The New York Herald Newspaper, May 30, 1870, Page 3

RELIGIOUS. ‘The Moral and Spiritual False Bal- ances of the World Consid- ered in the Pulpit. “Fun and True Religion in Ply- mouth Church. High and Lofty Doctrinal Tumbling in Heaven and Hell by an Irrepressi- ble Local Prophet. Discourses by Eminent Divines in the Metropo; lis, Brooklyn, Washington end Jersey City on Live Political, Social and Religicus Topics, ® Elder Orson Pratt in Justification of Poly- gamy—Mormonism Defended and the Gentile Preachers Roughly Handled. ‘We are told that the gentle rain falis upon the evil fas well as upon the good; but experience in re- Nglous reporling shows that whereas the evil dis- posed persons of our cities take tieir wetting quietly and equalize matters by inward applications of warm- ing fluids, the good people who go to church to pray, to see and to be seen regard a rainy Sunday a8@ most serious matter, and care more for dry clothing at home than dry preaching with moist Coats in the churches, And so the plentiful showers that poured upon our strects yesterday were made excuses for the non-attendance of hundreds of habitual worshippers. ‘The several houses of God Which are usually filled on Sunday were but sparsely attended, and the congregations scemed to be influe enced in no smail degree by the cold, gloomy aspect of the day, The sermons, however, were equal to the average, and deserve careiul perusal, Below ‘Will be found reports of metropolitan preaching and also discourses delivered im other places. CHURCH OF THE MESS AL. A Brilliant Discourse on True Independence of Chixacter by Rev, George 1. Siepworth. A very large, and as it always is, refined and in- tellectual congregation, assembled yesterday morn- ing at the Church of the Messiah, coraer of Park avenue and Thirty-fourth stroet. Agatn, as always is the case, the musi as unustatly Mne. Beginning with an organ volubtary iipromptu by E. Howe, Jy., the skilled organist, there was then sung Bonum est, an anthem for fall choir, composed by Mr. Howe, with solos by etch of tire singers—Mra. Ficker, soprano; Miss Rushy, alto; Mr. Whiting, tenor; and Mr. Shatick, bass—a most exquisite anthem, and most exquisitely sung. Nextin the order of music was ‘Rest in the Lord,’’ a duet trom Spohr’s ‘Last Judgment,” sung by Mrs Fick:r and Mr Whiting, ani after this a gregational hyuim, in the clear ringing melody of the tncly toned voices of ‘Uhe throng 0: fervid, earnest singers, certainly the grandest, if not the finestof all. As sor THE SERMON, it certainly was one of tle most earnestly eloqnent discourses Mr. Hepworth, the pastor, has preached to his present congregation. The subject was “True Independence of Character,” and more than once in the course of its ulterance he made the hearis of his audience thrill with the pulsatin; quence, No possible epitome of the discourse can ive any adequate idea of ti ree and bruliancy. is text was taken from Isalth, ixv., 5—"'Stand by thyself.” He began by saying that he had seen the blacks of the South under the yoke of slavery, and again under the iniluenves of freedom, aod what a duierence! Wheu driven by thé Jasn, how listless, careless, wretched tiey we You would know that they did not own themselves» even if you did Hot hear the ratiling of their chains, by their lack of energy and enthusiasm. Wheu the great proc.ama tion was issued It seemed as though they iad been ben by an jense galvanic battery. They ppeared iostand up in larger plysical proportions, their acres produced twice as much because the, labored with an ambitious impuise, and taeir rela- ous to mankind, to civ/Uzauion wad to society were aii at once altered for the better, He said that we are ail of us more or Jess living uuder servitude. Even im the midst of the mo-t enlightened society slavery is to be found. It does aot have an iron chain clanking as it steps, but itis bound in other ways 80 completcly that the best part of the man or woman is undeveloped. He only is a freeman who lives a godly ic. He alone is free whoo n- trois and rules ‘his own soul The miser who deives and digs for gold, depriving himself o! every comfort that he may ald another shining bit to his aiready large cuough pile, is as much the siave of his passion as the poores®biack man on a Southern plantation, ‘The mau who is already conquered hy the appeute lor drink, who has +o migused his body that he needs, or thinks he needs, thd sitmulus of liquors every day is the crouching aud base slave of @ tyrannous ma: ‘Tae woman who, regardie-s of her own good t i listens for and Implicitly obsys the commands of