The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-07
tor therefore formed the habit Of carefully rump-
ling the paper TOR Brother II. q comfortn

from that rendering. DE would similarly rtttclse
the hymns. and II the poetry was poor or the
theology OF them detective. in his judgment. be
would nay them remorselessly. He astounded .
prayer meeting which he entered one night while
the audience was singing. and his point was en-
inently characteristic. He came In q the people
were singing the verse;
lam resolved to Try
For II stay away Ifnow
| must forever die
"Stop that nonsense" Numbered the Doctor ct
the wonder-struck leader "He can't perish II he
goes and he knows he can't God Is not to DO
made q liar by mushy. false hymn. Let him 60
ct once and net doubt about 1t In that way. Be-
SIDES, In another verse the hymn says:-
Perhaps he VIII accept my plea.
Perhaps will hear my prayer,
And perish only there.
There Is no perish to q seeking SOUL There
Is no perhaps In the Gospel. The hymns bosh
Never give 1t out again. Let US pray"
The effect was electric. number avowed their
faith on the spot.
REV. DIR. SPENCER.
DR.. Spencer was par excellence q pastor. Ills
book, "a PASTORS Sketches" Is q classic OF the
Church. He was den0minated "Tne John" be.
cause he was so beloved. In his wisdom there
was perfect confidence. He settled more troubles
and made less fuss about 1t than any clergyman of
his time. There was little which was Characters
tic about him. His faculties were in too perfect
poise for eccen tricity. In many respects he seems
to have resembled Rev. william Adams, d. D. DR..
Spencer's counses Influenced the lives OF moro
Brooklyn people than those Of any man that ever
probably lived in Brooklyn. He was known to be
good sermonizer and teacher, but the existence
OF the constructive literary faculty was not sus-
pected. In his volumes, however, entitled "a
PASTORS Sketches" story telling skill, founded on
focf vat fhA
those sketcned, was revealed to degree scarcely
EXCEEDED oy the charming author OF "Fhe Diary OF
Physician"
OLD HEMAN BANGS.
Presiding Elder Heman Bangs entered but few
years ago into his rest. Already, however. Metho-
DIST literature has become enriched with reminis.
OF originality, intrepidity and simplicity.
He was pastor OF Jonn street church, New YORK,
when the Battery was the centre OF domiciled
wealth and social aristocracy. He itinerated be-
tween Brooklyn, New York, New Haven and Hart
ford, and was alternately the Presiding Elder OF
was man Of most hearty and unique prejudices
and OF lndomitaole courage. He neared four
score before he requested 10 be placed on the
superannuated list. and then wanted to recall the
request as soon as ne had made It, Fine churches,
wrsen OF sc 'IS oe
ministry he regarded as denominations" He
passed the middle age before he concluded that 1t
was not the province of MetnOdism to war ON
'Cavanism as well as other forms OF sin.n 1t was
plain to see that the old man did not believe that
the world would "stay liked" II reclaimed by un-
Arminan agencies. In his diary he exultingly
records :-"Preached twice on Sunday at H,
Re was Converted With s great
STATIONS and amid terrible struggles, and he was
whipped OF all the cords OF business disaster.
until he was "scOur9ed into the ministry" He
vowed himself preacher over the smoking roof
tree OF his burnt-out home; The old man was an
Metnodlsts are republicans, When one OF them Is
democrat he Is as essentially so" as the actor
'In order 70 feel the part" AT the very outbreak
of the war large Methodist Conference was In
Tne Con erence as q body proposed TO vote its
moral and sympathetic support to President LIN
coin v wen al The rest Este stood up on sse grand
one or two others sat STILL When called to &C.
count he returned censure for censure. ana dld it
with right positive cearness and force. In his
diary the old man eloquent as he was called de-
piored "the unreasonableness OF all bis brethren"
He outlived the appropriately which MS ,undouDt.
him; but be Enthusiastically appon ted sucn OF
his brethren s as agreed with him to be his pau
GATED, but only because there was not the .regu-
lation'' number VINO agreed with him to go around.
REV. DIR. FARLEY.
Rev. DR.. Farley is considered the founder Of
Evangelical Unitarianism in Brooklyn. The church
almost any In either city. He was pastor Of
eminent social tact. He early saw that what his
that would best come through two channels-the
Identification Oh It's ministry with ''lnstitutions,"
and the association OF elegant aesthetic effects
with the services of his church. Accordingly 1t
was not long before he was comfortably identified
With numerous directorates OF elegant and humane
and educational Institutions. He was wise
counsellor, q charming companion and u thorough
gentleman. He dd much to reassure the suscep-
tibllites OF those who apprehended that hberaliy
OF creed was IN some sense or otner dangerous,
even to those WHO did not snare 10 It, For aesthetic
ends ne developed tue musical features OF ms
now quite general 'vesper services" and put
them at an hour early enough to warrant SUISSE
quent attendance upon the more solid preaching
exercises other cOnventicleS. He was very
wise in MS generation. Young Brooklyn tnronged
at least. He nrmly established not only
HIMSELF but MS denomination in Brooklyn.
DR.. Farley, though man oil good deal OF natuT al
dignity, had a Keen realization OF joke. He was
too thoroughly discreet, however. to offend oy
the capacity for sarcasm which was so consider
aDle In him. His use OF his wit was rare aud al
most involuntary he remarked oil q prOix con.
temporary, who had beeR shoemaker and who
was meanly ashamed the facS, that ''Brother ).
so far forgot his old business In his new that he
never got to his last" VI another, a nebulous
anu Pocmical person, he declared, ''He believes
either" DR.. Farley has been succeeded by Rev.
DR.. Putnam. VINO combines many OF tine cultivated
and thoughtful qualities OF his predecessor.
"Dominie" Johnson was for many years rector OF
the Episcopal cnurcn oil ST. Johns, when 1t stood
the senior Episcopal clergyman 0i Brooklyn Tor
many years and by many years. He lnteriered
of bis descendants have occupied stations OF trust
and honor In municipal service. Brooklyn knew
hum and ne BROOKLYN as New York and Rev. Dr.
Gardner Spring knew one another. HIS ad-
vice and counsel were sought In many matters
aside from such Rs came within his regular iunc-
lions. he was great healer OF quarrels; the
Somebody's OF younger Brooklyn found in him q
stancn friend, almost companion, and 1t was
his delight to tell them stories Of "the time
when the cows roamed on the Fatbusn road :"
OF 1.-The old whipping post which stood in Red
Hook lane :" OF the rope ferries between the cities
and o. the cornfed NOV CLINTON avenue) in
which Jonn w. Hunters father built . house,
1.-TWO miles out OIL town." There Is q very
Characteristic but heretofore unpublished story OF
q dialogue between Dominic Johnson and Rev. DR..
Farley. just referred TO. When Dr.. Farleys fine
churcn was built On Pierrepont street it was
next to Holy Trinity, the most posing structure
IN Brooklyn. DR.. Farley never tired OF walking
round and round the structure while 1t WAS build.
ing, like the Psalmist walking round about Jeru-
salem. He never ceased admirlng the building and
he was OF nothing so proud as OF the ADMIRATION
excited by It In others. One day Dominic Johnson
came up to Dr. Farley and SAID :--'Ah, Or. Farley,
that is fine church you are building. | admire It
not an Episcopalian l would be Unita.
ran.n Not observing the merry TWINKLE
In the eye OF his neighbor DR.. Farley suspected
nothing ana was very much pleased. He said -