The New York Herald Newspaper, March 7, 1870, Page 4

NEW YURK HERALD. MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1870.—TRIPLE SHEBT. gudience the necessity of importunate, earnest | under touca Signer Louis Dacheuer, poses bd and . Steady faith in God, forth ihe ani ie ive Stabat Mater of Concone, some of his lived in the time of Christ | which was well executed by the following * a Ba do ou ey wt have ion ap | Revise ebrag, inca cag {i'fue frst rebum. Bus ihe the Tho Nov, Pater Preston then addressed the con- vuring the Lenten season services will be held in this church every day in the week except Monday and Saturday. Sermons will be preached on Wednes- day evenings by different ministers of the hureh. A meeting action in regard to @ fair to be: nel of the Sheltering Arms, On Easter Monda‘ LAGHT STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, Lost at SeaThe Oneida Calamity and the Mississippi and Scranten Disasters—Tie Tere rible Loss of Life Daring the Pust Few Weeks, and Who is Responsibic. Laight street church ts @ quiet looking building. No gorgeous stained windows, no fluted columns, no intricate mouldings of wood or stone attract the observer from withont, tHe may look opposite and see the north side of a mammoth ‘freight depot and compare its unposing grandeur with the simple ap- Then he will think how wonderful are the ways of man, his tastes and how singular his worship. To mammon he erects grand, imposing edifices, sparing neither pains nor expense; to God he puts up apiain building, with little decoration and less ornament, But, then, Mammon, you know, gives him plenty of money and Labor Jor his servant; puts fine wine In his collar and the fat ofthe land in hisiarder; clothes him in fine raiment, and causes But God only sends the sun in at bis windows to wake lim up a@morpings or the little beggar at his door to This makes all the difference in the world, Mammon gets six-sevenths and God one- pearance of the church opposite, how curious him to be beloved because of his riches. ask a penny. seventh, These may be all theories; but go to Laight street Baptist church and you wiil find that they havea very great practical side. Here there 1s no display. Everything is piain, though neat. One may look through the haif-vacated, silent pews for the newest chignon or the latest bonnet, for a Lord Stanley scarf or a French shirt bosom, and he will not find them. Bat he will meet a face that can smile even if found in church, or a hand that needs not the pro- tection of @ strawscolored glove to read a plain prayer book. And, again, why should the worship- pers de fashionable? There is no set rule as to the graceful mode of kneeling, or at what angle to bend the neck; there is no equation for sidewalk worship- pers, and the streets have too busy a look for sacred Murting. Laight street church has, like many others, almost undergone @ revolution. For three years it had no regular pastor, and its congregation began vo leave it, one by one, and go up town to wor- ship at more gilded surines. Last December there ‘were scarcely thirty supporters in the clurcl, when the Rev. Frederick Evans, @ Welsh minister from Hyde Park, Pennsylvania, was called in and given the charge. His flock was smail, but it has growo larger since, till now it is quite respectable in num- bers. The pastor is a very young man, of fine per- sonal appearance, winning Ways and a delivery of speech which immediately enrapts the attention; aud tails, added to his untiring efforts in the good cause, has saved the church. In lus eiforts he is well supported by the deacons, of wiom there are two, J. P. Olmstead and Jacob Lawall, aud by the trustees, James Pyle (the president), Jacob La- wall, J. P. Olmstead, @. C. Howser, K. Oddieliow, W. M. Jeens, W. Hardy, W. Taompson and Rk, Waters. There is nothing remarkabie about the music, being for the most part congregativnal, and consisting of simple hymns. Thougk the works of whe great masters would be preicrable they could scarce inspire a deeper feeling than the cnorus from many throats of a simple, toucaing hymn. ‘The discourse yesterday was entitied ‘The Lost on ‘Land and Sea,” and was a fearful rebuke upon the responsible ones of marine or land disasters. Tak- ing tor his text Matthew, vill, xxv.—‘And His disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, Lord, gave 0s; We perish’’—the speaker said that the tnflu- euce of ile upon succeeaing ages cannot be de- soribed. Those living now are surrounded by the gages acd heroes of the past. The learning of Con- Tucius 18 ours; the poetry of Homer tuspires our minds; Raphael palnted for all ages; Handel’s genius charms the minds and hearts of the nineteenth century; more than ail, Christ 18 the contemporary of all men at all times, His words are, “Lo, [am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” An ordi- nary life has @ powerful influence upon society in future. This makes 1 of great importance and value. God, on Sinai, when the mountam shook, the thunder roared, the lightning flashed, said, “rnou shalt not kill”? Such fearful slaugnter of human lives as has happened in tne past tew days cannot but present a spectacle that must produce upon the mind and heart strong and powerful intu- ences, The 120 persons that lost their lives in the wreck of the Onieua; the seventy in the burning of the Mis- sissippi steamer; the twenty-five that were Killed on the Mississippi Centrat Kallroad; the eight that were hurled to eternity by a boiler expiosion in Scranton, Pa., all meta terrible tate. What sacri- fice of human lives! What cries of agony, and that sound, “Lord save us; we perish."" ‘The preacher then advanced the following pro- positions:—First, men are exposed to imminent dangers and liable to sudden death sometimes be- cause of the awkwardness and inhumanity of others. He applied this to the disgraceiul conduce of the oficers of the Bombay, which struck the Onieda, People twenty miles off heard the signal sounds, but they did not. How dull of hearing! What a black page in the history of ocean life! At other times because of the negiect and indifference of those in authority. ‘The chief accidents are brought about by the care- lessness of capitalists. Tne reply of Captain Wh- liams, of the Oneida, when informed that the vessel was sinking, was, ‘I know it; but what can I do? 1 asked for wore boats, but they were not allowed me.” Here was capital allowing ouly two boats for 176 persons. Second, that great loss is sustained when such disasters happen; and third, that one should be constantly prepared to meet death. These, like the former propositions, were illustratea by examples, ali tending to show the undue influence of capital and the evil i¢ was working in tue world, when that influence tended to the gratification of its own selfish ents, In regard to the preparation for death. alluding to toe advice of his old tutor, “Take au utubrella when 1¢ 18 fine, and do as you choose on a wet day,” he said, ‘Be ready in the calm for the storm, i time for eternity, in life for death,” and then closed us discourse with an appeal for the sailor, that every ship might be a bethél, every vessel a mariners temple, and every seamun a herald of the cross, and when the arrival of a steamer will be weicomed as one of the greatest blessiugs Knows. ST. ANN’S ROMAN CATAOLIC CHURCH. Lenten Soervice~Music and Devotion—The Cougregation—Sermon by Rev. Thomas s. Preston. At the vesper service in this church last evening an unusually large congregation atteuded, the com- modioas edifice being tnronged to 11s