The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-18
CITY INERBLIGRNC Il.
BISHOP SIMPSON.


Work.
we have been furnished by the Rev. Samuel w.
Thomas, the agent Of the Methodist Episcopal @ Book
verbatim report Of the eloquent address delivered
yesterday afternoon by the Rev Bishop Simpson be-
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Bishop simpson being present and invited to ad-
Mr. President and brethren II appreciate highly
your kind invitation, and yet feel at loss to Know
how far should trespass upon your time aud what
topics thould occupy the thoughts at such hour.
j desire, however, first to express to you the per-
from ali parts Of the country, and in recognizing
you as able and efficient coaborers in the kingdom
of our Lord Jesus Christ. take an interest in this
association because / have thought it might do
much TO develop latent power In the Church, now
stry We have just heard, in the letter read by the
Secretary, that in England there are $4,000 local
preachers, where the membership amounts to about
100000 and the travelling ministry to about 1900
In this country, with travelling ministry OF 5000
ministry of about 10 600 which shows the local
ministry In England in numbers to be very far in
advance, proporonaby, OF what il is in this coun-
try. How far this association will operate to in
crease the number may be a matter OF doubt or diff
ference OF opinion trust, however that it will
turn the thoughts OF the Church towards the ques-
ton, How much may be accomplished by the local
> need not say to you brethren, that believe in
the utility of local ministry. would not be a tho
rough Methodist without it, for it has been the policy
Of the Church from its commencement to maintain
and foster such ministry. 1t is interviewer in all
her economy; the thought of IT permeates all parts
some doubts are frequently expressed in reference
to us utility base its necessity great facts.
than can be accomplished by the number of men
who can engage their whole time in the service of
the Church. If we take the number of pastors in
any section of the Church, and compare their num-
her with the calls which are made by the world,
usefulness, we shall see that the number is wholly
inadequate for the accomplishment OF the great
as the power and disposition Of the Church to sap
port ministry giving its whole time to this one
work, and the supply OF men who have been able to
AFFORD such time and expense as are necessary for
thorough preparation for the work of the pasto-
rate. There are limits which can easily be reached,
and when these limits are reached the regular min
istry can go no further; but the work is not
plshed, We must either, then, limit our work
have laborers who can, while devoting the whole
part Of their time on week days for their own
tenance give their Sabbaths and such other por-
tous of time as they may be able to spare, without
requiring support from the Church.
The second fact to which aude is that men can
sometimes be more easily and powerfully Influenced
by what appears to them disnterested ministry.
The regular ministry assumes, in the eyes of the
young man, they say, has selected his profession,
follows his calling, is paid for his labor, and must
may be- 1t does affect to some extent the public
mind. But against the local ministry rea; objec
ton can be made. The lay preacher works with his
own hands, generally bears his own expenses, aud
adds to his duties as citizen and his labors as
man of business the work Of preaching Christ. He
tolls without reward and frequently without honor
from men, In this way frequently, great strength is
gained.
there has been call for more laborers than could
be maintained in the regular ministry. In the early
Apostles, and whose whole time was not upied
in this work. who old labor for Christ. The deacons
set apart, of whom ST. Stephen one, for the
TEMPORAL interests OF the Church, also were preach
ers-were men full of faith and OF the Holy Ghost
and their labors were wonderfully blessed. In the
prosecutions that followed, when the disciples were
scattered abroad, 1t Is said they went everywhere
It's Tae e was @
cution, went telling the story Of the Cross, and
600 Gwned & 5neT II, .s .lsabors and churches
the privilege Of all OF the members OF the Church to
preach; and one OF the great councils in the year
a99, passed special canon forbiddng "a layman to
preach in the presence OF the clergy except they
quest him to do it, showing that it was the custom
for laymen to preach, that the Church expected
them to preach, and the canon simply limited, to
certain extent, the range of their minstraton.
The only question now practically before the
Church is whether it is better to have an order of
men set apart by the Church as local ministers,
thing for Christ should at his own pleasure take
upon him this work.
Some Of our sister churches are adopting Law
agency without any system OF recognition Young
Mems Christian Associations and other Associations
there are encouraging preaching in the open air by
men without license or without any appreciation
from the Church. just as they are moved by their
c91yStons OF duty Iney preach Christ and some
the only question is whether we should leave this
matter 70 the personal convictions OF every man to
go and work wherever he can, whether we should
have men approved by the Church, sanctioned by
the Church, to engage in this great work. Now
OF the Church, for the sake OF being. able to
and make efficient the labor, it is much better &c
policy Of our Church. We know the evil OF
irreguarty, and how, sometimes, bold
thOaghtless men take upon themselves this worB
and bring into discredt the active ministry. The
Church ought TO have some way to recognize these
men and give them sanction before the public. Aud
yet must frankly say, If the Church takes no u.
teres in this subject and asks not the labor of these
men, If it has no heart in this work, it may really be
an injury to have this labor limited in the thought
the Church to men thus set apart To-day my con
Viction Is that 100 lew men engage in the lay
ministry, and that the young men OF the Church
ought TO be aroused TO feel that, though they b;
merchants, farmers, mechanics, men OF business
they might also, many OF them, preach Christ as
well ana do good among their fellow-men. I au
not sure but that to-day there are some churche!
around us employing more lay agency than We-no
lay ministers socalled, but their laymep are a
work, and in some churches they seem to be nearly
all at work, while with US the members OF tht
Church excused themselves because there is an
order OF local ministers 10 work. and yet that orde
is exceedingly limited.
There is, however, and there will always be worl
for the members Of the Church, apart from the loca
ministry, and besides this work OF preaching Jesus
which ought TO be encouraged among our laymeI
more than it is. The ratio have alluded to OF Jh'
preachers in England, compared with the United
States, shows us tnat they have succeeded in canl
out this talent much more than we
II think part OF the prejudice against local preach
ers II may use the phrase and use il Without in
tending anything severe, in some sections OF the
country is because men licensed to preach do verl
little work. They get ths honor OF being minister
and they do not work as ministers. Tney seldom
preach Jesus. Now in assembling this association
think you VIII produce public opinion among tn
local ministry that to maintain their position the
must work. You are working: ami | Wis
some method could be adopted Dy this association
should be glad TO have az these associations
report from the bounds of every conference O
what the lay ministry have done during the year
tNOce, Amen ,")-how many sermons they nav,
preached; into how many new neighbOrhoods the
have penetrated; how many Sabbath schools the
nave established how much work of every Kin;
hf ,f.,.