Morning journal and courier., 1883-02-23
Yale Theological Seminary.

An Intelligent Attachment to Q Parttcu-
 lar Church-DenOminatiOn and 1fs
 CIRims-Its Benefits and UsefulneGs.
 Rev. John Hall, D. D., of New York, lec- tured before the Yale Theological Seminary yesterday afternoon at three o'clock There was large attendance, and despite the indl- cations of snow or rain quite number of ladies improved the opportunity of hearing this eminent and highly esteemed New York clergyman. A number of professors in Yale seminary and various city pastors were pres- ent. Professor Fisher announced thehymn, which was sung with spirit by the students. Dr. Halls lecture was earnest, direct and vigorous. He was not confined by manu- script, and the talk was occasionally tinged with a quaint humor, and well calculated both to instruct and edify. He defined the subject of his lecture as 'DenomiRation, as claiming a-place in our services in the pulpit and our work in the ministry" Dr. Hall said that it was nine years since he first came to the desk at -Marquand chapel to speak to the students of Yale seminary. He feared that too high an estimate was placed upon his services by the Yale faculty who alone were responsible for his coming. He pre- missed by observing and emphasizing the ob- servation that the chief end of the ministry was to seek and save souls, and then en- forced the claims of the church organization as powerful agent in promoting the success and spread of the gospel. An intelligent at- tachment to church was an essential, not an attendance upon church for convenience, society, worldly interest, but for spiritual profit. Transients were of little account. The doctor cited the case of a friend who wanted a favor on the ground that he was one of the doctors flock But the doctor had no recollection of the friends identifca-
 tion with his church. Oh. said the visitor, I
 attend vespers regularly. Intelligent attach
 ment to particular church is very frequent
 Iy great help to well being and right living.
 It confirms habit of mind in many lnstan-
 ces in persons who cannot give clear state
 ment of abstract doctrine. There are very
 many feelings which each and all experience
 which we do not formulate logically. Anoth-
 ar noiut is that with an organized church we
 obtain suitable material for church officers.
 A difficulty with church missions frequently
 is that in their inchoate state the proper ma :,
 terial for officers is wanting in part at least.
 It is very desirable, moreover, that there be
 this intelligent attachment, in order that the
 proper discipline of church may be main tained and carried out. l had 8 friend, good man and useful, who suffered often times great pain from inflammation of the periosteum. So in the body polite and in the body eccleslastic an irritation will occur no doubt when matters fail to work smooth ly. Perhaps good deacon is irascible or in hammatory, easily reused and excited. Per
 haps it is the music committee Qaughter) who are in San excited state or some other trouble which renders the body polite un
 comfortable. For this reason we ought to aim to stimulate the people into an intel
 ligent attachment to the church. This
 desired object may be promoted by impres-
 sive dedication services, and ordination ser-
 vices, at which the value and importance
 and scriptural authority for church organiza
 tions should be emphasized. Such occasions
 should be as dignifed as possible. I hope
 the time will come when ministers will not change their places so often and readily as now, and installations will therefore be less frequent. do not depreciate denomination al literature but we must not ascribe too much to it. Not all the books printed are read. Publishers are not as 8 rule enthusias- tic over denomiaational literature. Therefore do not overestimate the power of teaching of this kind to gain the desired results. .Dr. | Hall devoted few minutes to the subject of respect for elders as part of church econo- my and alluded to scriptrual warrant and teaching to that end. He pursued the sub- ject with increasing interest for about an hour, offering much pleasure to the assembly. He lectures again at the chapel this afternoon at 3.