The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-28
MUCH TALK; FEW PRAYERS.
\ FRIDAY NIGHT PRAYER MEETING
IN PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

A Little of PhiloloGy. Good Deal on why
People Don't Go to Church, and Little
OF Politics, tho Last, However. Frownad
Down-Deacon Ferris's Admonitlon.
What purported to be one OF the Friday even
Ing PRAYER meetings OF Plymouth Church.
Brooklyn. was held in tho lecture room OF the
church last night. To stranger the proceed
ings would hardly have been recognizab bic as
prayer meeting. After prayer by the
Rev. DR.. Hills. who conducted the service. the
meeting branched of on other topics. There
was pathological and historical lecture
from one member: a brief and dis
jointed expression OF collected opinions as to
why people don't go to church from
another: political address by n third. who was
sharply called to order by a fourth and then in
the midst OF some confusion occas on cd by sew
eral persons who wanted the floor for diverse
purposes a white-hnired man arose and re-
mindnG his hearers that they had come there
for prayer closed the meeting then and there
with few words OF supplication.
Plymouth Church's Friday evening PRAYER
meetings" have been devoted recently to the
discussion OF the question why people stay
away from church. and this was supposed to
furnish the topic for the discussion last night
After some hymns had been sung and
DR.. Hills had prayed. J. X. Skilton made an
logical attributes Of the word which in the
Bible is translated repent" This. he thought.
was an Inadequate translation. He thought
also that II the Bible were to be retranslated
In simple form 1t would reach tho common
people better.
I'VE hear much OF the higher criticism"
said he. why not have Il lower criticism:
that 10 what we need. a new Bible. translated
as 1t really is so as to bring 1t to the under
standing OF the common people. That will be
the new reformation and believe 1t is to arise
right here In Plymouth Church"
COL Hague. Democratic nominee for Assem-
bly, In the First district got the floor next and
endeavored to explain why men OF various
seets don't 60 to church.
"A Catholic OF twenty years standing" said
he. told me the other day that he never went
TO church. and this Ia the reason he gave: L
don't CO. he said. because / know chat il
Jesus Christ went to the Cathedral In Fifth
avenue to-day. the Catholic Church
would set the dogs on him. That's
what the Catholic said. We hear about
this being a Christian nation. but the
Chief Executive goes Pullman caring 1t
around the country while our poor soldiers
are begging their bread while on tho way to
the Philippines to be shot. l know Congre-
Gationalist who doesn't go to church because
he says tho churches have forgotten tho Ser
mon on the Mount. Let us get back to Christ,
and the people OF all denominations will i'll the
churches"
A small. red-headed thick-sot man jumped
up as soon as Col. Hague had resumed his
seat aud demanded tho floor DR.. Hills recog-
nized somebody else. but tho man. who, it
turned out. 10 named KoehIer. and is private
secretary to Supreme Court Justice Gaynor.
wouldn't be put down. and began to speak
with great vlvacity and much rhetorical effect.
First he told how his wife wouldn't go to
church because rich people look superc-
iously at her and reckon Just how much her
eve, iotted down on paper some things
after he had been wandering among various
b ; am: SSs S SS fear an agency to
NO, no."' said DR. Hills. shaking his head
smphatcally.
Mr.. Koekier, not to be 6aIEed Of his point
once heard Tnm mage at the, Academy of Music
Resrsrs '% Young Fr jumped into q the 81 Ty @s
death, That is what lear does i9r people,
eaiosy OF Henry Ward Beee6er. and It ' Was
nearly o'clock when he struck into politics
'IhSard in this caurch a very eloquent SER
mon upon our chuntry's influence on civilizn-
in II seemed to me. unfair 1t was said that
this nation could furnish wheat to feed the
%%9prld, and gold for Al its currency: Why goil?
why not sllveri Why not. still better. green
backA2 should like to know why this church
should announce itselfus leaGued with Wall
street by upholding"-
DIR; Hills. l should like to have word
DR.. Rossiter Raymond, who had intNrrupted.
thus got the attention OF tho con aggregation and
continued quickly:
1T is after o o'clock and we have n committee
gentleman finish his speech on free silver
Immediately or hire a hall for the purpose.
This Is no place for a political sraech." -
Il don't think J. am making a political
speech" protested Koehler
Yes. yes." cried several voices.
Il bow to the will OF the majority" said
Koehler. folding his arms across his chest and
sSsara1 I got The oc rS and asked io 9SIss
from DR.. Raymond A tall gray hairsd man
said that he had come 500 miles TO hear Dr..