Page:Psychology and preaching.djvu/12

 PREFACE

going application of psychological principles to preaching. However, it is something more than an &quot; application.&quot; It has grown out of the author s effort to teach homiletical psychology to young ministers ; and he has found that many of them have so inadequate a grasp of psychology that a good deal of explanation had to precede the application. He has, therefore, gone more thoroughly into an exposition of the general principles of psychology than would be neces sary in a book which sought only to make an application of a science already understood. He has in consequence under taken a somewhat independent discussion of those aspects of psychology which seemed to him most important in their bearing on preaching. It is hoped, of course, that the book may secure a wide reading among ministers generally, and even among other public speakers; and it is probable that numbers of them can not safely be assumed to have a very thorough acquaintance with the rather new but fascinating science of functional psychology. It is hoped that this is a sufficient apology for what may seem to some an unduly ambitious attempt by a theological professor.

Two of the chapters have been previously published, that on Belief in The Review and Expositor, and that on Assemblies in the American Journal of Sociology; and they appear here with the consent of those periodicals.

I feel it needless to try to express in detail my obligation to numerous writers on psychology. The names of many, but by no means all, of those to whom I feel deeply in debted are mentioned in the text or in foot-note references. I wish to acknowledge my especial indebtedness to the mem bers of the Faculty of the institution in which I have the honor to teach, for many valuable criticisms upon several chapters which were read to them. I am also under deep obligation to the Reverend Edward L. Grace, D. D., for a critical reading of the entire manuscript and many valuable suggestions.

CHARLES S. GARDNER. Louisville, Ky., February i8th, 1918.

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