Things Wise and Otherwise (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900. Excerpt: ... III. "AS DTTLL AS A SERMON." You are cautioned against connecting too closely the subject and signature. However applicable, they do not constitute a personal confession. I recall that Rowland Hill came to chapel in a drenching rain, and exclaiming, ""What shall I do?" was told, " Hurry right into the pulpit, you are always dry enough there I" The expression "as dull as a sermon" would involve all ministers in the same condemnation. But evidently it is too sweeping. Was it born of the interminable discourses of the reformation and Puritanic periods? I am loath, however, to shift the imputation from our own shoulders to theirs. Is it the consensus of church-goers as to pulpit discourses? No popular vote has yet been taken. The "dictionary of phrases" tells not the time or place of its advent. We are left to infer that like George McDonald's baby, it came " out of the everywhere into the here." At all events the sermon seems to have attained the distinction of being the standard of stupidity. Hosea Ballou 2d used to say that his "D.D." stood for " Dreadful Dull," but those who heard, interpreted it, "Delightful Divine." Fortunately, the sermon is not the only criterion of dullness. The common sense of mankind permits an occasional variation, --for example, "as dull as a beetle," meaning a wooden hammer, not, however, a very inspiring association; in Holland the ministers share the distinction, with the civil officers, "As dull as the debates of Dutch burgomasters on cheese parings and candle ends." And even in free America we find an occasional fling at public functionaries, as in " The Boston Herald," " Senator Hoar speaks a good word for the wider circulation of 'The Congressional Record.' The best way for him to accomplish this purpose is to contribute mo...