The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-20
NO FORMAL SERMON.
Rev. Stephen Merritt's Peculiar
Manner Of Preaching.
Eccentric and Brilliant New York I'm
dertaker-Preacher ut the First
Methodist Church.

The Rev. Stephen Merritt, the under
taker-minister of New York, preached last
night in the First Methodist Episcopal
church on 1.-THE Holy Spirit" He is q
peculiar man and his pulpit methods are
novelty to the people of the Pacific coast.
He is all fire and nerve, all enthusiasm
and energy. He can never remain still for
moment. At times he is full of humor
and compels the congregation to laugh at
his wit. Again he is tender and pathetic
and wins sympathy. Last night he rushed
from one side of the elevated platform to
the other. Again and again he descended
the steps from the pulpit to the floor and
got close to the people. At one time he
sat on the railing in front OF the altar and
spoke of the God he loves so well.
The language he used was simple yet
singularly pure. His voice is much worn
by constant use. but behind ali physical
WEAKNESS stood boldly spirit of earnest
sincerity that broke through mannerisms
and had an abiding effect on vast num-
Der of listeners.
He refused to take text, and hoped that
God would give him wisdom in his effort
among people he had never seen before
and perhaps would never see again. Peo-
pie did not know or realize what the Holy
Spirit really was. They failed to recog-
nize His Importance. 1t was Christ's as
cension gift to mankind, and was nearer
to mans life than the Son of God. 1t
abb led always, but Christ was at Gods
footstool preparing place for repentant
sinners. Continuing. he said cul-
ture would not do Gods work. He
knew preachers full of it, men who had the
highest collegiate learning but they failed
for lack of the Holy Spirit. Service would
not accomplish much without the bap-
tism of the Holy Spirit. All churches fail
who think they can do ought within them
selves and their own work.
He did not wonder how it was that some
of the churches of the period failed to
bring souls to God. They had too much
ceremony and too little spirit, too much
show and too little love, two much pride
and too little faith.
The speaker then told what the Holy
Spirit had done for him. He had taken
the spirit into direct partnership and all
things had prospered. He had a son, he
said, a perfect boy. Pure in habits, UNI
tainted in mind or body. Death laid him
low. Even in the trial the Holy Spirit had
so sustained him that on that very
night he preached to his people and God,
peace and the love of Christ was in his
soul. He then spoke of Vanderbilt, whose
heart was racked with grief at the taking
away of his noble boy, and said he pre-
ferred the fellowship of the Holy Spirit to
millions in material wealth. He spoke Of
Grant and said no man had ever received
higher national honors, yet Christ's love
would not perish like earthly fame.
II stood upon your hilltops today" he
burst forth, land as 1 looked upon the
beauties stretched out before me l prayed
God to let the Holy Spirit enter in your
midst and win this as the citadel of God"
He then branched out and told what the
Holy Spirit had done. How it had sent
missions to all parts of the world and
saved men from unChristlike loves.
He concluded by telling the people of q
crusade he intended to inaugurate when
he returned to New York. He proposed
to turn the place upside down.
He paid deserved compliment to DR..
George before leaving the pulpit.