The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-29

They belong to men who have at least con-
tlnental II not worldwide reputation. The
ReV. Matthew Simpson, d. D., Bishop of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, has no equal in
his own and no superior in any other denom-
nation on this Continent. He has been in the
ministry nearly forty years and about half Of
that time In the episcopal Office. An Ameri-
can Of Irish descent, he possesses good deal
OF that physical elasticity peculiar to the Celtic
race, and appears young and strong enough
yet for many years of labor to come. His flow
of language in the pulpit is in volume like
mill stream. And yet never word falls
from his lips uselessly or without effect.
There is thought and food for thought in every
utterance of his and consequently power;
for we have no great faith in any pull
pit discourse in these days which does
not either exhibit thought and study
or create thought in others. Bishop Simp-
son has travelled extensively both in the
Old World and In the New, aud has read the
history Of every nation and kingdom as no
passed through it, not 80 much in books as in
the moral, social and political condition of the
people. But he is an extensive reader, az
well as observer. His power Of imagery is
magnificent, and his voice has in it a peculiar
sharpness, which attracts q listener at once.
The Bishop is both a writer and lecturer.
One of his grandest successes on the platform
was the lecture delivered in the Academy Of
Music here, in the darkest days of the
rebellion, when his eloquent and faith-inspir-
ing words uttered to at least five thousand
people whom he held as with the charm of an
angel for more than two hours so unclaimed
that at times the silence was deep enough to
hear pin fall. He drew on the treasures of
ancient history to show why the Babylonian,
Assyrian, Egyptian, Macedonian, Roman and
other empires and kingdoms had passed away
until naught but the barest records of their
existence or of some Of them remain. And
then with triumphant faith and hope he
pointed to our own land and its institutions
and demonstrated the utter imposslbility Of
Its severance, much less of its speedy decay
and death. And at the same time he repeated
prophecy he had made many years before.
and which had been inspired by French
circular he had mot with in one of his trips
across the Isthmus to California, and which
prophecy was then in actual fulflmcnt by the
occupation of Mexico by Louis Napoleon,
whose defeat on this Continent the Bishop at
the same time forctold. And many a
man left the Academy that night with
firmer faith in the success of our
arms and in the stability of our institutions
than he had ever had before There is q
charming blending of manly vigor and deep
pathos in the Bishops style in the pulpit, so
that at times an audience scarcely knows
whether to weep or to applaud. Yesterday,
according to announcement, Bishop Simpson
dedicated church in Williamsburg.
The Right Rev. John McClosky, D. D.,
Archbishop of the diocese of New York, is in
many respects the opposite Of his Episcopal
neighbor. He is slow In speech, but not in
knowledge His reputation both as a scholar
and divine was made long before he came
to this city, else he would not have been
chosen to succeed the late Archbishop Hughes.
The thousands who listened to his funeral
Grafton over the remains of that great man
will not soon forget the scene, nor the tender
sympathy which welled up in the Bishops
breast until it finally choked his
utterance, and found vent only in
tears of sorrow at the loss Of a prince
and great man fallen in Israel The Arch
bishop does not preach very often himself
The in6rmities of age and the multiplied
duties appertaining to his high Office forbid, to
O great extent, this additional labor. But
when he speaks words of wisdom flow from
his mouth with all the tenderness and affec-
ton Of womanly nature. He is exceedingly
greatly interested in the cause Of education.
He is not, however, like him, q controver-
sialist, and hence does not command that
degree of public attention which Archbishop
Hughes always receivod but he is doing his
own work and the work of the Church as
steadily, and, though silently, we doubt not
Just as well.
The Rev. E. S. James, D. D., another
bishop Of the Methodist Church, is also resi-
dent in our midst and familiar not only to his
own people but to Christians of other de-
nominations, with whom he freely mingles.
He is small Of statue, but every inch q
bishop. He never tires eff labor for the
Master, but Railways Astounding in the work 2!
the Lord" A few days ago he was near the
base of the Rocky Mountains, meeting West
ern conferences, and later baarying bis asso-
ciate, Bishop Clarke, in Cincinnati, and, as
DR.. Fowler remarked yesterday In sermon
at church dedication. to illustrate the pro-
gress of science and invention, the Bishop is
now nearer to Hong Kong than he was to the
furthest end of Lis circuit when he began his
ministry. Bishop James is not gifted with
the eloquence Of his associate. Bishop Simp-
son, nor has he the deep and tender sympathy