The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-31
WATCH NIGHT.

Origin Of the Methodist Watch Nixht-Ita
Observance in this city TO-Niqht.
The midnight hour and two or three hours pre-.
cedIng, by which the New Year supersedes the old,
Is by Methodist custom, generally spent in prayer
ana other religious exercises. Night watches are
at least as old as the Jewish nationality, and are
probably much older. The prophets make frequent
reference to the practice, and In the writings Of
the Evangelist they are sometimes spoken OF hume.
rcally, as first, second, third or fourth watch, and
sometimes they are designated as midnight, cock.
Growing or morning watch. How the closing hours
OF one year and the opening hours OF another came
to be observed rellgiously hardly be ascertaned
now. 1t Is
PECULIARLY METHODIST OBSERVANCE,
as we know it or know OF 1t. The first records we
have OF watch meetings being held by MethodIsts at
the close Of the old year was in London in the year
1873, when the little band OF Christians represent
ing the then feeble Church met together to pray
and to pledge themselves to God and to each other
to live holier lives and to be active anu devoted
In the service OF God. 1t was customary on this
OCCASION it is at this day. for the people to gather
in their respective places OF worship about nine
O'Clock in the evening and remain together until
ten or fifteen minutes after twelve O'Clock midnight.
The services consisted then as they now consist OF
ordinary Sabbath service, including sermon, fol-
lowed by prayer, short addresses and experiences.
Charles wesley, the poet par excellence OF Method
ISM who has PROVIDED his followers with hymnai
appropriate TO every occasion and condition OF reii-
gouS lie and experience, has given them some
sacred songs for TINS occasion also. One OF these,
usually sung at
THE OPENING OF WATCH NIGHT SERVICES
is the lO53d Of the Methodist Episcopal Hymn Book,
which oeglnS:-
Come, let anew our journey pursue
And never stand stu the Master appear &c.
The covenant hymn, as it IS Called is the l,054th
In the hymn book, and Is usually sung just before
the close Of the services. begins thus
Come, let US the grace divine,
And all, with one accord,
Ourselves TO Christ the Lord. &C.
In the early days OF Methodlsm in England
WATCH NIGHTS ONCE MONTH
were observed among the societies on the night
preceding the tull moon. AS religious service
II originated among the golfers OF Kingswood, who
carousals; but when, under the preaching OF the
WesIeys and their coadJutors. those miners became
with a hallel1jah chorus. Many Complaints were
made against the shouting Methodists, and John
Wesley was appealed 10 TO put stop 10 the nuisance,
but with his usual caution he considered better TO
control than to hnder, aud appointed one night In
the month for such service, when he himself at
monthly watcR.niGht was aiterward superseded by
In the '.Uld Country" the church members IRE.
quently. ana as many as possible, stand round the
altar rails, and claSping each Others hands, sing
TINS hymn us ana 'nea nnesng aown con
minutes while the hand or time counts the min
utes which separate the old year IRON the new and,
passing rapidly by, indicates that
THE NEW YEAR HAS BEGUN.
The midnight slence, so deep and solemn that
the ordinary breathing or the wOrshlppers can
sometimes be heard. Is then broken Dy q vocal
prayer offered up by the minister or some church
official, alter which the Doxology Is sung and the
people are dismissed.
American MeGnodists DO not give such rigid at
tention to this ancient religious custom as do their
and as the present year closes with the Sabbath
very many OF the Methodist churches OF this city
Will not add "watchn service TO their regular
sunday services tonight. There some churches,
however, wherein the hall. past seven p. M. SER
vices Will be postponed uutil nine r. NJ, ana be
thence continued until midnight.