The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-29

Deems-Brown-Smyth.
The Church of the Strangers, In Mercer
street, near Eighth street, is standing
who are only too ready and anxious to sell out
their church edifces to some brewer, stable
keeper or gambler, and HE themselves away
up town, where they expect to secure the
support of the wealthy and fashionable.
When, a couple of years ago, a Presbyterian
congregation vacated the Mercer street
church, the great Railroad King, at the in
stance Of the Rev. DR.. Dsems purchased the
building and site and handed it over to be
used, as it had been for many years, as a
temple of divine worship. The wisdom
of this action, and the necessity for
such a church in such place, has
been too apparent ever since in the large
congregations that gather there every Sabbath
day to need any further demonstration. DR..
Charles +. Deems is well known here and
elsewhere as one of the most popular preach
,ers In the Church in this land. He can
hardly he said at present to belong to any
Christian denomination. His views are too
broad and liberal to be confined within Sec
tartan garments. He is, however, virtually
and practically Methodist. Before the
separation of this body, in 1874, into the
Northern and Southern churches DR.. Deems
belonged to the united Church. But he joined
his fortunes to the South, aud still holds
quasi connection with that branch of American
Methodism, and his Ch1rch of the Strangers
is really, though not ostensibly, church for
sojourning in New York. With the pTact-
liability for which the Doctor is known he has
organized Society of Sisters of the Stranger,
whose object is to look after the wants Of
poor and needy strangers, of whom our city
has always fair supply. AS preacher DR..
Deems is by many considered the superior of
the most popular Evangelical ministers in this
city or vicinity, and an enterprsing publisher
has undertaken, at his own risk, to reproduce
the Doctors weekly sermons in pamphlet form
for general reading, and, We believe, is so far
satisfied with his success. The Doctor and
bis church are doing noble work in their
way, and among class heretofore greatly
neglected.
Ritualism in the Protestant Episcopal
Church has no more Jealous advocate than the
Rev. Thomas NICK. Brown, rector of the
Church of st. Mary the Virgin, in Forty -ffth
street, between Broadway and Eighth avenue
The church and grounds are the gift Of VIM.
B. Aston 1t is in an unfinished state yet, but
the polishing touches will be laid on by and
by. Recently it received magnificent mar
BILE altar, the gift of q wealthy parshioner,
memorial to his deceased wife. The neigh
borhood is admirably adapted for the location,
of an Episcopal church, and Mr.. Brown, who
has graduated in ST. Adams, is very we'll
fitted for his work here. What he lacks as a
preacher he makes up as pastor, and
his congregations are constantly increasing.
He is remarkably laborious pastor, and no
doubt in few years, with the influx of
population to that vicinity, he will reap the
fullest benefit of his patient toll. The church
celebrated its anniversary one Sabbath last
month, when very large audiences were pre-
sent There are usually seven services on
the Lords Day and four on the week days.
The worshippers on those days are. however,
comparatively few and far between.
The Rev. James Smytb, pastor of the Con-
gregational church in Fifieth street, between
Broadway and Eighth avenue, is young and
comparatively unknown clergyman in this
city. He is an Englshman and bachelor,
and is but temporarily visiting this country,
though occupying one of our city pulpits. In
England Mr.. Smyth is an Independent, and
being an earnest and practical temperance ad-
vocate he ia sent of by his denomination on
lecturing tours. And in this capacity he
has visited the British North American
provinces three times, and each time he has
found his way to the United States and
been welcomed by his American ministerial
brethren. He had charge of Methodist
church and congregation in the New Jersey
Conference for several months previous to
March last when he received and accepted a
call 10 his present charge. He has labored
here under great disadvantages, but with con-
siderable success, and he seems to be very
well adapted for this kind of mission work
gathering together new churches or building up
and strengthening old ones. His sincerity of
purpose, plainness Of speech and directness in
the pulpit together with his easy manners,
draw around him hosts of friends wherever he
goes, and endear him to the homes and hearts
of his parishioners. Should his present enter
prise to build up Congregational church
where before there was none prove sue
cess, it is probable that Mr.. Smyth will
remain here permanently. Should he do so
he will be a valuable acquisition to our city
pulpits.
HoMEsrEADs FOR DISCHARGED SOLDIERS
AND SAILoRs.-Senator Pomeroy, of Kansas,
has introduced into the Senate bill
IN nnahIa honorahlv discharged soldiers