Christian Convention.
JIOXDW ETENIMO.
Agreeably to nolice given in the papers, and cir
culated through the Churches, the Convention met
at the Rev, Dr. Crowell’s Church, on Penn Square,
Monday evening, March 23d. *
Dr. Crowell took the chair and opened the hall
hour of devotional exercises by reading the hymn,
“ Alt hail the power of Jeans* Name,**
and reading the parable of the Talents. By this
time the house was packed to its utmost capacity
galleries and floor being fully occupied and the
aisles crowded. The prayer was voluntary, and,
after that of Rev. Geo. D. Boardman, D.D., jvas
without hesitation. The praise rang out ip; the
good old-fashioned Jayne’s Hall way.
Dr. Crowell then retired from the chair and nom
inated Hon. Judge Strong as his temporary succes
sor, who was unanimously elected. Judge Strong
in accepting the position made a short arid stirring
address of welcome. .'
On motion of Rev. Francis Church, . Rev.
Samuel W. Duffield wasrphosen' teniporary -clerk.'
The Chairman then introduced,-Rev. Richard
Newton, D.D.,, to make;a formal address of wel
come to those already assembled, u
Dr. Newton bade the Convention welcome in the
name of the citizens of Philadelphia., Large por
tions of our population are always unreached by
the gospel. They lie Upand dowh our alleys and
streets—great masses of heathenism., Out pf these
spring all the evil of the, cities. To, hold .such in
check his honored friend on the left (JudgeStrohg);
spent his days. And. this was arid isnmeoessary. l
But-how much-,more wise and it.is:
prevent instead of to punish! " " '
This was what we were here for. - Who’ cah tell'
the blessings which wouldresultif Phriirti/iii's jyquiA
do this. An English periodical informed him, that
a'single Missionary for 'ffiA/'or
seven, or ten years, sent out each 'yfear fiftyimen
and women, enlightened and; .by his ef £
forts to do good. In view , then of the good to te
done for the citizens , he gave them the citizens’ wel
come. d-Joi • -. . . • t! i'J
He welcomed the Convention in the name of, the
Ohwrehet also, ’there is an immense massof unem
ployed- spiritual capital in the. churches. Hri’look
ad.tri see : their working capital increased by this
convention. , ; , , ...
He welcbnifed tli’e Convention iu'the nhine-of tlie'
Sunday Schools. It wilD bring there- material ; into
them.. It will stir np rand.gdßcate.the, teaph,ers
within the schools also. It is well to go into the
study; but it is better to go into 1 the world ’ aid:' 'sfefi
the people who are to be reached. Facts and fan
cies, theory and practice should bp blended. The
Dr. illustrated his point by the story of the good
Dutchnia'n,%lio told his son ri“true story’*-abdAt
swearing, applying its princjple.all the. while to! the
punishment of the delinquent youth.. “John”
would doubtless remember the story!’ ‘ -•
He welcomed 1 the Convention in behalf of the
ministry. He had been .here; thirty years, lie
had always felt that we had needed just,this agency.
The want was’ for something to fallow' Up the* im
pressions produced »;by the piulpit. /It; .was told of-
Lord Nelson that he had once a great fleet of big
three-deckers, which couldn’t follow up the French
fleet into shallow water! Therefore he sent again
and again for frigates and gun-boats- to do. thia sar
vice'. There is a great needef -Aarons and Hursto
hold up 'the hands bC'^oles 1 . ' 'He instanced'the
case of - a- church in our suburbs successful ’to'a
wonderful degree ip consequence of such organized
effort, Tlje lay instrumentality Sad done it all.
He prayed''Hod’s-blessing on tlftr' Ctmveriti'oij’B
work. j, : C- r -,
He welcomed! the. Convention, lastly in the name
of Jesus our Lord. fl,e laid the message “Let him
that heareth say •Coiriie’ffas-tKe- greatest
could give to rest upon the hearts of .the Couv.en'tSori
from the start. He hade them “Go and say ‘Come..’ ”
Let it not be said longer that no rine trilffothers
about Christ. ; lint... !,. - ' c-il 1 -
. Mr.-H. G. Jones then Tpoved the appo}nt(nerit iof
a committee of five, to effect,a permanent organi-
Iffttion before the clri'se of Whlch'wa®
appointed, and is asfollows-i! isaa-nq-;.. n sajiqi .
_., H. G; Jones, .Esq y ißeyrrß.LJ*. B“‘i ! ‘?!i;;.'S ! - e V- : .Bri
Crowell, U. M. MAris, !Esq., G. Albert Lewis, Esq. ,
'- After the ftirigin of"'a few stanzas of irli’e hymn*,
, ./ ~. Am Ii soldier of tha cross-? _
jthe Chairman introduced Rev. John Hall, TDI/Pi,of;
New York, wlio addressed the Convention upon;
Ghristiari Aerivity. ’ ' * ' *
. Dr. Hall did not feel, at?, liberty to wasteiitimp in
apologies, or explanations., He, felt there-'
B'porisibilUy upon ‘ any one in ,his, present position.
He'sprike with thelmeCkriess’ of a youngenlbroth'er
in the presence pf these, plderuinen. ; ,jj l
Christian activity had been of advantage in three
ways;' t ’-'-
Ist, for the worship of-Almighty'Grid.t’ l ;.
