The New York herald., 1871-04-03


The Protestant Episcopal Church in New
York, and, probably in the United States, has
no more eminent men in its fold than the
three divines who fill the pulpits in ST. Georges,
Grace and Ascension churches, and whose
names head this article. The Rev. Stephen
H. Tying, DID,, is veteran in the ministry,
having served the Church in this position for
more than half century and reared up family
of sons either one Of whom is fully qualified to
wear the mantle of the father. Though men,
Der of what may be considered in some sense as
''the straitest sect of the Pharisees," the Doc
tor, in spirit and in thought, rises far above
sect and creed, and gown and ritual, and is
ready to reach out brothers hand to any
man, of whatever name, upon whom the Sa-
viour Christ has set his seal. There is good
deal of positive character in the Doctors
"make up" and this positiveness is impressed
upon everything he undertakes in his rela-
tions to the Church and to the world. There
is no trimming between duty and expedency
in his exhortations and appeals. and the truth
is presented as plainly and as forcibly to-day
to his people and with very much of the fire
and vigor Of youth, as it was twenty-six years
ago when he first undertook to teach them
''the way of the Lord more perfectly" There
is in all his discourses directness, a personal
appeal to the heart, which few men can long
or successfully resist He recognizes that the
Saviour's commission is to preach the Gospel
and nothing else, and his audiences get that
pure and simple, and lucid and direct. In the
Sunday school he is one of the most earnest
and successful workers in the Lords vineyard.
His own immediate Sunday school and his two
mission schools are the largest and best
in the city and are conducted after the Doc
tors model, and to great extent under his
supervision. During the winter he has been
preaching series of practical sermons on the
relations of men to the Gospel of Christ, the
closing one of which was delivered yesterday
morning. An abstract of it will be found in
another column, where its careful perusal will
amply repay the reader.
The Rev. Henry G. Potter, DID,, is COM
paratively young man in years, and in his rela-
tions to this community, and to Grace church,
of which he is the honored rector. He
lacks the experience as well as the years
of DR.. Tying, but his earnest piety and
Christian eloquence cannot be mistaken.
They have the true ring about them, out
of the pulpit as we'll as in it. DR.. Potter is
the same single-minded servant of the Lord
Jesus Christ. He is far less positive in his
character than his ministerial brother above
named, being rather of meek and quiet
spirit but when truth and duty and principle
are involved he is always found on the right
side, accepting the responsibility and doing
his duty fearlessly before God. He is q man
of fine culture aud of deep thought, and in
the presentation of the truths of the Gospel is
plain, practical and direct. His pulpit yes
terday was occupied by the Rev. Mr.. Hare,
whose discourse upon mission work among
the heathens will also be found in our columns
to-day.
ThetRev. John Cotton Smith, rector of the
Church of the Ascension, is well known both as
an editor and as preacher. Like his brother
of st. Georges, there is good deal of positive
ness in his character, and it is manifested in
his preaching and practice. We have no dis
course of his to present to our readers to-day,
but they will not forget those they have read
heretofore and which, for earnest, practical
thought and enforcement of the precepts of
religion in everyday life, are not surpassed by
any. DR.. Smith and his church sustain two
missions, one in the Twenty-second ward and
one in the Ninth, and thus do something
toward supplying the Gospel to the neglected
masses of those districts.
The three ministers sketched in this article
are among the most popular of their denomi-
nation in the city, albeit they belong to what
is termed the "Low Church." They go for
Christ in the heart rather than the cross in the
chancel. They deem the fire of love in the
soul of more importance than lighted candles
on the altar and pure gospel as better than
forms and ceremonies, however expedient and
interesting. And in their preaching and prac-
tice they strive to manifest and to create a
pure Christian style of life which God shall
honor and men approve of. They are working
ministers and their churches are working
churches, and they have their conscious re-
ward in the blessing of God upon their labors
and the prosperity of His work in their hands.
They preach the word SOW the seed of truth
and leave the result with God
The Coal Troubles.
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