The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-23
PORTEOUs ON PENTECOsr.

Startling Assertions from the Pulpit of
st. Johns Church, Brooklyn-Whercin
Lies the Weakness OF Our Modern
Churches-What Religion Really Com
sists In.
The handsome edifce OF the parish OF st. Johns
Methodist Episcopal church. Bedford avenue,
Brooklyn, was crowded in every part at the princI-
pal service yesterday morning. The distinguished
Rev. DR.. George b. POrteous, late or London, Eng
land, preached upon the occasion, taking for his
text:-'Great events are recurrent.v-Acts H. L.
The marvels and miracles OF the past are repeated
In larger outline and fuller meaning In the present
An age OF moral wonders surpasses one OF dra-
matte and sensuous display-tne spiritual is supe-
rior TO and explanatory OF o miraculous time-the
dispensatOn OF truth is greater than that OF facts
for the former at once the sublimation an fulfil
ment OF the latter. The Pentecost OF the first CEN
fury, historical and suspicious as 1t undoubtedly
was-iu OF marvel and mystery and forcIble and
fruitful-was parent of pentecosts yet to come
upon the Church and the world. The phenomenon
was grand; its associations were novel and start
ling, Its results manifold gracious and surprising.
But the recurrence OF such a pentecOst Is more
frequent and significant than We imagine. The
Church seems to-day to be In throes and keen ex-
pectancy to give birth to pentecost. The con-
diiOns Tor its recurrence are gradually maturing,
and survey OF the helps and hinderances to It's
eventual visitation will quicken in US, trust fer
vent desire to participate IN
THE "REFREsHINGn WHICH 1T HERALps
direct rom the presence OF the Lord" When the
day OF Pentecost had fully come, after days OF ear.
nest and prayeriul waiting and watching for the
Saviour's promised gift-the Paraclete-the hearts
Of that feeble band OF believers were take posses
sion OF; the mild, miraculous influence descended
and a
and then outward symbols appeared in the shape
OF ciOven tongues OF fire resting upon their brows.
The preaching OF the Cos pei then began in earnest
SITS. Peter and Andrew, SITS. James and John, every
member OF that select fraternity, with no unseemly
haste, nor jarrng, nor disputes nor divisions nor
jealOusies nor heartDurnlngs, but all as one man
and mind revealed through many organs took
their places as they were moved by the Divine IN
splrer-some perhaps near Pilates Judgment hail.
others In market place on building Sites or in
porches OF houses freely granted them-led by the
Inward Witness to special spot. SIMPLE, Glrect
and teach. Their proclamation was OF salvation
and refuge and shelter Tor mankind from evil and
%hch undere the he" UNUSUAL form of MANS
festation then made-vlz., that OF speech
in foreign tongues-there is lesson in
the occurrence well worthy OF special emphasis.
What str This That those VINO would under
take to preach the Christian Gospel need them.
a baptsm-tnat OF the Holy Ghost and fire. To all
who teach others, whether cleric or lay, the les
veIous draught of fishes brought to land by St.
Peter now Usher of mem, or amazed at the cOpl-
outpOuring OF spiritual gifts on the day OF Pen
tecOst, as compared with what are called the small
returns OF genuine converts in our modern
churches What. we ask, IS the cause of the pre-
the centres OF Cnristendoin How does the world
answer our question Must we learn from it wha.
II which tSae our Re
answer 1t does not know us better than we
know ourselves; but 1t is well to hear what others
think about US, though thoroughly they know us
WHAT DOES THE WORLD SAY
Of our denomlnatlonal and general capacity as
preachers of truth and messengers OF Christi
Does 1t not call our sermons paper pele ts'-cOd,
passionless, COMMONPLACE; Al best brilliant or
ornate displays OF rhetoric and scholarship, OF
mingled manner and uncertain influence, and in
their Impression as smoke to gunpOwder The
modern pulpit are principally professional" men,
who wear the livery Of the sect Tor pay. and whose
zea and pety are marketable; ana, iursaer that
1ected Ia the pews "Ldke priest, like people,"
Are these accusations true / lear we cannot
deny their accuracy. 1t Is wen to know what our
weakness is and where 1t lies. But apart from our
personal and associated lailings, which largely
count Tor the scanty ture and long delayed ad-
vent OF PentecOst there are influences at work In
the world which render 1t more difflcut than ever
Tor the Church TO come into pentecostal in
spiration and Observation-Disclosures outside
the Church ol altered conditions OF humanity,
altered conditions OF the intellect, altered states
Christian corporations to win over to themselves
the souls OF men in such sudden, miraculous
fashion the disciples did on the great day of
PentecOst. Our success in the latter half OF the
nineteenth century must differ from that OF the
first age. The agencies brought to bear upon the
comparatively simple hearted times OF the apostles
are not adapted to the present times. There was
little OF an external character t. agitate the popu
lace move the current Of life In Jerusalem. The |
movements of thought were slow, the pulse OF
ente rprise anguid, tue mlnd unaccnstOmed to
the arthcial stimulus of novels and a daily press,
ppn mode of attack iOrCbIy al nj
by the apostles on the day OF Pentecost. The
soldiers OF the cross went out ike the
Datants with feather helmets ana SHIELDS OF
padded cotton. We have to fight against
masses OF armed men, intrenched behind a seven.
fold wall Of iortlhcatlons, against men built up in
proud Atheism seasoned in subtle dsputatlon,
guarded at every turn in tneir thought by negative
arguments and unsympathetic bias. Against such
an array we have to march, requiring loreheads
of flint ina hearts OF rlpened patience Tor the fight.
The PREACHERS oil the first age had not modern
difficulties anddsabities 10 struggle with. Then,
again, those first Christian warriors had the adj
vantage OF unity They acted in concert.
ST. ANDREW DID NOT CALL ST. PETER A HERETO.
st. James did not denounce st. John as a mystic
When the truth was urged upon Arabian, Mede
and Parthlan they could not reply, First agree
among yourselves concerning the essentials Of
your laith before you press 1t upon the attention
and influence by lamentaDle divisions in our
our churches We denOunce each other for
tne slightest EMERGENCIES tl,tats OF, of opinion One
other. The bankruptcy OF one denomiuation is
taken advantage OF to swell the pretensions OF an
other denomination. scarcely three sects in
ChrstendOm cordially love each other or have a
word OF praise or commentator Tor each others
organization Fearful ecclesiastical mood this
and true This alone, in the absence OF deadier
reasons, Is cause enough for the slow progress
which christianity makes and Tor the rarity OF re-
vivals In our churches. But once more in the
first century. and especially at the time OF the
meeting OF the people on the day Of Pentecost, the
presence o. Jesus was fresh upon the word-that
preternatural life had not become yet historical
Living witnesses rose up from every hamlet and
village where that shining wonder had passed
upon It's way. Lazarus still lived 10 testify that
he was raised from the dead. The ng tree
still stretched out its blasted limbs that
withered at His command because they bore
but leaves instead OF irult Men, when they met
together in upper roOms'' In large assemblies
to discuss the charms OF the Great Mysterious Per-
sonage, could speak OF Him from personal and
practical contact with Hin. One might start for
ward ana say, al was dumb; lie restored the
power OF speech to me-" Another might speak
out, II was lame from my birth; He touched me
and eaped ana ram" Another could attest II
was dying; He called me back from the dim border
Ham all frA