The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-05
NEW YORK EAST CONFERENCE,

IhirO -Doys ETOc0oOlm8s-An BxC0Aont
Episcopal Address, TO Candidates for the
Diaconate-How Young Mem Are De-
terrcd from Entering tho Ministry by
the Severe Course OF Study and Reading.
The devotional exercises which preceded the OPEN
ing Of the business session Of the Conference were
conducted by Rev. T. Z. Griswola. The Disciplinary
questions were taken up, and the following breth-
rem who have travelled two years were examined
for admission into full connection with the Confer
ence:--RevS A. III. Sherman, Jonathan II. Richards,
william p. T0mpkinson, George p. Dusinberre,
James H. Crofut, Fl. 8. Stin, Orrln @. Lane, w. 7.
Pray, j. 8. D0rsay. John Ripper, OF the same class,
was not present when these brethren were
called up before the Conference. They were
publicly examined by the presiding Bishop,
Merrill. The questions propounded related
to their faitn in the doctrine OF perfection
and their own progress In this direction,
together with the rules OF the Methodist societies
as laid down by Wesley and now incorporated In
the Discipline. TO these questions the young min
listers gave affirmative replies, They agreed not to
speak too long nor toe loud to visit from house to
house and to be an example OF piety to the
churches. They are not embarrassed by debt, con-
stantly attend the sacramento and have, resolved
to devote their whole lives to the work OF the min
istry. 7ge s.aggsl, stss assa eef s8lan1b i0f.g
THE BISHOPS ADDRESS. ,..
The Bishop in addressing the class said that up
to this time they had had no ecclesiastical standing
in the Conference and were at liberty to have left
the ministry Of their own accord during the last
two years. or to be dropped by those in authority
In the Church. The Bishop then explained the i'm
port Of the questions asked and answered, and the
new relations to which this examination and their
reception into the Conference will Introduce them.
He dwelt particularly upon the doctrine Of
footio hioh ofrin ho No
longer peculiar to the Methodist Church, as 1t
once was, but other denominations are now &C
knowledgng the saneness and the Scripturalness Of
the position OF Methodists and the attainment Of
perfect love In this life is now looked for by Chris
tians OF every denomination. There Is little or no
difference OF opinion in regard to the thing or the
sSpssnSs aao the s p Sssop
said. was hidden from US. We can't tell how the
Holy Ghost cleanses any mans heart any more
than we can His operations on human hearts for
conversion The tact, and not the mode Of opera
ton, Is what we are most interested In. And the
ton, and do You expect to Be made perfect In love
Evidently the Church expects that the ministry
shall lead the people In the attainment and the
preaching q this doctrine We sometimes u hear II
this doctrine when they have only not turned their
faces toward our methods OF seeking and obtaining
1t. But every Methodist Preacher IL pledged to this
dsctrne and 1t is the duty OF every one to seek the
blessing of perfect love. "a a5iaa 144 lE 8HsNs aE
BETTER WEAR OUT THAN TEAR OUT.
The Bishop also impressed upon the class the in
compatibility Of secular pursuits with the work OF
the ministry. They were also cautioned against
by talking long and loud. Some men say that it is
better to wear out than rust out. He believed that
to be true, but Is better to wear out than to tear
out He found that people who are opposed to
long sermons are also generally opposed to what
are called doctrinak sermons Bat this idea, he
mad @ Of the ea style a1
This the brethren should avoid as much as possible
but they should not cease to embody doctrine in
their sermons and in their lives. Nor should the
pastors neglect the children OF the Church. The
pastoral offfce, too, he considered as important as
ofthe most important features Of the ministry OF
the Lord Jesus Christ The ONCE OF the ministry
Is SO Important that 1t should not be committed to
boys. He feared there was too great tendency now
to hurry young men into the ministry and thereby
to iniure the inenciency OF older ana more expert
that a minister did not cease to be such after he
had settled. The ONCE Of the ministry requires
strength of body and mind and full conservation to
porting their missionary collections, were allowed
TO retire Brother Ripper joined the class in time
tlons and admonitions OF the Bishop.
GOOD MAN But POOR STUDENT.
After these brethren had retired their ''graces,
gifts and usefulness" were inquired into. When
MI. Sherman's name was called 1t was announced
by the Examining Committee that ne, though hav-
g Sea rss mas n yet passed
and the chairman Of the Examining Com
mittee thought the brother should be dropped.
continued on trial another year DR.. scaader and
T. g We're were n nvSr OF
on his inenioiency, Another minister remarked
that when Brother Sherman was admitted on trial
he was recommended as one OF the best men in the
Conference. He wondered at the change OF opin-
i0H Secretary Goodsell who has been q good
Sae @ he should
poned until he could be consulted to ascertain II he
was wiling to drop out Of the ministry OF his own
accord, so that the Conference might be saved the
dlsagreeabe alternative OF saying by vote that they
In reporting on the examination Of studies OF the
other candidates for deacon's orders Rev. G. i.
Taylor asked the ruling OF the President of the
Conference on the proposition whether or not the
as to the general reading as Wen as study OF the
candidates. The Bishop quoted the law on the
case ana cited decision bearing upon this point
was decided that, as the discipline required candi-
dates to read certain books named for general in
committee ought to satisfy the Conference that this
reading had been followed or otherwise and the
Conference could decide Tor itself afterward.
SEVERE COURSE OF READING AND STUDY
Mr.. Buckley read q list OF the works recommended
TO be read in addition to the studies and the pas
t0ral duties OF the candidates, and made, from his
own experience, an estimate OF the time such read.
ing would require, and he was convinced that no
young man could attend to his pastoral and minis
reading too. Dr. Roche DIR. Ketteli, Mr..
Dickinson and others opposed the Enforce.
ment Of this course OF reading and Dr. Roche
declared that he thought IL hindered very many
college and seminary graduates entering the
ministry, for no man could prepare two such SER
mons week as ministers are now expected to
prepare, and attend to his other duties and give
attention to this reading too. Drs Woodruff and
Curry, however, favored the enforcement of the
discipline In this regard. They deemed Il more
important to have educated ministers than simply
ministers.
Rev. q. L. Taylor made motion that the ex-
aiming committees be required to ask these 0uea.
lions, ano the candidates to answer them IL was
moved to lay this on the table. Lost The flrst
motion was then carried
Rev. Mr.. Lame was appointed to take charge OF
the moneys Tor the Ladies' Missionary Union
COLoRED PREACHER RECEIVED.
Rev. Thomas y. Dana, an elder In the African
Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, having been ad.
mitted into the Newark Conference but had not
chance to appear before that body, was by It's
officers recommended to the New York East Con-
ference for recognition OF orders. The Conference
so recognized him, ana ne goes back To Newark