utmost ca- pacity, while some hundreds were compelied to perform their adorations in standing posture, as seats for the vast assemblage could not be procured, The dampness of the weather did not dampen the ardor of the worshippers, wno always attend tp full force on the occasion of the opening Sunday celebration of the Lenten fesiival, a season always held in reverence by the Catholic Church and ever dear to the hearts of the atraches of that creed. At the time announced for the commencement of tie services the appearance of the church was touching and improssive and presented a solemn, devotional appearance, which spoke in eloquent language of the sutferings of the man God, which should be the subject of the medi- tation of the faithtul during these days of prayer and fasting. A large life-sized crucifix, bearmg the marks of the Divine wounds, was erected on the main altar, while around the church were hung paintings of the ‘‘stations of tne cross,” represent- ing the principal acts in the drama of Chrisva passion. The pews were filled with a class of persons evi- dently in well-to-do circumstances, who had au eye to the decoratio n of the outward man as well as to the purification of the inner spirit. In the front seats there was visibie an air of worshipping the Lord according to the established rules of etiquette, which has ever been inseparable from Chris- tian service and which must ever be while man 1s tainted with the weaknesses transmitted from our first father. * The weil trained mustache bore at a tasteful angle from the neatiy lt morocco Prayer Book, and it woud appear, om tue bright beams that shot rapidly around from the eyes of some of the ladies, that they were at loggerheads with that dogma of their Church witch teaches that there is but One Adorable. In this Connection it should be statea that a portion of the congregation was composed of memvers of dissenting churchea, who, led by curiosity, came to criticise the impressive ceremonies of the Catiolic Lenten celebration. The passageways and the gal- leries were occupied by earnest devotees, who came neither to see nor to be seen, but were guided by Christian instincts instilled into their bosoms with their mothers’ milk. ‘They are the bone and sinew, the flesh and blood pf the Church, and are prepared to upnoid and de- send hele faith by word and act and money, under all circdfnsianees. Among tie regular Ay Y at this chareh are found sé Wéu So6Wu Git as Frank N, Otis, M. Tiers, P. Garrick, Jos¢ Navatrd, Gunning 8. Bediord, Jr.; Bartuolemeo Bianco, Jobn Gaynor, Jonn P. Boyle, Michael J. Cody and Yilliam and John O'Brien. Rev. W. C. Poole presided and chanted the open- (2g verses of the vespers of the day. The fue organ, Potter will cold @ confirmation at the Heavenly thelr consciences, He said our Jered to show man that the way ol the cross is the road to eternal ilfe. ST, TERESA’S CHURCH The Seventh Ward at Prayer—An Eust Side Temple of Religion and its Devotces=The Bible Not the Basis of Christiauiiy—sermon by the Rev. Hugh Fiattery. Astranger unacquainted with the observances of the Catholic Church could not fati to be impressed with the Idea that @ solemn season was being ftly honored had he been present yesterday in the sacred edifice dedicated to St. Teresa, Everything was Symbojical of the holy time of Lent—the earnest and devotional bearing of the congregation, the crowded state of the building, the grand and sug- gestive strains of music, the vestments of the cele- brants, and the general surroundings, all demon- strated an occasion of prayer, penance and supplication. ‘The site of St, Teresa's ts compara- tively oid. Formerly occupied as a Presbyterian church, it was purchased in 1863 by the Catholic Parishioners, at acost Of $47,000, and dedicated in the same year by Archbishop Hughes. Since that time extensive alterations and improvements have been made upon the butiding. Under the charge of the Christian Brothers a spactous free academy has been established, and altogether nothing has been spared by a generous and benevolent congrega- tion to further the interests of the Church, The parishoners comprise some of the wealthi- est and most respectable citizens of the metropolis. St. Teresa’s now stands @ monument to their perseverance, zeal and lberality, It may be men- tioned, by the way, that its annual collection at Christmas for the orphans was second only to that of the most opulent church in the city. To the exer- tions of the Key. James Boyse, the esteemed pastor, the present high standard of the church 1s nota little due. The trustees of St. Teresa’s are Messrs. Thomas Muldoon and Jeremtan Quinlan, and there are few churches in the oity whose limits are so Severely taxed, 80 crowded 1s it on all occasions. Although aMluence ana social standing were among the component parts of the congregation yesterday, the tollets while elegant and tasteful were modest and unostentatious, Among those of the members of tne church occupying pews at the head of the cen- tre isie were Dr. McSweeny, Mr. and Mrs. 1. J. Cum- mins, Mrs. Quinlan, Mr. Pillip Lyons and the Misses Lyons, the Misves McManus, Dr. Haren, Coroner and Mrs. Keenan, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Whitehead, Messrs. John Ford, P. Muldoon, Richard Dalton, J. McCormack, Edward Scully Payton, and others, Although the church was filled in évery portion, the sexton, Mr. Hugh Smith, made cour- toons, dccommodations where room ¢ould be ob- ained. The services commenced at half-past ten o'clock, the Rev. Father Perry officiating as celebrant. At the termination of hig first gospel the Rev, Hugh Flattery, who, tn the absence of Fathor Boyce, has energetically iulfilied the duties of pastor, preached an eloquent sermon, he text was taken from the gospel of the day, Matthew iv., 1, 11, deacribiog where the Saviour was led by toe evil spirit to be tempted by the devil. The reverend gentleman, after some introductory observations, dilated upon we absurdity of making the knowledge of the Bivle the basis of Christianity. Many persons of our age believed that to quote Scripture fuently was a token of @ true Christian, not his chief business on earth. From such priaciples tt should pte & follow that the devil was a true Chrisuan, since he quoted with accuracy from Deu- teronomy on the occasion when he tempted our Saviour. Ot ali the absurdities—and their name 1s legion—which the human mind has originated in matters of religion the most groundiess was that of the suficiency of the Bible as a rule of faith, Mi- lions of Christians, even in this exaggerated nine- teenth century, could not read the Bible; other mil- lions were blind and could mot see the Bible; others again were ignorant, deaf and blind and could peither see nor hear it read. Such @ ok could not be a rale of faith for the human family, A rule of falth must be untyersal, accommodated to the capacity of ail classes of mem, sufficientiy calculated to vate the loftiest understanding, and ‘yet so plain and simple that foois. Could not err therein’? The history of the Bible too plainly proved it had never been found to be such. All heresy fell back upon the Bible for support, and ail found in it an equaliy appropriate motto. The devil fell back upon the Bible to tempt its author, From its own intrinsic evideace the Bible, therefore, stood as an inaufl- cient rule of faith, Fifty years had elapsed after the ascension of Christ before one line of the Now ‘Testament was written. lt was not antil after the ciose of che first century that it was completed, The same principle was maintained