The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-20

10 DC preserved on account OF their pecuar cnarac
ter
The National Christian Convention now In in this
city by unanimous vote s in order this morning. bear
President elect Of the United States Of our coSatry
s for
precaton Of tho late national election 10 our country with
s1 with sna
psip aa s & Lord and @ % as
well s 0Ha q ss, with . such we ss
States Of America, with as follows s.
devouiy to the only monarchy worthy Of y who can com
immortal the only God prayer to o
country 70 bless s ocer especially the q
iyey-till The vernal season Of 1873 .f-''--- -
ored President in his comparatively lofty
may be favored by Provdence and that he may IKE wash
which 20o viii between this and he verna season Of
REV. HENRY WARD BEEcHER.l
The topic to which he was invited to speak was,
.'How to Make Weekday Meetings Of the Churches
Effective for Spiritual Purposes" 1t having been
announced that he would address the Convention,
every available seat and standing In the church
and galleries were filed. He commenced by saying
would plunge into 1t at once. He would cali it
prefcrring New England phraseology-p and
they were the stupidest exercises and admitted that
they were often prohtless and very stupid; but could
be made as powerful US any other means OF
oratory, Just as In o whisper many truths may be
told which could not be mentioned while shouting
like fireman. What is one stick OF burning wood,
even II it pc as dry as a minister in the
pulpit, to q whole forest on flrea He proceeded to
discuss the moral. methodical and physical means
to make such meetings efiectual. 1t was mistake
to teach only doctrlnal, dogmatical theology, and
not pastoral theology; training should 60 with teach
ing, drill with instruction Many are ignorant Of
what to do with prayer meeting and how to do It.
There should be spontaniety OF thought and ex-
preston. But few possess great, created intellect,
how
ology as In music or mathematics; but all have the
faculty Of development; Just as In the school, some
the pastor does not know now to guide them what
is he forp Who would sail ship into New
York harbor must know how to steer. There
is too much conventionalism and too little
rapturous, devout utterance. There are DIFF
ferent capacities Of men, and one whom God
made with two strings should not be treated II he
had forty. Many can think prayer but cannot utter
them. These should bc regarded. Women are
peculiarly susceptible to spiritual sentiment and con-
additionally nearer to pety but they are but seldom
employed. The Church knaws the bones and throws
the Fat away The liturgy is all very well for those
fers s hymn liturgy, there being among the hymns
some OF the grandest prayers In existence, and he
read several. which he explained and commented
on He liked music, not for the purpose to let the
sexton do his errands and give the minister time
to look over his notes, but as an express
saints OF thousand years Join with you in
prayer The speaking should not be neglected,
but no restraint should be made upon 1t. Generally
best. This seeming paradox is true, for poor brick
layer with his heart full OF God, would stammer out
dresses and whisper In the house. No man can get
up from the ground without lifting dirt, and this
should be considered ana allowances made. Good
Is not concert but instituted for ALL and the gilt or
the elements OF piety makes up for the deficiency of
the lowy. He rd,culed the idea Of priests giving
grace for he had never seen priest VINO had sur
plus Of grace OF himself to give away. There should
be the ceiling that the Church 10 common brother
II the utterances be Earring. Strike first for natural
ness substance that they should speak what they
think and feel and rebuke them not, for as soon
one might 60 into the forest fire OF pistol and call
upon the birds TO sing In response call to order
wise; thelr nantine prattle is repeated through the
family and SO should children In Christ be treated.
lie does not believe In austerity. God made man
with the faculty to smile, and why not enjoy ftf
smile is like the sunbeam sparkling over field OF
wheat z make any one Sy he makes
n Be- as
with household familiarity for all stir convention
aism dams up true feeling There should be natural.
be given vent to. They had general prayers
enough, but no specific prayers, just as winter
had trees In general but no leaves IN particular In
n the room be too large. C0ntiguity has great
power. lie could speak to an audience OF ten, Il
De lost In searching for his audience DO not occupy
too much time. Most meetings, Ike most speeches.
are too long and grow wearsoms. From half an
hour TO one hour is enough and something must GO
on steadily and with rapdity. Mr. Beccher referred
to his own efforts at prayer meetings and said that
they cost him more preparations than his regular
sermons for from the pulpit he could preach without
preparation aud not be detected, but at a prayer
meeting he could not cheat The great art and skin
In leading prayer meeting successfully lay in the
instantaneous comprehension OF how The Spirit OF
God developes ITSELF and II properly managed
prayer meetings are the marrow Of Inc Church and
The reverend gentleman having Occupied the
whole hour allotted TO this TOPIC the Convention,
"How can the personal and social study OF Gods
Word be made more generals" Rev. DR.. John A.
Hall q ny ely Sa us e. n tina. me
the clergy to take bits ana fragments dragged out Of
their proper relation for their texts instead OF larger
theme very ably and 10 the satisfaction OF the Con-
venton, recommending Efble classes home devotion,
Ta Il Nsy sr s S q Rev. GG Van
lowed the latter critcisng Mr. Becchers discourse
severely as too amusing and rather caricature:
After some dscussion on DR.. Coxe's resolution ana
DIR. Halls substitute. during which the rst nslnu
ated, more strongly than In his resolution-cited
above-tnat Thomas jefferson was at best but an
Indifferent christian, II one at ALL the hour for
arrived.
Afternoon Session.
The session was opened with devotional exercises,
after which the appropriate committee reported q
summary OF the discussion OF the preceding day and
OF the forenoon, which was approved. n. II.
ow Shall an Person be p
and he advocated earnest, direct and persistent
EFFORT by every individual with the intention TO work
for immediate results, and appealed 10 the ministry
TO thunder from the pulpits against inddeltty and
error everywhere. Drs Dunn aud Smith, OF New
Jersey and Prime, OF New York, followed, and then
the next topic was taken up, .The Possibility OF
Evangelizing the Whole World Within the Present
Century" upon which Rev. DR.. A. q. Clark, OF Bos
ton was awarded the floor. Before the reverend
gentleman proceeded, the Business Committee re.
ported an address, In conformity with the resou-
lion passed the day before, to the proposed Convcn
ton or the Evangelical Churches in Great Britain In
which this Convention assure their English brethren
that their
Prayers ascend that and and an the Israel Of God
be baptized into heroic connection that
all her divisions and disperons arise aud shine her
light having come and go forth clear AZ the SUM- fair AZ the
and terrible army with banners, the dawn
Of the day Of mlenIa glory which shall unine eli lands
speedily herAlded and the glad time OF prophecy and
prayer be hasened whom from all ends OF earh ali all
Father.
The same committee also reported, in iieu OF DR..
Coxe's VERBOSE resolution, the following
States, h now guest In this city;
Resolved, That tha NakiouAl Christian
him their ChrfatiAn eautatfOn