PULPIT NOTICES by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 11, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 43.

PULPIT NOTICES.

By Editor

Good nature is a very bad thing, generally; it is without backbone. Goodness by grace, puts grit, backbone, and ribs into the soft parts. Many a preacher doses his congregation with all kinds of notices because he has too much good nature in his make-up. Over-politeness and over-easiness are out of place in the pulpit. The flood of pulpit notices are frequently so long, so varied and diverting, that the sermon and service, if not lost, are seriously affected. We clip this:—

"A Michigan pastor, discussing this question in a ministers' meeting not long since, made this telling point: 'A pulpit notice is a pulpit indorsement. Some people may, at first thought, dissent from this, imagining that a pastor is simply a fleshly phonograph to grind out the notices put into his hands into audible sound. But second thought will convince anyone that a minister should never read a notice of any sort which either himself or some wise and proper officer of his church does not personally know to be worthy of recommendation and of a pulpit reminder.' When this principle is established and acknowledged, church members and society workers will learn to recognize what a serious offense it is to seek pulpit advertising by imposing on a pastor's good nature."—St. Louis Christian Advocate.