2d, for, the, instruction of the membership in
truth. , , ' , ;
3d, for 'the spreading of the truth itself. '
These are, closely, connected together/bothfdireot
ly.and conversely.! Many,pome to church, on the
Lord’s Day who would be better,‘ if they had soirie;
definite object of life arid ;i duty before them; ■ And if
one wishes to spread the truth hei wishes [to know 1
it first. Worship, instruction,gnfi propagation wore
then the three, and of the last 'he ivotild spriak. '
- ; If we want to see how the Churcludoes, we need
to feel'her pulse.. We live in a,.hard oommerpial
age, and the Church is to'do what it cam The
world ought to see that the Church goes' about do
ing good. A living dog is better than a dead'lion,
and there is want of a living church. The civilization
of the 19th century ought to show that it has not
marched past the old oracles of God.
, 'Modern missions are not.much older than'this
century. Actual converts from heathenism gave
last year more than the church gave, all told in the
first year of the century. Therefore, we ought not
to be despondent about slow progress.
Missions once meant crusades and dragonades—
‘persecution beneath the crozier and things bad arid
bitter, to be unlearned by later times. ■;
Human bodies need exercise. So do 'Christian
bodies. AndreW Rulier recorded the advantage of
-missions in his own church in calming disputes and
debates. Exercise will add to the spiritual health.
The speaker remembered a congregation, which
wo'rked out into Sunday-sch'bol teaching; 160 mem
bers were (in the adult class’. The sexton and the
precentor had .each, a class. Why shouldn’t tliis
be the case in each Church, and each one
liavC a distinct work. Objections are made to
Sabbath-schools.. There is ; a great dgal in an if.
and until parents do their duty as teachers the
Sabbath-school ihust’Aon—and the best parents
were the most inclined to favor the effort. In mis
sion-schools the opposite was the case. The benev
olent fishes once tried to teach the young crabs to
%alk stfaiglitj and in the beginning of- their instruc
tion they did well—but the young crabs at home
learned unfortunately to do as their parents did af
ter all, and so went backward and sideways still.
Dr; Guthrie,tells of a child, who, when the parent
was in jail, was 5 punctual in her attendance, but
when the pareht was out never came. We must
then, understand how much depends on trying to
bring children to Christ and away'from ba'd home
influence.
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1868.
Preventive work has bsen mentioned. The chil
dren were left to the street, and the worst system was
that no-system which gave the poor street Arab
hardly any chance. Whatever can be done for these
is to save them from being first tempted to sin and
so becoming afterwards tempters in turn. He ad
mired the Men's Christian Associations'in
their work. But young men are not responsible for
all, though they can do much which ministers can’t
do. If the speaker spoke to a man in a store, that
person suspected that some one “ set him on him.”
But young men are different. They can go to those
who are their comrades. They can say they don’t
want to talk cant and be a hypocrite,-but they can
ask that friend to come to Christ. Speak vto men
in the tongue wherein they, are born”—and that
is what ministers cannot always do.
Another phase of prevention is for what is called the
social- evil—a tremendous sore covered-over,. In Lon
don, Glasgow, Liverpool, &c., people.no doubt often
wonder what can be done. At present, reformato
ries, asylums, and, such like, are all that-has been
done. Pulling out grey hairs is npt always a suc
cessful thing as a man grows old. ‘ He wondered if
a false 1 delicacy had not influenced.the;teachings of
the pplpit. , He often.,,had wondered if Christian
•women especially realized their, responsibility. They
should bri" ’prepared _ not alone to disapprove tlie
weaker but to frpwhiialso upon the‘stronger sex.
When such a healthy public sentiment is created
that the seducer is_desuised and rejected even as fhe
seduced, then the problem will become easier of solu
tionlC i, 23T /*9 WB!7 H'i'.&.lVXSTl’i .?/!.
He did not responsibility to bodies
of men. Col. Edwards'i'ri the runjaub said that men
saw effects tbdre.vriry sridriin the: ijuiciltnJss ,ofi.the
fPPlßflhP&Spoibu 3 t.hqf,pld-.world
was a machine whbse. Eau.dle.the weii-dresbed, secre
- tory’trirriecf’hnd oiit‘dame afothe-rithbrlend'coals Arid
i wood and the like. .’Theg&rernand.receivertgave.anjd
1 rpgeiyed.m lffi\abstract,. showing kiudnesp and.grsfti-.
' tuae vaguely . ‘' : ” 11 «•*“**'*- ‘ '
'Hd’adviSeaJthose wllo ! worked as 1 individuals'to
BJW feb-tion-tq Until .one
is clear on such a point, he is timid qndj hesitating.
So th’e J thdff‘lißldk bfch rebliKMfby his-bemsciehbb'for
! this jvery- holdin-gi'-biicki There iis'-sueE aihingas
! going! Ghnjfc i for,; pursel ves., and , being accepted.
There is,such a thing as then,‘with our .feet on the]
rock atidriut goings fe'sfafehsh’ed/ad
Christ; Y The; gorid. mam puUthe; Saviour's body in
tbe.tomb in which'never, man, lay., Let ,there be
i carved out 6f‘your Yocky Hearts hot a tomb for the
-dead, but a resting-plnce for the-living, l ©hristr-''Theh',
shah th,ojisandS;£(|h-''
erwise spoken. . ; , ~w r.
