Something New In Preaching.

Bush Advocate, Volume XI, Issue 863, 25 November 1893, Page 6

Something New In Preaching.

It seems that the devouring enterprise and inventiveness of cur Transatlantic relatives has succeeded in pressing photography into the service of religion. There are pulpits in the "United States — at least, so it would appear— where " photographic" or illustrated sermons are habitually preached. The clergyman has on electric button close beside him, which at a certain point of his sermon ho presses. Tho immediate result is that the lights are lowered, and the congregation are gratified by seeing a representation of tho place or incident to which their pastor is referring pre sented to it by meau3 of a photographic slide.

It is not Baid exactly where or how the picture i 3 oxhibited. Wo may Buppose that the slide is reproduced on a white sheet, after the time-honored method of magic lanterns, or oven upou the whitewashed wall of tiie building. possibly tha front of the pnlpifc is utilised for this purpose. This is a matter of Borne doubt, but what is quite certain is that in a paper read | before the Chicago Photographic Congress the Reverend Mr Patten referred to the photographic sermon as already a recognised factor in spiritual progress and an established success. He kuow, as ho told his audience, of one clergyman who, by a single sermon illustrated with some telling slides; had reclaimed no fewer than three hundred sinners. The number certainly seems to savor somewhat of exaggeration, and we can imagine British clerios whoße mouths will positively water at the idea of netting throe hundred souls at one eaßt. Such a " bag," however, if the expression is permissible in this connection, must surely be an uncommon one even in America, the country of big things. If the kodak when domiciled in English churches were to convert only ten persons at each service, the result (the London "Daily Telegraph thinks) would be eminently satisfactory. What do Archbishop Carr and Bishop Goe say to illustrating "Tho Origin of the Churoh of England " with the aid of a button (taken from the collection bag !) and a " magio lantern 2"