The New York herald., 1876-12-31

sermon and conservation meeting IN the order
gwen But in some this order will be modified and
addresses will take the place Of sermons and b inter-
spersed through the evening.
MOODY's VISIT TO BOSTON.
PREPARATIONS TO RECEIVE HIM--CRITIcIsMs
on THE ExPENsIyENEss OF HIS MINISTRY
WHY THIS WASTE ?-HIs WORK IN CHICAGO.
During the current week the evange,sts, Mcssrs
Moody ana sankey. who have finished in Chicago and
are resting through the holidays, will be in Boston TO
open the campaign there They come hithcr from
Chicago where they have spent the last three months
or more laborng with great success. Early last
mer Mr.. Moody took look the field, called
meeting OF the pastors OF that CITY, and after consulta
tion and full discussion OF the pros and in the
case, decided to commence operations there about
January l. There TO be very hearty co-opera-
tion among the evangelical Christians OF Boston in
preparing Tor Mr. Moodys Iabors In that city. Some
OF the Episcopal clergymen join in the work, showing
highly comnSendabe liberaliiy and warmth OF feel
ing Threequarers OF the partition between the sects
Is ice which will stand any amount OF theological bat
tering, but which genuine religious iervor will melt
Early in the fall meetings held to raise the money
that should be needed to build tabernacle and to pro-
vide for the running expenses OF revival
meetings for three winter months AT f-st the people
slow to take hold. The times hard
seemed a great deal OF money to expend Tor three
months preaching and singing of two lay evangeiiss
But the committee having charge oil the matter re-
fused to stir upul the money or negotiable pledges
were in hand That they gained their point may be in
iorred from the TACT that the Tabernacle has been COM
pleted- IL covers OF 40, 900 feet and will seat
5000 people Its estimated cost is $50 o00 but IT'S
actual cost will probably be $4,000 or $4,000 more.
There are inquiry and reception rooms on either side
of the main audience room, that visitors Will not
be required to the street as they were in Brook
lyn to private conversation with the svanqeiiss
Tabernacle
ton, AMI very possibly II may be retained Tor some
tmo as 4 public half after The evangelist shall leave
It, and the committee by that means receive some
financial return for their outlay. Thesocation is in
the south end OF Boston, in the midst Of churches
that are only half filled on tho Sabbath, and whose
pastors anxiousy awaiting the arrival Of the
evangelists TO DO their work Tor them. But unless
they look out and take hold OF tho work them
selves with both hands tho winter crusaue Will leave
dozen OF those churches with less vitality than they
have at present The floors OF the Tabernacle rest
almost wholly upon the ground and the people will be
obliged to descend several steps to reach them There
will be no danger from fire, aud at every step in us
progress the safety OF the audiences has been con-
suited.
WHY THIS WASTE OF oISTMESr2
But such an expenditure Of money and time and
patience, and hope. has not been without its effect
already upon he CITY, One Episcopal clergyman has
Ia this way instead Of disposlng OF that amount Of
money In some such way this which he suggested
TO two tons coal 10 each OF SEQ families. So SEQ
One barrel OF nour to each Of 800 families at ST. $500
To threo months rent 10 each OF 800 families 10000
To 900 pairs Of shoes at 50 each. 1000
TO 900 overcoats, at $40 each. h.......... 10000
To 30 900 yards calico tor 1000 dresses. 5000
10 bed clothing Tor 500 families, $40 each.. 5000
Total. $50, 900
poor die want OF sufficient food and clothing
10 get 500 10 attend the churches through this move-
mentyn To ths inquiry the C0ngrsgatondiist replies
IN true Hiberpian style by asking aLother question
namely. 'Does the complaining rector regulate his
personal expenses according to the same princi-
pIe whch he recon mends bereY And IL not, why
a
business OF the matter, the Boston Herald while
IL is willing 10 welcome Mooay aud Sankey. thinks
that II Mr. Moody cannoL begin work therc without u
preliminary outlay oil 900 before word is spoken
or note sung be Is going 10 be dear investment.