Get strength for r each ! ‘day and hoiiY’from 1 Hod;
The stofytof-Herouiis-ahd Antfeus showed this; The
giant when lifted up; off the earths was weak/but
touching it again he grew strong. Every time we
feel worsted let ustheficalt onthe- assistance of the
rpck;Oß*bich.wes6o,fid'#rsfejsi ’•
' fiilfed’t’hejEgyfltiah tholight nisj&eo
ple would see his- quaiificatiorfs as a leader. Then
failing he,went,away to and at last , God
gave' him what he once sought’but tiieri lie 'refused.
An'd ; 'MosCs wah like-'us who have'to be 'strippedobf
self. 1 before.',we Are fit 1 for the work. W ; e, -musl .be
ready,to give all the praise to Christ,; t - , ,
’ The world' has keen three revivals; First, the
Pentecostal; telling that Jesus > was the very . Son of
G0d..,. Second, that,of v the..l6th,century,.announcing
the doctrine of j ustification. Thirdj that of the lSth
century add the 'doctrine' that men 1 needed to' be re
generated and that they were soiborh> again in Christ-.
Now why may not this be,a. n.ejv teaching a'a to the
oneness of the Church, and'these time's be the . days
of a new revival ofUod’ri'truth ? 1 - !
,1 .It is impossible for men to, be cpnipletely, disunited,.
for the mountain of the bprd’s lipuse' is exalted and
nations must unite as. they flow ,£b ri ii Not'’upon
hearts that are hot - with ceritehtion' does; the holy
dew of God's’ Spirit descend. Not into-scenes ’of
strife does the gentle BoVe - come down. But when
the disciples • are- all .of ode mind] and in one place* 1
theaitis that.thp.trulJi.sJialtiC.qme and the,baptism i
descend.,. In. spell.scenes ,men .beeoine moqt^trnly l
useful. A maelstrom attraeln, mbjfe notice ' than the
quiet fountain.' 11 jlCfcomet’draWs' more attention’than,
the steady Star. ” Rht it i?' : bettWr to be fountain than i
iiiaelstrom, anff star than ' comet—lollbwiiigj out the
sphereiand orbit •of qiiieb * usefuliAss iiff-;whioli; God;
places us.“.r ...i.) ;»ri .l 'iv. .::uib -j-'.J; .
~;Rilb;by Yill the stream grows-r7then;,oomes' fuller
ftirce.api greqn, jppajdp-wa.Aq^m,fils—thenthe .riyer:
wiihtoyTOs’and-manufactures—fffen,' ef ill grqwjnY' ft;
beebmes 0 a magniffoent''water course' grandest.
Cities, arid 1 latest 7 ft .empties ijith the;’sea.
tij’-oe' ’ dlspersld ■' into clouds; returned: *to its ! -sourcfe ;
tindsoiteflow doWsmnce 1 more*'; Sblit'is'eorfipetent
for the Christian to make his life—growing.by. what;
he .does tintil; that life mingles jtself .with th:e; waters ;
thrope.v >.. j
,'(Not.that the, .tihristian, shall always, be.qonscfqus i
'of his work, forft is most often otherwise; The truest;
man ofteh-'id-spite'tff ’•praise' and happiness' i’s east,
down and driven to his knees in prayer. S'oWirig;
and. r-eap'ipg l differ vfety*inueh; There may bfeispjfema
of storm'even yet; And the. sower goes forth alone
to. an. ungenial earth, but he .goes in! hppo,.i.But in
the harvest come the crowd of Reapers,,the shout of
glapnessfand, the joyous, harvest-home. ■ We must
work alone as we die, atone. But we' shaft have'.the
common unidn ffn 7 the Lord’s jgreat harvest '."dky.
Then shall cobe the words/ “ Well ‘done. good aiVd
faith fill servant entfer into the ;jpy of-your Lord;”
Evenias all.your life you had’been trying;-.to enter,
so now come in where all are gathered before the vic-i
torious Saviour. ;Wifh such’nopes may we work and
let us not doubt; that. give" the' blessing.
Permoneut Organization.
' The Committee on repor
ted the following names; l
adopted;:
adapted:: •
President. —Geo. H. Stuart, Esq. , ; "
Vice-Presidents. —Hon. Wm. Strong, Rev: I 'Mb?
Hodge, of New Jersey;. Jay Cooke,-Esq.,'JohnWhite
man, Esq., and Washington Jones, Esq,, of Dela
ware. ~ : :’ \
Secretaries. —Rev. Samuel W. Dufficld, Rev. C. W.
Quick, Rev. Kendall Brooks, D.D., and Rev. T. A.
Fernley. : -
Business Committee. —Rev. Alexander Reed, D.D.,
Rev.. J. Wheaton Smith, D.D., Rev. Mr! Sterrett,
Rev. Alfred Cookman, P. B. Simons, Esq., and F. G.
Ensign, Esq. . :
Committee on Summary of Business. —Rev. Dr. J.
H. Bombeirger, Rev! G. D. Boardman, D.D., Rev.
Wm?'P; Breed; DID., Rev. Anthony Atwood, D.D.,
Rev. Job Halsey, D.D., Rev. J. Howard Suydam,
and Rev. Edward Hawes.-
After ahbther hymn the Rev! Dr. Halsey offered
prayer. The do xo logy in long metre was sung and
Rev. Dr. Hall having pronounced .the benediction
the Convention adjourned until Tuesday morning. ,
TUESDAY, MARCH 34.
The first hour was spent in devotional exercises,
conducted by Rev. Warren Randolph, D.D., after
which Geo. H. Stuart, Esq.,-took the chair.
