The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-16
THE METHODIST MINISTER'S.

PREACHERS EXPERIENCES WITH LITTLE HYMN
BOOKS AND UNSUITABLE TUNES.
The subject OF hymnology was discussed yester-
day IN the Methodist Preachers NEE ting by Rev.
DR.. Bottome. Mr.. browning, oil Brooklyn; DR..
James Porter. DR.. True, Dr. Crook and Rev. W. p
Corbtt. These speakers took strong ground
against any change in the present hymn book,
except to re-arrange ana improve its classi1ca-
tlon, which, IL Is generally conceded Is as
wretched as 1t could well be. and to
substitute Tor . few nonrythmtcal hymns which
IL contains now some OF those moLern hymns ex.
pressive OF the religious awakenings OF the pres.
cnt. Dr. Bottome insisted that the hymn book Is
the liturgy OF the Methodist Episcopal Church.
that il is based very largely on the articles OF re-
igion and these are believed to be Biblical their
doctrinal statements. Hence II the hymn book
shall not be enlarged. neither should 1t be reduced
IN size to $50 or $50 hymns. as proposed last
week BY Dr. Warren. OF BROOKLYN. DR.. Porter
gave some humorous Illustrations OF the puzzle
and trouble he nad been put to several times TINS
winter while preaching IN churches In Brooklyn
and ON Long Island wDere little hymn books were
used which md not contain anything that he re-
CURED as appropriate to HIS subjects Dr.. True
did not like to have the same hymn sung to the
same tune over ana over again and described the
mental agony that Cowpers beautiful hymn
There Is u fountain filed with blood, &C..
gave him when sung TO The tune "Fountain' to
which 1t almost invariably IS sung. DR.. Crook
thought II highly important tha: the right theol-
DRY should be taught TO the children IN the Sa DDath
SCHOOLS and To the people III the class and prayer
meetings as well as IN the preaching services. and
hence he favored the hymns OF the Wesleys ana
OF those associated with them Father than the
light songs or the present day.
THE HYMNS OF THE CHURCH
as often hinder as help the preaching, and rs
much care should be shown In the selection OF the
hymns 10 be sung as OF the lesson read or the text
ana sermon. he lnstanced u case in which he
went 70 church TO preach series OF sermons in
which he used the same text, but In the little
hymn book IN use IN the church there we're but
to ns on ms
and then the church officials called on HIM TO
know why he selected these so often. He
told them that their book contained none others
to suit and as he had other sermons IN the same
course still to preach he should use the same
hymns. This was too much for them, ana at his
next visit the old hymn book was reinstaled in
Its place Ia the pulpit and In the pcws MIR. Cor
1.-THE CONSECUTIVE CONSIDERATION"
OF something connected with the hymn book.
when his brethren laughed outright at the absurd
humoredy, however. ana excused himself by say.
ing that he mad very little brains lels
He had iA enough lett ' however. to inss ii:
tute comparison between modern hymn writers
ncKer,ng DIP light has to GODS great t sunlight,
Or as the sermons OF the present. day compare with
the sermons OF me fathers. TO snow tue beauty
made ~ . brother with whom he exchanged. The
drst hymn was
o. where shall res. be found;
the second
Lord, believe Q rest remains;
and the third
Now rhavs found the ground wherein
Ny souls anchor may remain.
And these were used as appropriate to sermon
on holiness. Next Monday Mr.. Lyford, OF Titan,
Will entertain the meeting with some remarks on
MOrm0nism as ne sees 1t in It's native ndeouSness.
Tue sudden death On Saturday OF Rev. Mr.
Scnwarz, or Merose, Was appropriately remem.
bered and Presiding Elder Latz and Rev. Mr..
DGninger were appointed q committee 10 draft y
minute concerning the deceased, VINO was buried
yesterday. Mr.. nwarz was a missionary In Ger.
many Tor thirteen years, and went as chaplain
with his cOlntrymen against France, entered
Paris with the German array and renamed IN tnat
city during the reign oil terror or the Commune
and Tor some time alter. About year ago he was
transferred 10 America and appointed to the
charge Ia winch he died. He was astrong preacher
and good man.