fashion neither Knows hor tastes the delights of freedom, What we need to make our lives com- pleie is that kind of independenee which cnavies the soul to dare to be tts Les! if and nothing e'se. In America we follow our ter us~muct the more ignorant populations of Europe do. on Uie First hated Madame de Staci because would whing for herse'f and did not always e the Wiins of the Emperor. His nepnew, before he culled for the Vore OF THE PLEBISCITUM, manifactured @ public opink tue people and they ail fell into it. sheep Who ali jump over Uieien uuder it, which was much es p g their ambitious leader jumped over it, so peopie are, ail the world over, lei, Ifa cervain kind of religion is jushionable, good men and womeu—inen aad wo- Men Who are able. to think for themssives—zo to that church. So long as the Bpiscopal Chore’ ts the fashionable church 16 will Succeed, irrespective of its merits; one-lialf the world will yo because (he other hail goea. ~The men who go may know very ltue of its Mheology, perhaps may differ irom it, sitil ti go. When the Unitarian Church becomes the fash Tonable’church, Our good newhbors will forget that they have misrepresented us, and said i of us, dna wilt buy and rent pews by the sco; u aii Unis Was wrong. He had no pat > with @ fusnionable audience, He would wiat ali men wer more independent. CHRISTIANITY 13 INDEPENDENCE, and when you get religion you will have your own thoughts, and you wiil dare to live up to Unem amd speak them without fear or ve, Je coutd not be brived or threatened of his ¢ pur pose, Pharisees and Sadducees tried to gftn Him over to their party, but He stood by illaset!, a fr inan of God and so the example of the human rac’ What a privilege it 1s to tee! sure that you are tu the right when you diver from your filends, and how novie ibis totake your stand calmly and firmly, sure that in the end you will win. Young man, you can be that hero when you say, not ‘no’ as. though you Were haifafraid of the Little word, but “No” as though it Were the only word in the Engilsh language. " Succeeding the sermon was chanted the Lord's Prayer—a low, soft chant, the sublime whisperings of the-soul’s longings uttered in this tacomparabie prayer—and then a congregational hymn was sung, force of his elo- When @ benediction closed the exere.ses. GRACE CHURCH, The Ancient Mariners and Modern Marinera— Chrinti: aud Commercial EnturprisemSer- mou by Rev. Dr. Washburn. Atan hour when the services are nearly at an end in most of the city churches, the dife/tanti audience of fashionable worshippers who adorn Grace church began to enter its sacred portals, and the words of the liturgy reached the ear only at intervals, or were entirely drowned tn the rustle of satins and by the soft footfails along the thickly carpeted ais Finally, however, all loiterers arrived, and the bril- Nant throng became, with one accord, the most devoted and revereut as well as fashionable and elegant of adorers, There seems to be two distinct gets of hearers at this famous place of worship, one of which come to hear the preaching and one TO EAR THE MUSTC. For fall three-fourths of an hour the latter class Mstened with every token of delight as the heavy peal of the organ echoed in the vautted roof and through the nayes, and the carefully executed solos ‘of vaso, sopranu and contralto seemed to rayish their senses quite, The following programme was performed:—Venite, Morgan;. Gloria, Sphor; Te Dewn, Mosenthal; Jubilate, Bytens; Psaim v., Grea- torex; Hymn 160, Beethoven; and at iis conciusion not a lew Of (hose Who had been most wrapt lieten- 0)9 givse avd retired, evidently believing thai tie in- re NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MAY 30, 1870—TRIPLE SHEET. fluence of the music would go far enough towards purifying shele sainds and preparing them for prayer jon. Rey. Dr. Washburn satd—I nave been by ‘ous rector, in his absence to-day, to 8; to on the subject and in behalf of the Atanen ih, and announced his text Ezekiel xxviit., 2—“Son ore say unto the prince of Thus saith the Goa; because thine heart ls lite up, and thou hast ) 1 am & god, I sit im seat of the midst of the seas; thou art id not God, tooo set oy nd heart as the heart of God.” ‘The ‘Tyre was civilization and the ent ‘of all that weal of we Maufrtnca tes, A hat ta 1e ANean cities. q nificence nas now moutdere’ away, and the fisherman Spreads his net on the rocks where stood the tem- ples und palaces of ancient Tyre, and DRAWS is BOAT ON 8H : amid the ruins of her counection of Chisttant! ment and commercial enterpriye considerable Ii , and