Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-29

emnlzed about three hundred marriages. and bap-
tied over twenty-five hundred persons. He alud-
ed to the hard work and poor pay of the early Meth
odlst ltinerantS, and closed with a review of the
changes which have taken place in theology during
the last fifty years, attributing to the Methodist
doctrine OF free salvation the progress which has
Rev. Samuel Kelley spoke of the limited advan-
tages which preachers enjoyed for gaining an edu-
cauon, hfty years ago, and told many interesting
"reminiscences connected with his school life at the
old Newmarket academy, now located at Wibra-
man, he also spoke in a cheerful manner of his
early experiences on the large circuits assigned to
preachers in those days. Mr. Kelley Is now over
~ years of age and has preached regularly four SER
mons every Sunday for the past year.
Rev. n. L. Spauding delivered a brief address
narratng some Of the trials and prosecutions which
he had met in his long ministry But there were
other, joyful scenes connected with the preachers
NE and If he had the past to live over again he
would choose the same calling. His remarks were
at times very affecting, many persons in the audi
ence being moved to tears
Rev. A. ID. Merrill was called upon. He told the
story of his conversion and early abors in the cause
IN very powerful manner, moving the audience
alternately to tears and smiles by his eloquence.
de believed in making fuss" over religion, that
there should be noise enough to drown the works
of the devil and to compel the attention of the care
less and Indifferent. The preaching of forty or fifty
years ago effective than that of the pres
ent day. At the conclusion of his remarks he sang
a hymn written by him for the occasion, which it
lions Herald.
Father Isaac Jennison then arose in his seat and
said that he was eighty-two years old to-day, and
for siXty-six years his name had been upon the
church books. He was glad of the opportunity to
add his testimony in regard to the blessings attend
ing life devoted to the cause of Nlethodism
The services closed by benediction pronounced
by Rev. A. D. Merrill.
CHURCH EXTENSION SOCIETY.
This meeting last evening was for the purpose of
enabling the officers of this society," and those in.
terested in the church extension clause to present
their claims to the public. The opening exercises
were conducted by Rev. j. q. Smith and Rev. i
o. Peck Rev, B. X, Pierce, chaplain of the house
of refuge in New York, delivered the opening ad.
dress He began by abiding in a complimentary
manner TO Grace church In this CITY, speaking of It
as monument to the good work Of the church ex-
tension society. 1t was their aid which had en-
couraged the members Of the church to use their
utmost e1deavors to, procure the means for bnid-
ing In Gods providence every thing is so arranged
that the blessings are Just beyond man, and it takes
earnest and continuous labor for him to reach them
Even great natural truths are yelled, the law of
grayitation was only discovered after careful
and patient thought and gold is concealed
in the earth. The Immediate effect of this labor is
a discipline which tends to develop the best that
there is within man. Faith aud Christian conse-
Grafton are the results of such endeavor Every
man and woman has work to do, it cannot be
delegated to the few hence the origin of missionary
societies. Sunday schools and other like organiza-
tons. They give every one a chance to work The
great danger Of the hour is the corrupng influence
OF wealth, and God has guarded against this danger
Wealth, if properly bestowed, is great power for
good and societies. like this one for church extern
sion, afford glorious opportunities to distribute it
wisely and in way that shall result in a blessing
to the giver. He closed by reminding his auditors
that ait Is more blessed to give than to receive"
hey llE. hynett. the corresponding secretary of
the church extension society was the next speaker
He prefaced his remarks by abiding to the COM
paratively small number of persons present, and
said the question had presented itself to him. do we
rely upon the beauty and elegance of our churches
to attract wOrshippers to them2 To the church is
gwen the oracle of truth by which to save the
If lie tn do - sln 80,
plish the divine work. God works by means and
these means have been gradually extending When
the command was given to preach the gospel to
every creature 1t was physically impossible, but the
means gradually became manifest. The printing
press and the various church societies are means for
the accomplishment of this work. Preaching the
gospel is not the end but simply the means. 1t
is to convert souls and take them into an
organized body to save other souls. The system of
organization the great secret of success aud it is
here that the church extension society finds its
work 1t is designed to create places where organ
lzatlons may be effected. The society organ
lied IN 1865, and since that time it has disbursed
$4,000 and aided over 800 churches. Its income
is steadily increasing and the number of churches
receiving aid is constantly growing larger. When
he thought of the magnitude Of the work of this
society," he was asOnshed that so little interest was
manifested by the churches in the cause He closed
oy assuring ms hearers that with increased support
the society would show still better results in future
Rev. DR.. W. Butler, corresponding secretary of
the American and foreign Christian union, delivered
the closing address. He spoke of the gorgeous
edifces in heather countries built in the interests
of false religions, and said these beautiful buildings
would eventually be used for the worship of the
true God He related many interesting incidents in
connection with the manner in which cathedrals and
temples in foreign lands were falling into the hands
OF Christian worshippers These very interesting
features in the work of church extension. God will
provide means for the extension of his church,
and every one should do his utmost to aid in the
work.
The address was listened to with close and pleased
attention. and at its close the speaker was heartily
appauded.
shall reign where'er the SUM-" and the benedictiOn
pronounced by Rev. Mr.. Smith.