The national Republican., 1867-04-20
THE NETROPOLITAN PULPIT

agreeable duty of visiting the churches of
the different denominations in this city, |
that we may be able to lay before our
readers, in each Saturdays issue, such
data and interesting details with respect
to the church organizations Of oil denomi-
nations in Washington as may be Of value
to the general reader.
With this object in view we attended
divine service at the L street Baptist
church last Sunday morning. We may
premise that we do not attend church as
matter Of mere curiosity; or for the pur-
pose Of cynical criticism Of pastors and
people. Religious worship is subject
which appeals to the profoundest depths
of mans religious nature, and he who
enters the sanctuary Of God should do SO
with reverence and awe, and with view
to his own spiritual welfare.
Having this object in view, we attended
DIR. GRAY's church, as stated above.
We have gathered the following particu.
lars with regard to that church, which we
now lay before our readers:
This church was organized in lS42, and
has had three pastors-Rev. g. w. SAMSON,
DID, now President Of Columbia College
Rev. j. S. BESSARD, now Of Philadelphia,
and the presentincumbent. He-the pious,
eloquent, and able DR.. GRAY-commenced
his labors with the church in May, 1863
The church had been divided, the congre.
CATION scattered in consequence Of the
division, and the house Of worship having
been taken as hospital. The Sabbath
school numbered only seventy pupils. A
debt Of upwards Of $4,000 hung over the
church. In about two years this indebt-
edness was removed, in addition to meet.
ing current expenses, which were greater
than ever before. The Sabbath-school now
numbers ttro hundred, under the efficient
superintendent of J. @. WELLING, Esq.
During DR.. GRAY's pastorate there have
been additions to the church nearly every
month, besides which there have been diff
ferent seasons of special revival. The
present membership Of the church num-
bers t,CO hundred and ninety-one, and the
usual congregations are larger than before
the division. The church is heartily united
in the pastor, under whose earnest and
faithful religious teachings it has been SC
eminently blessed.
AT the commencement Of the Thirty
Ninth Congress DR.. GRAY was elected
Chaplain of the United States Senate, ant
such is the general satisfaction given that
he has been desired to retain the place and
continue his services without even the for.
mality of q reelection.
OF DIR. GRAY as preacher we now pro-
pose to speak. On the occasion Of our
visit the text was from lst Timothy, lst
chapter and 18th verse "This is faithful
saying, and worthy Of all acceptation, that
CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save
sinners Of whom / am chief" 1t is moi
our purpose in this connection to give any
thing like a synopsis of the sermon
preached on the occasion, but simply t
give our impressions and honest judgment
Of the preacher himself DR.. GRAY is q
nidde.aged man Of medium size, and pre-
sents a calm, digni6ed demeanor becoming
his sacred calling He puts on no mere
clerical airs, but moves among his people
and in the community as an intelligent
Christian gentleman should. As preacher
the Doctor appears to have the good sense
to ignore entirely certain mannerism Of
the pulpit which in these days is becoming
quite too common in divines. He does not
court smile when he should win SOUL"
but is natural md direct in all his appeals
to his hearers, convincing them mean
while that whatever maybe their views, or
whatever they may think, he at least be-
lieyes what he says and is intent upon his
Masters business.
We are compelled to judge him by the
single effort of Sunday morning last bu
from that effort alone we reach the con
clusion that he is man Of thought, mucl
culture of heart and brain, and is SINGER
and earnest believer in the truths he in
culcates There is about him no mer
tricks Of affected oratory, no far.fetched o
borrowed emphasis in his utteranees, n
counterfeit emotional pathos, and no al
tempt to appear or to be what he is moi
lie shows that he is learned in scripture
theology, and is able to defend the doc
trines of his Church, in which his heart, o
well as his mind, is enlisted We wer
pleased with the directness of his preach
ing, and with the perspicuity of his style
lie repudiatcs the involved method Of pre-
scnting divine truth, preferring that plain
ness of speech which the most common
mind can comprehend and appreciate. II
gives every evidence Of learning and stud
ous research, and no one will mistake that
intellectually, morally, and religiously, h,
is a master builder in the House of th
Lord.
We felt interested in the sermon on tn
occasion referred to, not because we are
profoundly religious man, or overmuc
righteous or devout; but because il had i
it just those qualities which are calculate
to arouse the religious convictions, stir th
soul, and make man of the world evel
feel that he has aApiritual nature. and tba