events of lave years de- tailed which render possible the longed-for Vision of Oriental caravans onee more traversing the deserts of Asia and Africa, exchanging the accumulated riches of great and prosperous ulations, ‘Those possibilities were bora of the twin age of elyiliza- tion—electricity and steam, But Chffuanity, he added, must be spread with commercial extension; seiGimterest, the gi@ut motive of business men, 1s pot suMicient for the permanent progress of a peo- pie. Though “houesty is the best policy,” tt is not that which leals men to build cheap tenement houses, and permits sieamships to traverse the ocean without any saleguard to the trusting voyager. Spanish ovimmerce because only infamous Spanish greed for gold; English commerce In C! and kndia has many bloody records, It 18 the course of wickery and dishonesty persucad by those who represent Christianity in unchristian countries ‘buat Causes it bo be derided and scorned, IN THE LEVANT, when @ merchant Was advised to leave his cargo on the wharf, a8 it Would not rain in tiat season tor at Jeast @ month to come, and he hesitated for tear of thieves, he was told frankly and quiecy that there Was not a Christian within fifty miles.” In conclu- sion the reverend gentleman paid a fine tribute io to the sailor's character; to his bravery, generosity and kiudness of heart, and touched with a glowing Pathos the sad story of his misfortuues and wrongs. 8", PATRICH3 CATREDRAL. Unsatiefactory Accommodation for Worship- pers=The Apostles Preparing for Their Mis- sion—Sermon by Rev. Father McGinn. ‘The attendance of worshippers at the cated 4 yesterday was decidedly Myeagre—a fagt Wien especially striking when it ia remembefed that Catholic places of devotion are almost invariably crowded to repletion oa the Sabbath. Many of the seats in the front pews were half empty, while a number of persons were huddled toge’ her on the pavementnear the entrance, totally unprovidet with accommodation of any Kind whatever. Tals met has given rise to repeated complaints; but the powers gthat control the church ap. pear to be uaabdle to provide a remedy. Rey, Father MeGtan preached the sermon, taking his text from St. Joha xv., 26, 27—“But when the Paraciete shali come whom [shail send from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceedeth from the Father, he shall teach you all things.” The reverend gentleman delivered a long and pious discourse, ing himself almost wholly to the iteration and teration of the CIRCUMSTANCES ATERNDING CHRIST'S ASCE and their effect on the minds and actions o Aposties, as nariated in tue Gospel of & Judgmg from the tistiessness that was visibi nog ihe congregation it was apparent that m them were already familiar with the fifteeuth aud six- teenth vhapters of tat evangolist, The reverend divine depicted in glowing colors the gloom that took possession of the apostles when Christ ascended ini@ heaven ta their presence, leay- lng them to accompllsn the desperate mission wuich he had entrusted to thelr charge, and traced the counts ans fears that beset thein during the pertod that ciapsed before the descent of the Paraciete. He sud op to this time the apostles had Loped that’ Christ would estabash A THMPORAL KINGDOM on earth, and thatthey would be ruiers under nim. They knew His powers aud recogaiscd His superhuman deols, but thelr minds were not yet wholly weaned from earthly things, and the weaker spirits Boe them were not yet fully prepared to cast aside their hope? ant prospects in life and to embrace pain and reproach for the sake of @ heavenly Kingdom to which they were total strangers, During these days tiey re- mnained secluded in an upper room, dowwirul of their destiny, fearful of the future; bat with enough of the fear of the Lord remaining’ to restrain irou mixing with the onter world before the promised de- scent of the Sp'rit of fonzue. Bat their waitin and meditations were 8000 repaid by the infusion of A NEW LIFE AND A NEW SPIRIT, which made them rise above themseives, and, de- fying the scoffs and threats of the world, preach Christ crucified, in season and out of season; and having made thelr voices felt m the ends of the earth, retire to their reward with brows deexed with the mmartyr’s crown, Such ts the spirit thatshouia animaie the Christian during lis stay on ear seasons of doubt and. perplexity he shouid have re- course to prayer and” Mmedtiatton. Danger should make him more defiaut, and never should he permit hiinself to lose sight of tue end of his being or to step aside from the path of duty and rectitude. The example of the aposties, a3 