The New York Herald Newspaper, May 3, 1869, Page 3

RELIGIOUS,| Divine Worship in the Churches ‘of the Metropolis and Its Suburbs Yesterday. Discourses by the Rev. Messrs. Beecher, Mor- gan, Blake, Snow, MeGeau, Bishop Wightman and Other Divines, DEDICATION AND INSTALLATION. Interesting Services in Washington, Bridgeport, New Haven, Trenton, Poughkeepsie and Qther Cities, ‘The religious services in this city and its immediate suburbs yesterday were of the usual interesting char- acter, though it will be noticed there was a marked absence of anything like sensational discourses from any of the puipits. The attendance at all the places of worship was very meagre in consequence of the inclemency of the weather, and the same fact was Observable at Washington, Trenton, Poughkeepsie, New Haven and other cities and towns. RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN THIS CITY, ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDAL, Sermon by the Rev. Dr. McSweeny. ‘The tempestuous charactér of the weather yester- day had not (é effect of deterring a large congrega- tion assembling at the cathedral. Rain or sunshine that sacred edifice is invariably crowded to the doors. High mass commenced as usual at half-past ten o'clock, the Rev. Mr. McGearu officiating as cele- brant. At the termination of the first gospel the Rev. Dr. McSweeny preached a sermon, taking his text from the epistie of St, James, chapter 1, verses 22, 27:—“But be ye doers of word and not hearers only, deceiving sou selves,’! me reverend gentleman observed all goba works must be accompanied by intéation to pro- mote the glory of God . James pointed out the condition under ‘which works of mercy oat omg should “he performed. ‘They should lone © Beaor and glory of . Be the belute dad aclom woh alma gulsnen r ¢b“rity from all worldly acts and which enabled" true Christian to obtain an eternal re- we The dispensation of charity was ofténumes sifrounded by erroneous impressions. Now it was Sind’ sta ines ew rds pf St. Paul, who sald that whatever awe do sliotild be done for the glory of the Lord. After alluding to and fully explaining the Propet otiv suas should influence the giving of gharity, he pr ed to show thatin many instances B00 8 were performed merely to obtain eartaly rd, bade fs though commendable to a fo extent, did not correspond with the CF Coe by St. dameq jn the text he had read, he main object Bhould be to se- cure eternal salvation, and that by bestowing alms, not for worldly fame, pot for the glory of God. Some persons were actually 80 Wrapped up In vanity that they very often performed the most sacred re- ligious duties while their minds were dwelling on tolally ditferent subjects. When those people come to the tribunal of penance so great is thelr vanity that they commence narrating all the good works they have performed, thereby shutting Out from their minds all thoughis of repentance, dnd making their vanity the barrier to their salvation. If they wished to be Christians they must cease to admire themseives, Good works should not be performed with the sole view of worldly reward, but for the reward of eter- nal life. They must be dedicated to God, who gave ‘us the power to perform them. The man who thought that his bestowing charity and doing good works would obtain for him the esteem of his fellow men was perfectly mistaken. It was foolishness to seek for earthly reward when the promises of ever- lasting life were encouragingly held out. Every- thing should be done with the earnest desire to promote the glory of God. The praise of mankind ‘was transitory and soon forgotten, and it was tacre- fore folly to periorm good works merely for the sake of atiaining earthly praise. Great men, statesmen, warriors and heroes, who had labored for worldly fame, had passed away, and with them, not unfre- uently, the recollection of their achievements, he saints never sought earthly renown, for being seli-denying, they did not seek praise; and it very often happened that those not seeking the approba- tion of their fellow men were most favorably men tioned and extolled. The holy fathers of the Church were in themselves hambie and deciined ail earthly honors, but they were nevertheless exalted upon the altars, and their names would live to the end of time. They hated praise and praise fol- lowed them. Men of the world foliowed praise, but they oftentimes failed to receive it, simply because they eageriy sought 1. Works of charity and mercy, therefore, should be performed, not for the empty honors of this world, but to promote the great glory of the Lord; not for the esteein of anyboay in this world, but simply in order to secure for ourselyes eternal treasures by dispensing temporai ones. ‘Thus our religion Would be pure and unspotied beiore God, otherwise the real beueflt would not be deserved. Men should not aeceive their own hearts by the silky promptings of vanity, but should be urged by the pure motives which true charity éver suggests, The rewards of this world would soon be forgotten as the man himself who had performed great deeds to obtain them. In all things the ex- auple of Christ should be follgwed, and the fitung reward of charitable actions would come in time. To securg everlasting peace should be the great incentive, Gnd thus persevering in faith @ crown of glory Would await those whose deeds of mercy had heen prompted by the proper Motives. ‘The reve ond gentieraan'’s discourse was devoutly listene< to and at the conclusion the Rev. Mr. MeGCga resumed the celebration of the holy ceremor jes, The brilliant lights on the altar shone Wit’, ‘peantiful effect, for the storm which raged ou’ side with violence had now rendered the cathedr 4) comparatively dark. May /anocis’ Mass in © was performed with excel- lent, cect. The Credo especiaily Was well rendere: ®4 Was also the Sanetus and Agnus Dei. Mr. ‘4 ve Schmitz presided at the new organ, and beautiful voluntary at the termination of the Monies atforded an opportunity of hearing tie qual- ity of its tone, which perlaps is not 80 powerful as it is melodious, CHURCH OF THE STRANGER, Sermon by Rishop W many of Charleston. Bishop Wightman, of Charleston, 8. C., conducted the services of the Lord's Supper yesterday morn- ing at the Church of the Stranger, in Universiiy square. Owing, no doubt, to the very unpleasant state of the weather, there was a very smali congre- gation. After prayer and the singing of ahymu, the Bishop proceeded to preach from the fifth chap- ter of the First Epistie of Paul to the Thessalonians, @ixteenth verse, “Rejoice evermore.” The preacher said that these words soanded very strange in a world like ours, Whether we regarded ther in the light of a law or looked at them in the aspect of a privilege, how very strange, In a world of sorrow, labor, tears and death did these words ound. Addressed to the weary and heavy laden, Whose paths through life were marked with tears, id they seem to have any appropriateness to them, to the vast majority of mankind? Addressed to the gay and thoughtless muititudes in the pursuit of x asure, how inappropriate these words seemed, fet these words, in connection with those that fol- lowed, “Rejoice ever more; pray Without ceasing; m everything give thanks,” admitted of a very simple