The New York herald., 1873-10-27
DOCTRINAL DIVERSITY.
Preachers Droning Over Anti
Sensational Discourses.
One Hundred and Seventh Ami
M yersary Services in the Old
a.e7s John Street Church.
Another Dissection Of the
Evangelical Alliance.
wv ANTE ED-A MAI N"
The Cry Of the Feminine Adopted by
the Hero -WOrshipping Ministry.
A CALL FOR A SECOND CHRIST.
Pauperism and Plundering from Professional
and Philosophical Points.
Professionalism. Catholicism. Darwinism
The Cry Of the Feminine Adopted by
the HerO-WOrshipping Ministry.
A CALL FOR A SECOND CHRIST.
Pnuperism and Plundering from Professional
and Philosophical Points.
Professionalism, Catholicism, Darwinism
and French Revolutions.
NATURE AND SPIRIT IN HUMANITY.
.'oLD JOHN STREET. METHODIST CHURCH.

'OLD JOHN STREET. METHODIST CHURCH.
One Hundred and seventh Anniversary
of American NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by
Rev. Drs. Chapman and Havcn-Intcr-
csting Reunion Services.
The 107th anniversary Of the introduction
OF Methodism into America was celebrated
yesterday in the "old John street" Methodist
Episcopal church. which Is the cradle OF the denom
nation Every year this ancient edidce is visited
by old Methodists, many OF whose ancestors wor-
shipped in the first church built in America, and
the anniversary is looked forward to with peculiar
interest. The services were commenced at nine
O'Clock, when an old fashioned Methodist "love
least" which is meeting for the narration of
Christian experience, was held presided over by
Rev. J. B. Merwin. This was followed by sermon
from the Rev. DR.. Chapman, OF st. Johns church,
Brooklyn, one of the most eloquent orators of the
Methodist persuasion. A large number OF dis
tinguished clergymen were present, among whom
were the venerable Bishop James, Drs. Eddy, True,
Hodich and Others. After the Introductory de.
votional exercises were performed Rev. DR.. Chap
man procee ded to deliver o discourse based upon
the nineteenth verse OF the first chapter OF the
Second Epistle OF Peter-"We have also more
sure word Of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that
Ve take heed, as unto light that shneth in dark
place. until the day dawn and the day star arise in
preacher said that the Bible afforded better
grouno Tor faith in spiritual and invisible realities,
In Christ and Christianity than would any
phenomenal manifestation such as the trans.
and and Lazarus. u.s. In In periods of ' doubt persons
bs Csrred to an e%nence Of glory and hear @ the
voice of God attesng the truth Of revelation they
peering into the future and following in affec-
tionate thought those VINO had gone before ndi
and tell us something Of the beyond they would be
csntent and happy i was thls desire a led
30 impressed with what appealed to their senses
that they were apt to imagine that their testimony
was essential to certainty, nIt suc1 % II, an idea
OF sensuous evidence. Our senses have deceived
us again and again. but the highest certainty was
philosophy, declared, that that the highest Ger:
OF personal consciousness. 1t might be questioned
whether any amount OF phenomenal evidence ever
& !. We did not believe in Christ to-day because
oi mis- Miracles but rather because OF his charac-
ter, life and teachings and their influence through
The centuries. 1t was not miracles that hoated
Christianity, but the econverse-miracles seeming to
him to be simply the fitting badges of the minister
proposition which the Doctor proceeded to evolve
was the superiority Of the prophetic word over
any phenomenal manifestation as ground OF faith
In Christ, in Christianity and IN the invisible reali
ties OF the spiritual world. The eight shining In
y dark place" was QeHnc0 10 De q canQle, whose
rays were circumscribed and often shadowy The
Bible, while revealing all that was necessary to
knowthe fact OF the existence Of Cod OF the death
OF Christ and his departure to heaven to prepare a
place for His people-on the other hand, did not
answer many curious questions. 1t was in the
tight of the prophetic word that the TRANSPORTATION
OF Christ unfolded its meaning to the disciples.
Ecstatic revelations were occasionally enjoyed by
Christ's followers, but they were not the best
evidence Of the reality or Christian experience
the genuineness OF the Gospel. That was iound in
daily trust In Christ, communion with the Father,
conquest over sin, the performance OF duty and
the enjoyment OF an abiding hope OF glorious
immortality. Such experiences as the disciples
had on the Mount Of TRANSPORTATION were
great BUT people eu coud nc
live upon stmulants, even in religion.
Christ taught his followers to pray for
their daily bread, and not for ccstatc Visions
The superiority OF the prophetic word was seen in
the fact that 1t is general, while all phenomenal
men, OF every grade OF intellectual endowment, had
contributed to the composition OF the Bible, and
che marvellous harmony OF their work, performed
the spirit Of God directed them. There was no
doubt but the TRANSPORTATION had abiding
Gospel hoy Il wifi conns
have an influence IN the worId but 1t was Chris
dainty itself that perpetuased the scenes
Christianity is to be the grandcstp mir
acle in the worlds history. Christianity
was now the mightiest force ON the face OF the
were to-day sitting at the feet OF the despised
Nazarene and Galilean fisherman. The speaker
proceeded, in an eloquent strain, to show that
science was insufficient to bring comfort and 10y
In the hour OF bereavement and sorrow; but that
the Word OF God at such times shone brilliantly
and lighted up the darkness OF the tomb.
In the afternoon social meeting was held, pre-
pded over by Rev. DR.. Weed, former pastor.
M the Board Of Education, preached Ali these
Nrvces were well attended, and the interest was
unabated from the beginning to the close OF the
exercises.