Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1897 — ODD WAY TO PREACH. [ARTICLE]

ODD WAY TO PREACH.

Object Sermons Now n Fad with SomeGotham Preachers. Religion and religious methods seem tobe taking on a new form with the approaching birth of Greater New York. Doctrines of heresy, political discussion sand other matters far from the old-fash-ioned pgth of pastors, seem to be the only questions now discussed iu the hous#s of worship. Aud the break-awny from theorthodox has affected churches of every denomination. The excitement caused by the reported possibility of F’ather Ducey being disciplined for expressing his approval of socialistic principles has given way to talk aroused by the action of Rev. Dr. Dennison of the Church of the Sea and Land, ■who, following the example of the lateDr. Spurgeon of London, who frequently pounded a bible to pieces in emphasizing his remarks on some illustrated sermon,, has introduced balloons into the church. The balloons were used by the pastor tomake clear the meaning of his object lesson sermon, “The causes that keep men down.” Mr. Dennison demonstrated that many men rosy to certain heights in the world, but never got any higher. Theweight that kept them down, he explained,, was a pair of handcuffs. Then the pastor released a toy balloon with a pair of handcuffs attached to it by string. Of course the balloon had not sufficient capacity tohold the gas necessary to raise the weight, and so the illustration was applauded. His second example showed the balloon-, on the end of a whisky bottle —another cause that kept men down. To illustratethat filth prevented man’s ascension balloon No. 3 was attached to a tin can filled with dirt. A pair of scissors fastened to a balloon represented sharp-tongued persons who are continually cutting into persons’ feelings. The congregation is now divided. Oneportion thinks that pastor’s idea an excellent one, while others declare that hisaction was an insult to their intelligence.. But the idea has “caught on” and several “example sermons” are promised in many of the churches.