New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-04
MONDAY WORSHIPPERS.
INTERESTING SIGHTS AT THE BUSINESS
MEMS PRAYER MEETING.
THE POOR AND THE RICH JOSTLE EACH OTHER
DAILY IN THE OLD JOHN STREET
METHODIST CUURCH
METHODIST CHURCH.

the New OTkcr, VINO mas q rural visitor on his
hands, and with the Brooklyn Bridge, the ex-
changes, the Battery Park. the various high
buildings, the churches and the crowds that ebb
and flow through the congested thoroughfares
the man from the country is usually an animated
exclamation point by the time the show is over.
Still, his guide has usually omitted to point out
TO him one Of the most remarkable things in
that part of the great city. 1t can be seen only
be on the list of the sightseer the recollection of
the place will outlive some of the more conspicu-
Gus points on the tour. 1t is the business mems
Methodist Episcopal Church. The edifce is the
Oldest of that denomination on the island and it
looks its age. 1t is queer. quaint and old fash
'oned. standing crowded n between business
houses. In a commercial centre ii looks strangely
out of place. and yet its plain sturdy exterior
seems to look defiance at those who would have
1t replaced by house reared for the requirement
Of dollars and cents
"A Few minutes before noon every day in the
year the door is thrown wide open, and then the
place seems to grin open mouthed at the people
VINO look at it askance Men and women enter
the open door and descend TO the classroom. a
lew feet below the street level. and sit old
Fashioned settees placed closely together
musical instrument stands near the platform
and the walls. yellow with age are decorated
with old prints representing scenes from the
Scripture and portraits of men prominent in the
church. NCiselessly and reverently the people
come. and by the time the prayer meeting is
opened the seats are well filled by two hundred
men and women who. in the heart Of the business
part of York. with the hum and buzz of
metropolitan traffic coming in through the open
doors. forg the world, lose sight of dollars and
cents and interest and discount and with prayer
and song commune with God. when does the
prayer-meeting season close?" stranger asked
one of the members of the congregation recently
when do you have your vacation"
NO TRUCE WITH THE DEVIL.
There is no such thing here" was the reply
an the uptown churches business ceases during
the hot weather. but we know that the devil is
just as hard at work in summer us in winter and
we keep our prayer-meetings going through the
summer on that account. Come here any day and
you will find men and women who are anxious to
find God and who. having found Him, know no
greater pleasure than to serve Him."
1t is odd crowd that one sees in the little
chapel. There are old men who lead in prayer
In uptown churches and who have always gone
to church and taken every opportunity to attend
whom going to church was a thing unknown
until they wandered into the John-st place
Then they became interested, came again. and
were finally numbered among the regular at
PENDANTS. To those who have noted the audi |
ences at similar gatherings the large number of
young men becomes remarkable. Clerks who
have only an hour for their noon meal spend the
greater part OF it there: young women come in
from neiShbOring commercial houses mechanics !
going from work sit on the benches beside the
the uniforms Of the Fire and Police depart !
ments. and sometimes one conspicuous in the |
white uniform OF the Street Cleaning Depart- |
ment, form part of the mixed audience. When |
the hymn is given out, one can see by the way |
In which they all sing that the visit of these peo-
pie is not their first and that the music is faml- |
lar to them Sailor men, brawny fellows whose |
looks and clothes stamp them as tough citi- |
zens, and men Of refinement elbow one another !
In the little room. and mingled with the impress |
sive word of the exhOrter often hears the |
loud cry Of the street vender.
I'VE see all sorts OF people here said one Of !
the regular attendants. and when, the other !
day, a big messenger boy came in and sat down. /
holding where l could it q letter which l !
knew he was expected to deliver in a hurry /
was puzzled as to my duty He clearly in
terested and the songs and prayers were some
thing new to him. and in the excitement he for
cot his duty and manned until the final Amen.
He may have done wrong. but l did not remind
him of his duty AMI only asked him to come
again"
HOW ONE CONVERT WAS MADE
Funny how / drifted in here" said middle
aged man. IL am a New Englander and left