in reference to the Uld Testament. The reverend gen- tieman coucluded by controverting in a learned and most eloquent manner the assertions made by those opposed to his faita that the Catnolic Church was opposed to the dissemihation of Bible literature. He called attention to the fact that the first Bible in eXistence Was issued by the Catholic Church, and it was now on exhibition tua Britisn museum in London, He scouted any authenticity for this as- sertion, and proved nis points in an able and logical argument, ‘The sermon was throughout listened to With devout attention by the large congregation present. ‘Tite musical arrangements at St. Teresa’s, under the careiul and judicious direction of Mr. J. £. Gleagon, the organist, are in entire gharmony with the excellent and commendable surroundings. Al- though limited, the choir is composed of wei! trained artists of uch capacity. Rossiui’s fine mass for three voices, in ) minor, was performed yesterday with splendid effect—the soloists, Miss Orloff, soprapo; rs. Hollbrook, contralto, andg Signor Morini, basso, executing their respective parts with great accu- racy, taste and feeling. Tne manner in which the Agnus Det was rendered was especially praisewor- thy. Mr. Gleason played a beautiful voluntary at the end of the services, whica terminated shortly alter wwelve o'clock. CHAIST CHUACH. The Anglo-Catholic Lenten Services=The Church Oficers—Sermon by Kev. Father Downey. ‘The iirst service at this church yesterday morning was the celebration of the Eucharist at seven o'clock. At half-past ten was the usual morning prayer, fol- lowed by a sermon preached by the Rey, Father Downey from the text, “And Jesua was led up into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” The preacher reviewed the temptation Ia the wilderness, showing that there Christ overcame the three great enemies of the Christian—tne world, the flesh and the devil--and he exhorted his hearers so to use this holy season of Lent that they might, like their Master, triumpn over all foes, He said the Church now calis all her children to weeping, praying and fasting, and tt is incumbent upon them to obey. No one rule of tast- ing can be ,applied to all cases, a8 on the score of hieaith some may require wiiat others can ao with- oat; but for all the princtpie ts the same—mortiilc: be of the flesh im order to ie exaltation of the spirit. "AC hait-past three was held the beantiful children’s service. ihe schowrs of the Sauday School were brought ito the church by their teachers and imme- diately a chou of men and boys came from the ves- try room singing # processional; after which {oi- lowed the Enylish vesper service, the music of which closes with the Magnificat. Just prior to the sing- ing of this, the altar candles and gas jets within the cbancel are lighted, At the close of we choral ser- vice the Rev, Father Brown catechised the older children on subjects peculiar to the season, and then tol to the little ones an instructive story. ‘This church is under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. F. C, Ewer (now confined at home by tiliness), assisted by the Rev. T. McKee Brown, and stands at the head of the great Anglo-Catholic movement in this country, which position it assumed imme- diately aiter the preaching of the famous sermons oa “The Failure of Protestantism” by the rector. Among its members are many of our wealthy and tmfluentiai citizens, ‘The wardens are Messrs. Spen- cer K. Green and James Dixon and Messrs. Jonn Ruckel, Charies T. Cook (of Tiffany & Co.), George H. Perine and Jacob Lansing are of the vestry. During Lent there will be three services datiy— celebration of the Eucharist at seven A. M., niorn- ing prayer at nine A. M. and evening prayer at half- past four P. M. CHUNCH OF THE FREE METHODSTS. The Protcssions of the Sect and the Enthusi- astic Manner in Which They Worship— “The Church of the Living God?=Scrmon by Rev. John T. James. Up a dingy, narrow, dreary staircase, to a room on the second floor of Metropolitan Hall, Sixth avenue, opposite Highth street, was found yesterday morn- ing the primitive gathering of Eyeg Methodists of New York at worship. The floor dee, fea cae téine faged with age hung over rusty windows, a small desi table stood near the front of the building, with a Bible and hymn nook thereon, ® stove 100 small to be at all serviceable on such @ chilly morning hissed its vain subject being one of great efforw to send @ warming oreath to the nearest of the congregation, surrounding all in great contrast with the beauty and grandeur, of the faanionabie structures that lift their turrets ang towers near by, where Christ receives the homage due Him by pent- tent fashionable worshippers. The audience gath- ered to listen to the professions of their faith was small and very peculiar in many re- spects. But one or two young people were seep, while @ colored boy and woman occupted prominent seats, gravely awaiting the opening services, Lux- ury of apparel evidently was not thought of by any One of them, the decided simplicity of attirea at times almost approaching the untidy. There were the marks of life’s battle on every face there; the struggle for existence being something more than child's play with them. The evil influence of extra- vagance in dress that spreads, like a circle in the water, wider and wider, resisting all attempts to arrest its progress, can hardly ever be their lot, and they come under & cuuimon root to offer up prayers as they think proper on the Sabbath, ‘The Free Methodists profess to be not of the earth, earthy, ‘They do not believe in any of the isms, the fashionable tendencies of «the age, feeling what Christ taught is well enough, aud by taking up His cross daily, coming out trom'the world and separat- ing from its uncleanness they will be saved. ‘They believe in the Holy Zotar, in general atonement, in the necessity ofa new birth, in the witness of the spint and 10 future rewards and punishments. Tney luok upon practical godliness as the never failing result of @ genuine reiigious experience, and pass toat tnose who profess to be disciples of Christ should come oat from unbeltevers, abstaining from grt ean oi ' rule e 0 1 colored as to the white race. subsea lied During the services some of the more enthusiastic interrupted the minister, breakin; thoughts with frequent ‘hallelwal regard for their Sppropriatencss, an if in a deep sieep, ul piteous cries for ald and strength, Rev, John T. James, a the head of the band, is a young man, nos very bold in his views, original in style of unougat or expression, but sin- cere. His sermon was not calculated to satisty a refined or cultivaced taste, nor would it make much of an impression on @ miscellaneous audi- ence, yet he seems imbued with so much skill that he points meaningly to that belef ond simple teaching:—‘Love | G ani love oneanother.” The text was First Timothy, lil., 16— “Which is the courch of the living God, the pil- lar and ground of the trath.’’ ‘ue minister said God.always hau @ people, Adam and Eve, no douvt, were of God's annointed, and fouily saved. Tue Lord will always have @ Church and & people, and he is the same to-day as in the time of the israelties, protecting them when they followed Him, and chas- vening them when they departed irom tis ways. That congregation before the preacher was ‘a part of Cnrisi’s Church, and destined to be the pillar and column. They were quar- ried out of the human family, and the rough edges smoothed off thas they might fit in the great struc. ture, The liie of God was within them, and the were the reflection of’ His Hie, aud exampie for all. Strangers and pilgrims here on earth, there was no such tlung as resting in downy nests in ease and comfort, as some Curisans thought they could, be- coming politicians, being interested in fine arts and other worldly matters, as if God had given them @ tide deed to the country. This world wouid never be july converted, and it was their duty to get out of it, aud with them snatch a3 many as they could. The ciements of love and humility were then reverted to by Mr. James as being indispensable in thelr faith, when’he conciuded by asserting that God wanted them all as ughts in the world, navi brought them out of a corrupt Church that might receive the trush ana show it. Following the sermon “words of testimony” were delivered by some of the congregation. four or five women, including the colored aitendant, and as many men, referred to the religious fervor that pos- sessed them, and adding to thelr statements we rather indubitable proofs that they felt what they bad uttered by demonstrations of saouting, laughing, crying and dancing in their places. Whether the terpsichorean feats added to tne solemnity of the occusion or not cannot be answered by an outsider, but tt certainly tenged to show that those who thus indulged were in good physical condition. ‘Tue ser- vices were prolonged to a late hour, CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH, The Catholic Question and Secular Schools— Sermon by the Rev. Georgo H. Hep- ‘worth. ‘This edifice was crowded to excess last evening with a lurge, fashionable and attentive audience, to usten to a discourse on the above subject by the most popular Unitarian preacher of theday. The iunportance and much discussed at the present time, was sufficent to account for the large gathering. The preacher was rather late in ascending the rostrum and the organist played two or three voluntaries to entertain the worshippers during the interregnum, though to ail appearance this seemed waolly unneces- Sary, a6 the ladies and their male champions passed the time in surveying their neighbors and measuring them from top to toe, A band ofmmen in the gal- lery, three in number, passed the greater part of thelr ume in selecting out a lady conspicuous for the purpose of engaging in disputation on the subd- Ject of her attire. The lecturer selected his text from the Epistle to the Galatians, v. ‘Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us tree, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” said that they were on the verge of a revolution, and its results would be more important than any- thing which had occurred in American history since He the Declaration of Independence. It was a revolution whose opposing factions would influehce the usages of society and otherwise affect the fundamental principles of religion, The time had come when a man should stand on the one side or the other, and it was a question which would be settled within the next ten years. There was atime when Catholicism held undisputed sway over Europe, the stronghold being Rome; but tne peopie have arisen and flung off the fetters from their limbs and now stand free, Eng- land threw off its controlling influence, and as soon as the printing press sent its blessed literature among the people the rule of Rome stéadily de- clined. It was now Increasing on their Continent, not only oy immigration, but by the unsettled state. of their politics and by the unscrupulous dema- gogues who were willing to sacrifice their honor and principle for mohey and other base motives. What was their object in entering the present contict? Their deciaration and motive were ciear. The rhetoric of it was perfect, but the logic was bad and destructive of everything in thelr native laud. ‘They (the Catholics) agked that the funds for educational purposes migat be divided and applied Lo each Individual sect, with an eye to their own, however. One thing Was true and they knew tt, and that was that i the free school system was not done away with there would be au end of the Catholic religion in time. It involved the future of their Church and they knew it. As the institutions of america now stand nothing but ruin und division siarea them tn the face. The Catholics who emigrated to this country clung to their errors for a short time, but very soon began te think for them- selves, and in many cases their children have changed their religion, ‘The fundamental rule of republican governinent was that the Church should have nothing Wo 40 with the secular education of a chiid; itshould be altogether unsectarian, It holds tat its teacher should not be ® priest, but a person who would educate them as tuey ought to be educated—to be- come useful citizens and enlightened members of society. if Catholicism gained the ascendancy it would be easy to foresee the result. They might as well tear down thelr flag, for it would be trailea in the dust under their regime. There would be an end of freedom of speech, of liberty of the press aud freedom of conscience. The tirade against the public schoo!s ‘was the first step in the march of the foe, and they ‘would persevere. They had wild them that they would begin the struggle twenty years ago ana they bad kept their word and they would endeavor to keep the other also. ‘Ihe preacher. in an eloquent peroration, urged on hs hearcra the necessity of striving in the matcer to deieat the machimauions of the Popish hierarcay, the enemies of religion and so- clal liberty and progress, THE CHURCH OF THE CHRISTIAN ISPAELITES. A Sect of Exclusive Worshippers—Peculiari- ties of Costnme and Church Government. One of the most pecuilar congregations in the city will be found at the Church of the Christian Israel- ites, at 108 First street. The services on Sunday morning are strictly private. They admit no one but the members, so that what they do is a matter of conjecture. In the afternoon twey admit the public, bat the services are entirely in German. Yesterday afternoon the attendance consisted of twelve women and eight men, and all were very respectably dressed, and seemed to pe very pious. The men, asa general thing, adopt a singular costume, peculiar to themselves, which consists of a high-collared, cut- away coat, like that which is worn by the Philadel- phia Quakers, Under this they h&ve a vest buttoned up close to the neck. The pantaloons are ordinary. The color of the extire suit is the same, and is of a dark brown, almost black. They wear their hair rather long, and it ts tucked back benind their ears like a schoolboy’a, The women that were present were quite ordinary and were all dressed in quiet colors, very respecta- bly, but not fasiaonably. The membership of this churcb numbers about 120, and it is the only church f the kine th y, tn hay Snatch ae Brod Metestedtus “8 SIRE reat stronghold, and they have established churcaes hroughout the State, At Harrispurg, Pitts. burg and Lewistown they are represented, and ia several otter places. They also have churches in Canada and in Boston, Each churoh or congrega- tion ts separate and distinct from the other, and their goverumont w of the simplest character, It consists of three trustees, elected by the tion, of which the minister ts one. Ire trastoos of the couroh in thia city are the Rev. Fred. Thomas, tho minister; Mr. Isaac Palmer and Mr. Frederick Vreed. ‘The institution 1s aupporvea entirely by the voluntary contributions of the members. The ohurch itself is on eecond ® small building, formerly used as @ rivate residence. This has been fitted up with nches for the