Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-11-23
common sense is very good reli-
gion.
ParOCbial System and Free
Preaching.

The afternoon meeting was devoted
! to the consideration of "Parochial
System and Free Preaching" The
| irsr paper was read by Right Rev. +
d. HuAtingtnn, Bishop of Central
New-York He strongly favored free
preaching, 10y which was meant relig-
| ious exercises which are not TecOg-
niZpd part OF the ordinary parOch'al
SYSTEM. The services should Ue sim
pie. the sermon direct and limited to
| the clear presentation of Gospel truths,
and there should be congregational
singin-. The rubric of morning and
evening prayer should not be too
strictly followed. 1t is an absurd
anomaly to forbid the children Of
God from coming together for prayer
and praise unless they will engage to
continue their services for exactly
half an hour. Free preaching is in
keeping with the wants of American
society. in harmony with the teach
ings Of the Church from the begin
ming, and with the precepts of the
New Testament, and agrees Wi h
the dictates of common sense. The
Mission has It's peculiar advantages.
The manner of treating subjects tends
to become plain and forclble. The
preacher comes down from his stateli-
ness and out of his obScurIty and puts
himself on level with the cOmpre-
hensiOn of the masses. What is
greatly needed is a class of ministers
with peculiar power to reach the
hearts of men, who will be under no
restraints to bar their liberty, but will
move from place to place, seeking no
reward, content with their board and
clothes. and intent only cn doing the
| work of the Master. Every bishop
would rejoice to have such a body Of
| workers in his diocese.
MIR. Francis Wells editor Of The
PhiLddeiphiu Evening Bulletin read
the next paper. No one set system
he said, could he adopted for parish
work. There must be a variety of
| methods suited to different conditions
and localities adopted. When the
long-needed chair of common sense
and knowledge of human nature is
endowed in our Theological seminaries,
earnes: iaymen will not have to make
the bricks Of the church without the
straw of ministerial sympathy, and
clergymeu will not dangle Before the
eyes Of sensible men the haubles
| Of medieval symbolism, or cling to
the creaking, anIIquated machinery of
arOchlnl work. Speaking of the
causes that prevented the eXtentiOn OF
the influences of the Church, Mr..
Wells aid that the 9pew-rent system
was not one. There was no real ii .tier-
enCe he brtween that system and the So
called ftee-wiil Offering plan of paying
the expenses OF the Church. The
chief trouble lies in the spirit OF eX-
clIsiveness which pervades Episcopal
! churches, that eyes the fashion Of The
dress and warns off strangers with a
cold stare. Effected parochical work
can only be done when this spirit is
got rid of. Next to such a change of
| feeling Oh the part of our cnngrega-
| tiOHs, he said, We need class of free
preachers like the PauIist fathers of
the ROmish Church, 50 filled with
knowledge Of the love Of Christ that
| they can preach nothing eise. MI.
Wells address was full Of puHgent
| points and humorous suggestions,
which were loudly apvlauded. At its
conclusion the Rev. Dr.. Lewis OF
Washington said he would have to
break his iroinise not TO violate the
regulations, and call for three cheers
for Mr.. Weils They were gwen by
| the audience, DR.. Lewis, standing on
! a bench. leading. and some Of the
grave bishops on the platform joining
| IA.