Judge Smith opened' the discussion of the first
topic, " What can the laymen of our Churches do
for Christ?” He thought we .needed,no conventions,
no questioning and' answers, for if we would go to
Christ we should obtain the information. He asked
if. there was one; who had read- the TOth chapter of
Hebrews who had not learned to appreciate more
fully the duties of his station as a layman ? The
essence of the whole matter was to “ sfflhdup for
Jesus” at all times. The private Christian should be
as true to his cause as the ordained clergyman. It
was his duty to go forward as a minister of Christ,
In Peter’s epistle such'are called “ lively stones,”
" a royal priesthood,” &o. And although they are
not standing in the sacred desk, they ought to do
what they can to help others and be ” living epistles
known and read of all men.” It i 3 rare that the
pulpit represses or suppresses lay effort. The min
istry is aggressive, as a general rale, and therefore is
in favor of aggressive work. ’
Some laymen have-done much indeed. One, defi
cient m the. elements of knowledge, by his earnest
spirit and truthtful words and by his active labor,
bad led more souls to Christ than any one in this
country since Whitefield's day. His example should
be taken home to each heart. We may not all be
Pauls, or prophets, but we can be earnest workers and
faithful teachers. - -
This work must not be merely passive. We must
not only live for Christ but we must Chow, that we-ffght
for him. If we .would save our country and do our
duty we must labor. Never was the hour when Sa
tan was more active than now. In Boston it was
terrible. His heart bled as he thought of it., Infi
delity joined to Christian torpor was doing awful
daihage. Those gathered here; if once animated by
the right Spirit, cOffld evangelize the land. , ,
More perfect consecration to the. Master’s cause
was the great necessity. Prayer obtained this con
secration. ■-- r 1 , , - ■ .; ■ / , !
(This question embodied the whole work of ,the
Convention, and he wished if .to be so considered.
This was tlie time, r not’for'Christfahs to Sit .iff' their
lews or wrapped in the mantle of self-congratulation,
oft to be.up and dping, If,this was a c hievpd, as a
result; Satan'sjthrone in biir land’coilld be shaken to
its very centre. Let’ us Sot be disposed to have “ a
good time’t-mergly, butj be also determined to, go out
and;ft.bpr. ; . Hetorayed Goffs blessing upon the Con
vention; ! : tfTR 1:1 '- L -‘ \ 1
/. DDL.'Moody said that thereiwas'hardly anything
that* the laymen cp.uld not.dp, , But they had, stood
on their dignity .bepause it wasn’t fashionable to go
out on‘ the stfeeti ‘ * Mr.'Mi ’fold the ! stbry : of af man
who'listened dn
preaching,and who, afterwards learned .more, about
truth. That man, now Converted;, brought
to 150 into church'each' iSOnth: And that same man
hftdjbroughtdpiWothqp &om a. sajpop ryhose 'story
vras. vpry. afecting.,, Rarwelj Hall was .burned, but
that'rectdimMdrLan's letter,’received that T6ry flight,’
pkiil* 'for -the -■'•labor; of- building! it;' j Mr. - Carter;;tof
London,;had also-done a, jfoud,erful,.wjsrk-, paying
twelve to fifteen meetings ,on every Sabbaitb.evenmg.
Ak soon as a thief or a gambler or '’a'cbStenbonger is
concerted ,he 'ds!;sent to: ;preach; t6;fhisiown elassl
Hjghtoen v hundre.d have, bpen.sav.ed.- by hisripstru-;
mentabty. * Mr. Moody also tola, of a meeting where
wbmSn and childreh’ in arms were, : aWdl ! %here.- the
fiveMpeakers were] so„ignorant..that; they.-cpuld.npt
\yplto.ther own. names. Mrs. Carter had also gqt to
getKe?l6dO:'mdthers in meetings.' ";'' J ''
Mr. M6‘ody 4 Said, inofeOver, that 'there was- a way
of preaching the gospel “from Maine to Minnesota,”
by simply distribfitStlfpMijß ftp-Scripture“to crowds
at stationssqn r -therailroads. j »w>-. j <»<!-■<•
Dr! Bomberglr q[uotedfffoia Bbrrpture of
John the Baptist and’Philip bringing. Nathaniel;
also, the, case of Andrew and Peter, Acts xi.. 20-21
was read as authority for this hind of work.’ All
high Chureh- notions. against this.: are incorrect. Dr.
B. read Lange's Commentary .on-Apts xi. 20, which is
very pointed indeed. He read, also from Ist Peter,
directed tb laymen/ iirgiiig them to show forth
Christ.; >; / - ,-:r ;- ,!uw > - ;;M-
•Abyssinia during thp 3jl, or 4th ; century was con
verted to Christ by the agency of 'two ' yoiiiig men
shipwrecked there. - One 'Fiiiinentius wasibe’uireet
he a laymajm, Vl> „ .. ;i
Rev. Geo. D, Boardman, 8.D.,, also added tlie case
of thfe temple Vail i-lht’ iriVViam,' and so bf the implied
permission to penetrate ihto the inmost. recesses. 'of
the; sanctuary. was right .that railroads
were for preaching Christ, All things are consecra
ted at the touch of Christ.'' Ministers for the Chureh
and the Church, for the world —.this was the motto,;
Mr. said that the subject appealed
to the hekM.of evefy Christian man. One of the
most eminent men ini London stood id the street and
distributed tracts on Sabbath. • v ..,.; t .