faithful, and there is a small pulpit at the end for the minister, The aon, though very few were present, looked p! 3 but themselves and their church looked as though more money Was needed. ‘Their principles or re 0 18, at she best, singular. They believe that the twelve tribes of Israel that were scatvered about the earth are about to be gathered together. They shall then embrace the lon of Christ, and be saved. The present Church consists of those who bave already become. Christians, but they still belong to the twelve tribes, and are waiting for the others to join them. They have no opposi- tion to any'otner -aeot, either Jew or Christian, but stand entirely alone and allow all others differing from them to do the same. ‘Their strong belief 1s in the Bible gud the principles taught by Onrist, and by them they endeavor to live aud awalt the great day when both Jew and Gentile shal be judged according to merit, vi Tue germun in the afternoon was by’ the Rev. Fred. Thomas, who took his text from the second Epistie of Peter, 1, 10, He spoke upon their peculiar doctrine for upwards of au hour, entirely in German, much to the edification of those who could understand him, THE CAMPBELLITES’ CHURCH, Elderships—Charch Government—Sermon by C. C. Foote, Pastor. ‘The neat editice on West Twenty-eighth street now occupied by the Christian Church of New York was comfortably filled yesteraay at the regular morning service, which was conducted by tne pastor, 0. C. Foote. The congregations at this charch are not of the most fashionable, and this being the only society ot its Kind in the city, the members come in many cases from sections of the city quite remote from the church and form @ more heterogeneous member- ship than 1s the oase in more numerous dcnomina- tions. The edifice, which was erected about a year ago, is quite a commodious and tasteful one, and the auditorium seems well arranged for acoustic effect. The singing 1s ied by a choir of six members and joined m by the congregation, with perhaps less success than in many churches where much at- vention is paid to the matter of church music, but Still With good eflect, The sermon was an extemporaneous and almost conversational discourse, aud without @ text, the supject being the question of the eldersnip and its relations to the general subject of church govern- ment. The pastor remarked that the tnstitution of the eldersip was wholly a part of the New Yesta- meut dispensation and was one of Divine appoint. ment, and, in fact, direct from the Saviour himself. Tne eldership had, tn the original Greek of the New ‘Testament and 1n its various translations, many dif- ferent designations, ag vishop, overseer, shep- herd, pastor and teacher; but these terms were oiten employed interchangeably, and in ofMcial asiguification tney were proved synonimous. I¢ was then to the New Testament tuat the Christian Church looks for its autnor- ity in the appointment of elders, The Hebrew syne gogue had olicers hoiding this title also, but their example 13 not the one now adhered to by the Chris- tian Chureh. ‘the qualitication of elders was then touched upon, The pastor remarked that from the very titie of the oitice it Was evident tnat tt should not be bestowed upon beardless boys, for that would be an incon- gruity. The principal information on this point was to be obtained [rom the Pauline epistles, and, quot ing from these, it was remarked that a bishop (or an elder) should be biameless, unspotted from the world, the —husban of one wife, sober, that is @ mature mind, and sober disposition, hospitable, temperate, peaceful, capable of seit und paternal government, free from covetousness, lust of the flesh, obstinacy, &c., and the meaning and import of tnese these terms were briety elaborated. At the conclusion of the discourse, aa is customary with this society at every serwice, the holy commu- nion was partaken of, a cordial iovitation being ex- tended to all professed Christians, irrespective of bya) views, aud the congregation then witn- irew. THE MORAVIANS, Moravian Protestant Episcopal Church of the United Brethron. The neat little Church of the United Brethren or Moravians, situated at the corner of Thirtieth street and Lexington avenue, was atrended yesterday morning by asmall but fashionable congregation. ‘The services of the United Brethren are remarkable for their simplicliy; but the fervor and earnestness with which the congregation joined in the responses attached to their Litany might contrast favorably with churches of greater pretensions. The musical portions of the service were admirably executed under the directions ot Mr. H, M. Haar, organist. Cherubini’s solo authem, Ave Maria, was sung by Miss F, Rokohl, the leading soprano of the choir, aud, with the organ part, composed by V. Novello, formed the most enjoyable part of the service, and proved conclusively that the ‘service of song” 1s not neglected by the Moravian Church. The sermon was preached by the Rev. A. A. Rienke, the pastor of the church, who selected for his text the thirty-sixth verse of the tirat chap- ter of St. John's Gospel—‘And, looking upon Jesus ag he walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God.’ The preacher said:—The theme he had chosen for bis discourse was oue that was worthy of the no- biest intellect, and one that even an angel’s elo- quence could not aptly describe. No tongue, no pen, could make men see the Lamb of God in all the glorious attributes with which He was clothed. He was, before He came to be the sacrifice for mankind, King in an assembly of Kings, the Ancient of days and the Ruler ot the universe. To understand and appre- ciate properly the depth and the length and the height of the love of God im becoming tne atone- ment for man we should ‘behold the Lamp of God” before He came down to earth and took upon Himself the form of sinful man. There He was chief among ten thousand; myriads of angels waited to do His bia- ding, and flow on wings of love to obey His henests, There He was the joy of the Father, the beloved Son, tn whom He was weil pleased; but willingly He lett allthis glory and was born in a manger, in order that He might bring peace and good will to the world, and open up to poor, simple humanity we road which leads to heaven, In the remembrance ol His former glory we should benold the Lamb of God while en earth. Foxes had holes and the birds of the air had nests, but the Son of Man had not where to lay His head. He exchanged His abode ‘With angels and the spirits of just men made per- fect to oe the companion of publicans and sinners. He exchanged the adoring authems of heaven for ‘the reviling of the Romano soldiery, and the seat at the right hand of God for the anguish of the garaen and the degrading death on Calvary. At times, no doubt, he grew discouraged, but at last a cloud was seen in the distant horizon, and tue long looked for blessing came. So it would be with the Church of to-day, and with all who were seeking for the light the night was passing wearily; but the morning would come, the sunligut of truth would dispel ail darkness and the day would burst in all its brightness upon the seeker of God. That day would be heaven, and there shail be no night there. ‘The officers of this church are Rev. A. A. Reinke, pastor; C. A. Zoebisch, G. Wessels, A. Van Pelt and uM. Neldunger, trustees, and H. M. Haar, organist. THE SPIRITUALISTIC. CONCLAVE. An Attitudinizing Oratress—Mrs, Demolishing Christianity. A heterogeneous mass of humanity assembled yesterday morning at the Everett Rooms to lisven to the wonderful words of wisdom that were ex- pected to fall from the inspired lips of that noted expounder of the mysteries of “Spiritualism,” Mrs. Emma Hardinge. The fair lady entered leaning on the arm of a gentleman. She was attired im @ magniticent black velvet dress, white epera cloak and white boa, hair curled @ la mode, pot lace cufls and collar, an elegant watch and chain, and many obriliant rings adorned her fair hands. When one saw her ap- proach the thought suggested, iwelf, “What alength of train behind.” This train, by the way, seemed to occasion her much auxtety, for she was constantly agjusting it while speaking, reminding one of Ione Burke in the play of “The Dake’s Motto.”” While the “choir” executed some really fine music the lady sat, “her eyes in fine frenzy rolling,” and at the close of their song, when she offered an invocation, she looked like ‘‘Pythoness pos- sessed.’’ Sne ougut to be cold the story of the little boy who decided that ‘the acer prayed too much.’ Undoubtediy che fair lady knows that she has a fine physique and omits no opportunity to show it off. In truth one feeis as if she was all the time attitudinizing. It was ali like the Fourth of July oration of a country orator, full of ‘glittering generalities,” @ sort Of spread-eagieiam, and the speaker never for one moment lost sight of that wonderful letter “I.” Some Of ber hearers seemed to be very much com- posed. They slept very sweetly. One, named “Lazarus, to feel as comfortable as if he were already ing On ‘‘Abraham’s bosom.’ she said.eome fine things, but their beauty was destroyed Pay treme ‘‘staginess” of the manner, There med to be no heart in them. She spoke as though she deemed it her mission was to demolish all the forms of religion that had n established on earth. Catholicism was Met yes 220 lormous i 1¢ rr, Sat VR eR “Divine Master”—was declared to have been one of the meanest and most despicable of all the saints, Protestants were deciraed to be time-servers, wor shipping with lip aod eye service, having no spirit of godliness. Unitarianism wasa mere religion of ee so aaa ig the religion. par exceilence, bat will d. Hardinge There was 9 meeting of Second Adventists yesterday morning and also in the afternoon at room No. 2% at the Cooper Institute, The attend- ance, as usual at these meetings, was not very large; but Elder J. B. Cook, tne speaker, was lis- tened to with most attentive interest. His morning subject was “The One Faith llustrated,” for the basis of which was selected asa text the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. In tne afternoon “The Ecu- menical Council” was the selected theme for relt- gious disquisition, At the hands of the discoursing Elder the Pope and Pontifical potentates at Rome did not come in for a very flattering notice. At the St. Jobn’s, Methodist Episcopal church, in Fifty-third street, near Eighth avenue, there were two services, respectively in the morning and even- ing. Mr. Samuel Haisted, leader of the Praying Band, conducted the exercises, composed princl- pally of prayer and singing, in which nearly all pre- sent participated with lively zeal. Omitting bis usual line of Sunday discourses of prophetic character wouching the alleged speedy ter- mination of sublunary affairs, Bishop Snow yester- day alternoon treated his auditors at the New York University lo a new theme. ‘this new theme was “Balaam and His Donkey as Types,” which he treated with new Zeal and renewed eloquence. At the Jonn street Mpiacopal Church Rey. Wm. P. Corbi, the pastor, proached a morning and afternoon sermon. ‘The attendance was unusu- ally large. Rev. Wayland Hoyt, of Brooklyn, delivered last evel @ religious discourse to young men at the Young Men’s Association Building, corner of ‘'wenty-third street and Fourth avenue. He nad large audience and was listened to with earnest gregations avenue and Forty-second . Rev. J. M. John- ston, of , Was the preacher. In the evening his discourse was di to rected sonny heople, the aubject being “The Six Vices of the Young.’”” Yesterday the usual three o’clock afternoon religious exercises took place in the new and com- modious chapel of the Five Pomts House of Ludustry. ‘There were several short but spirited addresses, and the singing vy tue chow of au caildrea was lke- wise spirived, Simuar vo the above were the afternoon services at the Five Points diission, there being several ad- dresses and singing by a large vody of children. Jn tue morning aud eveniug chere Was preaching here, however, in addition, At the Greene street Methodist Episcopal church, between Brocme aud Spring streets, sermons were preached, morning and evening, by Key. A. K. Sanford, the pastor. ‘Ihe evening service was fol- lowed by a prayer meeting. At half-past two o'clock, in the afternoon, in the @hupel of the Howard Mission and Home tor Littie Wanderers, Kev. &. ©. Wilder spoke on. ‘tne Monthiy Review.” ‘There was preaching also in the evening. Two sermons by two different ministers were preached yesterday in the Jaue strees Methodist Episcopal ‘church. ‘the preacher in the morning was Rev. W. KE. Ketchum and in the evening Rev. L. L, Marks, Rev. J. 8. Willis preacned yesterday morning in the deveniecenih strees Metnodist bpiscopal church on “fhe » Leat and the Lares,” and in tue evening on “Tue Divine Spirit’? ‘The new pastor elect of the Berean Baptist church, corner of Bedford and Dowutmg strecis, Rav. Philp L, Davies, iately of the Tavernacie church, Camden, N. J., preached there ygsterday two scl- mons, oue in the morning and the Otner in the even- ra Under the auspices of the American Christian Mis- sion, Whose object ig 10 promote Christian work at home imstead of enaeavoring to evangelize the heathen, there was a public meeting held last evening at St. Paul’s Keformed Dutch church in Fortieth street, between Filth aud Sixth avenues. ‘There was a large attendance, and addresses deliv- ered by Rev, Wiluam P. Sabin, Rev. George J. Min- gins, Superintendent of New York City Missions; Rey. Alfred ©. Koe, Secretary of the Mission, an: Rev. A. &. Thompson, pastor of the church. Rey. Nathaniel W. Conkling, of Kuigers Presby- terian church, corner Madison avenue and 1wenty- ninth sureet, repeated by request his sermon last evening on ‘‘I'ae Divinity of Carist.” ‘There Was @ large ahd attentive congregation, BROGKLYN CHURCHES. PLYMOUTH CHUACH. Communion Day—The New Covenant—Public Admission of Members {nto the Church— Sermon on “Christian Steadfastuess.” The morning service at Piymouth churcn yesterday was more than usually impressive. It was the first Sunaay in the month, and was therefore “Commu- nion Sunday,” when the charch members, at the close of public worship, partake together of the Lord’s supper. On these mornings there ts a break in the public service that, under any circumstances, would be significantly solemnizing and eminently calculated to make up all that is best in the moral na- ture, not only of those who are the immediate cause of it, but the spectgtors who are witnesses of tis public confession of the puttingfonjof a Christian life. ‘This, however, yesterday had an additional signifl- cance and interest that will be found more tully alluded to as tle reader proceeds with the reading of this report. ». Previous to the offering of the prayer, before the sermon, Mr. Beecher read a list of names of persons who were to be aamitted as members of the church, and thus qualify for the communion service that was tofoHow. There were fifteen in all, husbands and wives, young men and maidens. As each name was read the person to whom the name belonged