solution, These words constituted the great Whole of experimental religion as taught by the New Testament through all the ages of ume, from the beginning to this day, And, now, let him ask, what is Christian joy? at are the rounds of ‘tgtian joy? What i the w for iis perpetuity? These three poiuis he supposed to be comprehended jn the text. In order to Hind out the true nature of the rejoicing re- ferred to by the inspired aposties tt would be neo sary for them to discriminate between happiness and joy. He said, then, that happtness was a har- mony between the mind of man and outward cir- cumstances. Happiness was a thing that came in- wardly upon the mind from without. If the cir. cumstances Which surrounded it were adapted to confer comfort and satisfaction we were happy. In the absence of these circumstances if there Shou ad be no harmony between the mind and these outward circumstances we were unhappy. On the other hand, joy differed tn its essential fundamental prin- ciples from happiness. It was a harmony between the intellectual, immortal spirit of man and God—the supreme and eternal good. And #0 from @ fountain of living water within, as it ‘were, joy sprang up in the heart, and the flow of it was from within outward. Our Lord beautifully ex- ressed that idea in the words which hie spoke on he day of the great feat at Jerusaiem, when He lifted up his voice and cried “If any man thirsteth, Jet him come to me.” Now from that brief state- ment it ates be perceived that many could be both happy and joyous at the same time. The happiness of 2 man Was gone the moment he jost faith. Fai hope and love were the shining lights, which, 11! the stars of heaven, gave out & brighter giow th Garker the night was. The happy inan had lis cir. cumstances. If they were rosy and bright, then he ‘was happy. But he migut be happy wi avi One particle of joy. His spirit might not have taste Bf tnose unseen springs Whence the joy of an tmmortai spir'’, tress and this 1%; joy? How at all portion of this theme which he had been attempting to enceibe was a full apprehension in the mind of God’s plan of recovering mercy in the gospel of our Lord. The reverend gentleman concluded by adverting to tle Mysteries of religion, holding that if there were no mysteries the Christian religion should be thrown aside, MURRAY HILL BAPTIST cHURct. Representative Young Men in Folly and Yice- Rey. Sidney A. Corey delivered a lecture last eY@Q- mg, at the Murray Hill Baptist chapel, Lexington avenue, near Thirty-seventh street, on ‘“Representa- tive young men in folly and vice.’ The church is of very petite proportions, and- only accommodates a congregation of about 100 persons. It was filled with young men, with a slight sprinkling of ladies. ‘The preacher took for representative young men in folly and vice the drunkard, gambler, fop and slan- derer, He showed up the drunkard in vivid colors, describing the gradual descent that young men make into the fearful meshes of intoxication, There 1s @ young man, the pride and delight of a happy home, going out in the morn- ing to his business, fresh, ruddy, firm in step, light of heart and looking forward toa bright and pros- perous future. Commg home in the evening he meets with companions who invite him to join them in the social glass; he refuses, he 1s urged, he finally yields; he takes that fatal eup and raises it tq his lips; he swallows the poison and feels his blood soon growing hotter and hotter; be drinks again poe ay sant PR reels hon tov his rror, sorrow and surprise oe ag Rint There that young man’s lownward flight of ruin begins. He seeks that com- any again, They lure Bo, in that ne excess to another until he co: ntértain his former self- respect. He has now lost ail the characieristics of his virtuous youth—health, strength, morals, every- thing. Then, indeed, with the fearful doom of the drunkard staring him in the face, he plunges madly in despair still deeper into the yortex of dissipation and finally winds up py committing sulclge. it of delirum tremens, Cases of this chfl common all around us. We read of them tn the newspapers daily; we see them in our midst. Young meh of splendid promise are being every day drawn into this terrible temptation and go on from little to greater excesses until they reach that period of habit when drink becomes a second nature with them. He pointed out the bright exam- pes of genius that had had their lignt and listre @x- guished by too free an indulgence in ertene sem: lants. ‘The life of sobriety fae only one wherein true pleasure can be found. Its joys are those of which the drunkard knoweth nothing. The clear head, the steady hand, the even flow of health and spars are hot his; they belong only to him who ober. He next passed to the consideration of the mbler’s character and fate. He described a gam- ing house, of the fashionable character—of the rich but yet unpretentious appontanoe» in thé up-iown regions. You ring the bell and a@ negro servant in livery opens tlre door. You enter a handsomely furnished apartment, where, on @ sideboard, all the delicacies of the season are laid out, Almost all the men you see around are fashionably dressed. Lounging in @ corner you observe a quiet, nice gen- tleman, with goft, , 00th hands, whose passion fr gambling cannot be overggine. It has grown with his growth and strengthened with his strength. His fortune, which was once great, has now been almost entirely dissipated, Thousands of his dollars have gone across that card table into the treasury of the accursed den. He feels the utter ruin of his prospects, but with the terrible fascination of the game holding control of his very sou!, he plunges desperately in till the last dollar of his money is gone. See these men around the table. Watch how heartlessly they look upon the victim of the play. To them 1t is the excitement of their lives and their living besides, These regu- lar professional gamblers rope in that class of young men whose tastes and means incline them towards such vicious pastime. A young man forgets, in the presence of all these elegant surroundings, and in the company of those who are gentiemen, seemingly the fearful precipice upon whose brink he stands. He likes the novelty and excitement of the thing, ventures a small sum at first, then a larger, and so on until ail he has in the world 1s gome and desperate means must be resorted to to raise more, The preacher earnestly warned his hearers against the gaming table. He next cautioned them against the tempta- tion of dress. he worat errors obtain among young men in the assertion of the thing called man- liness, ‘Tobe maniy is to have nerves so hard as not to be afraid of sin, to sWagger, to swear, to reel home drunk at nigut. These are the notions of manliness Which some entertain, There 1s another idea of manliness that is expressed in dress and fashion. The time, money and attention given to dress by some young men, if expended in the im- provement of their minds, might raise them to emi- nence in place of rendering them mere ciphers, mere toys of society. He did not deprecate a due attention to dress, but there was a limit to that attention. Young men _ there are in this city whose whole life seems to be devoted to decorating ther exterior and air. ing themselves