related by St. Jolin, should be continually bolore our eyes, aud by foliow- Jay in thelr footsteps ovr lives gan never bring us re- proach before houest ae or before the tnrone of iicayen. CUERCH OF THe STRANGERS. “ToeDay”—<—Sermon by Rev. Dr. Deems, ‘This chuveh has all is seats free and is open all the sumer. Notuwithstanding the gloomy appear- ance of yesterday morning, Dr. Deems had a fine congregation and preached eloquently on the text, “To-day,” from Hebrews iv., 7. He began by remarking the absence of all alarm- ing celestial and terrestrial phenomena. These cal appeals have each power to stir men’s . Otherwise they go on asif there were no moral arguinent im the great facts of the soul and the spiritual world. Dull as were the surrounding circumstances, let us see if the study of what is in “To-day” may not lift us to @ higher life. First he calied attention to the value of his whole earthly life to &man, No one can tell this totai value, it is so inconceivably great. But, however long a nian’g past life, he knows it; but he does not know the future, and however short that may be, he feels as if it were as valuable as all the past. The story told of tne sybilline leaves, and how the sybil each time s| returned demanded the same price t, al.hough she had destroyed some vol- the on, nine! Lyon take for your whole fature lite What pleasnte? “If Icould do and so T would be willing to He down and die’? 7 is nonsense, if taken literaily, But tt shows how higiily certain things are vaiued. Seriously, IN GOD'S HOUSE, Is there anything that could be offered you which you would accept on the condition of instantiy y—tiat is, cutting short what might be your bly fut But that whole Iuture may be ia ‘this in he Theo, *to-day” is all of earthly time that is cer- tain; and that day is not twenty-four hours, but instant—iess than the sixtieth pagt of a mina’ Three thousand six hundred such ceYtaluties die in an hour, and 86,400 “to-days” in a day. In this casq each such “certainty” as it dies increases the prova- bility thatthe next will be the last. Having lived long creates no probability that we will live longer, but rather t have less Ife, for it 18 certain that there is @ Just instant of time which we can call “to-day.?? THE RELATION OF “TO-DAY”? eteralty gives the former so much value. An illustration was drawn from @& map,.on which one- e@giith of an tach stands for hundreds of miles; the possible Jorests of oaks ina single acorn, &e. Each moment represents ages. Then, each “to-day” has its appropriate work. Life is given for the purpose of character building. Divide it into ‘‘to-days,” and loge sume of these, and you will see how unfinished is the edidice when the time of the “contract” closes, Also, life is given to each man that therein he may do good to others. Lose to-day and you can never recover it. anything else iost in life is capable of recovery except time—our “to-aays.”? THERE IS NO WNSURANCE ON TIME. If we insure our lives it ta simply that the survi- vors may have something when we die, but no rasu could underiake to secure us from losing our tine and our opportunities for dolag good, Crises days were descrifyd. A crisis in a disease, When ali was pivotedon a point. A crisis in a trial for life, the time of waiting for the jury. But the crisis i8 NOt So much to the accused as tothe fury. ‘They are to condemn or acquit. You are the jury on your own everlasting life, The case is submitted. Decide now: “today.?’ “To-day if you will hear His voice harden not your hearts.”” ‘The eifect of an action performed in an mstant was dwelt Upon aud largely illustrated from history, especially sacred history, showing how @ single act has shot itself Into the far future, perpetually widen- ing... Then, eternity gives such value to our to-day. What abides in more pleasurable or painful than tie evanesceni? A slight discumfort, protracted through years, @ 8 intoa great affliction, Better have gool, cve. M alth, @ half century, than occasional exueiances oreaking in upon A LIFE OF GENERAL UNBASINESS. It is the certainty of continuance'that gives value to any desirabie thing. It is the certainty of continu- ance that makes any painful tuing more intoterable. To-lay we may plant @ root of bitterness in our souls that in eternity will be growing into an in- creasingly fruit-poigon tree, Jie audience were powerfully urged to begin a m@ra} renovation of their lives now, “to-day,” while they satta their pews, ‘To-day’? is passing while We speak. IT GOBS, GOERS, GOES. You @n't hold back “io-day;” no contrivance will do it, no strength cau