The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-16
ST. LUKE's CHURCH.
New York District COnfcrence-Opening
Sermon by Bishop Janes-sLove Feast
and Addresses by Local Ministcrs-Thc
Scssinn To BE Continued To-Day.

New York District COnfcrence-Openfn
Sermon by Bishop Jnnes-s.Love Feast"
and Addresses by Local HIinistcrs-Thc
Session To BE Continued To-Day.
The first District Conference for the New York
distrct-a new feature in the Methodist polity,
and which was recommended by the General Con-
ference OF tile denomination, in the hope of in
creasing its eniciency-commence It's session yes.
terday morning, in st. Luke's church, corner OF
Forty-f first street and sixth avenue Among those
present were Bishop James, DR.. Brown, the Presid-
tng Elder of the district; Drs True and Hodich, OF
the American Bible Society, and other
ministers. Bishop James preached the introduce
tory Sermon taking for his text Matthew XII, s.
''And the poor have the Gospel preached
unto them" In explaining the circumstances under
which the words were uttered, he said that the
works which Jesus performed in the sight OF the
multitudcs, such as healing the sick and raising
the dead, were miracles OF power that demon
strated the amightness OF the Lord Jesus Christ !;
but the ciimacterlc one mentioned IN the teXt-viz
lnat the poor nave the Gospe preached unto Them
was u miracle or love, and demonstrated that
Jesus Christ was infinite in His benefcence. and
proved beyond all reasonable doubt His divinity.
The recovery and restoration OF the race to the
nature and the fellowship Of God through the
atonement and mediation Of our Lord Jesus Christ
constituted the glorious gospel OF the blessed God
which was to be preached to the poor. This
preaching might be done by manifesting its loving
spirit IN intercourse with others.
GOOD LIVING IS GOOD PREACHING,
and God expects a good sermon from every one OF
his children each day OF their lives. 1t might be
done by Incidental conversations, by written or
printed communications, by circulating the Scrip
lures or such books as help to the knowledge OF
gious dscourses uttered by Christian ministers.
Preaching the gospel to the poor did not imply
that the latter did not as urgently need 1t the
former for both inherited the same depravty
were under condemnation alike, were equally in
peril and were unable to recover and save them
selves. II was also mistake that the rich did
not need the blessings OF the gospel in this life;
for, although they could satlate their senses
not satisfy the claims OF their higher
nature could not quiet guilty conscience; could
not remove the dread apprehensloDs OF the future
nor prepare them for the judgment day. Men
might acquire riches in a way that would be oren-
OF being rich was not an offence to God nor against
the interests OF society on the contrary, the Cos
ps ne &c r Saa 70 'e
ence upon them 1t would lead to industry and
frugslty and to habits OF virtue, which would
almost necessarily give them prosperity and in
crease their earthly possessions. But the preach
ing OF the gospel TO the rich was not work OF
benevolence. They paid for it, ana wealthy city
churches gave ull equivalent to their ministers
NOT BESEvoLEScE, But BUSINESS
for such ministers to preach the gospel. IL was
however, O work OF benevolence TO preach the
gospel to tnosei who could not pay for IT, and that
was the kind Of preaching that Jesus gave TO the
world lie preached to the poor, and did il when
He had not where to lay His head. Such kind OF
preaching was contrary 10 the philosophy OF the
world for whenever q man attempted to establish
an empire or TO effect any great revolution in
society he did not make known his plans TO the
poor and endeavor to enlist them In the further
ance OF his wishes, but invoked influence and
wealth. Jesus Christ began with the lowly and
the poor, and His method was contrary TO the
spirit OF men. In Cbrstendom there were
some manifestations Of this generous sympathy
and care for humanity but He affirmed that
what hcathendom Is to-day Christendom would
have been but for the GospelY There was not an
association or government in heather lands that
sought to promote the interests OF the great masses
OF the people But he tthe Bishop also main
tained that there was not an nidei organization
nor any body OF persons who did not believe in the
supreme divinity OF our Lord Jesus Christ who had
heart Tor The world and were seeking for its res
toration and recovery. How many foreign mis-
slonaries were now In heather lands sent out by
any other save evangelical churches The preach
ing OF the gospel TO the poor was word OF such
Denevoence that 1t came IRON the inspiration OF
heaven and proved that Jesus and His religion
were diyne lie Bishop James, believed that the