Wm. Welsh, Bwf.)’ thought ihat'laymen .should do ’
everything but just 7 what, few things were peculiar
to. the. ministry in Christian work. We are just
waking up,to the idea that the world can’} .be con-!
verted' MfHlieolhgy instead’ of by som’etlii rig better.
He felt rebuked;that soioften. he ihaffbeeri taken,for
a. minjpter - and, a cliap],airrlle_ didn' t , think that,
porcupiriish theology was' good, in preferenee ’
simple preaching'by'ininister an'd layman ofctb'eigos-;
pel.aprit.is.in Christ.; .Hgpould tell.in.fivft ininqtes:
jwhat a layman conhhil do, but not what they could.
There was' baldly ariVth'ing that -might not ‘ be_ dbrie. j
Nd'^^other;;difficulty.'beset .a ilaymau except, in. the;
.Chlirfihi. God itself. vf Thp Qliurch has, j.ust * begun ,to‘
rub jtsVyes and it isn’t"quite awake even pet,' The;
Protestant' Episcopal' Chureh was reported to be stiff,
-but it was really not so. much.so as was. supposed.;
r Dr. Beadlq|toldpf t a,young i n New ; London,:
Cfc,' who had'lbiSSe& J ori:ly four Sabbaths dutfof thirty
years in' a : Sabbatli-schodl,. and, who establishedVthat,
scbqol which v cgjiyerted t by GocTs/gra,pe> three,..bun,-’
dred persons. . . V 1
'' Dr. John Hall; rif''New''Mork-, wisheff’to come to
one.particular.;:. Laymen of weaUh .can use this,
-.wealth and be. executors; Let them riot do
‘wifli a dying hand'what .might to have'fallen from a
livirigthari'dl- ; COltoiikayS that fewYhingk need-more
.wise,j ndgpi.ent than- pur ; beneyp\ence;, H should, -b.e
.like manure to the agriculturist—-neither strewn top
thickly nor too'thlriyl' We rihoulff get close toriur;
-objects of. charity; showing ,to.forsaken; men.-that
.some one cared'-for .them.. sAnd jfiir this; .uubpnght
huiftan love men climbed as jipon aladcler up“to God.
He had' spoken’ to the 'sailors last Sabbath night; and
one.man had told how;his family; had ;been provided 1
for by kind Christian people when they were, deserted
by him. He therefore'gave himkelf to God who
carod for such helpless ones'and so rebuked him. . ;
He didn’t jrecognize the distinction between thpp-i
logy and religion .as his brother seemed to make it.’
is'the’scierice’of Gbdliness—th'e drill to be
l&rnad by officers and-private’s alike; it : , is religion
at ’> Let. laymen know, theology, and let the
ministerslhear the rustling of Bible leaves in the.
pews. V'-
Mr. we must take the, beggar by
the hand. ThereiuiSpre in a Christian, grasp than
in many a sermon. ThlsVs the way to break down
stiffness and differences. He spoke
of one who was asked wbat/vChureh he had joined
and who said “the was joked about
belonging to the Lord’s navy his army.
Well, the speaker thought, both army and navy were
needeff. , - . ;
Abrahain Martin, Esq., follriwed with anjaccount
'Of a railway car conversation,, showing how
earnest man was able to do something
Take up the cross and speak to individuals; that'is
the way. There was a prayer-meeting 1 held in' tfte
•ears by that Same man, eoming.baek. And the.next
day there,; was an account in the papers of , “ai
prayer-meeting forty miles long !” .
Mr. Cofey, of Indiana, enforced the sariie idea.
Geo. H. Stuart wanted to write an inscription for
the banner, of this Convention, ,It was, an advertise-:
-merit: “ Wanted —Five hundred laymen tri preach the
Gospel from May until October in this city of Phila
delphia.” ; Could-not the 250 ministei-s of this city
do sufficient to effect this and send these laymen out
two and two? The statistics of the most highly fa
vored city on. the continent show fifteen Church
members to one conversion. - It will take fifty-six
years to bring that population to Christ at such a
rate, even if mere is no immigration. Bat in Har
lan Page’s way it would take ten months and three
days only.
The order of the day, being that of questions and
answers relating to this topic; was -then takenmp. ; _
1. Regarding bar-room meetings. —D. L. Moody
answered for their success on the line of the Michi
gan Central'road. One meeting was held niglit after
night in Ypsilanti,. and the proprietor was now a
Christian. Men wanted no more than Christ held
up. 7 •"
Judge Smith answered for it in Providence, R. 1,,
where a vile dance-house had become a centre of
Christian influence. v,.,
2. Regarding texts taken and regidar sermons
preached.—Or. Hall said that in Ireland young men
speaking informally had great power; but with texts
and divisions they ran out. ;
Mr. Moody went in for taking texts’ as- a good
thing. He had given up shooting wild and scatter
ing shot. He wanted to' get the truth home.
. Judge Smithy said he had at first been advised
against taking texts; hut he and Mr. Durant had
come to the use of them after all. A layman will
not, when in 'earnest, abuse a text.
Dr. Halsey read from Scriptures about the scat
tering of the lay membership who *' went 'everywhere
preaching the word" That meant using Scripture,
Indus opinion. , , .
