New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-25
PULPIT SKETCHES.
JAMES r. DAY, OF ST. PAUL'S METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

III lDNCi ~ Niib''Ni''
The Methodist clergy are, unlike other minis
ters long In place: and they continually
on the under the prescrpve law of itinerancy,
which takes that each pastor shall be ranspanted
every two years into fresh fields and pastures
new Nov and when the preacher and pasture have
proved cOngcnial, exceptional third years. allowed
After that pastor and people rarely effect subsequent
relationship II may be surmlscd that In the early days,
there found practical wisdom in an arrangement
which prcdicatcd upon scant pasture and often IL
terate pastors. But the conditions nowadays quite
changed and this largest Protestant denomination in the
United States reoces in its thrifty colleges its learned
and accomplished ministry and its rich and cultivated
congregations.
The Rev. DR. Day is the pastor of the st. Pauls Meth
odst congregation, wOrshippiI at FOurth-av and
Twenty st.. but in order TO present all which his
friends and the people would most like to know concern
ing his personality, would be necessary construct
OF the broken and scattered records ~ constantly
nittng plstoIac from State TO state and from city to
city thoroughly studied picture Of his whole minis
teral But in the Irresistible pressure of metrop
oltan life 1t happen that when Or Day rctircs at
the mandate the Book OF Discipline the public at large
will soon know him more and his only record will DO
found written the hearts and lives Of his flock Tho
missionary relation OF the clergy therefore necessarily
leaves it, impress them. For each pastorato Is
sharp separate crisis the lives of preacher and
people. single harvest season for the saving and
in-cathering Of lost and and all energies ana
cnnt. seem concentrated about this tremendous
business 90 little time thought Is given to outlying
themes and there few and fIlrtve side gancos az
articulation or philosophical phases OF Christianity
Such a ministry has little appetite for the mere refine
ents and DELEGATIONS Of worship and aesthetic religion
There H. therefore, characteristic and inuitvc sim
prty aud personal drcctness in these ministrations
And the argument and appcafor Il IS rather an appeal
than an argumcnarc addressed chiefly 70 the heart aud
conscience there 10 be neither time nor temper
for the dryer process OF dacctcs and metaphysics
DE-. DAYS RAPID RISE ~ TIE MINISTRY.
DR. Day interesting and Impressive illustration OF
what may characteristic OF his min
i.try He l. a native Of Maine and young man. consid
cring the btlllancy and dignity OF his In de-
uom!ns;n hefo effective preachers are no novelty, and
the people trained and critical listeners Is rare
combination Of gifts and accomplishments that lifts
young preacher at the outset into the highest position In
his Conference and then his advancement ON an
ascending grade until he reaches the metropolitan pulpit
ui the country the OF thirty Yet DR. Day
clearly enough built OF the stun which constitutes tho
schemer and ambitious pulpitcer. He Is obcdient to
forces which him forward and upward, without his
co-oporation. And to this visible humility and self
ahncgaton OF character may be traced much OF his eN
ceptiona His person Is at once attractive Tall
aud symmetrical IN figure. ho Evangelist Of the
St John type rather than the Pauline Yet there IL not
a hint ~ cnemnacy false scntimentaity. Whatever
may Dc the depth and fcryor Of his emotional ifc Is
clear that acts under the mastery Of disciplined Will
aud a harmonious judgment
QUALITY OF his PREACHING.
His pcachlmg invites the His voice Is musical and
manly; yet his mOduatons aress and often want
ing In art or cultivated sense of the true melody OF
oraorv III. features are strongly modcedand suggest
fine scn.bty OF temperament candor and honesty, and
lively aud accurate perceptions. Within his eyangehc
fcrvor plays healthy imagination and spontaneous
recognition Of the beautiful IN art and nature. Not that
these traits have crcnccd elaborate cultivation; but
that they rradiac and nush his mental processes win
genuine poetic grace lilo brings a well grown sermon
and compacty gathered about the text IA treis
II /. sufficiently original and discursye to hold the
thoughtful hut its commanding spirit IL hOristory and
bears continually and pcrsuasycy the central duties
and sanctions OF religion With the earlier preachers OF
his faith he dwes on the necessity and reality OF per-
sonal ous experience. holding subordinate 10 mere
Intelligence and clear thinking In the Development oi
Christian life.
Tho mlnlstrations Of the Methodist clergy necessarily
assume something OF an cxemporc OF hand quality "a
the people are generally impatient OF written dSc0urses
and their clergy almost daily engaged III pastoral III
strction Indeed II IA thing to produce one or even
two thoroughly studied sermons each week. ana lh'e
another appear four Ave times, virtually III tho
pulpit before tho people And this latter stint Ia the
measure OF Dr. Days work rs preacher. It easy to
that deep personal attachments follow Ills pas
tora work.
The services of worship at st. Pauls are pretty closely
In keeping with the old traditions at least IN one I'll
rection In that there few evidences oil hahkcfhs
after quasi turgic ritual; with possibly the single eN
ccpon that tho quartctc opened the service "h inc
Cantice Venite, which opens morning service Ill tue
Episcopal PRAYER Book Everywhere also the acoIIs-
toned routine was Observed unless the substitution OF
IIandcls fine aria. Angels ever bright ana iir, III
place OF the second hy mn still another exception
The Lords Prayer said In the nintes possible wills
per with the preacher lat there M absence o the
od-tme fire and snap OF Methodist worship'-not
single spontaneous amen, nor any dcmonstra''ohS Vi
emotional excitement or spiritual enthusiasm inter
ruptcd the wel-bred quiet and repose OF tho assembly
THE CONGREGATION AND THE CHURCH.
The congregation removed from Mulberry-st' about
years ago where II had for long ue ase
bed the wealthy and best educated classesO ethous's
Tho little organ in the old Mulbey-st mccths-houso
was bitter scandal the old fashioned societies. ana
act down "A sorrowfu token Of spiritual dcgencracy
Among the leaders I'm the removal and corporators OF ho
new congregation beon and today some OF inc
most intelligent and influential citizens OF New-forA'
Such names John Harper Ralph Mead Dahiel DIe",
A. v Stout Judge Fancher John ID. Archibald Ilchaiu
storr-. John Roach Edwin Mead T. C. Root, DIR. Purdy'
the Bangs families and John Elliott Will Illustrate phy
euough the social consideration OF the church FOr
many years It remained cosles and most important
Methodist house of worship IN the United states
sentlng an outlay OF more than aquarter Oh hlioh
dollars There IS group OF buildings III VINO lnaroo-
the church is tho Norman spirit of architecture win
high and graceful spire Tho interior Is Impressive anu
scats with It's roomy galleries probably l2OO people In
tbe rear a spacious two stored building proFiues
chanel iroOms, with apartments or class
meetings and official uses Adjoining the church on the
north "a handsome and well planned parsonage
The congregation IL well known for Its munincence ana
bencyocnco Five Points Mission was founded by lt'
embers and is sustained by the ladies' There arc ABOUT
and tho sunday 8cnOOl fOO,
i,,rg altogether of children OF church families
Tho socety Is the TCathest In the denomination ana
has not suffered disntegratOn from any uptown
tendencies