on the public romenades. The proper regulation of the tongue he also im- pressed upon his audience, He dweit upon the great influence of speech and the corresponding ne- Cceasity of seeing that its use should be directed to dd, ‘The preacher went on to give illustrations of se the slanderer makes of his maievoleaut power to injure and destroy reputations, aud drew a pic. ture of what the speech of a trae and upright man should be, He concluded by saying if there is a sublime aspect of manhood it ts that of a young man, far from the home of his childhood, in the midst of a great city, with its flerce excitements, standing on the rock of ages, battling with the temptations.around him and holding on to the end to virtue and to principle. FIRST FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH, Sermon on Free Communion by Rev. C. Ee Binke. The Rev. C. E. Blake celivered a sermon on “Free Communion” at the church in Seventeenth street, near Sixth avenue, last evening, in vindication of nis views in favor of free communion, which had been denounced by other preachers as a most absurd practice. The services were opened by singing, fol- lowed by a prayer by the pastor, ia which he hoped that nothing would be said to pro- yoke controversy and that he might give the truth as he believed. He then read from the eleventh chapter of the First Corinthians, to show the establishment of the communion service. “The charge broughtjagainst us Free Will Baptists,” he said, “is that We are gullty of the most awful and absurd practices—of going to the communion table without being first baptised. Nothing m the Chris- tan world has been 80 agitated as this subject of communion, unless, pernaps, ritualism.”’ He knew of nothing Which dtd not disturb the popular mind, The mind takes hold of a subject and believes or dis- betieves in proportion to its development, Subjects of belief, which are clearly understood at pres- ent, have been mysteries herevofo for the reason that men were unwilling to investigate them; aud subjects which seem dark and inacrutabie to our minds, are no more mysterious, no deeper than those over which our fathers stan bied. Even the sumple memorizing of the Lord death 18 made a subject of controversy; men are torn asunder because of this diference of opinion, and Wrangle and create dissensions as to the method or order of taking the communion. The difference between us and our opponents, he continued, is whether the Lord’s Supper shall precede baptism, or the reverse; Whether one shall be made subject to the other—in fact, a mere question of precedence, it was asserted that baptism should come first; this was made the basis of discrimination between those parties who snail be allowed to come to the communion table and those who shat not. What was the authority for this assertion? Is there any foundation for 1? Christ had the right to es- twollsh His ordinances, and exercised it in giving the communion as & memento of Himself and bap- tism as a memento of some things which He did. The communion He founded the same night upon which He was betrayed, when, after having broken the bread and bie: 1 a8 related in the Scrip- turea, He enjoined upon His aposties, gathered around Hi at the last supper, “Do this in remembrance of me.” His crecenoe, burial and resurrection followed; on the day of His ascension He instituted the sacrament of baptism, when Ile commanded His disciples to “go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” Can any one doubt that this was the institation of baptism? So, argued the lecturer, communion comes first, being the first established. Yet it was deciared thatthe a les were all bap- tized before they partook of the Last Supper. No roof was given for the assertion, except that the ord could not be so tneonsistent as to ad- minister the communion to those not baptized. Bat the aposties were not baptized before they had communed, since the Holy Ghost had never been imparted to them until Pentecost. St. John's bap. tista was ouly aa introduction to what was to cot to tie baptism established on Mount Olivet, since It was not 4 baptism y the Holy Ghost. As the com- munion represented the si should take precedence of death and resurrectfon, since He NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MAY 3, 1869—1rKIPLE SHEET. sufferea before He died; and if order ts ng first law, the communion should precede —_ ST. ANW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Morgan. At St. Ann’s church, in Eighteenth street, near Fifth avenue, last evening, the Rev. W. F. Morgan, D. D., delivered @ sermon before delegates from church societies of different colleges, who were pre- sent. Before the sermon the announcement was made that a meeting of delegates from the church societies of the colleges, held on Saturday evening last, in Trinity chapel, an association was formed and designated “The Brotherhood of the Holy Cross,” The objects of the association are to encour- age the formation of church societies tn colleges and the propagation of the faith generally. Dr. Morgan took as his vext @ portion of the twen- ty-fifth verse of the first chapter of the general epis- tle of James—‘Being not a psorgettal hearer, but a po of the work, man be biessed in his The reverend orator demonstrated that the relig- ton of Christ was more a religion of works than of words; of doing rather than of hearing. It was founded by Christ, who demonstrated all He taught and whose works did more to prove His divine origin than words could do. The religion was pre- served and transmitted by those who worked un- tiringly. The Fathers of the Church in the Middle Ages may appear to us to have been duil and slow, butthe works in which they were engaged were arent works. Copying and preserving the Bible and thé traditions of the faith were works whose 1m- portance can now be fully appreciated. The present age 1s oft’n styled, and justiy so, the age of reason, and Ohrfstal should not be idle. They shonid be al work and should not permit thé faith ft remap behind yy the great march of advancement. “Ae reverend geulernen then, addressing the delegates, ssaure ‘aem that the work on which their Brotherhood had entered was the work of the refol mason of the whole world; that the time was coming when Christianity should rule supreme throughout the universe. The Brotherhood should not be discouraged, bub should fo on With their labors, Infidels would tell them thelr movements were slow, out right thinking istians would assure them that their work was advancing. God is very slow in his works, but He is very sure. In their labors they would have ob- stacles to ouroaiae but, by perseverance they would succeed. These obstacles would come principally from infidels, or pene quisid but there would be obstacles thrown in their Way by parties who are in the Church, persons in the Church who do not regard the Church as only Christ's messenger, but who ac- tually reverse the divine nature and make Christ the Church and the Church Christ. These would prove, no doubt, to be a great obstacle, but as great a one would be those who might be called lauitudinarians. He would rather have the bigot than the sophist, and an inildel rather than one of those loose Chris- tians who call themselves liberal