Dr. Bomberger said that the question, seemed to
be; “Would the taking of a text technically by a
layman do good?” His own ordination did not give
him the Bible or Christ; . .Both were common to the
layman with him,. The whole Christ and the whole
Bible should be'employed.-But if the “text” was
used in a looser, sense, then it was a matter ,of much
greater care. S°me kinds of texts were, wrong and
almost* foolish. He had heard of a man Who preach
ed-on ,the word “ But,” and he bulled. laway at. it ;
another took “ Top-knot come, down ” and another
the . word “ What!’/ Now this was perhaps hot a
yery good thing/ f Kruhimachei'a.t the'grarvb of Ne
ander .thrilled the people by'his opening words, ‘ : ‘And
thou too !" No stiff, rigid, orrfrigid way .will accpm-
Elish' the. end'proposed. 1 Dr.' Bomberger was very
appy indexed* in bis' illustratioh; and enforcement bf
the, grand doctrine! that there: must be alpreaching to
the case and using of Scripture to suit the time.
- Peter B.' Simohs, Esq: ihohght tnat' we cohldn’t
do,good talking without a is- a text. ”v >
,;A(iipurn,ed Bey., .Edward. Hawes
and*,the benediction ny'Rev: Francis Church, D.B.
'*■' . • *tVtES DAY; AYTEKIVOOY. ' '
‘ ‘The afterhddn session 1 was introduced 1 by singing
therbymn h : ;;J .
, -!‘Prom all.that dwell belowthe skioV ,
and by Rev, J. Walker Jackson in a brief
prayer. The discussion was opened upon the “se’c
qndotopic: Iby Rev. R.i J 1.,; Parvin.’, iThe • question,
Christ?’ .is one which is perplexing hot"* from the
shareity, 1 but'Wrbiff the J 'pleriiiiide bf ; ‘ the material!
He] held that fwhkt men lean do.twoihenv ih nearly
every,case.can t do likewise. Women are at the .bot
tom and the top and throughout Church work.
The-maehin'ery of any:Church 'would break down
ifjthe wtjmen ,'were ,fnot. ; ouf;hand with their quiet
little oil-cans of ready tact to keep, the thing in moi
tioii. ’’ ‘ ' VJI " ' * ; ‘ 1
> ■ Mary, Anna, Dorcas, Phebe, Lydia and Priscil
la were honored names in,:t.he. early,church. .. Wo
man, was first 'at the cross, last to leave the tomb of
he'r' Lord and burfc' She is still first toi take up the
hardest burdefi and* last to despair; Her spassiye
yirtne of endurance must not be lp
this she is more fitted .to succeed than man. Be
sides this she has peculiar'qualifications for works
of Christian.charity,.and: for Christian mission la
bor- , He.ialluded .to such instances as .that of Flo
rence Nightingale, on'whOm God had* seth’is own
seal of ordination. In the’years'of our own war
also her poxyer had .been,, evidenced. ■
1, Wh J at she now has a chance to dbjn the Church
IS’very extensive; 1 ' He : cited woihsih’s 'usefulness:
1 ;1. luith'e conduct’ ;of : men’s Biblerclassesti-Tbis:
has’been.provefi., They can:go .into^families,: and:
svmpatliize with tliem to the‘full qxtenti ahd'sb win:
tFie'attehdance of the fathers: affif brothers; >f TKey
sayi what should be.said, and leave unsaid.., what
should so be left. There istwork in all our.ch,urehes
of this character. '
2. They ; arevery valuable afsßible-readers;:- Mr.,
Parvin,enforced this point strongly;and ably. To:
Mrs. Ranyard (“L; N. R”) belongs it.,is said the
honor' of finding out this mis Sing fiifk. But no,
■matter who. discovered it; ifc'Ss available'fto’ any
Churcji.', ... ~ ; J ... ;
3. Charitable institutions, orphan homes, dec.,:
were 1 dependent on'women's assistahce'td'th'e fullest;
iexfent..:;; v M: J ' j
~ Judge. Smith, followed, stating incidents of fh.e'
'wprka.s he had‘seen it- Two ydung rriarried larließ,
lately-cotiveftedydiad-separately resol vOdtorfo some
,thing.,foj ,Jjepu& and [nieeting, shortly afterwards,:
they soon foundtheir similarity of, wish andview..
Ih'short hbdse to hdase i! 'thT‘ough;
the'i village, rind." thirty'tWoiiwefb.' known.tot hafre
been sav.ed by the instrumentality, of pne of them,
'fhe Other Had. done her and done it
lbusTy%elh ' :;, rhree ; huridred'-arid twelve families:
hadi&eoffiiiidehted to these.ladiesl for Christian,, la-;
bor and ,n 'i ? i
He urged also that the young iaaless should’b'e
.ready -not,bnlyito word.fbrvChrisft'ibutr, to;
sustain young ladies’praye.rmieetings. , ;
' Rev. Mr.. Atwobd; said Woman was tub' nurse' of
the world, and when- taen'were in ’sicknebs she ‘was,
,the,,onetto ; assist, Where the. love of .Christ is, the
language will come and ( the work will be evident-.
He 'ulged' attendance oh prayer-meetings • as :i J ridge
■Smith? did, ancbsfespecially that hearing of., one’® own
voice is a, great: essential, , , -
D. Li Moody didn’t believe God would blebs any
’b'dily, 'man'-afri' ! W6m'ri'ri whose -, heart wasn’t right.
He taet a lady ip Euro.pe. who was working truly,
for Christ,. She-gathered twelve ,or fifteen at first,!
and now she has seven 'hundred in the class. Six
hundred'persons owed their eonversionto hfer.