stepped from the pew and went to the front of the plat form, taking their stand in a semicircle before the communion table. There were two who had not been baptized 1m infancy and Mr. Beecher descendea the platform and performed this rite by the sprink- ling of water upon their heads. He then read from the Olivet staad the following form of admission to the church. It will be remembered that recently ¥iymouth church has occupied considerabie atien- tion m the religious world in consequence of the form of admission having been liberalized, or, as otuer persons put it—and some of them members of the church—accommodated, so a8 to place no bar- riers in the way of those who from intellectual con- victions may not agree with all the articles of faith that the church laid down for itself waen it was es- tabushed on the Sti of May, 1847. Whatever be the merits of this controversy—and the merit of 1t must be very small to the truly liberal minded Christian—the simplicity, the sententious- ess and the significance of the covenant that these new meners were asked to give thelr assent to must have commended itself to the judgment and tie conscience of all who heard it, The semicircie formed aud we initiatory rite of bastisin over, Mr. Beecher read this addreis, which 18 printed in the published manual of the church:— You have rated yourseives from this congregation, dear (riends, to perform one of the mest momentous, aud yet Joytul, acts ‘of your live, You will never cease to feel the etlect Of the dedication which you now make, Should you deemer wuom you are now cog affectionately to that about openiy to avouch you will ever rejoice that you were pr it to this hour; bat ff your soul suail draw back, and ut Crist to an open shame, this deed and this be everlasting witnesses against you. beun deeply convinead of your personal slnful- heartily repented thereof ; you have believed jove of Jesus Christ; you have dedicated y and life to Him; that dedication you are avout to Tenew in the presence of God and this congregation. Yet be not cast down. Though we have thougnt it mect 0 adion- {ub you, it is with « caim and cheerful hope that He who in 1ové had culled you will never ieave nor forsake you until you stand in Zion and before God. Then follows the covenant, read with a solemn emphasis, as follows:— Do you now avouch the Lord Jehovah to be your God, Jesus Christ to ve your Saviour, the Holy Spirit to be your Sancii- tier? Renowncing tue dominion v1 this world over you, do you consecrate your whi nut and body to the service of God? Do you receive His Word as the rule of your iife, aud by His grace assisting you, wili you persevere in thie conse- eration uotw the end? All these new members bowed their assent, and thus soiemuly took upon themselves, as inousands have done before tiem, the yoke and burden of these covenanted promises. Ynat they would not Bnd in this wicked world the burden of this yoke easy or this burden light the oldest and the most earnest Curistian preseat would fully endorse; but tiat they Would endure unto the end and get the victory over flesh and the devil must have been we cvaress wish of every soul 10 that vast congrega- 00. . By way of encouragement and help in this new Patnway of life the members of the church were re- quested to rise while the fuliowmg was read, and + large minority. all over the nouse rose to their eel We, then, the members of this chureb, do joyfully and cor- diaily receive you into our number. We vromise to bear with you, to love, to edify and by all means in our power to advance you tn the divine life, Amen. ‘The new members filed off to their several pews, and when all were seated the pastor offered prayer. ‘The sermon was remarkably appropriate jor the occasion. The subject was “Christian Steadfast- ness,” and was treated in a thorougily Beecher-like way. ‘The text selected was from the epiatie of st. Paul to the Philippians 1, 6—~‘‘Kemg confident or this, everything tnat He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ.” “In a passing glance at the byper-Calvinis- tic theory of ‘‘once saved, saved unto tne end,’? Mr, Beecuer said that would be so if aman were like a letter sealed, directed and put into a mailbag, and thus Kept by a divine force unto the ena of nis life. But lb was not so, and yet it was true what Paul sald, that ‘Me who has begun a good work in you ‘will perform it unto the end,”’ If a man were earnest in thi ‘the bella? of it, and livea then the good end was work, ii ive dopendep! pon as wet inevitably certain. The co-ordination of the two wills, that of God and man, seemed strange and aiMcult to understand ; for we were told to “‘work out our own saivation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in ~ to will and to do of His own good leasure.”’ Yet this co-ordination of two wills was familiar to us in every day life. It was the a pehad who laid down the pian of the camusign, and yet it of action, and yet it ts deine | ined into, So it was with the will of God, which, like the summer's, drew ali influences up- ward, that growth may be produced and geuerated. Our will was a little wheel revolving in the watch, but God was the m Work: ing ever more for the suppression of evil. It was this divine power that wih t E relation by the law of averages. A himself, ‘i am determined to live religiously, to live chastely,” and the determination was well enough a8 (ar a8 it went, and sincere enough, too. But cir- cumstances came unfriendly to this; poverty, per- haps, or that which was more unfriendly, the swel- tering, tropical heats of Debepenirs or ten thousand things that robbed him of is constancy and pre- vented him persevering unto the end, It was a hard thing for any man to lead a Christian lfe—a very hard thing—and there was no way 1D which 4 maa could do it without God helping him, No imap knew the depths of depravity that was in him, the torna- does of passion that sweep his moral nature down as snips aro swept away at sea. Sometimes men to get away from this step tuto @ cave to live, but they did not step in before the devil did, and hence they find living in @ cave quite ag great a trial of thelr fatto as living in the world. (| fhter.) The evil im our own will cannot be exorcised by ourselves. Yet this will could be renewed, and the greatest reason for encouragement tn this'tact was found im this, that God was administering the affaira of the universe for the end of causing men to rise into & higher life. It Was not making men stars that was God’s particular business; neituer did He sit wita & crown on Hig head for men to look at him. No; God was a father, a teacher, an educator, und is doing for his children what every loving earthly father does for his child, By and by is, shall nos complain of having been taugly and disciplined coo muca, but shall repose in the ioving ness that 80 cared for us a8 to save us from precipitate Ps rk dégradation and ruin that We were prone v0. In speaking of the cy of evil spirits and their inflnence.on men Mr. Beecher said he velieved in that idea, If wen were permittea to exercise ail thelr endowments of body and mind in destroying the moral nature of men by the infuence of evil that was in them, there was no dim- culty in believing that these men would be less wicked with the devil out of the body than they were when they had the devi in the Alter a slight reference to a personal expert- ence he said that it was equally true that we were surrounded by the “spirits of goof men made per fect,’ and referred in confirmation to the tweifth chapter of the Hebrews, from which he had read a lee son, and closed this part of nis subject by a touching reminiscence of the departed dead. ‘nese were they who were bidding men go up pigher and higher in spirttual life. and with the spirtt and the bride were saying that God, Christ, Heaven, spiritual life were real, not fictions; that blessedness was the reward of those who endured unto the eud, and were sweep- ing the heavens and the earth with their many thous sand voiced psalm of invitation und sayiog to men, “Come, let him that heareth say come; let him thas is athirst say come.’