Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-05-31

leigh" in two or three OF his late let
tiers, has spoken of the great success
which has attended lay preaching in
London in reaching the masses of the
people, especially those who are be-
yond the reach of the regularly estab-
lished means of grace, and who can
never be induced to attend preaching
in churches. Another way in which
the active men of London work is in
organizing what they call "Evangel-
izing Bands" A late London paper
describes the operations of these
bands as follows:
About fifty brethren met on Friday
evening at Bedford hall near the
Shoreditch railway station. After tea
and conference we went out in bands
to sing and preach in the streets. Au-
diences were easily gathered and IN
about two hours the band which | as
companied held meetings in nine diff
ferent streets, at which eighteen short
addresses were delivered, and portions
of twenty-four hymns were sung. We
shall meet again at Bedford hall at
five next Friday evening, and after tea
and hearing reports of last Fridays
work shall go out again. We shall
be pleased to have the help of any
brethren who may be disposed to join
us. We want to sound the gospel in
every street, square, court and alley
in London"
This is similar to the saloon work"
which has been adopted by the Young
Mems Christian Association in Chi
cago, Providence and some other
places, and which has proved very
successful. We learn that the Meth
odists of New York are inaugurating
a work in that city with the endeavor
to meet the wants of the lower wards,
caused by the removal of nearly all
the old churches to the upper part of
the city, and to do over again the
primitive work of Methodism. The
following is given as their plan of op-
Grafton:
"a wealthy and enterprising lay
brother, distinguished for zeal and
liberality, was made president of
the new organization, who. with some
of his associates, men of like spirit
make this work a speciality. The field
is fairly occupied, and two circuits
cover the whole city and at the late
sessions of the conferences an addi
tional minister was appointed to each
Places Of worship, plain but conven
lent chapels, have been provided by
renting, by purchase and by building
The whole machinery of Methodisn
has been made available: and besides
public preaching there are, on the one
hand, prayer-meetings, class. meetings
love-teasts and the sacraments, anC
on the other, regular church organiza
ton, with official laymen, and the
powers of the quarterly conference
Some 400 conversions are reported
for the past year, while an efficien
body OF devoted Sunday school teach
ers are ministering to nearly 200(
children, gathered chiefly from among
those who before were connected will
no such schools"
We look upon these efforts a
among the brightest signs of the time
in moral and religious point of view
They indicate the churches are awak
ening to the spiritual restitution of
the tens of thousands all around then
who are never reached by Christian
influences. In all our cities anC
large towns there is an abundant fielC
for the exercise of this class of labor
and there are very few churches
which have not among their member;
those possessing the ability and talen
to enable them to occupy it with sue
cess. We hope to see this kind of
Christian work largely extended.