The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-01
WATCH NIGHT MEETING.

'Could ye not watch with me one hour ?'' asked
the Saviour OF His disciples the night OF His
trayal In the Garden OF Gethsemane. That was
solemn watch night, and He the Goldman,
watched and prayed alone. But his followers now
are many and If a dozen sleep there are thousand
TO take their places and keep the vigil until the
midnight hour ushers in another day and another
year. AS religious institution Watch Night
belongs 20 the Methodists almost exciu-
sivey. In 1742 John Wesley Set the example
among his .'United Societies" that he might have
agreater lever by which to lift the masses up out
OF their spiritual degradation and indifference.
And his example has been followed very generally
ever since by the different branches OF Methodists
throughout the world Reveals usually start in
the churches with Watch Night, and wherever
they have been interrupted by church fairs and
entertainments they will be resumed from this
time forward. Notwithstanding the hilarity and
Joy OF the New Year Day, the parting hours OF the
dying year are shrouded with solemn memories,
which the pastors and leaders know how to use to
awaken religious thoughts in the minds OF the
Inoeieving watchers.
LAST NIGHT THE FESTIVAL WAS OBSERVED
In per haps, twOthlrds OF the Methodist churc hes
white and colored In this city and BROOKLYN. me
cOlCred MethOdlsts never fail to watch and to get
up SO much enthusiasm in their meetings that a
great many 'whlte folks" md their way IN 10 be
amused as they would be IN theatre or min
strel nall. Not that the wOrshippers design to be
carried away by their emotions, and they say
and Go things which to others appear incongru-
African Methodist churches in this city-suiiivann
street, West Tenth street and ST. Marks, in
Thrty.fith street near Sixth avenue-n which
services were held last night. In the white
Methodist churches In Thirty street, near
tenth avenue; Forty-thlrd street, near Eighth
avenue; Tnlrty-fourth street, near Eighth avenue:
Thrtleth street, between Eighth and Ninth ave-
nues; Eighteenth street, near Eighth avenue;
Washington square, Bedford street, Jane street
and other west side cnurchea Watch NIGHT
was observed. 1t was also observed IN Norfolk
street. Wilett street, Seventh street, Seventeenth
street, Twenty-seventh, Thlrty.seventh, Fiiteth
ana 10Th streets, on the east side. In Brooklyn
services were held last night in Centenary church,
Simpson church. Fleet street church. De Kalb ave-
nue. church. Greene avenue, New YORK avenue and
Park avenue Primitive Methodist church. There
was very good attendance Of people at most OF
THE PROGRAMME VARIED
in many OF them. For instance some OF them
opened at nine O'Clock p. Nj. with O sermon by the
pastor or an address by visiting brother, and at
a later hour an address or sermon again, with q
Glove least" sandwiched IN between them. In
others, again, the love least was the starting point,
and then followed sermon, prayer meeting and
O 'consecration meeting' to close with. The sac
rament OF the Lords Supper was administered in
yet other meetings. This was done in Greene ave.
nue. church, Brooklyn. at eleven O'clock having
been preceded by sermon ana prayer meeting.
copa church, Clermont avenue. after sermon
by the pastor. In Warren street Methodist Epts.
COpdl CHURCH Tie NcV lHOma6 whitaker, OF YORK
shire, England. delivered an address. lie Is an
eloquent man when he becomes aroused by his
theme. In Fleet street church the Rev. w. c.
Steel preached O sermon on
THE END BETTER THAN THE BEGINNING"
=. This was followed by love least. This morning
the young men OF Washington street Methodist
Episcopal church, Brooklyn, will hold q prayer
meeting, at hali-past nine o'cocK, 80 that they
may MAKE their first call upon the Lord. But
this and other Methodist institutions that
nave approved themselves by time and
usage have been taken up either as
al experiment or as permanent help
TO devotion by other denominations. And hence
last night there was a union Watch Night service
ned IN the Madison square Presby terrain church
tns city, in which the pastors and congregations
OF contiguous churches united. There was also o
klnd OF praise service held In st. AIMS Protestant
Episcopal church, Brooklyn, for half an hour pc.
lore midnight when several compositions OF
Handel and Mendelssohn were rendered by the
organ and choir, and at twelve O'Clock, with the
ringing OF the New Year chimes, the choir and
organ peaied forth Mozart's "Gorla in Excesis.r
Sucn was the character OF the Watch Night SER
vices by which the old year 1874 was buried and
the new year 1875 introduced among Mcthodists,
Presbyterians and EDlsCopahans,