"Live Subjects."
Zion's Advocate, June 1901, Vol. 40, No. 6.
In "Hearst's Chicago American" for April 23, is given the pictures of seven preachers, "who," says that paper, "treat live subjects from their pulpit." Short extracts from the sermons of some are also given. Rev. F. C. Bruner praises the Boers' brave struggle for liberty. Rev. A. Lincoln Shute gives a series of sermons on amusements in the church such as "Card Playing," "The Dance," "The Theater," &c., &c. Rev. B. W. Rogers declares that some attraction is necessary to draw men to the worship of God, to reclaim their interest and patronage, because fewer men are now entering the ministry than formerly. He says the number of students in the theological seminaries is 200 less than last year, and that a large number of the men who are members of religious clubs and organizations never enter a church for worship or religious activity. Rev. H. Francis Perry treats his audience with a discourse on "Bible Echoes of Laugher." Dr. H. W. Thomas shows that the great aim of reform is the perfection of the world which he thinks is attainable. Rev. Frank DeWitt Talmage gathers a lesson from Carnegie the millionaire, and praises the great genius displayed by him, in accumulating his vast wealth. These are called "live subjects," by which we infer that the gospel of Jesus Christ is considered a dead subject. Arminian preachers are hard-pressed to keep their churches alive. The character of their membership is such that they would die out if fed on the pure gospel. There is a demand for something new and entertaining, and this demand must be met. Up-to-date theaters and other worldly amusements are very liberally patronized, and the Arminian churches must be made as attractive if they would be as liberally patronized. This competition between the world and the preachers is calling forth the utmost powers of the preachers. The question with them must be not so much what the Bible teaches as what will hold their membes and entice the world.How thankful we are that we are not laboring under such a galling yoke! All we have to do is to preach the gospel, and trust in Him to be with us, that we may be able to proclaim its precious truths to his dear people. It may be a dead subject to the world, but to the children of God it will ever be a live theme, comforting, instructive and encouraging to them. The world may not be drawn to our services, but some of the poor, hungry, thirsty ones will come out to hear us tell of Jesus and his love. With this let us be satisfied. It is enough for us to do to preach glad tidings to the poor in spirit, to comfort the sorrowful, to gather the lambs in the arms of the gospel and bring them to the visible fold for shelter and nourishment. What the world calls "live subjects" would be only dry, unpalatable husks to these living subjects of the kingdom. They crave the sincere milk of the word, the pure gospel of Jesus.
Thou dear Redeemer, dying Lamb,
We love to hear of thee;
No music's like thy charming name,
Nor half so sweet can be.
This sweet theme never grows monotonous. No other afford so great variety. It is boundless and inexhaustible, ever fresh and new. It meets every need, fills every demand.
All my capacious powers can wish
In thee doth richly meet:
Nor to my eyes is light so dear,
Nor friendship half so sweet.
J. R. D.
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