The New York herald., 1875-12-14
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCES

AErHoDIsTS AND EPISCoPALIANs DISCUSSING
HOW TO PROMOTE THE STUDY OF THE SCRIP
TUREs AND TO REACH THE MASSES WITH THE
GOSPEL.
Inc methodist ministers met yesterday at No sos
broadway The Rev. W. G. Browning presided, and
Rev w. Z Estes read a paper on 'The Promotion Of
Bible Study Among Church Peoplen The general lack
ofscripture knowledge he took as conceded, and he
quoted from work written by Dr. John Hall of this
city, 70 Illustrate points Of this ignorance But how TO
promote the study Of the Bible was the great question
70 DO considered Mr.. Estes referred to hoody's
methods OF study and 70 the testimony OF the late Dr.
Alexander, OF this city, concerning his methods The
Bible can't be studied like any ordinary book II
must be studied the word OF Coda
revelation from Jehovah; and II must be
studied for itself Ministers should be
SO mbued with the truths of the Bible that they shall
be able to answer any religious inquiry in the Ian
guage OF Scripture They should know it well enough
to be able refer 20 chapter and verse at any time
and any theme And when ministers are them
selves conversant with the Bible they find much
difficulty In promoting its study among their congrega-
tions. But until they know moro OF IL themselves
they won't have much influence In inducing others TO
study i. Mr.. NJ French thought gooo way to study
the Bible do Moses dd with the lsraeltes on
Mts Ebal and Gerizim-set part over against
the other and let them respond to the curses and
blessings of the law. Dr. True thought Bible study
could be promoted II church trustees furnished ordi
ou4Rro BBLRs FOR THEIR PULPIrs.
The latter too unwieldy for general use Mr..
Lloyd wanted this topic discussed more fully and some
practical plans for Bible study suggested adopted.
Other speakers also presented minor points, and toward
the close OF the meeting the brethren being In jolly
mood the Rev J. Dickinson proposed that the meet
ing follow the example of the Boston preachers meet
ing and resolve itself into third term nominating
convention This proposition merely served TO increase
the harity and good humor; but the meeting did not
take the bait and adjourned without nominating Pres
dent Grant for third term Tho brethren, however,
tttfnr htrAe
Haven's nomination of Grant, in which moro than
OF them in the classic language OF the street. thought
"he made an ass OF himself" prominent Methodist
ayman of this city very intimate friend OF the Bishop
wrote TO him about his third term nomina~
ton and is reported TO have received reply stating in
effect that the Bishop had been msquoted that he had
not nominated the President for another term but had
prayed that II 1t the will OF God, the people
might elect him again The Boston preachers meet
Ing which had been severely criticised for allowing L.
self to be transformed, it was supposed into polt
cal convention, wholly ignorant of the Bishops
TO of the chief pastors of the Church and former
member of their body, they invited Bishop Haven to
address them. The Methodist Church and It's ministry
are as thoroughly democratic as any other body of men
in this country, AMI If they had their own way their
bishops would never go near Washington leading
member of the preachers meeting of this city said,
time ago. that political bishops the greatest
that the Methodist Church could have, and the
sentiment heartily applauded This is the general
opinion Of the ministry ana membership OF that Church
EPISCOPAL MINISTER'S
held their monthly meeting yesterday afternoon, in
and Twenty-nrs street DR.. Washburne presided and
Dr. E. w. Peet read essay 'sThe Church and the
Masses, Historically Considered" He regretted the
condition in which the Church finds itself now, In its
relation to the Masses as compared with what it
IN the past He deprecated the decline Of the masses
in the service Of the Church and the Churchs lack Of
interest toward the masses Superior culture OF the
ministry, the erection of magnificent church edifces
and the like have helped to divorce the Church from
the masses. Dr. Peet did not like the idea Of building
mission churches for the poor. He preferred that the
rich and the poor should worship together as OF old
In this view DR.. osgood, DR.. Washburne Dr. Gaaudet
and others conceded DR. 0sgood did not think this
decline of interest of the church worship
felt exclusively by the Epscopalians He believed II
reached to every other denomination and was largely
due the existence OF the press and the general dis
semnation Of intelligence thereby In olden times,
as late as hfs boyhood days, in New England.
everybody was expected to go TO some church. and
less they did they tabooed The Church and the
ministry the news exchanges Of those days, and
people went to church to learn what going else
where, because the minister expected TO keep
abreast of the Of the day well TO be able to
tell the people things that to happen in the
future