Christians or those with whom intellect measures everything. Conciud- ing, the reverend discourser asked that God might bless the Brotherhood and biess it abundantly, ahd he aujured them to cling to the truth of God as writ- ten by Him with a hand of iron on the rock. Reason could not originate that truth; then let not reason at- tempt to question it, ST. BAUL's REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH. Interesting Dedicatory Services by Rev. Chan cellor Ferris, Rev. Dr. Eddy and Others. This elegant piace of worship, situated on For- ticth street, between Fifth and Sixth avenués, was dedicated to the serviceof God yesterday morning. The building is of fair size and substantial in ap- pearance, while the church proper in its finish is marked with exceeding simplicity, yet with such exquisite taste, as to elicit words of commendation from the congregation who participated in the solemn proceedings. The pulpit, which is quite spacious and elegantly furnished. was made addi- tionally attractive by being decorated with large bouquets and baskets of rare ex- otics, arranged with great artistic taste, two of these floral contributions having distinctly displayed the words ‘Jehovah Jesus” and “Jesus Only” in their centres, while outside of the railing and directly opposite the head of the main aisie there rested another beautiful specimen of floral skill, being an anchor emblemat: of Hope, of mammoth proportions. The eife these decora- tions was very pleasant. ‘The pastor, Dr. A. R. Thompson, was assisted in the opening ceremonies by the Rev. Chancellor Ferris, who led the dedica- tory service; by the Rey. Dr. Eddy, of Brooklyn, who preached the sermon, ana by the Revs. J. B. Thomp- son, of Tarrytown, and Charles H. Whitehead, of New York. Passages of Scripture from the Old and New Testaments, being portions of the twentleth ‘of the Chureli, chapter of Exodus, the thirty-fifth chapter of Isaiah and the second chapter of First Peter, were read, after responsively when, reading the sith and 132d Psalms, the venerable divine, Rev, Chancellor Ferris, arose, and with ex pressions of thanksgiving dedicated the house as a lace of permanent worship, the Confession of Faith, repeated by the entire congregation standing, and the reverend gentleman’s prayer, replete with purity of thought and solemnity, will neither be easily forgotten. Dr. Eddy then announced as his text the twenty-second and twenty-third verses of the first chapter of Panl’s Epistie to the Ephesians:— “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that fiileth all in all.” ‘This, said the reverend gentleman, was one of the apostic’s strong and sugges- tive metaphors to unfold the analogy between the hniman body and the Chureh of Christ. ‘This -opening remark was the gs 3 of a lengthy, eioquent and argumentative discourse upon the orgauization of the Church, its primitiv éondi- tion and its condition at the present day. He adverted to and argued wit great zeal that notwithstandlt the many réligious sects of the world during el teen cénturies had enfeebled the religion of Cbrist, and that it had been stamed and torn by schisms, and at times covered all over with the rags of discord, and despite the assertions of the literary prophets of the day that orthodoxy is a ghastly death head—that the Church is dead—it is now giving demonstrations of vitality as great as when the aposties pleaded to the masses, exhorting them to holiness. ‘These modern seers—Wwhose only recommendation seems to lie in the fact that they can turn a sentence nicely—tell the world in their Jlow triflings that faith isextinct; but shall we listen to their ravings? He would and does brush them aside, even as the fly whose monotonous buzz mm the summer evening simply annoys you. ST, MATTHEW'S CHURCH, Installation of the Rev. G. Vorberg. Notwithstanding the very unfavorable aspect of the weather a large congregation gathere1 at the Lutheran Church of St. Matthew, corner of Broome and Elizabeth strecis, yesterday morning, to wit- ness and participate in the tnstallation of the Rev, G. Vorberg, lately of Milwaukee, but who now comes to New York to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the Rev. Dr. Stohiman, for many years the beloved pastor of the church. The services, of a canonical and protracted character, embraced the elaborate formula of the Lutheran Church, and were conducted under the lead of the dey. Dr, Newmann, of Castle Garden. One of the principal features the service was the congregational singing, ¢ sisting as it did in a style of music more Massive (using the word In its double significauion) aad less inharmonious than is generaily found in Protestant churches. The Ret. Dr, Newmann on rising to address the congregation said that he shouwid direct the attention of his brethren first to the lamented Dr. Stohiman, who had died at fis of reiigious duty, and secondly to the Kev. Dr. vorberg, Who had come among them to preach the Word 01 God. ‘The career of the deceased pastor had been of such an exalted religous character and typified so many of the cardinal virtues that he commended his glorious example to the congrega- tion, For his successor, who had come from the far West to administer the sacred offices of the Churen, he asked the zealous support of the society, hoping that he would only continue to @xe- cute the teachings of Christ in the same commendabie way which had distinguished him as @ minister of God in his Western home. The Rev. Dr. Vorberg then ascended the pulpit and preached an exceedingly affecting and eloquent sermon from Paul’s epistie to the Romans. He would, in perform- tng his duties as pastor of that church, take for his guide and instructor the Apostle Paul. Through ail the wanderings and preaching of that great man, after he embraced the religion of Christ, there ran the true vein of solemn devotion to the cause of sal- vation, Neither by Jew nor Gentile could Paul be shaken in his belief, and neither by reproach nor in- sult could he be swerved from his purpose. As lie wrote that with conviction came strength, and that he was weak only when a scoiier and unbeliever, 80 he, the aastor, would say the light of he impressive m ceremonies In which he had partaken, that he would oa renewed ay, to Christ and halt not before he great work Which it would be his mission to ac complish, He concluded by exhorting his audi- tors to give him their cordial support and 0 implore the throne of heavenly grace im his bevalt. THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY. Lecture by Mr. Edger=What is Positivism The Revolution. Mr. Henry Edger read a paper yesterday, at Plimp- ton Hall, before the “Positive Society of America.” Before giving anything like a synopsis of the lecture, it may, perhaps, be interesting to many to know what positivism actually is, Hence the following is copied from the prospectus of the society:— social reconstrnction. ge themselves to an unqualitied accept: ‘ance of this doctrine or of the religion of humanity based Son ions the crane ot, enoleat ae soe of uimenone o att ‘of time-hon- Sred inetitattons, 1 lev ra by very t that a doctrine which feares to fully recone!! f progress ofens ly Feeoncile the einehing claims of prox ansionate and attentive con cme At the sane time eer