Morning journal and courier., 1882-12-11
Joint Anniversary

pal Church in This City-Eloruent Ad- dresses by Distinguished Speakers. The opening services of the joint anniver- | ary of the Sunday School Union and of the Tract society of the Methodist Episcopal church at the First NJ. E. church were held evening. There was good at- tendance Bishop w. l.. Harris, D. D. LII. D., Rev.:Dr. Vincent, corresponding secre- tary of the Sunday School Union, and Rev. Drs. Wheeler and Freeman, and Rev. Messrs. and Chaplain c. c. McCabe D. D., of the Church Extension society, were present. The Bishop presided and in a few predatory | remarks introduced Rev. Dr. Vincent, saying l that to speak of the doctors work in his ! presence was like speaking of war in the l presence of Hannibal. Dr. Vincent deliv- ! cred an address of much interest and was followed by Chaplain McCabe, who spoke el- ! oquently. Both very fine speakers. The latter spoke of the aggressive work of the M. E. church in the South and West. About 400 new churches had been started during the past year. At the exercises the Rev. Dr. Adams offered prayer and the boys choir sang.
 At the anniversary services at the First church yesterday morning, Rev. Dr. Wheo- Ter, formerly editor of the Methodist (which Is now consolidated with the C7s11stia,a Aduo- eate, preached a fine discourse on the Sun- day school and educational interests of the church Bishop Harris offered prayer. There was singing by the boys choir. The attendance was large.
 In the afternoon at tho First NJ. E. church the anniversary of the Sunday School Union was held Bishop Harris presiding. Ad- dresses were delivered by the Rev. Dr. J. M. Freeman, Rev. MT. Vaudeville of Rock vile, H., and Rev. Dr. Wheeler all replets with interest. There large attendance for such indictment weather. The boys choir sang. Bishop Harris pronounced the bene- diction.
 l The Sunday School Union of the M. E. church was organized in 1S4O. It has helped 40 .OOO schools at an expense of nearly half million dollars. It began it's for eign work in 1947. Since that time it 1 has aided in Sunday school work in con nection with the foreign missions of the 1 church in the following countries: China, l South America, Liberia Germany, Bulgaria, India, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Mex l ico, and S33, 800 has been appropriated to
 these foreign fields. In 1881 aid was given
 to 774 schools. In the location of these
 schools every State and Territory in the
 American Union was represented. In the M.
 E. church there were up to last report 20,
 C43 Sunday schools, 223, 912 officers and
 teachers and over one and q half million of
 scholars. It has 927 schools and 42,S7e
 scholars in foreign lands
 The Tract society of the M. F. church has
 in thirty years issued six hundred million
 pages of tracts at cost of $3OO OOO Beside
 the tracts in our own language it issues tracts
 in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Swedish
 and Danish. On the ''Good Tidings' paper
 issued for and sent among the freedmen ot
 the South over $25 ,OO0 has been spent since
 1869, and during 1881 2,0O0 Sunday school
 were supplied with Good Tidings." In 1881
 one and half million pages of tracts were
 issued.
 EVENING SERVICES.
 Last evening the anniversary of the Tract societ,
 was held Bishop Harris @ presiding After the usua
 duced and made a spirited address. In his openn. remarks the speaker paid tribute to the press al the great educator of the people, Yet, he said thu tracts circulated the land like the documents
 politicians and handbills of business men, thougl small, have their value in disseminating the truth Small things done in tract work grow large when w consider the themes We discuss. It little thin, thinking men It is however, no little thing judged by the standard Of heaven, and they give dig
 remains for to say that 1t is not q work bu large work and we need large contributions to sue
 cessfully carry forward the work. It is not mucl = the words said as the character out of which tn . words spring. Let ms commend the society to you
 Work for it, pray for it, contribute to it, and thu increase it's efficiency. On the conclusion of tn
 doctors remarks the boys choir sang Blessed tn 2 pure in heart"
 [ Rev: J. H Hargis of Philadelphia, was the nex speaker l. e said that tract distributors were no always small men, He stid that John Wesley tract distributor hen consider this work to b | done by bishops we have that presented to tha
 ought to command the attention of every lover of tn Methodist church. We want to increase the dennan for tracts in our churches. for local church work What we need is not so many tracts but wha 1 we need is lease of lie that alone cal 5 come through this tract distribution I ar 80 thoroughly convinced of the needs of the churc
 in this regard that can but speak earnestly in thi matter He said that the of the dominan t distribution and it not party victory. It wa A presentation of facts that wrought the change
 said the thought, he could reverently say, tha Christ was the first great tract distributor when 8 dropped parables by the wayside. The demand c the hour is to get people to Christ The remark l. ] of Mr. Hargs attentively listened to by tn large audience in attendance.
 Bishop Harris was down for the closing address 8 He said his name put the list of speaker without his consent and after the eloquent
 that had been made he did not think il necessary fC him to add anything to what had been said. the
 the audience were dis1nissed with the benediction. The programme for 60 day is as follows:
 10 a. m.-Conference on 'Tract work, Its dlfficu lies and importance" CpeDed by Dr. J. H. Vincen
 corresponding secretary of Tract society Method z ] Episcopal church.
 2:3O D. m.-Lecture the ''3Iethodist Episcop
 pastor in his Sunday school" by Rev. Dr. F. laieu, of Boston, presiding elder of the Bo,ton di
 trict Mass. This lecture will be followed by :. ference on the same subject.
 ' OTHER CHURCHES.
 4 Yesterday morning beside the above there al niversary services the Trinity St. John street 0 George street churches by prominent speakers.