The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-28
MINISTER'S CONFERENCES.

NOTIFICATIONS IN METHODIST REVEALS
'ALrAR" WORK FAILURE-THE POWERS OF
CHURCH TRUSTEES.
Yesterday morning the Rev. d. N. Adams, d. d. OF
Brooklyn, gave his brethren common sense talk on
the notifications needed revival work. The qucs-
ton itself admitted to be very practical one,
especially in OF the fact that the Methodist
Church throughout tho land Is, DR.. Adams de-
carcd in the midst Of the most powerful revival
known in its history In Newburg.s Hudson, Sing
Sing Port Jervis and other places this State nothing
like the present revvas has been known. This
fact largely due TO the adaptation of Methodism to
the average mind. Its tnerancy peculiarly suited
TO the rowing and changing disposition Of the Amer
people Methodism is. fast travelling machine,
and like all fast Travellers II great deal Of
fuel 1t Is very expensive but he believed II Is the
Lords agency for the conversion of the world Many
OF peculiar methods are peculiar longer because
they have been adopted by other churches There
many persons in the Methodist Church who ought to
be Ia some other church.
IT TRAVELS TOO FAST
for hem aud they ought 10 be slower conveyance.
In It's relations to men as social beings is pro emf
ncnty httcd Tor reaching the masses stiff Methodist
pr.yer meeting Is such an anomaly that II had better
DO placed whore other sim things are putin the
graveyard, and be buried out OF sight There should
be all the social OF the Church scope
for demonstrations, and he thought the Hippodromo
revvasts wcrs missing great point in depressing
such demonstrations OF approval as Amen Haeluah
&c The Methodist Church also getting respect
able and such demon STATIONS are becoming more and
ali It's societies and congregations. They
too much afraid that the world VIII think them
crazy. The Methodist was intended to be a revival
Church. and when IL ceases TO be such IL has sight
in world. When II fails in this 1t fails in It's mis-
SION The preaching of the Methodist pulpit needs
mod ncation. IL rs too high, too intellectual the
average mind, and the ministry in danger OF missing
that simplicity of the Gospel and OF old-asbioncd
Mclhodism. The greatest man shows his greatness
by his simplicity. Preaching that is altogether
aimed at mems intcccts fails to lead to the highest
forms OF Christian life and experience Nnety-Dnc-
hundrcdths Of men are moved by the emotions and
affections rather than the intellect. The Methodist
Church lacks to-day what II used 10 have when he
(Adams) was "A boy-rcal eloquence He has heard pic
lures and passages IRON samuel Mcrwn, MalTtt and
others that he would wade through ten miles of mud 10
hear again. But the
PREACHING OF TO-DAY NEEDS MORE BIBLE
H. IL has plenty ofscence and philosophy, but too
little Bible. II more OF the Bible moralitles had been
preached should not have many swinders going
out OF the Methodist Church. Then, again, modnca-
tions needed in the celebration OF the sacrament OF
the Lords Supper Az present II IS either rushed
through after morning service after Sabbath
school session. and lacks the solemnity that should
attend II as u sacrament And the Methodist mode of
taking II is as far removed from the original intention
OF It as anything can possibly BE-. Any one who has
! Witnessed the observance OF this ordinance a
Roman Catholic church will once the
Popsh origin of the Methodist mode. And
yet there Is nothing that imprcsses men more
iorcibly than the proper observance OF this sa-
crament, and DR.. Adams would devote whole
to II ana not crowd 1t in with some other service is
done Our Sunday school work needs modi1ca-
week had the death II Absalom; next Sunday we
have the Ascension of Christ There is connection
between them, or so little that II cannot be traced
The singing the social meetings OF the Church needs
modification. Instead OF the minister leading there
! should be good choir of young people who would
sing sprighty hymns and give the prayer meetings a
good scnd-on and keep them aroused all tho time.
Many a prayer meeting has died OF too much minister.
There is such thing as getting meeting so tight
that II Will be strangled The liberty OF speech and
prayer should be maintained, and emo should DO
/ called by name 10 speak pray except
/ very special OCCASION There Is great power in
silent prayer, and that should often he INDUCED.
lie questioned whether proracied meetings had been
OF any real benefit the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Camp meetings need improving They 100
long formal and too expensive A man 90 to
Saratoga Newport Niagara Falls or any other water
ing place and live as chcaply now as he eau at Sing
Sing Ocean Grove, Shelter Island or other camp meet
ings. The Doctor touched also on
CHURCH ARCHITECTURE
element in revival work which greatly needs mod
ilcaton.
Dr. True Mcssrs. Willis, Dickinson, Parker Lloyd
and Roche engaged In the discussion. A minute tho
late Mr.. French read and entered the minutes
OF the meeting.
The Baptist ministers discussed tho best methods Of
getting Sunday school children into the Church. Tho
Rev Halscy w. Knapp read an essay on the subject A
question to the powers and prerogatves OF church
started and seemed TO interest than
the subject OF the essay. Tho Executive Committee of
the Conference promised TO take the question
sderation and reportat an early day.