The New York herald., 1873-09-23
THE METHODIST MINISTER'S.

The Sunday School and the Ministry
Accessories to the Decline OF Method
ism-Plain Talk from an Old-Fash-
Toned Preacher.
The very important but somewhat unfortunately
treated subject OF Methodist progress or decline in
New York and Brooklyn was up again yesterday In
the Preachers Meeting for discussion. 1t was
handled by Rev. DR.. 0sbon, who uttered some plain
but unpalatable truths While he did not admit q
decline in the sense that some had presented that
feature Of Methodism he yet regretted that the de-
nomination had not made that progress here and
in the sister city that other denominations had
made. The reasons why 1t had not advanced were,
In part, those that had been suggested last week
by Rev. J. M. Buckley but Dr. Osbon offered some
others. The conduct Of our Sunday schools, he de-
clared is not promotive OF reverence, because the
teaching of the children Is for the most part com.
mitted to the hands of young. unmarried and mex
perienced persons, who know nothing about the
care and education OF children. Men and women
acknowledge, wisdom and experience do not and
cannot be induced to go into the sunday schools.
Hence they have resorted TO system OF
EXCURSIONS, FANDANG0ES AND REWARDS
to get the children in, and then very large num-
themselves away to other churches. Then the
modes OF instruction are crowding out the means
argey "a Wh
and historical comments so that the practical aims
and ends Of the Sunday school organization are
lost sight or Our sunday schools Tor long series
Of years have failed In the purposes Of their Organi
Zat1On. II the Older men, our grandslres, should
come into the Sunday school we might accomplish
something but we are losing ground in not main-
tanning and not absolutely adhering to our cid
methods Of catechetical instruction IN the Sunday
school, Another cause OF non-advancement Is that
Methodist people have lost and are losing In q
large degree the JUNCTION OF religion that they used
by brethren. Continuing his remarks DR.. Osbon
said, We have now great deal more worship than
| work, and unction he maintained, comes largely
and psalm singing, but very little work.
A VoICE-HOw about the preachngp
Dr. OsBON-I'll come to that by and by. land he
did come to 1t with great painness OF speech.)
orc 1t has lost in It's power to anect the people.
He should not be considered, however, as opposed
to culture. He wished he was cultured man.
Its lack has cost him
MORD TEARS AND sLEEPLEss NIGHTS
than his sins ever did, and he scarcely sees day
that he does not deplore Ii, but he can't help 1t
now. We are not, he continued, up TO the power
of the former times. Oar sermons have more
beauty, but less power, and here 1t was proper for
him to make comparison. While MethOdsts have
not made progress in this matter, other denomina-
tions have. We complain that the Fathers were
uncutured men, but there was power In their SER
mons and souls were converted under their preach
ing. While we have the adornments and accom-
plishments we have not the power. While he
would make allowance Tor the questions that have
pressed upon us for the last ten or twelve years,
ne did not think they greater than those that
pressed upon our fathers and yet our success does
not compare with theirs. The iaut is not with the
he would have them look over their sermons and
compare them with some preached iorty years ago
and let them strive more earnestly to bring this
world to the life and power and glory OF God
The subject was continued Tor next Monday,
when Rev. G. G. Goss is to review the whole ground
and to present additional statistics