The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-03
Tho mpsOn-Prentiss-vaiI.

Observation-Disclosures.
The Congregational pulpit in this city has
no more able minister than the Rev. Joseph
p. Thompson, d. D., pastor of the Tabernacle
in Sixth avenue and Thirty-fourth street.
Whether considered as a writer, lecturer or
preacher, DR.. Thompson excels. He is a
man Of deep philosophical turn Of mind,
rather fond of treating all subjects from u
philosophical standpoint, and of treating
specially the social and political questions
which come up before the nation periodically.
lie never loses an advantage or an occasion
to strike blow at any giant wrong, and in
the old political contests under the slave
holders regime his voice was heard often and
eloquently protesting against that curse and
demanding its overthrow. In later days he has
lifted up his voice against the corruptions Of
our city. State and federal governments,
against intemperance, adultery and other
social evils which prevail in our midst. He
has also written some stirring words against
them. The Doctor, both by travel and read
ing, has made himself perfectly familiar with
Bible lands and Oriental customs, aud is one
of the best descriptive illustrators in the city
ofmany of those things in the Scriptures that
are hard to be understood, and which to the
casual reader appear unintelligible and mean
ingless. His church is perhaps the largest in
the city, and is capable of seating about two
thousand persons hence good sized congre-
CATION scattered in it appears small. And
there are often seen small congregations
gathered therein; for, for some reason or
other-probably because our people are not
sufficiently philosophical instruc-
ton in the pulpit does not seem to be half as
popular as exposition or illustration.
The Rev. George L Prentiss, D. d., pastor
of the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant,
in Park avenue and Thirty-fifth street, is one
Of the oldest city pastors and one of the most
industrious and energetic. DR.. Prentiss was
formerly pastor of the Mercer street Presbyte-
rian church, but when the uptown movement
began his people purchased and built on the
present site an elegant and substantial church
edifice. DR.. Prentiss and his congregation
belonged to the New School before the union
of the two bodies, to bring about which he
labored zealously and faithfully. AS preacher
the Doctor is solid and simple, pointed and
practical, protesting against vice and enforc-
ing virtue by every means in his power. He
is sometimes so inspired by his theme as to
rise to sublime eloquence, and to move his
audience as if by supernatural impulse. He
is faithful pastor, and does not consider his
work done when he has preached twice on the
Sabbath and lectured once during the week.
He has gathered goodly congregation in that
new Presbyterian ground and is spreading
Gospel influences all around.
The Rev. A. d. Vail is the pastor now OF
st. Johns Methodist Episcopal church, in
Fifty third street, near Eighth avenue. He is
perhaps more remarkable as Sunday school
pastor than as preacher. And as such he
has no equal in the city in his own denomina-
ton, and very few, if any, equals in any
other. A firm believer in the conversion OF
the children, he has, during the past three
years of his ministry in Thirtieth street
Methodist Episcopal church, received into the
church either as members or probationers
between two and three hundred Sabbath
oCuooi bCAoidiS. iouShS IA oSC iIOm eiBuL tO
eighteen years. He is very interesting as a
talker to children, and is very successful in
his ministry to them. He is often in his
Sabbath schools and addresses the young, and
besides he frequently holds special services
for them and organizes them into church
classes for religious instruction. As
preacher Mr.. Vail would not be considered
popular in the generally accepted sense of that
term, but he is really instructive and interest
ing. He has the happy faculty of pointing his
discourses with apt Illustrations and incidents,
which have marvellous effect upon mixed
audience, and he is given more to exposition
than to dogmatism in the pulpit. He has now
one of the handsomest and most agreeable
Methodist Episcopal churches in the city.
Arp hoa oUoiu hnon raft, al