The New York herald., 1874-01-13

Corbftt on Past and Present Methods
or Preaching-Mr. Beschcr the Natural
Bridge Between UnitsFisnism end In
fidelity. S.:,,-.l'....1.' 49,
~ Me dlscgsslQp on the doctrine OF Methodsm,
which took Place several mouths ago in the MethO-
dist preachers meeting, has led to discussions on
variety of topics since all tending to- bring out
the best and most practicable measures and IDEAS
to prevent the alleged decline and to send
Methodism on its advancing course Yesterday
the discussion took the line Of pointing out what,
If any, new features are needed in the preaching
OF the present day to meet the wants of the times
The discussion was opened by Rev. Dr.
WHEATLEY, who gave as the prime need
OF to-day more faiJh-a faith that natures
into the embodiment Of right in all the FERNS
OF practical hGe Such faith Is essentia, to
all success. And the first necessity of such faith
ful preaching is living dogmatism. Nothing stands
on so wide basis OF fact as the doctrines of the
Bible. Dr. wheatey gave proofs and illustra tons,
and then remarked that all Methodist people were,
to say the least, Deists and ready to hear the
word Of God. The law and administration OF Gods
justice were referred to by the Doctor, who re-
marked that they SUIT the people. We can only
gain the highest faith, he said, by that principle
working through love. The threatenings of Gods
law are but the manifestations Of His love. The
view that Our Father in heaven Is tyrannical is
dlabOhcai view. The proper presentation OF prayer
Is another feature that requires prominence in
said we can't be too lovingly dOgmatIc. The doc
trine OF the personal
and that He is the Saviour from all sin should be
made prominent also. Moral gifts and RESPONSE
bllities are always coordinate. The moral respon
sibility OF man to God must be insisted also.
Let us teach these truths Dr. Wheatiey remarked.
In the spirit OF Him who taught as one who had
authority, Let us US teach also the inspiration and
divinity OF the uOly Scriptures and that they nave
been translated and transmitted that the man
OF God may be thoroughly furnished unto every
man. We must aim through these means at VII
times 1 to lea lead men to the Lord Jesus Christ.
torical records OF the Bible on which ground many
persons oppose its moral teachings. But he showed
that many OF the directors are moved TO oppose
the Bible because OF their own immoral lves 1t
did not leak till after the death of John Stuart
Mill that he had seduced another mans vile
and, Of course, he was opposed to the morality OF
the Bible. The Doctor referred to intermittent
piety'' as being better than no piety at all, and
gave couple OF humorous Illustrations thereof.
He next referred to the outward and inward
effects OF faith in the hearts and lives OF men, and
cautioned people against substituting animal ex-
element, rites, i0rms, ceremonies &C. Tor true
religion. We need baptism oil love, he remarked,
because 1t Will help us 70 carry out the Christ life
alwaYS-tO do that which lS right. The Doctor
thinks ministers should preach science so far as 1t
will help to faith IN God and His Word. He is not
limitations. But we should hold tenaciously, he
thinks, to the divinity OF the written Word and try
to It's sat a4 new ne scientific
He believes there is measure Of truth In every
theory.
he thinks Ia so far as IL teaches the existence OF
unbodied or disembOdied spirits, it Is true He
and women confirm the truth OF the Scriptures.
Tie Doctor referred also TO the partial errors OF
Romanism and r1tualism, to defalcatiOns and cor
ruptiOn In the community, and said that we make
O great mistake when we take Tor granted that the
pulpit Is the only cOnservator OF morality. The
press and the pulpit combined overthrew Tweed
and Tammany; but the social condition that pro-
duced such monstrosites remains untouched. The
Gospel only under Co.. can make the world
blessing on every sermon.
DR.. s. d. BROWN repeated the remarks Of gen.
tleman, not Methodlst, made to him short time
ago. In which he said that the style Of Methodist
preaching had greatly changed from what 1t was
25 years ago. and he feared that the doctrines Of
the Gospel are not as fully or as faithfully preached
to-day as they were then. But the Doctor excused
this change partly on the ground OF the changed
know but That as much or more Is accomplished
to-day as was accomplished BY the fathers.
Mr.. CoRBITT corrected what he deemed to be re-
f1ectl0ns Of Dr. Brown upon the memory and
preaching OF the fathers.
Mr.. Parker defended himself and his brethren
get In this meeting from oficiais who are not ii
the active work or the ministry, and occasionally
believed his brethren are doing ali in tSeir nower
to promote the cause Of Christ But there Is .
change in the style OF preaching from 25 years ago.
the want Of reverence shown in our Sunday
schools, OF which the speaker gave incidents, and
the other fact that the other class, to whom they
preach, outsiders, have been listening to Mr.
Beecher and to men who have followed or tried to
follow, his style OF preaching. 1t Is known that
MR.. BEECHEE IS THE NATURAL BRIDGE
between Unitariansm ana lnfdelity. hence this
class of our hearers, SAID the speaker, don't be-
lleve in the truths OF the Bible. Preachers have.
therefore, to preach against want OF reverence on
the one hand and doubt and scepticsm on the
other.
Dr. OsBoN referred to the old style Of preaching
when he entered the ministry, and contrasted it
with that now In vogue
Rev. JOHN DICKINSON delivered what he called a
patchwork address on the thoughts thrown out by
the previous speakers theological, scientific and
philosophical, and amused the meeting with quaint
and humorous Illustrations.
DR.. Goodwin, OF the Central New York Confer
ence and DR.. ]. II. Ltghtburn, of the Baltimore
Conference, were present. The latter IS engaged
during the present week in revival services IN the
DeKalb avenue Methodist Episcopal church, Brook
lyn:
The Rev. Henry Aston. formerly Of this city, now
OF Port Jefferson, Long Island was present. engag-
ing brethren to go out to dedicate his church In
that place next sunday. Last year the society
purchased lot in the centre OF tine city, on which
they have erected the largest church In the place.
Revs. G. L. Taylor, Of Hempstead N. Cheney and
J. 5. Hail. OF this city, are to preach therein next
Sund