,‘..Another.lady|o.f high rank put a,;notice into the
paper shat she would be glad to,see theunfor
trinate and ! wretch‘eil of her own' sex. Some fifty-:
five were converted in one year.- * > . : : ;
And in our-countryft is being done also,. One
lady in Cincinnati Had, led sixty last year to Christ.
If we can get the-' mothers, the‘country 3 will be safe,
and: there: are plenty of .these mothers waiting to :be
asked, j God puts us her,e to work and not to rest.
Rev.; Geb.iD.' Bdafdrhan, i>:D.. said that this ques
tion'involved many mighty interests. Are we to
recognize ,yvoman as ,the Head of the Church, had
recognized her? ;
Woriian was officially recognized in' the early
:Church as deaconess. ’ :Let us learipfrom the, Cath
olic power how, to use the influence of the women.
He thanked God for Protestant sisterhoods, in
Paris, Germany, <fec; 1 ‘ L • :
Mr. William, Welsh, told of what mpdeat retiring
Chrisfian wom.en had dope in five fields under liis
own observation. One had now three hundred arid
twenty-five in a sort of- moth'eris class—which took
iCJiristianity tp.themps wife, mother and neighbor.
This encourages, selfrrespect, and the. families are
placed speedily Beybnd'want, In-his own Church
there JwereHlOG'inSabbath-Bcbool and Biblelelasses,
yvorked. w.ell,,Apother, has 125
in an pdult. male Bi.blefclaßS. Another case was
that of brienvho was the wbrst'kind of a man, and
yet was brought in and- made valuable'by one of
these adulticlass.es. ...... j '
He spoke%f the training-school estahlirihed by
the Bishop' ofithis dibceSe’, to’show women >how todo
this work, giving a most interesting, sketch of this
means of usefulhess. • : 1
Judge Woman did nearly all thlriib'fk
of the Churchi': fEachiindividuak.Churoh'should?or-
ganiae systenaati.b Christian .eflfgrtn-and thp women
should begin it. ,‘Hebelieved that thbre was a great
deal in teaching young girls‘eveh
~f°f he announced-f.amidvsoiriejlaughler), fhat.be
didn t believe one woman in ten could sew on a
button successfully. If Paul had once forbidden
woman to teach, he had certainly .taken it bacn
when lie said that there was neither male nor fe
male in Christ Jesus. '
Mr. Moody was given the last five minutes, and
told several touching incidentß_ofw<pi)*n’s success
ful work in London.
Mr. Stuart called on Rev. J. Spencer Kennard to
lead in prayer. After which, questions growing out
of the discussion were answered. Regarding the
“Link" in his Church, Mr. Welsh replied that
women of the,higher orders were found to be most
advantageous-ih the work, and the only missing
link" to be supplied was that of Christian love and.
sympathy with others. ' ?;>
Dr. Bomberger said we did not need special sys
tematizing* after all. Rowland Hill’s speech about
“tbe Greeks being at their doors'* instead of in the
Peiopennesus wasyery true. Is your servant girl
a Christian? was “the Dr’s pointed inquiry. It
don’t take system to find out that.'
Q. As to time and place of the large £ible~classes.
Mr. Welsh gave, specific statements of two indi
cating that there is first a nucleus and then a great
groweth into larger rooms and still larger. The
only obstacle.was.the inability.of the Hadv’s voice
to reach her audience.. ..That was all that-hindered
them growing to any-extent, - i
Rev.,Mr..Finney, of JEerpey,.s?!§*s, i ßcr *
vice with'prayer. . , A ;
JiidgeSmithtook charge bftk'Akfpemngexerci
ses of,the evening,} These were afore >earnest,- t and
pointed;than usual, and the,petitions were directed
especially towards a greater out-pouring of Cod's
spirit; f -i “ ■■'•L •- - - ■■■!-•- v '
The question, for the - evening : “ The. potency of
individual effort for the salvation or men," was
opened by Rev. J. Wheatoii Shiith,-D.D.
- -He preferred to .follow .the.general.drift of the
Convention,, and to be. concrete rather than abstract.
T&is Convention will become permanently useful in
proportion as it comprehends the present subject.
Intense indi.vjdiialismgives. tobsaivation-its efficien
cy. Ope man, is audienceplough, and the saving
of one soiiTwori*enOu'gh, to absorb ’the best ener
gies of mankind. In this individual-Tray. the, grace
of God comes to us. It is when as an .Individual man,
you are dissected from the audience, and brought
face tb ; fa;ce with Truth fchat ybu aremOsEinfluenced.
Heihimself felt, that ,wbbt, moulded him to Christi
anity m.qst, ,was h.is-mother kneeling at his bed-side
ahi .prayiDg'for liifi. iL ithd" ah she'stooped and
kissed him,-that tear of hers which droppted upon his
pheek melted.his. heprt. ._ , ... :
, He spoke of. the first time when lie had the clear
convictfSA ilitit I fie'6ught f 'togC)’affd , 'EeH J a man about
Christianity.,;; iHe. found at required- an awful effort
firstj afterwpd ii,paid—wonderfully well. It
is pmppsslbjd To u report Dr; Sftutb’fn his quaint,
beautiful ' speech-, atid Gn his-apposite story-telling.
J3e,.yras’ full pf. sweet, earnest,' cheerful exhorta
tion.
