New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-13
MERITS OF EVANGELTSTS.
NETWORK cLERGYMEN JOIN IN THE
CONTROVERSY.
VIEWS OF THE REV. DRs ALEXANDER fAND MAC
ARTHUR ON THE ACTION OF THE
NEWARK CONFERENCE.

l
ARTHUR ON THE ACTION OF THE
NEWARK CONFERENCE
At the Newark Conference OF the Methodist Epis-
copal Church last Tuesday resolution proVidihs
for the appointment of Dwight l.. Moody ana the
Rev Dr. Munhall and some other evangehsts 10
lead the prayer meetings at the next Conference
aroused a vigorous discussion In which several
delegates spoke in pretty plain terms against the
employment of professional evangelsts.' AS was
published In The Tribune yesterday the resoiutioh
was voted down. and substitute RESOLUTION pro-
vidng for the appointment OF committee OF three
to take charge OF all religious services at'the next
Conference adopted.
Several New-York ministers gave their OPINIONS
10 Tribune reporter yesterday as to the good or
bad effect OF the work OF evangeiists independent
OF or in connection with the regular churches.
The Rev DR. George Alexander. OF the Presby-
terrain Church In University Place, said'tnat ne De-
ieved the evangeliss did much good ln'tneir meet
ings held in public halls.
.Rut 7 do not believe in their being invited to
preach 10 congregations that have their own minis
ters" he added IF a church cannot get along
without an evangelist to stir up its congregation
every few months. then IL should get new minis
ter The church whose minister attends to his du-
ties property never needs evangelist In its
pulpit
"As for the discussion in Newark. the ministers
seem to have decided that they would rather have
their religious services conducted by some or their
own clergymen than by professional evangelis's
as they call them. The majority Of the members
OF that Conference evidently OF the opinion mat
they do not need a stirring up
Tho Rev Dr. r. S. Macarthur Of the Calvary
Rantist Church said that he was opposed to
evangelstic meetings in halls and other pubic
nIaces that had connection with regular
churches.
81 have watched these big evangeistic meetings
aQft
they do comparatively good. and In many
instances do a great deal Of harm. These meet
,nes hiring together the loose and struggling parts
of the congregations OF the various churches, VINO
are attracted by the responsibility OF the meet
ings There Is an air Of freedom about the meet
ings that they like. Then. again. they hear little
criticisms OF their own churches. They like that.
But when OF these big meetings comes 10
an end the persons who have attended 1t are left
exactly where they were before the meeting was
opened Those who had no churches before still
have no church machinery 10 look after them and
those who are members Of churches generally re-
turn 10 them with a feeling OF dissatisfaction
Now the evangestic meetings that are held In
churches do a great deal of good They bring men
and women to the church who have never attended
II before They get in the habit OF going to the
church and continue to 60 Or. Munhall. the Rev.
s. Hartwell Pratt and William Phillips Hall, a
layman have held many such meetings in churches
In this city and have done vast amount OF good
But the evangelists who hold meetings in halls are
like lot of ambuances going about the city pick
ing up injured people and having no hospital TO
take them to.
THE evangelstic meetings In halls certainly do
some good but 1t is so slight when compared with
the money and work expended that II is not worth
considering At one OF Mr. Moodys big meetings
In Carnegie Hall enough money expended in
ten days to support four such meetings as the one
connected with my church for year. | believe the
end OF these big public meetings Is at hand.
In fact Mr. Moody told friend Of mine short
time ago that he thought the day OF the big public
meetings had passed.
"As for the Newark Conference voting against
the appoin tment of evangeists 10 conduct the
vices at their next Conference. think II did right.
Had / been a member OF the Conference I should
certainly have voted against the resolution. There
ought to be enough preachers In a gathering OF
preachers to do all the evangestic Work neces-
sary." --,-