The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-10

Observation-Disclosures
The three names here selected, and
the men who bear them, will be re-
cognized by our readers In Brooklyn
and elsewhere a. among the leaders Of
thought and eloquence In the pulpits Of our
sister city. II the earnest and eloquent pas
tor Of Classon avenue Presbyterian church,
Rev. Joseph 7. Duryea, had not been known
before, the raking and dissectins he has been
subjected to recently, both In the press and in
the pulpit owing to his expression Of lib
eral views on the Temperance question,
would have given him . reputation
which others might envy. Il ID mot
every man whose pulpit utterauces
can command such universal attention from
preachers and people, albeit many Of them con-
denim his words; and this Of itself is tribute
to well earned reputation. But in this tenn
perance crusade against Dr. Duryea we behold
how easily mans principles may be mis-
judged and his words misinterpreted. Any
one acquainted with the Doctor must be aware
that he would be one Of the last men in the
country to encourage or to advocate intempe-
rance or any other vice; but 1t is not easy for
men who ride hobbies to perceive anything but
what they themselves create or carry with
them. They cannot recognize the fact that
man may drink without being drunkard, and
eat without being q glutton, and that total
abstinence should no more be applied to the
one than to the other. DR.. Duryea can afford
to wait, however, until his brethren who have
80 hastily condemned him shall know him bet
ter, when they will, we are sure, appreciate
his motives and his words as they cannot
now. As preacher the Doctor is philoso-
phical without being heavy and dull, and all
his arguments in support of Christian doc
trines and gospel precepts are so developed
and SO elaborated by him that the least intelli-
gent of his hearers, at any time, may UNDER
stand the doctrine and the foundations upon
which 1t rests. He is an admirable expositor
of the Sacred Word, and is deservedly popular
among his people.
The Rev. H. M. Gallaher pastor of the
First Baptist church, in Nassau street, is re-
putedly eloquent preacher. An Irishman,
selfmade, and springing from the people, he
can gain the ears and the hearts of the
masses better than many men who have had
far greater educational advantages than him.
SELF because he understands their feelings
and modes of thought better than they. There
is good deal of dramatic power in
his style in the pulpit, by which he
rivets the attention of his audiences from
the very START and with the natural genius
and tact of his race he places everything in
nature, art, science, music, poetry, under tri-
butte to give beauty, force and direotness to his
discourses. His homely illustrations fire.
quently cause his hearers to smile, though it
must appear evident to them.that he had no
such design. But any careful student Of
human nature will find abundant food for
witty or sarcastic illustration. The main
object of all preaching, namely, the conversion
of souls to Christ, is never forgotten by Mr..
Gallaher. The smile and the tear succeed
each other as naturally as do the day aud the
night, and while person may laugh at the
quaintness or LONELINESS of the smile he will
not forget the truth which it was designed to
illustrate. The result is seen in crowded
church, large congregation and an active
membership, ever increasing.
The Rev. Mr.. Meredith, pastor Of the Simp-
son Methodist Episcopal church, in Clermont
avenue, is, doubtless the most earnest and
eloquent minister of bis denomination in
Brooklyn. He is comparatively new man
In this vicinity, having come from the Troy
Conference and just closed his first years
pastorate In this church. He is young man,
and with a growing reputation as q deep
thinker and most thoroughly practical
preacher. He comes Of priestly family; he
being one of three or four brothers all in the
Methodist ministry. All his sermons are
framed and his texts chosen with q view to
bring wildly and intelligently before the
minds Of men the necessity and the advantage
of godliness even in this life, but much more
in the life to come; And as q result, his large
church Is usually filled with an attentive con-
gregation. Every season Of the year Is to him
revival season, and as his people and him
self continually look for the blessing Of God
upon their labors, they are never without it.
Holiness of life and purity of heart are the
ultimates which Mr.. Meredith seeks TO bring
before his people, and with the attainment Of
these everything else is assured.
The NIagdalenes or Gotham.
While the Easter-Hlled churches were ring