The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-30
MOODY AND sANKEY.

HOW THE METHODIST MINISTERS REGARD THE
HIPPoDRoME REVIVAL.
The Methodist ministers had undcr consideration yes
terday the question OF tho value Of special evangesc
efforts regular church work. with particular refer
ence to the numbers OF Hppodrome converts who may
have united with their churches For two successive
weeks a member OF the Hippodrome committee dis
trbutcd TO the preachers cards with tho Of per-
sons who tho closing in tho Hippodromo
cared themselves converts OF Mr.. Moody's meetings
II will be remembered that 1000 such converts were
reported the fruits Of the ton weeks special efforts
here Il was also said that 600 nquirers appeared
in the inquiry rooms DR.. Robert Crook took tho
ground the general question that special
evangellstic agencies are not necessary, and
that the work s more permanent and successful when
performed through tho regular Church channels Rev.
j. Secck Of Lexington avenue church, had sent about
sixty Of members 10 the Hippodromc singers aud
ushcrs, and he had not only received single
vert from that place into his church. but had been
able to gather in the members he gave thcm who arc
still running TO Mr. Tyng's and Mr.. Hcpworths
churches and here and there after sensations Rev.
\. Richmond, Of West Thirty nth street church,
ceived number OF the cards. and ho could report two
or three converts who would unto with his church.
But IN connection with Hope chapel Broome street,
he had not much success He went 10 Marion and
Mott streets, where Ave persons reported DO
hving. but ne could not nnd single Indication That
any Of them ever ived there THIS was his experience
also IN respect 10 many others whom he had sought
oul Rev. John Johns had received number OF
cards. and he had found out d.
rect frauds and many moro nearly Ho
did discover eight persons who converted In Mr.
church. Row. q e. Goss did not think any effort
kind OF EFFORT going 10 convert the world Mr..
Moodys meetings could not be gaugcd by anything
that this or that brother might have or sa We
could not measure religious efforts by fnanciabr nu-
mcrical measurements. Mr.. Goss went into the IN
qulry rooms and asked In one II there any pen-
tents there and In another u there any
there. To each inquiry he received the answer mo;
no said ne mad the history OF ten churches this
city which have been always known revival churches
In 1859 those ten churches reported the Conference
minutes 900 probationers or OF 100 each;
added 20 their rolls they reported net loss Of 500
their membership OF 1869, making altogether
loss Of 1900 In year In churches
He took, for example, Bedford street church
as revival church and 81 Paurs as the opposite and
he found that for twenty -nvo years-from 1850 10
l57l-Bedford street church had 2, 800 probaoncrs,
but she her increase Of membership Tor that
period at only LIS. He could account for this.
Now, ST Paul's church reports 44S probatoners for
twenty-five years, as above and her Increase in
bersLip has been 236. This argues In favor Of the
regular church work. During the nrst century or Tho
Methodist Up scopal church, Mr. Goss said, tney had
laborcd az the altar but during the second ought
follow the apostolic example go about confirming
proportion the population Of New York city to-day
than there John Embury's day. Mr. Goss
would have the presiding elders look after them, and
give employment 10 the scores Of local preachers who
Rev W +. corbctt believed that without the re-
vlval churches such churches 81. Paul's
would die 81 Try rot They nov kept alive by
Immigration from tho revival churches. Ike Bedford