Five Preachers on the Train

Five Preachers on the Train

A personal testimony.

J. L. Shaw. Takoma Park, D. C.

" Why do you say ' uh-uh ' between your words when you are speaking in the desk? " asked one preacher, addressing a fellow worker and traveling companion.

"Me! Do you mean me? Do I do that? " replied the preacher addressed, somewhat aroused to a sense of the fact that he was under We keen gaze of a friendly critic.

" Yes," was the reply. " You hesitate between your words, and even more between your sentences."

" That is true! " said another member of the brotherhood group, evidently enjoying the apparent discomfort of his friend. 

"Well, I was not aware that I had formed such a habit in connection with my pulpit work."

"Do you mean to my," asked the first speaker, "that ncu one ever spoke to you about that ' uh-uh' habit in your public speaking? " 

Y-e-s anyway, nobody ever made me understand that I had a habit which was disagreeable to my hearers." Turning to his critics in friendly retaliation, he said:  "But, my friend, do you know that you repeat words and sentences very often when you are speaking? "

"Why, no," replied the preacher. " I did not know that I do that. Do I? How do you mean I repeat? My wife never told me I repeat my words and sentences. Do I really? '"

"Yes, you surely do. You did it just then! "

"Well, isn't it strange that you and I have been preaching all these years, and did not know of these mistakes, no one told us about them, and we did not tell each other?"

"And you, too, repeat," were the words addressed to preacher number three, who had given such ready assent to the initial criticism. " Sometimes you say the same words over twice, and even three times. I have heard you say, ' I feel, I feel, I feel.' *' "Yes, I know I sometimes repeat," he replied by way of vindication.

"Frequently I repeat for the sake of emphasis."

" Well, in the pulpit, that is not the proper way to emphasize," said the brother preacher.

Preacher number four had been listening to the conversation, and becoming curious concerning his own case, asked, '' What are my mistakes? "

All were silent for a moment, then one of the preachers said:

" I will tell you what I have ob-served: You have a habit of sharing out your feet every time you get up to speak; and frequently you take occasion to adjust your clothing before you begin to speak. "

" My! is that so? Well, I'Il stop it! "

The fifth preacher had thus far escaped the range of " kindly corrective " ammunition. His manner in the pulpit was most pleasing, his diction faultless; there was no hesitancy in his speech, and it was ready for the press as soon as spoken. But it became embarrassing to be thus discriminated against in such a n assembly of free thought and expression, so he placed himself in the critics' den by asking, "And what is my chief failing?"

Yes, even this highly honored ministerial brother had been guilty of pulpit indiscretion, for one of the most observing preachers said: " I have observed that you speak many times in a monotone, and lack in emphasis and force."

The suggestion was evidently somewhat of a surprise, but well taken, for he said, " That may be so. I was not aware of it, but I will endeavor to improve on this point."
So the mistakes of all five preachers were pointed out in a friendly way, and each expressed his appreciation of the others' criticism and a determination to improve on his weak points.

Ministers do get into bad habits, and the preacher who invites suggestion and friendly criticism on his pulpit work, and receives it with graciousness and a desire to improve, gains much in the line of self-improvement. A critical and tactful wife may accomplish much in helping her husband in his ministry; but even she may become accustomed to errors which grate upon the ears of others, and render less effective the presentation of God's word. Let the preacher welcome criticism, be humble enough to accept it with good grace, and be diligent to improve.

J. L. Shaw. Takoma Park, D. C.


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J. L. Shaw. Takoma Park, D. C.

January 1928

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