The New York herald., 1873-12-23
THE METHODIST PREACHERS.

Methodism the Instructor OF All Other
Observation-Disclosures Address by
DIR. j. II. Vincent-Thc Week or Prayer.
The Methodist preachers meeting was crowded
yesterday with members and visitors DIR. ]. ii.
Vincent, previously appointed, addressed the
meeting on the advance OF Methodism in this and
in other large cities. He first showed how Method
ism had been for the last 80 40 years educating
other denominations, until at this day it is a COM
mon expression to say such and such man
breaches like Methodist, or such singing is like
Methodist or such a church conducts its prayer
meetings like the Methodists, and 30 on. When
Methodism began Its work it was spirit; it is
now body and spirit. There is less proselytiz-
ing he thought, in the Methodist Episcopal Church
than in any other. Ii the Methodist Episcopal
Church to-day had all its converts who are now
found in other denominations 1t would have, he
believed, one-fifth more members than it has. The
Doctor, In enumerating what MethOdism wants
to-day, suggested the following requisites I'D
A true view OF its own mission 10 spread Scrip
tural holiness, and a broader charity for other
denominations that are striving after this higher
life. The Methodist Episcopal Church does not
need nor should sne strive after government
patronage, nor to bring IN or keep In her churches
rich men for the sake OF their riches. 1t should
GIVE THE GOSPEL
to all alike. (2) Her ministers should use the SIM
plicity OF the Gospel in all their efforts and not
The Doctor demonstrated how much more could be
done for Gods cause by dozen godly earnest men
than by the great crowd. (3). Iney Sn0ud look
well after the children; lecture to them now and
again, teach them the doctrines OF the Church
which 1t holds in common with all the churches
and also those which are peculiar to Itself. When
the Church wins boy, he said, 1T wins man, and
when IL wins young man OF u he Will be likely to
stay in the Church all his lifetime. az. We need
more OF the Word of God in our churches, he said.
We need IL in the pulpit ana in the pew, and we
need more expository preaching. which is the
charm OF the pulpit on the other size OF the water,
and which makes the sermons OF DR.. John Hall, OF
this city, SO attractive and interesting. We need
more OF the Bible in our prayer and class meet
ings, he said; also in our Sunday schools. This,
the Doctor remarked, Is the way to keep the young
men in the Church and TO meet the skeptIcism OF
Gospel and then we shall keep them In the Church.
t5). Short sermons, simple, clear and practical,
such as the average adult can understand, and
then there will be found some child who can un-
attractive to the little ones,
THE BIGGEST MISTAKE
the Methodist Episcopal Churcn ever made was
when II gave up congregational singing and subst-
tuted the quartet choir therefor Responsive read
ings In the services were also recommended. (6l. :.
We need, he said, more thorough training of our
young people to love the Methodist Episcopal
Church. her doctrines and genral rules and for this
purpose he would have monthly lectures on these
topics to the probationers; and az we must do all
we can to keep our probationers in the Church.
The publication OF the Doctors interesting ad.
dress was asked for by some OF the brethren. and
Rev. John Parker offered few remarks, approx
ing the suggestions In regard to the Sunday schools
DR.. Roche, Mr.. Buckley and Dr. Curry talked q
little about pulpit plagiarism, and Father Beebe, q
venerable English wesleyan missionary to the
life OF 43 years In the West India Islands and
South America, and OF his acquaintance with the
Rev. Richard Watson and his son.
committee was appointed to arrange the SER
vices ior the Week 0fPrayer, and Dr. Foss was ap-
pointed to speak next Monday morning on some
practical Issues OF the late Evangelical Alliance.