? Tue communion service, which was remarkable for its simplicity, was aitended by communicants who filled the pews on the ground floor. Mr. Beecher gave a general invitation before the congre- gation all left that all would be welcome at tins ser- vice who sincerely felt a deep coavicuon of siu and thelr need of a saviour. : ST. JAMES’ CATHEDRAL, BROOKLYN. Prayer and Its EM@cacy—Sermon by the ov. Father Hickey—The Edifice=The Congrog: tion. ‘fhe Catholic Cathedral, St. James’ cnurch, Ja street, Brooklyn, is an extremely plain eaifice m both exterior and interior arrangement, but it 1s, nevertheless, ornamented and enshrined in the affections of the oldest Catholic families of that city, who regard the simple and, in point of accommoda- ton for the present requirements of its large congre- gation, inadequate structure with feelings of much reverence, because of the sacred memories which cluster about it. It 1s the pioneer church of the Catholics of that city, having been bullt in 1826, in which year the venerable Father Shannahan, who, we believe, is still living, celebrated the first mass there, ‘The congregation is very large, and much dificulty ig experienced in obtatning seats by such as enter alter the commencement of the services at all times, Yesterday morning was Do exception to the rule in thiz respect, as before mass was begun the pews were all full and the aisles in the galleries crowded, notwithstanding the gentlemanly endeavors of the person in charge to provide for the accommodation of everybody. Immediately after the Gospel the Rev. Father Hickey ascended the pulpit, and, after making the usual announcements, preached an admirable sermon, taking for his text the words found in the Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, vi.—‘‘For he saith I nave heard thee i a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee; behold now is the acccepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.” “Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed. But in all things approving ourselves as the Ministers of God in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in strifes, in tmprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings.’” Now, indeed, was tie accepted time; now was the day of salvation. Let us then avail ourselves of this blessed time given us by Almighty God to atone for our past sins and transgressions against His divine law. Let us as true ministers of Carwt de- vote our energies and our faculties to the fulfilment of all that 1s virtuous, righteous and holy, tiat we may give no offence in anything. Tbis holy of . Lent, devoted to the performance of penance in order to obtain Goa’s mercy, was, alas, with many who Were nominally only Catholics, anything but an accepted time. ‘They could not bear to deny their bodies for the welfare of their sous. Such wicked in- difference to our Divine Lord was calcu:ated to turn @ time of mercy into that of indignation and wrath by the impenitence and hardness of heart which it signified. But let not the evil spirit prevail against the soul by our own perverseness and selfish obdu- racy during this season of Lent, Let the Holy Spirts of purity and truth be enshrined in our hearts, that we may realize the fulfilment of the promise that now 18 the accepted time and the day of salvation, and obtain pardon of our manifold offences. acquire the of im order to ob- tain the sanctfication necessary for sincere contrition and penance prayer is absolutely indispensable. As Christ Himself said to the evangelist, “Without me you can do nothing.” We can do nothing, therefore, without prayer, which is the great medium of communicating our desires to God. “Watch and pray, lest you tall mto tempta- tion.” If we would receive His mercies and graces we must petition Him. ‘To pray is to conquer, and to neglect to pray ts certain death and damuation,” has said St. Legouri. Adam fell under temptation because he neglected this duty of prayer. yy ab- stinence and self-mortification we please God, but it 1g by prayer that we overcome our spiritual enemies. So efficacious was this holy instrument that nothing evil could combat or overcome it. ‘Ine Bible is re- plete with examples which form most incontrovertl- le evidences of this truth, ‘The reverend speaker relaved several examples illustrative of the power of prayer, and urged his hearers to pray with a spirit of numility and fervor, that they might be heard, Indifferent and inatten- tive prayers were of no avail; they were a mere form of words. ‘The petition must come from the heart in all sincerity and fervor. Let them ask that their fasting may not be in vain, but that 1t may be pro- ductive of the happiness m store for the faithful Christian who avails himself of the “accepted ume’? and beholds ‘the day of salvation.” It cannot, then, be a matter of intiiference any longer to those who weigh (ne importance of obedience to the law of God. Iv 1s surely of the strongest moment whether through indifference a man gains heaven, the re- ward of @ well spent life, or is condemned to the everlasting torment of hell for the loss of bis immor- tal soul. No matter how vad we may have been, if we pray He will save us. ST. MARK’S CHURCH. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Haskins on the Seas son of Lent. The Rev. Dr. Haskins, rector of St. Mark's church, Williamsburg, preached an impressive ser- mon from St. Matthew, x., 38—“And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me.” Dr. Haskins explained the text as an invitation by Christ to all man- kind to follow his example of self-denial. Though the seasons change Christ’s Church never changes. It celebrates the birth and ascension of its rounder with joy, and in solemnity ceiebrates now his forty days’ rast. Malignant hosts tortured our Lord during those forty days, and Satan tempted him but was foiled and Rg Spat t But it was not tor himself that he endured his great suffer ings. It was for us. We would be unworthy of him, there- fore, if we did not remember this at the present tune and take up bis cross and follow him by praotising self denial. The Church does not show us Christ ta His sufferings for spectacular effect, but rather that we might take example of His patient endurance and self-sacrifice and thus purify ourselves of our self-indulgences. For if it was necessary for Him, who was perfect, to suffer, how much more neces- sary 1s it for If the Lord spent forty days in the wilderness for us it should be considered no great hardspip for us w spend a few hours daily during the present perioa in prayer and self-denial. If we be self-indulgent now We are not true followers of Christ. The way to heaven Is through the road of seif-leniai. Dr. Haskins concluded by urging his congregation to Keep the season as the Church requires; for there | never-was a time when it was more needed than at present, when Mammon-worshiping anu infidekty prevail througnout the land. If we keep the Lenten seagon rightly we will enjoy the Kaster festival Gloriously.