The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-30
THE HIpPoDRoME CONVENTION.
MI. MOODY INsTRUcTNG THE MINISTERS HOW
TO WORK.

there were delegates present from nearly every State
in the Union. The meeting commenced at ten o'clock
in tho morning and continued, with but two hours
intermisson till five in the afternoon In the even
ing the regular were held from eight till
At all the meetings the Madison hall packed
and in the evening the that had to leave the
doors for of inside would have filed another
hall as large. The crushing and jostng of those who
were trying to gain admission at the main entrance
equal to that of the FIRST night OF Mr. Moodys and
Mr.. Sankey's appearance IN New York.
The Convention opened in the morning with prayer
by Rev. Dr. ormison, and after the singing OF tho
hymn IL Need Thee Every Hour" the venerable Dr.
Plummer, OF South Carolina, read portion of the
scriptures Mr. Moody followed him. and stated the
object OF the Convention II was to promote Christian
work throughout the country and 1t his intention
during the days they would be together to discuss
the best means of dong that work.
The first SUBJECT be taken up was "Evangestic
Services-How to Conduct Them" He said 81 have
not asked anybody to speak to-day, but want you all
10 ask questions In every church there are three
kinds OF servces-worshippng God, teaching and
preaching In preaching you must interest people II
method won't work try another If you want sue
cessful meetings you must have more life Interest
people in your congregation, wherever 1t may DO, to
work themselves. The that John Wesley
so successful that he gave every something to
do-put every at work. Some say that makes
people spiritually proud Well they don't work they
become spiritually lazy, and don't know which Is the
WORST (-aughtcr)
Mr.. Moody then called for questions
A gentleman the centre of the hall jumped 10 his
feet aud sad, 'Would you advise the holding of special
meetings when there is no INTEREST,""
''Certainy; that's the way TO get up interest
God is ready any time. They don't keep calendar
heaven"
number of other questions flowed in from all parts
OF the hail. and when they could be heard distinctly
the audience would cry out, "Question Question:
and Mr.. Moody would repeat them for the benefit OF the
Convention.
Among the questions were some very pertinent The
following the most Important
O. suppose the congregation of church is alive but
the minister Is dead, how would you get up special
meetings. A. Go on without the minister
q, But II difficulties arise in the church. how can
you hold n rcvvalY A. God remove all Diff
cuties.
O. Christ could not work in Nazareth A. The
trouble there with the world, not with the church
O. II the pastor and some Of tho members want
meetings, but the trustees object. A. Pray Tor the
trustees In the first place don't elect unconverted
trustees.
q. II two or more members have scandalizcd the
church. would you advise church discipline be-
have a single bad man member OF the church
q When there are two excitements going on in
place at time-for instance political and religious
excitement-how would you acty A. don't know
much about politics. that's worldly matter and the
world take OF II; but | tell you what do
dreadthat Is these miserable church fairs these ba
zaars. loud laughter.)
O. Would you encourage preaching by womenp A.
Well that is controverted point won't touch that.
know that shouldn't want my wife to so around
preaching.
This finished the first subject, and after prayer by
DIR. Armitago and the singing OF the hymn, 81 Have
Saviour, He's Pleading in Glory" Mr.. Moody up
the next subject,
''now TO CONDUCT PRAYER MEETINGS.
He said before hearing any questions he would make
a few remarks 1t was a subject of the greatest M
portance; for mau who can lead prayer meeting
well is often more successful than he who preach.
But let your prayers as well as your, preach
the members OF congregation TO lead the prayer
meeting and go around among them and ask them to
speak certain evenings. Let different pray
evening IL possible. This thing OF Deacon Smith
and Deacon Jones and Elder Brown leading In PRAYER
all the year round sets the church asleep Another
thing Have good ventilation and look to the tempera-
ture of the have seen Easements where prayer
meetings were held and 1t seemed as II the had not
been changed in six years The people go TO sleep and
the minister thinks IL Is his FAULT while IL nothing
but nature asserting its sway You will all please now
ask your questions
O. Suppose there were thirty sisters in the prayer
meeting and three men, would you let the women lead
In prayer A. would call womens meeting, and
advise the men to keep quiet
U Ifpeople of the church always late to meet
Ing what would you doy A. In the first pace,
would always DO on hand on time myself and then If
the people came late too often would close the doors
ana keep them out.
q What posture ought to assume in praying9
A. Any posture. have prayed lying my face
my knees and even when rolling in bed.
q If three quarters of the attendants of your church
were not coniessing Christians what would you dor
A. would
MAKE 1T HOT FOR THEM
Make your meetings interesting and draw the people to
O. Do you mean interesting TO God or interesting to
manS rhe person who asked this pointed the roof
OF the Hippodrome In n very dramatic manner, like
Richelieu, when about 10 launch the of Romc)
Mr. MooDY-Make the meetings interesting 10 God
and they Will be Interesting TO man.
a. DO you believe in women leading in prayer meet
ingsY A. That Is controverted point.
q Why do you object to these controverted points?
A. Because this union meeting, at which every
is represented. We are met TO further the prog
OF Christian work. There are certain subjects
which IL Is necessary to discuss great many
men have different hobbies. They have horse and
they always want TO trot him out Now. certain
things will agree TO disagree, because do not
want to break up the convention.
@ Why not break up the convention the as
you would break up church, a. Well, you call
convention and then we will what viii do
A few questions were asked and the session
aterward at which the larger part the 3 900 dele
gates remained, and listened to Mr. Sankey's singing
and Mr.. Moody's preaching Tor over an hour.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The convention met again at three O'Clock and re-
NAMED session TIL quarter past i've The subjects
discussed were Inquiry Meetings: How They Can Be
Part OF the Service in Our Churches and Train
ing OF Young Converts and Lay Teachers Mr. Moody
called Rev. DR.. Fish, OF Newark to tell what he
knew about enquiry meetings" Dr.. Fish said that
he thought the early part OF his ministry lost
account OF the absence OF the inquiry room,
and Tor years he had a meeting without an in
curry room He intended TO make II a steady thing
la his church the room was called the church parors
and alter service those who invited in and
made comfortable, and those whom he thought
best lifted for the work instructed to down
them. Rev. DR.. Booth, Rev. Dr. Sturgis, OF Boston;
Rev Mr. Osborne and several others followed on tho
subject Mr.. Moody, Rev. Dr. Tying, Jr
Rev Dr. Deems and Rev Dr. Plummer, or
South Carolina spoke tho training OF Young
converts Rev Dr Tyng's address showed deep thought
and high culture. Prayers was offered by DR.. John
Hall and the convention adjourned. In the evening
Mr.. Sankey sang usual aud Mr.. Moody preached on
the ''peath tho Cross his address being OF
his best Efforts very powerful and dramatic The
overflow meeting In the Fourth avenue hall, OF
1900 persons was led by Mr.. Morris X. Jcssup
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BANQUET.
The attn OF May will be the l0sth anniversary OF