w how natural it is a new urine to ee Seat Pret of unintentiona) misrepresentation. Its own ‘and organized expounders can ite and enable thoughtful of its importance and it 18 surely only the most narrow and bigoted that Tm rid Ht ie ite Hs a 3 iu pee ; And it was only through this positive science that mankind may fier from this logical stupor to social infancy, from thence to boyhood at last to manhood. The gentleman spoke very em- Dhatically about “fat ecclesi-ass-sticks’’—at least that was the way he pronounced it—who, in concert with the nobles in France, objected to all inova- tion, But there is a power behind the throne. That power 1s twofold—public cpbton, and money; these rule, and will shape the fortune of States. We are now in a transition statejfrom the idea that individuals own property to the principle that everything belongs to all. The ‘popp-u-llar? voice clamors (0 the lecturer said) for improvement, and He Pos Visi of the religion of humanity ajone can f . wn os CHAPEL OF THE UNIVERSITY. Sermon on “The Fature of Man,” by Bishop Snow, Bishop Snow preached yesterday afternoon in the University on “The Future of Man Upon the Earth.”” His text was the thirty-fourth verse of the thirty- seventh Psalm—"Wait on the Lord and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land; when the wicked aré cut off thou shalt see it.” He commenced by remarking that almost every class of the community were looking for “a good time com- ing.” It is true that the shrewdest observers of the present condition and future prospects of the na- tions of the world are beginning to be dismayed by the threatening aspect of the signs In the moral and political horizon. Men’s hearts begin to fail with fear and with loo king for those things which are coming upon the earth, But sul they are con- soling themselves with the hope that, if there must be a crash of kingdoms and nations, and @ mighty tempest burst from the dark clouds that are brooding over the world, it will soon blow over, and all will be serene and prosperous, The political soothsayers are predicting that the nations will soon emerge from the darkness that bas so long enshrouded them into the sunlight of civil and religious liberty, The commercial class are hoping for a time of unexampled prosperity in trade after the present embarrassmen' over. ‘The general philantnropists are very sure in their wh minds that soon they shall see recognized the nive} brotherhood of man. And in the religious world there is also the same fond, visionary dream- ing of a happy and glorious future for the world of mankind, and all the multifarieus and motiey sects are crying “Peace ani safety.” The bigoted devo- tee of Komanism doubts not that in the future that monstrous system must universally prevail, and all nations be subject to the Papal yoke. The haughty sons of the Anglican Church are equally certain that, theirs being the only true faith, 1t must in the future bless the world by its universal triumph. The Methodists profess undoubting and undying faith that, when the worid shail be converted, and Christ shall have the heatnen for his inheritance, all will be Methodists. The Presbyterians and Congre- gationalists are equally sure of converting the world to their tenets, and embracing all nations in their communion. at the close communion Baptists de- mur to this, and declare thatali are wroug who do not rigidiy insist on imimersion; aud, therefore, when the watchmen see eye to eye all will be Bapusts, The Universalists and Unitarians and ail the pro- claimers of “liberal Christianity” declare that, as s00n as the religious world gets its eyes open, and all sectarian barriers are thrown down, 80 that all can meet and shake hands upon the “broad plat- form,” there will be a universal good time. And the spirit monger responds, “Amen.” Thus all expect a “millennium of peace and happiness to to come, But the Word of God gives no promise of good in the future to the world, hor of good to any but such as are addressed in our text, “They that wait on the Lord and keep his way shall be exalted to inherit the earth;'? but that exaltation 1s coupled With the Cutting off of all the wicked. The harmo- nious testimony of Scripture is that God will, by bis mighty judgments, soon uiterly destrey all the ua- godly irom the earth. ‘And the kingdom and do- minion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven suall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.’ Our Saviour says the meek shali inherit the earth. For them, tuerefore, and for them aioue, there is a good time coming. It 1s sure to come in God’s own time, and His time is best. But the proof 33 clear and satisfactory that the times of the wicked nations are ended, and that God has begun the work of cutting them of, so that Christ and his ransomed ones may possess their riguuful inheritance. RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN BROOKLYN. PLYMOUTH CHURCH, The Ordinance of Baptism and Sermon by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. After the opening exercises at Plymouth church yesterday morning the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher called the names of a large number of persons who were candidates for membership. Seats had been specially set apart for these near the desk. Mr. Beecher directed all the persons whose names were on the list to stand up, when he read to them the articles of faith to which they are required to as- sent, He then baptised those who had not been pre- viously sanctified, and required the female candi- dates to remove their headdresses for the purpopse. A few persons were admitted to member- ship in the church by etter. An impressive and eloquent prayer concluded this service. The reverend gentleman selected as the text of nia discourse Hebrews tt., and part of the eleventn verse:—“For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren: The preceding verses showed how Jesus had lowered himself to the level of common humanity to save man through the shedding of his blood and to make of his disciples his.brethren—to admit them into his household and to make "them one with himself. So it is that those who believe in Jesus are united to him like branches to a vine. The sonal relationship of God to man has given to umanity a agus that it never otherwise coulda have possessed. He gave to the cause of sorrow and suffering @ moral meaning. There was much in the condition of the early Christians to lead them to suppose that Obrist was ashamed of them, The Jews were hated by all. They were of all races the most hated and they still are 80. Not another nation on the yf could be selected as more likely to be held in yrs 4 Christ. The Jewish disciples were the most detested of a detested nation, yet God was not ashamed of them asa people; nay, he was not ashamed of them as brethren. To call them brethren was to unite them to himself in ponds of unity, The divine natare of God is illustrated tn this, that he sustains towards his people the reiattonstup held by a parent towards his children, The moral delin- quency of man, his moral obligations, would be sup- posed to form a reason for God's being ashamed of men. This awakens the it, in many of us that God must be ashamed. Every Christian man has moments of