Now I am not going to scold--even to blame. To do so would be not only
unjust, but ungrateful in me, to a congregation which is as attentive and
as reverent as you are. Indeed, I am the only person to blame, for I
ought to have spoken on the subject long ago.
As it is, coming fresh from Chester, and accustomed to hear
congregations, in that city and in the country round, reading the
responses aloud throughout the service with earnestness, and reverence, I
was painfully struck by the silence in this church. I had before grown
so accustomed to it that I did not perceive it, just as one grows
accustomed to a great many things which ought not to be, till one forgets
that, however usual they may be, wrong they are, and ought to be amended.
Now, it is always best to begin at the root of a matter. So to begin at
the root of this. Why do we come to church at all?
Some will say, to hear the sermon. That is often too true. Some folks
do come to church to hear a man get up and preach, just as they go to a
concert to hear a man get up and sing, to amuse and interest them for
half-an-hour.
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