Morning journal and courier., 1884-09-08
oHuRoH NOTES.
GIeanings From Various of the
 Churches Yesterday.


 Christ and Ascension P. E. churches held l united services at Christ church, corner of | Park and Elm streets, yesterday. The Rev. 1 MT. Woodcock, of the Church of the Ascen= l sion, preached a very fine sermon from the | sixth chapter of St. Matthew and the thirty 1 fourth verse. He held his auditors strict l attention until the end and they all went away very much pleased. Rev. MT. Gris- wold assisted in the services. It is expected the Rev. MT. Griswold will occupy the pulpit at Christ church for short season.,
 DR. BUSHNELL AT CENTER CHURCH.
 Rev.Dr. George Bushnell, long connected with the Iowa university and brother of the ia nous Rev. Dr. Horace Bushnell, of Hartford, preached at Center church yesterday morn ing in avery clear and forcible discourse. The discourse was on the wickedness of Pilate in surrendering Christ to the Jews after
 finding no fault with the man." He also officiated at communion service in the after noon. MT Bushnells health gave out few months ago and in hopes to improve it he took carriage drive from Iowa to Connecti- cut, accompanied by his wife. The result was in a high degree satisfactory. MT. Bush nell preaches again at Center church next Sunday.
 DIR. GooDsELL AT FIRST NJ. E. CHURCH. Three persons united with the First M. E. church at the service yesterday forenoon. The Rev. pr. Goodsel1 oficiated' His re- marks were mainly in the line of thanks to his congregation for their consideration for his health and comfort by releasing him from duty on several Sundays. Dr. Goodsen
 has lived in his own cottage at Short Beach during the summer and has preached nearly
 every Sunday and been present at every oc . casion where his pastoral presence was sought i He remarked that it was a very
 novel experience for an itinerant Methodist preachet to live under his own roof as he had done during the summer. He had been preaching Over twenty years and had never felt the 5oyo being beside his own vine and ! fig tree before:
 REV. MIR. MERwIN.
 An excellent finished discourse was given last evening by the Rev. S. J. Merwin at the United church from the text, "Buy the truth { ality of things the speaker aptly quoted as the price of it the price of wisdom as given { in Proverbs, FFfar- above rubies and gold and much fine gold" The value of truth as given by David in the Psalms, to Gods word and to his judgments. The varied nature of truth is the same as the variety of reality, and it's applications as numerous as things are nu- merous Christ is the truth, the souls want and { it's fullest qualification. The word ''buy'' was emphasized as denoting full and clear
 possession. The words 'se1 it not" show the preciousness of truth, and it's price so great that the wealth of the world cannot { buy it back if once parted with. The trans cendent value of religion was further shown by many+clear and familiar illustrations. The usual number made up the evening audience A full choir gave an opening piece suited to the hour with brilliancy and good effect The service, as that of the \ communion season in the morning, was E brief, instructive and interesting. The cool 2 afternoon and evening were in strong con trast with the oppressive heat of theforenoon. { It was gratifying to the old members of | the North church and other elderly persons in the audience to see the son of the | former pastor of the church in his fathers \ place, and to hear the same precious word preached. MT. M. has purchased a residence on Temple street. His son has just entered 5 the academic department of Yale. His I daughter is at Saratoga. He has an older brother, Timothy Merwin, Esq, a lawyer in Brooklyn, now very low in health. Both are k Yale graduates, one of the class of 1927, the other of 1889.
 Rev. Prof. Knapp, of Yale college, preach ! ed at Calvary Baptist church yesterday fore noon and evening for Rev. MT. Samson, who was indisposed.
 Rev. MT. Meserve occupied the pulpit at Davenport church, having returned from his | summer vacation.
 Rev. Mir Means officiated at St. Johns \ Episcopal church yesterday, having returned from his summer trip.