reflection, when he accuses him- self of having brought dishonor on the name of his Master, We then do feel that God must be ashamed of us. Yet itis just such that Christ is not ashamed to call his brethren. If we reflect how far from emment experience the average Christian is, We are surp) that God is not ashamed. The cowardly tnterinittent Christian does not dare to do nis duty, .His name ts written, nevertneiess, in the palms Of His hands and He calls him brother. He haa been made in the likeness of man and knows the wickedness of such natures aud has compassion on them. The lowest, meanest, most wretched Chris- tian finds in Jesus a friend who is not ashamed of him. ‘There can be reasons imagined why God is forgiving and kind towards the weakest of his people. It is his glory to be mag- nanimous and that is his pleasure, ‘This hospital, his healing world is his roe wherein he brings up the soul and prepares ito be like unto Him, Children are not so much loved for what they are as for what they will be, and we love men not for what they are, but for what their manhood will develop. So God loves his peo- ple. No one can hesitate to begin a life with such a Saviour. The her could conceive that man might hesitate to cast aside evil and to try to be good who did not Know tae message God had sent them, and the hope He holds out to them who put their trust in Him. No man has power to become a Christian except he has faith. Christ was pre- sented to all, ‘There was @ way opened to Hit, and none need be discouraged. No man ever tailed until death closed his existence. The reverend pen tieman concluded by admonishing the novices, whom, he gatd, he did not regard as saints, to per- severe in the path they had taken. CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH. The Reclamation of Ireland. The Rev. Mr. Hanna, pastor of the Central Baptist church, Williamsburg, last evening read to the con- gregation a circular signed by leading Baptists in Great Britain, asking for aid for the reclamation of Ireland. He then introduced the Rev. RK. M. Henry, of Belfast, Ireiand, who ts on a collecting tour in this country to raise fands for the purpose of evangelizing his benighted countrymen. Rev. Mr. Henry delivered @ lengthy sermon descriptive of hundreds of missionaries, In tne town of Londonderry they are rocking 8 oe which surpasses leur the ral of the Estab- lished Church. Although its cost is enormous they did not go out of the parish to collect funds. Now that the State Church is to be abolished, Ii flelds will be Te oe 1m the hands of the Ro’ jt day there are one hundred and seventy ‘hdusand rons only the Irish tongue. rina lic, Was no Protestant place of worship in it up toa late period. At present, however, there 1s a flourisning mission there, and many converts are made, notwith- standing the assertion that a Roman Catholic never abandons his faith. Mr. Henry appealed for aid for the reclamation of that Unhanpy land, He attributed e the benighted condition of t! -judged and tyrannical ation, Reale: ates The services were brought to a close by the Rev. Mr. Hanna, who offered afervent prayer for (rg habitants of “the gem of the sea.’ DELEGATES TO THE UNIVERSALIST CONVENTION. A convention of the members of the congregation of the Church of the Saviour—Universalist—in Pierre- pont street, near Clinton, was held yesterday upon the conclusion of the morntng services, and six dele- gates, half of which number being ladies, were elect- ed to attend-he Universalist Convention, to be held in New york at the Church of the Messiah. RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN NEW JURSEY. Jersey City. In the South Sixth street Methodist church yester- Qay the pastor, Rev. L. R. Dunn, delivered a sermon on the leading features of Christ’s passion. Judas brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests, but they would not put it in the treasury because it was the price of blood. They accord- ingly purchased a place called the potter's fleld. In this world we find men who are very conscientious about little things, but quite indifferent in matters of great importance. The chief priests were very con- scientious about taking the blood money, while they clamored for the of Christ, and that blood. remains on the Jews to this day, and will remain till they acknowledge Him whom they crucified as the great Kedeemer of mankind, the Son of God. The Jews cried out, His blood be upon us aud upon our chil- dren,” and it has stained their race for two thousand years. When Pilate asked the people whom he should release, Christ or Barabbas the robber, they all cried out “Barabbas.” So it is with Christians. When- ever you cheose anything aside from Christ you take unto yourselves the robber. Whither you follow the , or self, or sin, you reject Clurist and love the robber. The great question of the worid to-day 16 “Christ or Barabbas.’’? To this complexion ail issues must come. Jgnerg Christ and you follow Barabbas. The Jews deman at Christ should be crucitied, Now xion was a Roman punishment, and sonny Plate. the Y ok Roman Governor of Juaes was appealed to. According to the Jewish code 9 gan convicted of blasphemy would be stoned to death, ‘The system of scourging was the most humiliating ever,ulicted on an individual, even worse than crucifixion, and few ever survived it. This explains why Christ fainted under the load of the cross. And here it must be observed Chat the man who was called upon to take up the cross was an African, for Cyrene, the country of Simon, was, beyond all doubt, a district of Africa, Here is one great example of the black manu being called on to assist in the great work of redemption. We should never forget tals, but we should hope and pray that that race, so long despised and oppressed, may arise and march forth to victory under the banner of the cross, We should fervently implore the Giver of all good things that they may receive the ligat of divine {att Newark. The weather in Newark yesterday was not of a character such as to inspire that leeling of devotion which church-goers in general (and Newark church- goers in particular) are supposed to possess, From the earliest hour of daylight a cold, driving rain swept through the streets, beating pitilessly at the hour of the morning services upon those who had the hardinood to meet its severity. The rain did not cease for prayers or worship, and the meagre audiences that assembled in the morning were la a condition of wnpicasunt moisture Lo hear the solemn warnings of the preachers. Towards evening, how- ever, the storm abated and the places of worship were attended by large audiences—the numbers pre- sent being increased no doubt by their force absence in the morning. At the First Baptist church special services Were held, the meeting being ad- dressed by Kev, W. C, Van Meier, late o1 the lioward Mission of New York, and by Messrs. E. D, Jones, of St. Louis, and N. P. Kemp, of Boston. It was in this church that the National Sunday School Con vention was held, and the mecting last evening be- ing held for the special benefit of the Sabbath school @ large attendance was given, a noticeable interest having been inspired by the presence of the convention. The remarks of the speakers were di- rected to the subject