The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-29
HIS STENT0RIAN PREACHING
THE EFFECTITE MINISTRY or THE
REJ. STEPHEN MERRITT.


Heard Throughout the Block Enrnpstnr>-
Measured by the Amount of Noisc Mnde.
The Rev stephen Merritt Of the Perry
Street Methodist Mission. does not close his
church in the summer. Some Of the nciehbors
wish he would. There orc many Mcthodists in
the Ninth Ward. and every man. woman. and
child ~ them knows stove" Merritt. They call
him steve in no spirit Of irrcvercnce but
because they knew him us "Stovo" long before
he became reverend
MIR. Merritt is an undertaken. as his father
was before him. and has bccn conspicuous in
nll sorts OF Methodist meetings in this neigh
borhood for over twenty-five years Wherever
there was n camp meeting. n revival. n prayer
meeting an anniversary. or Methodist
gathering OF any kind there Mr.. Merritt was
found with stentoriun voice and ready tongue.
He was among tho originators Of the Bank
Street Mission about fifteen years ago. which
WINS tho nucleus OF the present Perry Street
Church. The proximity Of three large and
nourishing Methodist churches in Jane street.
Bedford street and Fourth street. led many to
shake their heads when the new building in
Perry street was started. but 1t was finished
largely through the bounty OF the Cornclls and
other liberal Methodsts. Being small church.
IL was found impossible TO pay the salary Of n
minister. md Mr.. Merritt said he would prcnrh
year for them without charge. The Confer
cnce appointed him To- the pastOrntc.
In his youth Mr.. Merritt was q rather wild
boy. and when. in his sermon Yesterday. he re-
fcrrcd to his early life before he WIS converted
saying: was fighting against God with up
lifted hands and outstretchcd arms nobody
arose IN the congregation 70 contradict him.
His convcr-io ION YVES regarded rs Il striking
evidence OF the power Of prayer, fer II ever =
boy was prayed for ii was Mr.. Merritt. and
course.
As preacher Mr. Merritt never aims ut the
IlIlfEOIlIp. lpnrupl
course. On the contrary he not unfrequenty
trips in his grammar but rs no said IN his
sermon yesterday morning. n man may Toe all
in his grammar"
Of his style. except that i was not very
loud one. Taking for his text the words Of
trine," with only n few notes Of the headings Of
his discourse. he preached an hour on the effect
Of Christi preaching npon the Na2arencs. He
known to his auditors who had seen him with
the sweat Of toll upon his brow. enforcing the
home truths Of every day religion not the
than counterfeit bill, but the religion which
enters into mans daily life"
and ceremonies, he illustrated II with dos Grip
ton Of hs visit to cathedral, mud added Of the
though never felt SO little Ike n Judge of music
as have this week" At this reference to the
complaints o. some Of the neghhors that his
sing ng was Ike s"reech, q litter ripllCd
through the congrcg cation.
All through his sermons Mr.. Merritt keeps
constantly IN motion. Selling n hin; from his
notes. he PUSHES across the wide pulpit leans
over tho altar railing. and imploringly stretch
ing out his arms appeals to the sinner to re-
pcni. Sometimes he addrt sses his remarks to
the amiabe gentleman who Ilnys the organ
within the alinr railing. calling him 10y name to
confirm his declaration. At other times h."
throws his chest back, looks straight up to the
ceiling ana gives shout that may be- heard all
90 70 sleep under Mr. Merrt's exhortation.
He likes preaching from the heart. and de-
scri~,d yest"rda, how he had gone to near u
celebrated minister who had been dootored
| ~ two colleges. Tor he was d. d., and an
IL. D., and yet his preaching was So much
| from the hend that II meyer went any further
than the heads Of his hcarers. without iouehine
| their hearts" Then with the most pleas ng,
persuasive. and supplicating tones that could
| bs got out ~ very hoarse voice. MIR. Merritt
| begged his hearers to come to- Christ and thus
| enjoy he peqce. the rest the happiness. the cx-
nltauon. the bliss unspeakable that he had linn
spenkin Of the faith that some churches
are cold and ukewarm. and that IN one man
| gets little life and power he has got To- be- nut
in the papers. This evident reference 10 the
| comp nts OF his own vigorous preaching
| caused another litter.
4 fayorltc manner Of Mr.. Mcrrltt's cxhorta-
tation Is e. call upon the sinner 10 come TO
! Christ right here and now" and AT such times
the church ,rcsounds with vigorous cries ot
| that go many Christians are taking little inter-
| est in the doctrines OF the church. He thought
| there were too many who wish to break down
the Presbyterian fence and the Baptist fence.
And too many who do not pay much attention to
inc s, g, Preacher , he said " do not
majority OF people think that when man gets
religion he must give up all the enjoyments Of
,n I lie lie, e , De somore dark gloomy and aus
was practical man and knew how TO bring the
common people 70 him. and continued Mr..
name is Love and fyou have anythin ing your
hearts that is not love get it OUT
| Carrying out his prevalent idea Of n Joyous
| religion, kpplS
! his sermon. In all his earncstness and vigor
he never relaxes this perpetual smile
| or his own earnestness and zeal he said " |
| am Wiling 10 give time. talent. money. reputa-
| ton. influence good name. voice-eVerything
| Christ"
But some Of the neighbors say they are sorry
| lives near the church declared yesterday that
| when she first went to live in the neighborhood
che was afraid e come home nights because
! fancy that some one was being murdered.
When he closed the book yesterday aud began
| his perora,ion. the leader Of tho singing took
| occasion TO hoist over tho altar n huge scroll
| wth the words Of the hymn. Jesus Died for
| Me-" printed in mammoth letters So that MI
| could read. Although sung for the first time
| by tho congregation. the hymn WINS sung very
smoothly and certainly not loud enough TO
Alter the services were closed Mr.. Merritt
| went among his congregation, shaking hands
| with many. and following them. barcheaded rs
A friend said, You don't close your church
TINS summer
." n? Tho gates Of salvation must be always
open
Inquiry IN tho noiGhhorhood showed that
| since tho recent complaints Mr.. Merritt and
| his congregation have made less noise. Tho
proprietor Of neighboring lager beer saloon
WAS asked;
DO YOU hear much Of the noise from the
church,
on yc, bu, We don't mind that much"
Docs II prevent your sleeping nnyf'
some Of the folks complain, but Ineyer havo
any trouble"
" How soY'
"Oh. | take couple ~ schooners Of beer,
and then can sleep through it,"
MRS. UINR'S HTSBIND
Aner AN Abandonment or six Years TryIng