The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-26
THE. METHODIST MINISTER'S.
Pastoral Work-Its Pleasures and It's
Pains-How to FIJI Empty Churches
Intro-A frican Civilization.

PAHGOrQl Pleasures
Pains-How to FIJI Empty Churches
Intro-AGican Civilization.
Yesterday, Notwithstanding the storm, a good'y
number OF the Methodist ministers gathered in
their usual meeting place and discussed the sub
,ect OF pastoral work In some OF its aspects. The
Rev W. McAllster led the discussion and referred
10 tkree features OF the work, namely-preacning,
visiting the SICK and visiting from house TO house,
lie laid greatest the latter and said that
xhe empty pews in churches are due TO the neg
Meet OF this duty TIE point at which modern
ministers fan IL Just where raul succeeded ne
nreached from house to house, and, he tells US,
he warmed the people in tins way with tears. This
plan never fails to get the people to church and
gather them around minister. But a man
must take some time to do this, and ne
mnst also have time TO study-that is, II he writes
OUT two sermons Tor the sabbath.
rms discussion, interesting as 1t was, was over
.shadowed by the Rev. Professor Blyden's remarks
rNTRo-AFRIcAN CIVILIZATION.
The Professor is as black as a coal, OF medium size
and Is thrty-three years OF age He was born 10
ST. Thomas, West Indies, in ls4l, and was evi-
IDENTITY very precocous lad, Tor at the early age
oil nine years. under all the disadvantages OF MS
race In that island he had mastered the rudimen-
and had delved a little INTO the Latin
when some one suggested that tue united
States was the place Tor him. He would here get
a college education Tree or at least very cheapy.
He came hither IN 1850 ana applied TO two North
colleges, TO which he had been recommended,
but MS race was under the ban oil color and he
could not gam admittance. The Republic OF Ii
IBERIA was then suggested as the place for lad
Win his aspirations. He went tntner, entered
high school as pupil, graduated and became
teacher and afterwards principal. and the two col.
leges that refused him admittance In MS boyhood
have since recognized his merits by cenIerring
upon him unsought the honorary degree OF Master
OF Arts. He has lived in Africa twenty three years.
and has been our shores here only lew days,
and being in the Preachers Meeting yesterday by
invitation he was introduced and invited TO speak,
OF the people OF Intro Africa, where the Methodist
Episcopal church has lately ordered the founding
,oI mission when the proper persons can be
found to superlntend and conduct IT. He mad
made a journey OF 300 miles on foot into the
IBERIA, and was, therefore, supposed 10 be able 10
speak OF the country with some assurance. The
tribes along the coast, ne says, are dlsorganiZed
because OF the slave trade, which. however. hav-
ing been abolished WITHIN few years, has enabled
But the interior shows better and more inteili-
gent class OF people. The difference between the
Fantees and The Ashantees was so marked that
the British soldiers could not find words sum
GENTLY strong to express their detestation OF the
eowardlce Of the lormer II is well known the
latter gave them great trouble.
MAHoMETANs ARE VERY NUMEROUS
between say NIFTY miles from the Llberan boundary
ana Soldan, and their influence is elt IN tribes and
places where they are not seen. They have
mosques Just as in civilized countries, and the
Society MAINLY has been scattered among them.
Professor Blvden took few hundred copies with
him In his travels and they were eagerly sought
The Methodist Episcopal Church. He met the
King OF Kokoros, VINO had studied English from
missionary who penetrated to his country. ms
King was now anxious unat schools should be es-
taDlisned in his territory. and he made Professor
Blyden offer OF great gifts If he would stay and
teach his people. The people are temperate and
intelligent, and IL the Methodist Eplscopal Church
VIII establish schools there IL VIII soon see results
that Will surprise IT, The suppression OF the slave
trade mas wrought the most wonderful change
there. The Professor had made tour Of the inte-
rlor in the days OF slavery, and could therefore.
judge OF the change. The KING OF Kokoros had
offered the Liberans tbatii they opened hignroads
twenty-five miles beyond their borders he would
complete them 70 and through his own country.
two countries. The district between Liberia and
tnls region is pagan but beyond that 10 Soucan is
Mahometan. And as tnelr religion prohibits the
manufacture or use OF ardent spirits they exist
as barrier between Liberia and the m
terror to the spread OF intemperance. The
their faith IN In ro-Afrca But they carry on their
propogandism by force OF arms. Mr.. Byden en-.
Tered one pagan town in which he saw $4,000 Ma
nometans under arms, but, notwithstanding the
state oil war, they never missed their hours OF
prayer, but Frustrated themselves as they would
have done in thelr own mosques at home. Mahom-
etanism Is the only missionary faith in the in
terror OF Africa. In many respects they transcend
~ihrislians. IN Liberia be had never seen a man
shere 0n eu ha In sI neror R alcoholic
nave not get 9gna tn me way Tey are sqpe9r
had travelled 800 ies anions them and never lost
a in. He mad been here in this Christian city bat
IN Third avenue car TO an uptown church, his
pockeiDook. containing $50, wae stolen. This ex-
perlence caused laugh among he preachers, but
DIR. King turned II 10 account by pass ng the hat
aroundn and taking up O collection, which
amounted TO $3S % for the brother. Though not
all he lost II would put HIM over the next bridge.
Very much OF the above and of the following
formation was given IN answer to questions put 10
the Professor by the preachers. To show how
CHRISTIANITY is TOUCHING INTRo-AFRICA,
even without Christian churches, schools or minis
tiers, Mr.. Blyden related the substance OF a con.
yersati0n he had had with the King OF limbo. The
Professor called the Kings attention 10 the wealth
and power and greatness OF those nations that rec
ogniZe CHRIST and his religion. The King re.
marked that Abraham hao two sons-Ishmael and
Isaac. He said he aud his people were descendants
OF lshmael The people OF Europe and America were
DESCENDANTS Of Isaac. Christ prophet sent
from God TO the chiaren Of Isaac. Mahomet
was prophet OF the same order sent to the de-
scendants OF lshmael. There is difference in
the revelations brought by them, but Mah0met
has simply brought the latest news from the SKIES
There was, therefore, really no antagonIsm be-
tween them and he tine King no reason
why lsnrnael and Isaac should not shake hands
some day in MS country. This region OF Africa Is
rel supporting, and the people carry manufac-
lures, such as smelling iron and manu- .acturiug
the product OF iron, and they have a large inter-
nal commerce among themselves and with some
pagan tribes around them. The Professor believed
that few better or more hopeful MISSION nelds
could found today In auy quartz of the world