of efficiency in Sunday school labor and were deeply interesting aud instructive, ‘At Upper Library Hall, Rey. J. C. Chatterton lec- tured on the subject of the character of Christ, His incarnation and what He came todo. The capacity of the hali was hot so large as to admit of a very large attendance, but the limited space was filled with listeners. The reverend gent'eman set forth clearly and in a persuasive tone the pe trines of the New Caurek, dud bis aud deeply iuterested, Trenton. The driving rain storm of yesterday dissipated all hope for a display of fastionabie feuale parapherna- Na, and, with the exception of the congregations of the First Presbyterian and tne Catholic cuurches, kept almost all the church-going population witnin doors. The announcement that the Rev. Dr. McCosh, President of Princeton College, would preach in the former edifice in the forenoon attracted thither an unusually large congregation, despite the extreme inclemency of the weather. Dr. McCosh selected as his text Deuteronomy xxxiv., 4, which treats of of 3 on Mount Nebo, his J land and his death and burial. The reverend doctor commeaced by por- traying In smogth, poetic language the beauues of Canaan as it lay stretched beneath the survey of Moses, with 1t# romantic hilis and fercile plains, and the joyful and sorrowfal but solemn thougats that constituted his reflections as he gazedjon that delightful country which he was prohibited from entering. The reverend preacher then reviewed the leading events of Moses’ life-—lis being found in the cradle of buirushes; his training in the learning of the Egyptians; lus abandonment of his earthly prospects as the adopted son of Pharoah’s daughter (choosing rather to suffer ailliction with the people of God than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season); his wanderings in the desert; the vision of the burning bush; his fight with the Israelites; the fate of Pharoah and his host aud his experience on Sinai while receiving the cotnmandments. Dr. McCosh believed that tue recollection of those inci. denis of his ive must have crowded ou his mind and alternately occasioned 1a his sou! emotions of joy and sorrow. His disobedience was next described as that of smiting the rock to bring forth water, in- stead of speaking to it as ordained. Moses thus fell into the saine sins of unbelief and Impatience that he was trying to suppress among his foliowers, and God, Who has no respect for persons, decreed tnat he should not have the honor of leading tis chosen people into the jand of Canaan, because he did not sanctify the Lord in thelr sight. Dr. McCosh then proceeded to apply this paraphrase of his subject to every-day life by alluding to the trials and vicissitudes of fortune and the vantty of hoping for the good things of this world. It 1s not money that is the root of ali evil, but the love of money. When we expect to derive contentwent and happt- neas from any object in this life we are violating the first commandment; and furthermore, it ts not cer- tain we can obtain anything earthly that we are in search of, and even if obtained there is tittle reason to think ‘that we will be better than before. We cannot expect pure and unsullied happmess this side the grave. We were not made for this world. We cannot have peace on earth when the soul is not at peace with its Maker, and this blessed state cannot be achieved and the distarbing causes removed un- less by the sanctifying power of God's grace. RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN CONNECTICUT. Bridgeport. Briporrort, May 2, 1869. A violent northeast storm, with a thunder shower at noon, prevailed ‘all day and prevented a very large attendance at the various places of worship. ‘The storm was one of the most severe of the season, At the Baptist church the pastor, Kev. A, M. Hop- per, preached in the morning an excellent sermon ‘on the finished work of Christ, taking his text from John xix., J1—“It is finished.” The discourse was well considered and finely delivered, and was listened to ea a congregation, considering the inclement e of the weather, Inthe evening there was the concert of the Sabbath school, witi A the Ln Candee, and oth jes recttations, singing, At the: Chiversatist church, on Beaver street, the Rev. Orris Roberts, of Moust Vernon, preached in the afternoon. The regular.monthly concert of the Bethesda Mission Sunday ae was omitted. The communion service was celebrated in the majority of the churehes mm the morning, and at Trinity in the, evening there was a fuli choral wervice, At St. Augustine's and: St. Mary's Catholle ‘churches mass Was celebrated “in the morning vespers in the evening. ‘The attendance at both churches was large, At Ly- ceum Hall In the evening Miss Annte B. Linmen, & regular month! interesting ad celebrated trance the ists. The storm a little towards but the wet condition of the streets and th: prevented Spiritual reatening oar many persons from attending wor- New Haven. New Haven, May 2, 1869. A severe rain storm has prevalied all day in the city, ing many people away from the churches. In morning at the Ceatre church Rev. Mr. Walker Preached a discourse from the seventy-ninth Psalm, ninth verse. His subject was, “The glory and honor of God as evidenced by his work in endeavoring to blot sin from the world.” God was glorious in his retri- butive character, but he was still more soin the character of an expiator, An intellectual link was gree than physical, so was the moral greater than intellectual, and the spiritual greater than the moral. The character of the work was also judged by the quality of the materials used. Asin the work redemption God gave himself, so most glorious was the work. In the afternoon Rev. Dr. Carroll, of the South Reformed church, preached his farewell discourse, taking for his text the words, “Let me die the death of the righteous, and last end be like His.” His sermon considered. logistic reference to Christian virtues of those members of the church and Sabpath school who have died during the seven years of his pastor- age. He pone in nigh eulogism of the late Gerard ‘allock, w! he termed a man like Nestor, with- out the crimes of Nestor. In conclusion he ap- pealed to his people to be prepared to aie the death of a and then bade them farewell, ad the hope that he might meet them in that world. During the opening services he announced that since his return from Europe he had raised $27,000—enough to pay off the entire debt of the chureh.