The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-08
AFTER HALF A CENTURY
REV. MIR. ME1DE,S EHI-CENTEN-
MAI ADDRESS.

Delivered Before the Session of the New
York East Conference just Closed-old
Days Recalled-Very Interesting Remi-
niscences of Methodism.
At the session of the New York East
conference just closed the Rev. A. II.
Meade of Meriden, formerly of New
Haven, who has been in the ministry
for more than fifty years, was invited
to make a semi-centennial address.
The sermon was delivered at the Mon
day afternoon session. Mr.. Meade
said:
Eyes, the fact was undeniable. My
semi centennial was due, and as
think of it there was an overplus, max
ing gospel measure. In my early min
istry a custom was prevalent whereby
an untried man had his efficiency
proved by one or more years of actual
work on some circuit under the SUI
pervision of an experienced veteran.
AL the CtOSG VI Ills PCliON AN SSsAA-S
before the conference, not from the
theologic institute, fragrant with the
smell Of midnight oil, but fresh from
stirring battle fields where gifts and
graces were tested to the full. My
two years of trial were spent amid the
scattered villages and rural noun
tain slopes of the old Delaware district
of New York conference. then known
as the training ground for young theo-
logical colts.
Samuel D. Ferguson was presiding
elder. John Tupple and William G..
Smith were senior preachers. The
crunlb which fell from the not over
bountiful supper table of collections for
ministerial support came to me as
pension preacher, amounting to 81 for
one years service, out of which l paid
$3.50 per week for myself and horse.
If there be any curiosity as to how l
made my financial obligations square,
I did it by teaching five days per
week preaching three times and travel
Ing thirty or forty miles on the Sab
bath.
ut was my fortune, or misfortune
to be born in the First ward of New
York city. The hard pavements and
the battery constituted my play
ground
.sThere stands before me a venerable
colered man of noble mein, erect IN
carriage, with grey curly hair, appar-
relied In clothing scrupulously neat OF
common texture, unfashionably cut
trundling a wheelbarrow upon which
rested a barrel tightly covered. A tir
dipper hung from the barrel and the
old man cried .'White wine" He wa:
selling buttermilk. New York to-day
is clamorous for something stronger
and that seven days in the week
ssI see in my minds eye the venerable
Daniel Ayers leading that God inspired
band Of Christian churchmen and Wo
men Of old John street.
IT see him, spectacles raised on hi
forehead, back to the audience, faclns
the choir with wand uplifted.
heavenly light illuminating his coun
tenance. The men were seated on on
zzAa6Se, the women on the other. No In
fringerEent of that law was permltte'
under any circumstances. l dist1ncti
remember Bascomb, Pitman, Motif
and O. host of others whose eloquenc
thrilled the large congregation
s"The preaching of that day i'm
pressed me as being imbued with niue
of the nervous, declamatory lament,
natural magnetic oratory, not tlnctuf
cd with the studied graces of the schot
men, but that action of body and move
ment of mind, the outgrowth OF a heal
set on fire of God by His holy splrl
So the gospel truths, warm from tn
Speakers heart brought responslV
amens, not from the proverbial anne
corner alone.
IT call to mind when John stree
Forsyth, Greene, Duane, Bedford an
Seventh street formed a circuit aroun
which all the preachers in the city RI
tated in order attending three service
during the day in as many churche
The preaching plan was issued fro
the book room once in every thrt
months and was looked for with int
est by both preacher and people. III
popular preachers were well patroi
lied.
II remember that John P. Durb
was a great favorite. Four days NEE
ings were popular in promoting revlv
work. During their continuance Il
service were held each day. The NEE
ings were crowded. Revival Wol
would be carried on for weeks.
."Tbese memories come to me as W.
remembered visions Of a long pa:
They were moulding forces in shapil
INV own moral and religious life.
those days children of all ages we
taken by their parents to church,
only to the public services but to t
ordinary means of grace. A chile
cry created no disturbance. The resi-
of all these on my soul was that
was kept largely free from the v1cio
practices of early youth. 1t was r
the home religion that did 1t, but
church life with which l was in Gle
touch. / was no saint, my carr
nature was rampant yet from the ca
table, the wine cup, the tobacco hat
profanity, the society of the vicfo
I was kept by the very charm OF
old John street services and the pre-
Mm MTEIT s.