM.
What a pity that our sensible, devout, thoroughly
evangelical Methodist' brethren should be
afflicted with "up-to-date pastors like this!" The
putting is from the New York Ereninn J'naf
- - f *
October 26th:
"Southern people in New York city are invited
to the evening service at Clrace M. E. church
tomorrow, when one thousand cotton bolls, fresh
picked and sent from Alabama, will be distributed.
Special music will l>c provided, and Dr. Reisner
will speak on 'Religion Down South/ A roll will
be called of the Southern States to find how many
of them are represented. ... On Saturday
afternoon and evening, November 2nd and 3rd, a
new department will be opened in the church.
Dr. Reisner has raised a special fund among
e..:?J- ?
menus ouiswe 01 the olmroh, and has purchased
a complete moving picture outfit, which will he installed
at the church. Every Saturday afternoon at
3 o'clock pictures, both of fun and info? mation,
will bo shown to children free of charge. Tickets
will bo distributed in the Sunday school. On Saturday
evening adults only will be admitted with a
silver offering at the door.
Worship, instruction imlif* J ?
, .......o?; ?n uuwureu or
?ot wholly to one side, for the sake of "sensation
and as one "sensation" after another palls, the depraved
appetite constantly demands fresh excitement.
Does anyone suppose that there is the
plierhtest benefit in variety shows like these, on the
ford's day in the ford's house??Presbyter
ltrnotus, in Living Church.
New York Tribune: "When two dozen new