The call Tor such large expenditures for meetings,
which last but short time, looks like confession
the regular work OF Tho churches is not
AZ matter Of gospel economy, and not AT all out OF
any disrespect to Messrs Moody and Sankey or
lgion, great many persons are expressing the same
thought different ways. But these objections
answered Oft as they come up and as thoroughly
be by the city pastors and religious press. Dr.
Pentecos formcriy OF Brooklyn, n. Y tnow OF Bosonh
points moral and adorns tale for the Independent
by narratng how difficult IL was for young man in
his church 10 give up smoking cigars, 1000 Of which
at $50 thousand ($o6O) he had consumed in smoke
two years; ana yet he could not afford TO give
than 81 for Tabernacle expenses whca a collection
taken up in Dr. Penteoost's church. Another Boston
minister writes the Examiner and CAronicie insisting
that the presence of Messrs Moody and Sankey
greatly needed there "For he adds .tnere has not
been for = long time so lille religious interest in the
churches III The city and vicinity now In all the de-
nominations. do not know oil single church that is
people are engrossed in politics and business" Tho
Wdichman, Baptist paper published IN Boston, also
thinks that tho revival that that CITY needs most is
one OF .'pure rclgion that shall be pervasive and
powerful enough to reacn ard STR to us proiounder
partial and superficial excitcmcns, u says, but too
lew rcvivals reaching down, through The influence
OF the Holy Ghost, deep into the very iounda-
tions OF society," The Congregationdlisf, whc II sup
ports the evangelistic movement, thinks that such
preaching Mr. Moody's needs certain intellectual
nj n
such place as Boston, and that atmosphere II thinks
Mr. Cook Is supplying Inc succession o. tnese
dencc; and IL in It some special augury OF great
blessings in store for the churches More than one
relation beween stone mason. carpenter and nnsher,
1t is well TO discern and keep IN mind.
Moopys MISSION IN CHICAGO
The meetings OF Messrs. Moody and sankcy In
Chicago have been successful in about the same
measure as their meetings IN other cities They
popularize religious exercises Tor portion Of the
ty, and they helpful TO class OF ministers.
bred IN schools, 10 whom revival 10 miracle
rarely performed. In our ministry says the Mehodis
New York, such pastors exist Our preach
serve before the mast. ard know how to manage
prayer meeting before they can compose a sermon.
As a means OF extending the use OF diluted extract
OF Mcthodism among other less revivalisc dcnomlna-
tons these great meetings are doubtless very useful
Bu< when we come 10 the substantial results an
ordinary Methodist or Baptist series ofcxira meet
ings Usually bears richer harvest than one OF these
expensive and laoored religious demonstrations. In
judgment these demonstrations have
piished their mission and tho services Of these
less ostcntatious lorh That this criticism Is well
founded may be the topics that were recently
discussed IN the Christian Convention held IN Chicago
last month when related very largely prayer and
revival meetings with which every Methodist minister
Is or is supposed be familiar. And yet there
nearly 5000 clerical lay delegates from the
West and Northwest discussing those questions for
three our days as u they had come up the FIRST
IN the history OF the Church. IL Is thought that
100 drunkads ana nearly 500 other have been
converted and reclaimed by the power oil the Gospel
during The services in Chicago. And is this not q
rl oua nar N
asks the Interior. In Inc city, II adds, unwontcd
conversations have filed the public ear. In Office,
store, street and stages men have discussed the
one oversh hadow ing subject, sometimes In critical
and WONDERING sionaly In words OF denuncation,
often in words Of sympai by and hope and JOY, but
always earnestly men discuss things that have laid
a 1rm grasp upon the popular thought Many self
righteous men The world have had their eyes turned
upon the plague OF their hearts; and some OF those
whom the world disowns tho Master has received.