Morning journal and courier., 1891-10-17
THE NEW PASTOR.


 THE NEW PASTOR.
 
 Sketch Concerning Rev. pr. Vail.
 Who To-MorrOw Commences His Pastorate of Trinity M. E. Church.
 Knowing the interest that is felt in any community on the advent of stranger to take charge of prominent church, we have had prepared for our columns such information as could be obtained in regard to the Rev. Albert Doughty Vail, D. D., who tomorrow commences his pastorate at Trinity Methodist Episcopal church.
 Dr. Vail was born in Duchess county, N Y., in January, 1885, and is now fifty six years old. In 1850 his father, Hiram Vail, moved to Amenia, N. Y., and for many years had charge of Amenia semin- ary, which was then much noted among the institutions of learning of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. During that time Davis w. Clark, Erastus o. Haven, Gilbert Haven, Cyrus [. .Foss and Henry W. Warren were principals and teachers, all of whom church The subject of this sketch was converted at Amenia, N. Y., under the ministry of Rev. B. M. Adams, who is well known in this city as one of the form CT pastors of the First M. E. church, and who has always had a lively interest in this one of his spiritual sons. Dr. Vail entered the Wesleyan university at Middleton in this state in 1858, and graduated in the class of 1857, of which Bishop Mallalieu was member. In that institution at that time were many who have been noted in American Methodism. During this year he was married to Miss Jane Romer of Pleasantville. N. Y., who was from one of the oldest Methodist families in Westchester county. They have had two children, both of whom died in in- facy. A niece, Miss Lillian Romer, is g member of their family. After graduat- ing Dr. Vail taught in the Wilbraham academy, and in 1S5S was ordained deacon, joined the New England conference, and was stationed at Chicopee Falls, Mass. Was transferred to the New York confer ence in 1860 and stationed Cannon street, Poughkeepsie. After two years, was in New Castle '62'63, Matteawan '64'65, Brewsters 66-'67. In 1868 went to New York city, where he has labored sixteen years, serving nearly all of the strongest and prominent church es, viz. ,Thirtieth street, Fifty-third street, Eighty-sixth street twice, St: Luke's and St. James,, Harlem. In 1877 he went to St. Paul's, Newark, N. J., where he had a very successful ministry. Three months before it's close the church granted him 8 leave of absence for travel abroad to which his next charge added four months. These seven months were spent in travelling in Europe, Egypt, Palestine and other places. His title of D. D. was conferred upon him in 1878 by his alma mater, Wesleyan uni versity. His last four and a half years have been spent at White Plains, N. Y., in one of the strongest and most delightful churches in the New York conference, made up large ly of men who do business in New York. Among several invitations from some of the strongest Methodist churches, he pre- fered and accepted "Trinity" as the most deeirable, and opening the broadest field of usefulness.
 In splendid health, hard worker and fond of work, he comes to position where work is essestial, and he will not shrink from it, and has remarked that he expects for the next few years to do the best work of his life. For several years he has writ ten the Sunday school lessons for the Christian Advocate, and has good repu- tation as Bible scholar. Has been es- cially successful with young people, and many of the foremost workers in New York | Methodism, in Sunday school, Epworth Leagues, and Y. M. c. A. work were brought into the church by his agency. Is 1 in active sympathy with age well as youth, and especially believes in organiza- tion and work, and getting as many as possible into some line of service for the | church. But not forgetting that the pull pit is throne of power in minister's work. Dr. Vail is a genial companion, has | a hopeful temper, and is ever inclined tC 1 look on the bright side of things, grea, | favorite with the young, and seems to fee that he is not over thirty years of age. Ht has good reputation as 8 literary critic has done much writing of thii kind, in the way of book notices, and hal one of the finest ministerial libraries | Never reads his sermons, and has only tn briefest of notes. Speaks on the topics o the day, using freely passing events t. illustrate and enforce point. He has fo of managers of the missionary society o his own church, as vice president, ant chairman of the committee on the work il India. Is one of the managers of tn Methodist hospital in Brooklyn, N. Y Few men are able to have 80 large circl of earnest admirers and hearty friends a Dr. Vail. Among the preachers of tn New York conference, where he is bes known, he is great favorite and outside of his own denominatio1 he is greatly respected, having
 frankness and sincerity that wins al hearts. His successful pastorates fo over thirty years, proves that his reputa tion for tact and common sense is wei founded. As matter of interest to tn sisters in the church, it is reported tha Dr. Vail's wife is in excellent health,
 hard and successful worker in the Sunda school, Woman's Foreign Missionar society, and other departments of churcl work, but thus far has found such abun dant opportunities for usefulness, tha she does not believe that the field coul be broadened by going to the general COT ference. We congratulate this strong an prosperous church in securing so able
 pastor who, no doubt, will be welcomed b all Christian workers.