* In the afternoon, at the First Methodist church, Rev. Mr. Watkins preached from Revelations vi: 9, 10, His subject was “The Heavenly Multitude.” Just before the services com- menced the wind blew oif the ballustrade on the roof, on the west side of the church, and a lady Reis at the SERe, Darron escaped being Killed the falling tim! RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON, May 2, 1869, The horrible wet weather that prevatied here all day caused the churches to be very slimly attended. About two-thirds of the pews were empty and the big bugs for the most part made their devotions at home. Owing to the continued sickness of the Rev. Dr. White, of St. Matthew’s Roman Catholic church, Rev. Mr. Kelly, of Georgetown College, occupied the pulpit and delivered a highly impressive sermon on the efficacy of prayer. Le dwelt with much se- verity upon the practice so prevalent in the United States of using profane lan- guage, Swearing, cursing and blasphemy were more common, he mpugns, than praying in this country. It was a cn orable fact, but alas too true. People pretended that they were too busy to pray, but they found time enough to curse and blas- pheme at ali hours of the day and in every place, even in the bosoms of their families. If instead of indulging in profane language so frequently they would only make mental prayers for protection and grace from the Deity, how many saints would not the country prance and how vastly would society be benefited. Rev. Father Mackin celebrated the high mass. It was expected that General Lee would atsend Christ church in Georgetown to-day, and many went there wita the expectation of seeing him, but he did not make his appearance. RELIGIOUS SERVICES ELSEWHERE. Newburg. NEWBURG, N. Y., May 2, 1869. Afurious northeast storm has prevaited here to- day. The rain has descended in torrents the entire day, and, of course, the attendance at the various churches has been @ slim as the storm has been severe, The great majority of well-dressed saints have conducted their devotions comfortably at home. In many of the churches the services were made very short, the clergymen not caring to waste their oratorical “sweetness on the desert air” of empty pews. This present month of May being aiso the “Month of Mary’? in the Catholic churehes, the services at St. Patrick’s in this city will take complexion accordingly. This evening a children’s service was heid in tue church, The hta- nies of Mary, the Blessed Virgin, were chanted by | the children, one of whom presided at the organ. A similar service will be held on each evening during the month, ‘Thursday next, Ascension Tharsday, mass will be celebrated at six A. M. and high mass at half-past ten A.M. in the Union Presbyterian church, Rev. Wendell Prime, the pastor, discoursed on the baptism of Christ, taking for his text Matthew iil., 16, 17:—**And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up scraightway out of the water, and lo the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him; and lo, a voice from heaven saying, Tits is my beioved Son, in whom I am well pleased” The reverend speaker calied the atcention of his audi- o the following potnts:—Tue opening of the vens, the dove, the voice and what !t sald. These pois he proceeded to elucidate and elaborate at eugth and to the cdiflcauion of lis hearers. ° Poughkeepsie. PovGnKeEPs!£, May 2, 1869. A terrible rain and@ hail storm prevailed here all day, the wind blowing a gale from the northeast, ‘and as 4 consequence the various places of worship were very slimly attended. The doors of some of them were not open this evening. At the Cannon street church the Rey. Mr. Prentice was to have delivered a discourse on the origin of sin; but a prayer meeting was held insiead. At the Congre- gauonal church this morning the Rev. Mr. Loomis preached upon “The Piatlanthropy of Cnrist.’? Nearly all the sermons tn the city lately have been ofadull, prosy character, and there 18 @ yearning for urore ey in preachers. The peopie who go to church regularl are anxious for our dominies to preach againss the sins of the day. At St. Peter's church this morning the atteudance was quite iarge. Father Mackie preached au instructive sermon from the tenth chapter of John, Sist to the 48th verse. At the various Episcopal churches communion service was observed. The Mission Sabbath schools were also stuuly attended tuis afternoon, but much imte- rest was manifested in the aon The tem- perance meetings at Temperance fiali, in Mill street, morning and evening, Were enthusiastic, aad many addresses were made. Middletown, Mrppietows, N, Y., May 2, 1860. Owing to the prevalence of a very heavy rain the attendance at the maumerous churches tu tis place was very smail to-day. As has been the casé for some weeks past, the lectures of the Rev. J. A. Har- vey, at the Congregational church, on Suaday even- ing, are the leading feature in the religious services here. This morning the Kev. Mr. Harvey took for the subject, of his discourse, “The multitude touch- ing Jesus,” taking for his text Luke vie 19. Here was a marvellous speciacie—a person who but re- cently was ite obscure at Nazareth drawing to himself great muititude of people out of all Judea, and Jerusalem aud from the seacoast of ‘Tyre and Sidon.” What was the great attraction? Why were so many come? ‘They were captivated by such a great sympatiz by sueh a benefactor, by one so disinterested in his benevolence. [Humanity 18 always won by that spi fhe multitude w d be attracted by it now as thea, And were his fessea followers, amid the present abounding sel ness, to demonstrate teufoid more disinterested sympathy for men, would nota tensold greaver num. ber “seek to touch Jesus,” both for his nealing vir- tae and also in a likeness to lis perfect example, sweet spirit and pure character? Thef approacned him with humility, with confidence and persistency. The result was silent, instan- taneous and effectual —_— cures, Whoever touches Jesus will be heard, for his virtue flows as freely now as in the dav He heated that multitude, and if the word wouid but receive it the world would be filled with its sweet fragrance. In the evening Mr. Harvey gave the sixth iecture in the popular course on social relations—subject, “The Relation and Duties of Children to Parents.” These lectures are largely attended, and alihough extra seats are placed in the church every Sunday evening many are compelled to go away unable vo obtain even standing room, ‘There was no service at the First Baptist church to-day, that churen beak without a pastor. At the First Presbyterian chure! the Rey. Dr. Seward delivered a fine discourse on “The Beautiful Blending of Merey with God's Justice,” taking for his text the ith and 12th verses of the psalm—“God has spoken once; twice have I heard this; that ower belongeth to God. Also unto Thee, Oh Lord, jongeth mercy; for Thou renderest Sans man according to his works,” At the Methodist Episco- ai church the Rev. J. G. Oakley preached from ie 19th chapter of Acts, 24th to verse, inclusive. He spoke of the tendencies of people of the present age to age J money tm- stead of God, aid thought that church members were not liberal eno in thew donations for church purposes, the Sec. ood Presbyterian church the Beattie preached from the fourth verse of sec chapter of the Songs of Solomon, « brought me to the banqueting house and His yer me was love.” je ner After the. sermon the hol, sacrament Was administered. Services were held as usual at the other churches, but the at each was very meagre. Port Jervis. Port Jervis, N. Y., May 2, 1869. ‘The services at the various churches in this town were not very iargely attended to-day, owing to the heavy rain. The Kev. T. J, B. House, the new pas- tor of the Baptist church, preached his open! ser- mon 7 me NSoruing. ihr Ae P, Botsford, - Presb) church, preac! ‘he Meeting of Abranum. and Melchisedek ater the Slaughter of the Kings.” There was communion morning in the Reformed and Method- fee churches. services in the other churches as usual,