The New York herald., 1872-11-26
TIE METHODIST PREACHERS.

discussion on "Prayer-TheOres and Facts
Little Known About It, or About Gods Methods Of
Answering 'Tyndars Test,'n was again in
dulged in by the Methodist preachers yester-
day. The idea has taken far wider range than
that proposed by Mr.. Cation or Professor Tyndal
and prayer in general, both rs q theory ana q
fact, has been put into the crucible and pounded
ana mixed until what was designed to become a
homogeneous compound has resulted in mixture
of a contrary kind. About two months have been
spent debating on this subject, and several emf.
nent ministers have spoken, but greater diver
sity OF views could hardly be produced
by any proposition which might be intro
dnccd than has been brought out by this
The main question has been left where IL was, be-
cause no man knoweth the mind of the Lord and
none can become His counsellor. No man can say
positively whether God answers prayers for physl-
cal benefits on the line OF natural laws or other
wise, and hence IL Is idle to speculate. Proofs
exist that God has answered prayer for physical
blessings by granting such blessings to the seekers.
But Gods ways are not as our ways neither are His
thoughts as our thoughts and some Of the debaters
on this subject, as well as the propounders OF the
text, have made the mistake OF
LIMITING THE HOLY ONE,
and binding Him down to certain limits and
grooves or their own. Rev. A. d. Vail yesterday
went over the ground very exhaustively. He
natural nom moral laws nor God from
either efa in certain Ssn sense AZ And tina,
the SPIRITUAL a and the the gner Ha wss the con
trolling thought in the mind and VIII of Cod and
hence provision IS made in the order OF the uni
verse for prayer. From Gods will as q railroad
centre there radates divers lines of natural,
moral or spiritual laws, upon any one OF which Cod
as engineer can run his trains OF blessing to the
hearts and homes OF mankind
Mr.. Dickinson protested against the idea OF
separating God nom matter as the engineer Is
separate rom his engine. Nature is the OFFSPRING
OF the thought ana willpower OF God and by his
yoliton IL ts kept in being and In motion. And
the true idea must bring God into every atom VI
matter andinto every attribute of mind
Mr.. Henson could not understand why we should
pray for some things and not for Others when
Christ says,
"AsK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE
ard all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer
believing, We siG receive" A food olwAter breaks
over an embankment twenty feet high and carries
death and destruction with IT., yet nobody thinks
OF praying to COG TO dam up The water or prevent
its destructive Gow. and why not, when Christ
has said ask
Mr. Whatey restated more accurately Professor
Tyndal's view OF prayer as put forth eight years
ago in relation to the cattle plague In England and
showed that DR.. Tynd4 makes marked Qistinc-
tion between "changiBg" and "iutcrering WITH
natural laws. And Mr. Whately could see how, in
the case OF the sick for instance, God az n Spirit
acting Oh other spirits might suggest medicines or
treatment which, if adopted would effect cures
but If not needed the patient might die. But he
did not think that God answers prayer by interfer-
elce with natural laws.
The death OF Rev. Mr Hadley, OF Warren street
Methodist Episcopal church, Brooklyn, was an.
n0uLced, and committee oil eight was appoint ted
to attend the funeral. Another COMMITTEES OF three
was appointed 10 draft suitable resolutions on the
event.