The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-11-02
New Brunswick, N. j.
[Correspondence OF the Herald.

Correspondence Of the Herald
NEW BRUNSWICK, Oct "a, 1874.
NeU Jersey Presbytvian Synod Prayers
Tdk--Samons-.Idik Talk --1aLk--I Talk
Talk, &c.
Knowing the interest you take in all important
movements, religious and POLITICAL ! have thought
to write to you from this city Of slowpaced Dutch
men, giving you brief account OF meeting OF
the highest ecclesiastical body of the Presbyterian
Church in this State. The Synod Of New Jersey
met here Tuesday last in the church of that elo
quent divine and faithful preacher, the Rev. DR..
Davidson.
The number OF cergymen in attendance was not
large, and if one may Judge from their physiogno-
my there was among them no wonderful array OF
talent. The Rev Drs. Alexander Yeomans, Muir
ray, Davidson, and Addison Alexander, might be
accounted the cream the others, the skinned
milk, variously diluted, some even to the blueish
tint. and therefore, most appropriately members of
New Jersey Synod. The exercises were opened
with sermon on the qualifications and duty OF
ministers, by the Rev. DR.. Mclean, the moderator.
on the subject Of Foreign Missions prayer, not re-
markable tor brevlty, was made by Rev. Dr. Miller.
After which bonitace-l looking parsonage proceed
ed with address OF about Is 20 minutes, in the
course of which he remarked that while God ope-
rates in the world, men used as the means, and
it might with truth be said, that all the good and
evil done in the world is done BY man-this re-
eedsd snd followed By srsa Of
appeals, that may be found inNhe various mission
airy reports of the past ten years He was followed
by another in an address remarkable only for con-
tanning nothing remarkable per Sc. After which,
the Rev. Dr. Alexander rose, and informing the
audience that he had been invited by the Secre-
tary Of the Board to say something at Home
Missionary meeting, to be held during the session
Sum md hat ont ,nuld
admit OF his being present then, ne would on the
present occasion make one remark in reference TO
that subject; it was this, that the Synod of New
Jersey drew more from the Home Missionary
bounds than they contributed to 1t. Here" said
he," siis fact for you to mediate upon" And
startling fact II ought 70 have been-yet 1t seemed
to produce but little effect on the leaden counter.
ances of the majority Of ministers present. He
then proceeded to advocate and enforce the claims
OF foreign missions, and the duties Of ministers in
an ardoi and zeal SO far worthy OF emulation as
that one might well be led to question whether
there could be concentrated from one halt the Sy-
nod the life, energy,. and proper appreciation Of
duties and responsibilities there existed In that old
man OF nearly 10
Last evening was occupied with meeting on
the subject OF Home Missions. An address of
greater length than merit was made by DR.. Nc
Dowell, who was followed by. a tall-looking per.
sonage, who seemed determined 10 enforce his
ideas by violent gestures. about as appropriate to
their object as a COW bell would be to church
steeple. To tell what has been done by this Synod
likely to produce any good practical effect, would
be tass of some difficulty and would require
much patient waiting. Discussions about Rome,
foreign missions and home MISSIONS and, as If TO
carry us back few centuries, propositions TO es-
tabsh Presbyterian common schools, are the fruits
Of this Synod This common school project,
monsrous in itself, ought to receive the frOwns of
all intelligent Presbyterians. II bgotry must be
tolerated, and even nurtured in the bosoms Of our
children let us go over at once to Bishop Hughes.
Why meet him half way? Why boast Of our PEE
cuIiar constitutional adoptedness TO our political
condition, while we would strive to lay hold Of and
warp the human mind? We trust this project will
receive favor no where beyond the walls that con-
tanned this synod No one we know can object
to the authorized teachers Of church promuiga-
ting ard rnforcng, with all their skill in argument,
and with all the force OF deep seated conviction.
resulting from laborlous investigation, the pecu-
liar ducti,nes ot their church; but when It is pro-
posed Ia siahllsh and foster narrow sectarian
self .hness, az the system proposed would il is time
to sound the alarm. Seriously, We believe there
is no class Of men among christians, as such, who
need more direct, sound and awakening, soul
stirring preaching, than ministers OF The gospel.
Accustomed, az they are, 10 point out duty TO
others they lose sight OF the fact, that In their sta
tion duties OF no ordinary character are required OF
them.
Ministers, while there arc among them many
honorable exceptions, are too much prone TO con-
suit their ease Instead OF coming forth on the
Sabbath with FURNISHED armor, ready TO do battle
against the great enemy OF mankind they are con-
tent to come forth with the fruits Of sufficient la
Dor only to have beaten out the few theological
ideas that have been beaten into them, into pair
Of slumber-provoking sermons. And when they
hear it alleged that the doctrines OF their church
are likely 10 lose their oothold-that parents are
becoming Indifferent TO them, and their children
are like to be permitted TO wander beyond their
pale, what do these far seeing ministers! Forget
ting their own sponsbties-iorgetting that
they are last yielding their just and proper inhu-
ence upon the minds OF the young-that they
are transferring IL TO unlearned, inexperienced
Sabbath school teachers-that Bible classes and
weekly doctrinal Instructions superintendent by
them are fast becoming obsolete, and having sui
licient perception TO discover that something must
be done, and not dreaming OF redoubllng their
own labors, modesily propose 10 transfer the keep
ing OF Presby terlanism into the hands OF the Com
mon-school teachers.
Verify, if these men were, like Paul, called 10
boast what speaking as fool" II would indeed
be. Fortunately, in the present instance, nothing
was done but 10 talk Of the matter. | have
thought, Mr. Edltor,lt would,be news through your
paper to advise the public OF il. ALPHA.