, 1874-10-04
Biography Of the Rev. DR.. G. 4.
Fowler.
Deplo7able Condition Of tnc ST.
Louis Sunday-Schcols.
Finances Of the American Boari~--
Prot. 7ynda1l.
The Comments Of the Relig-
ious Press.
Notes and Personals at Homc and
Abroad.
Church Services To-day.

Church Services To-Day.
rHEREV. CHARLES e. FOWLER, D. D
The most marked and best known man in tn
Methodist denomination il the Northwest /
President c. II. Fowler, OF the Northeastern
Cnivcrr1ty- lie is still young man, as he va
porn in August 1857, and he is purely Western
caan, seeing the light for the first ti1uo OH al
Illinois prairie. No record has ycL becu made u
tLc youthful daye of tho future Doctor Of Divin
ity, teacher, orator, and preacher. Tho frs
authentic account VIC hare Of his contact
Fitb the world outside OF his own homo is a
Tho date OF 1859, when, in the winter. ho taught
school in the To3n OF Bristol, kouosha Coun
ty. The little wooden schoolhouse standing CT
In emiience, overlooking the Dcsplaines. still
remains as relic Of by-sone days, and slls
neighbors cherish t1aditlons conce1niug ths
somewhat eEratic but loved tclloofu1astcr MIC
taught their ideas hoN to unfold not far from .
quarter OF century ago.
In 1854 he attended the Rock River Seminars
ut Mt. Morris. ILL.,. and Ill 1855 WAS entered as a
student in Genessce Wesleyan Seminary. After
spending one term here, he entered college at
Genessee. graduating in 1859 with tue highest
honors Of the class. He came to Chicago and
commenced the study OF Law in tho salno year !;
bu: during tho winter Of 1859 he was converted
u
l,atcly abandoned Blackstone for a
man @ fathers. He entered Garrett Biblical
Institute III 1860, obtaining the degree Of Bach
e!or Of Divinity in ls6l- 1t WAS while STU
dent here that he manifested some OF those
physical qualities tia: help to make Lin 60 roE-
ular. Strongly built aud full OF courage, he Was
among tho first and boldest to aid IL tho rescue
Of the survlvois Of the il!-i4ted Lady Elsiu,
that foundered of the Eraaston coast IN Sep
:cmber, 1860.
Having graduated, aIr. Fowler was irnmedi-
atcly placed in pastoral charge OF prominent
Methodist church in this city, the Jefferson
Street, which has s,uce taken the namo OF :he
Centenary Church. At the end Of three years
he was transferred to the Clark Street Church.
sad from thence to tho Centenary Church. Ia
these positions his reputation grew e!o-
4ucnt pulpit o.atcr, and his church was sure to
visited by his Methodist brethren all over tla
country who had heard his namc mentioned.
After the great fire he wes sent East to secure
noncy and aid for the denomination, Which was
! conspicuous loser by that calamity. In pnila-
derhia his success vas SO great that lie secured
ei0,0oU- Since that time he has added to his
other fano that of being regarded rs oac OF the
most successful church solicitors ard dcdc.t-
ors; and Lis services arc much III demand TO win
from unwilling pockets the thou4an3s tina. are
to hq:idate lalanccs Of debt Ii c3utc4.-balaia,
enterprises.
In 1s7a, when Dr. E O. Haven vas chosen
Secretary Of the Methods. Board Of Education.
thereby leaving vacant tac Presidency OF t.at
Seminary. d.. Fowler was chosen to fll the va
c2ncy. LII this important position. second
to none in tho denomination. perhaps, lie has
secured the confidence Of llis church. aud has
placed tho University III 4 higher position .i!aa
it has occupied hitherto
Dr. Fowler was one Of the three representa-
tivcs Of the Methodist Episcopal Church chosen
to convey to the General Conference OF the
Church South OF Louisville, last spring, the
good will of the Northern GIetlodsta. He
owes his SUCCESS more to his natural gifts
and powers than to discipline acquired in the
schools: Equipped with strong capital OF
physical force. and with keen intellect. he ia
quick TO sec, prompt to plan, and ine1haustible
ia push and energy In his intercourse with his
fellow he i. genial and even jocoso, making
friends readily and rarely losing any. III the
pulpit be 1s perfectly at home, aud able to com-
1nand, in good, forcbc Engl1~h, nt tho o:atorcal
arts which carry away captive the imp lessiG!e |
Methodist heart. That Lis pulpit power is hot |
mcrclrlcious, but substantial and good, is proved
by the fact thai his fame has been acquired in t
Chicago and o two Methodist churches which |
have strained the itincracy doctrine 70 bold him
to the latest minute compatible with the ''cloye-
On" policy Of the denomination.
Whether Dr. Fowler aill yet he Bishop or not
the future alone viii tell. He came near All
election nt the last qnalTtEniaI conference; bu: !
it iH quite likely that he satisfied with tho high
snd honorable position he At present holds.
OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS IN ST.
LOUIS.
Tue ~ future great city" it seems cannot
tnanace the Sunday school business successfully.
Il We may judge By what is said in the religious
papers Of that city, tho management Of its SUM-
lay schools has BEEN bad, and the interest III
:hc,n has so far declined that the present gene
ration of youth is going up ignorant OF religion
Dr Of religious doctrines. Tho New York Intle-
3.,,f~ n&oI ,-f
Of the religious press Of st. Louis
On tie subject. says:
It was claimed by speaker at the monthly meeting
of the Suuday-School Teachers Association that,
within the last two years, the number Cf Sunday
[cEoots III that city led considerably Diminished not
large increase of lDiulsitn, and that
COW only about 70 U0n children out Of 1n0uG in
5unday-Echool attendance This tcpoc. prompts thu
Central EapftSt to declare:
Looking the squarely in the face, 1t might "a
well he admitted ,ha not cn!y have men of the wSrl,
rome to look uron of the features Of the Sun
lyechool eCterrriee with dstrst, but the more re-
Eecing art Of tie Christian pubic have lost their
faith i'll it as Christian activity"
Amung the Of this decline the editorial critic
the course of the lending Snday-school
Men Of the city tho practical separation Of the schools
from the churches the character OF the teachers en-
rloyc and the methods Of Sundar-school ma1.aec-
.ncnt 1t il declared that in S., Luis the outlook
IS gloomy for this work" Indeed, in the opnio, Of
lie Central Eaptixt:
III is time for new departure in sandny-sc,ool
afa!ra In this city. Occ generation has grown up
ignorant Of the esory and doctrines Of Evangelical
auutuEI is IN 10 Illustrate tue alb
folu;o wortacssncss Of 4 superficial trimming undc7
Irresponsible teachers"
Tho Old School Irts1ste7ln s@rs Of this criticism;
" It iE very plain. very severe, hut true 10 tho very
letter. We thank Dr.. Luther for it. 1t is nasterlv
tureesy. whh Intelligent, determined rurl.ote aud
with bold aud steady hand it a:,ovc snd below
and around, and underneath tue diseased partr
The hope of the latter editor that those whose
province ;s will lift the diseased part cut and o:lcr
wise follow the directions Of Surgeon Luthetn |
But tho question is still open : Viii the patient
survive the operation at the hands such surgeons?
OF TIE AMERICAN
BOARD.
4 dispatch to the Boston Journal. dated Sent,
-, gives the following statement ct the affairs |
Of that body at the present tino:
Ihe American Board of Commissioners CT FOREIGN
assaions whore receipts since organization m tne
1oi n CT donations, legacic. con,7butiops aud Other
tnnrces border ciosclJ sl3ooooo2 has fallen sadly