Rev. 1 Samuel W-. Duffield made a few remarks in
the same line—enforcing the thought that.we should
influence,t,hose nearest,to us first.
Rev. J.' H. Suy dam recalled a circumstance which
occurred to himself,'when three Or-four times lie had
spoken, to a man about his,spul without success. But
be, tried once more, and,sent a tract entitled “ One
hoiifest effort,’’‘and' that,tinder Godf did the work.
We must 'dare to stand up for Jesus,'and not be
.afraid; tojje called fanatics. , .fjntjl, the Church got
to this point, we should be. unsuccessful.
• Rev. Edward Hawes thought that as God brough t
men intojiis-kingdom by all means, we should not
exalt one y above another,. -Yet, only as the effects
of truth were felt on individual hearts did the suc
cess come. WP were ,single and separate before
God, and shall be . thus judged. Heart touching
heart is the way to accomplish this result
for Chriet. When One is; taken alone, he cannot
shirk responsibility, ,as -he can in a, great, congrega
tion, He_ cannot give, away, f right and left, the
words which fit himself. 1 Nothing appeals to-a man
like God’s-so loving the world as to. bestow, upon it
jmowrrSon—an individual gift to ..the..individuals
of our race’ He urged those present to'"remember
-how possible it is for each to lead at least one during
th.efiexhmpnth; to Christ.,,
. Mr. Stuart alluded.to themanwho Trent to, the
infidel and told him to his great surprise that lie was
■^greatlyconcerned;ifor, his-; Salvation..”: And Mr.
Stuart that .Rev. Chas.- Spnrgeon ; had told
that story, whejrhelhealrd it last ajicl that’ once, at
a 'dinnerj he had'-nief the grand-son'of the very in-
Ifldel thus-convertiidlli 7,
, P-ey.. Dr..'Wfil]its.,thpught. the .great idea was the
■priesthood of ’ the' pe&ple.v'fie Would not have a
-Ilian til ink 'too highly-pf h’iuiscdf, but he- would stiil
-have(him fchipk,soberly of .his calling
.and duties,. We may, all fie saviours of soul-’.
There is ‘ n end of “ button-hdle' preaching. ’’ The
ipdliticiansfinderstana im perfectly..' J ! ;
:9f; .missionaries in In
dia,-;—one in the tenf and the other lost in the jun
gle. the lost one bl;imed 'his ( cdmrade because he
[had staid I and? .prayed, ;and, t&fppg go apt to search .,
.This maUer of having the "heart light was pre-snn
posed, Ss Dr. Hall had’said—and also that matter
of prayer. “-Dr. Newton hadhrttlie point in his
,P!®k, for those who should carry iiome the truth
which the .ministers preached. That ivas what the
lay-Christian should do. -No engineer ever built a
railway,. No general.ever gained k victory, it was
in. each oase f ,fhe individual daborprs ; and soldiers.
Lord what wilt thou have me to do?" 'was the erv
not of‘an apostle.i’dr ‘of'an-pfßeefpjf the Church,
hntvof ..one, just converfp^Aaia,,.private Christian.
We require intensity. We want to have the con
version of the worl’dVh the brain andlin the heart.
There pa work, for eacli-to do, andmfiy God give us
grace to-see it. In ten years, if eachi one only con
verts, one soul the world would be converted.
• Mr. Moody thought that if we eoa]d>onlv live so
tli&t Christ;could ehitfe outjof our lives ; . wc wouM
preach .by .merely walking along the street.' He be
lieved that' many in the’Church ivotilA work if they
only hneio how. That wae tiie object of such a con
vention as this. It is a deception pf the devil whici*
makes us desire ,to go round with’men and not go at
them. There are plenty who Stumble over ns, ami
our negligence in speaking to those near us. Where
one sinner reads the Bible, a-hundred read you and
me. We can talk about everything with fluency,
except just abdtit Christ and "how He has saved us.
j,? tohi of a man who-was, identified with active
wfweli. that a eipgje.mpthod of work mark
ed him out". He hadhopner hkve his name so iden
tified with Christ,'than bs.worth as much as A. i.
n W o rt ' — 01 kny .other Stuart! The kev-note of
- e ,. ”°rt°n Convention' a year ago was “To every
man -his work." ‘And then’the thought came to
him and to his friends that it was individual effort.
,°d the one for., whom.he prayed and labored at
that time,,has brought in someAcofe or so. final
ly, they ; addfed up results and found that one huii
;d;rod a.nd-thirfcyihad been converted. He thought
He advised that wetshould do what we
could’ atid tfust 'ChriSt ' for the rest. He was re
minded Oftßichard Weaver’s dream by this anxiety of
spnie to .get to’heaven,, And. that dream was in
brief, that it was better to stay here and do all we
'ckn'in ohr time which we ‘have to us.
' MV. Moody told 6ther J incidehts bearing on tin's
.same pOintrof personal effort, and ended both h*|>-
pjlj.aijd strongly. '
, Mr. Stuartjn cloaing up' th'e meeting, asked for.
thbse'who wduid re-’corisecrate’ tliemselves to indi
'.vidual labor to; :bow. in,silent prayer; A,fter wldch
.ReVj Halsey, pjrayed atidlljiy anti the Conven
tion adjpurneu,' j‘" ' "-•-■ »u-. r r -p-.i -jm ,
proceelmgs and tii'e Bnal action of
the Convention will be given next week.]