doit. “it is going; while you bay “to-day” You pronovuce the fist ayllable in one the second in other, And there ts Thaye never seen il, nor you, nor avy other man, We have chased it througn the years and never foucd it, Isa myth, @ plautasy. “To-day” is 80 {i tant hecause in it God's voice of meee ing. Do not harden your hearis. Cease ming to every voice of ambition, and lust and passion and Satan and listen to His voice, What toned it has! What words tt speoks! Hear, hearken, Shs rita ya’ Paes eta 5 ak you mi @ splritn: deaf. That silence! That tifence in " . PHULIP’s CHURCH. Sunday Worship by the Aristocratic Colored Populution--Interes: Discourse by Kev. J. 8. Atwell. At St, Phillip’s Methodist Episcopal church on Mulberry, near Bleecker street, attend a large pro- Portion of what may be consfdered the aristocratic portion of the colored peopie of New York. Tie church edifice has been buin: many years, but is still in a good state of preservation, and the interior will compare favorably in style, comfort and even ele- gance with a majority of our city churches, ‘The foigns and ceremonies of the Episcopal churoh are strictly observed, and with the exception of tne color of the congregation there is nothing to distin- guish them from any of our up-town fashionable churches. REV, DENJAMIN P. DE CosTA, of middle age, very dark mplexion, with gol? spectacles, a pleasant volce aud good address, is the pastor, The sermon yesterday morning was preached by Rev. J. 8. Atwell, of Petersburg, Va. Mr, Atwell is @ fine looking man of about forty years ofage, quite lignt complexioned and evidently of considerable attainments. He preached from notes aud has an excellent delivery, witnout any of the Negro accent or exaggeration of mauner sv common to colored preachers. He sclecied his text from Si. John Xvi., 13, 14 and 15;— Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come He will ide you into ali wath: for He shall not spenk of Minel?; nt whatsoever He shad hear, that shall Me speak: and ile gs t0 00:28. gorliy Me: for He shal! receive of mine, and e} All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I tha: He sballl take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you. These words aré buta few of the many words of comfort which our blessed Lord employed to consyie Hus dusconselnie disciples whéeh 22, hed S TREAT WORK OF ineRcy and love was xbout to be ended nponearth. Hither- to he had been the bridegroom to them, and although troubles @.d arise from time to time yet in his presence there was joy. But, as in the course of his teaching he had told them that the time would come when the bndegroom should ve taken from them and there would be sorrow, even so do we how find that sorrow had already filled their hearts. And we could hardly expect otherwise, for who sat pousesses one Spark Of friendship in his breast ior another could receive jils pardag words without some sign of sorrow ? In other words, whois there that could LOOK ON A BELOVED FACE for the last ume wthouy painful emotion? more than thia, the cause of'Soxvow on this memo sion Was tiyofold, for nut only was His presence to be withdvaiva But id they tidiaselves ex- poset p tie fy of am ung world, ‘bat their vel Master ani on friend was to trom the hands of cruel enemies—he Lad to “tread the wine press Gloue”’ aud himself experience a sorrow or witch, inthe words of the propiet Jeremiah the question might well be applied, e if thera be any sorrow ike wato sais surrow witch Is done wat me, Wh 4 the Lord hath adiicted m of His anger?” At il teu an some d thu: Log, ke Wo. hopes? but when sorrow already, noti togei he thizt of our Lord in the v. text, yet many things to not hea: them wow,” ali biame w Wetman thoa went o} ure of our Lord we: DBE? APPL to the Aposties yet could they have seen the wh @ thoy Would uot have beed so entirely cast dow + is God's inerey towards us that He oven takes fromius one blesslug that he may bestow a greater, The time soou came wir as did the Psaltaist, they could 2, ibis good for me tha Thad been ajilicted, for as tue aillicuon seemed o' whe'ming, 80 Was the joy growing out of tlie adik tion to be incxprossible. It was to be such as the world could neither give Nor take away, Aficr enlargiag upon the iext to a considerable extent the serimoh was closed as follows:—But per haps some one imay_ask, Low do these consoling words apply to him individually’ Bretiren, | may answer thie by asking anotuer question. Ave you deeply concerned about your eternal salvation? if so the application isas suited to your cave as to the immediate followers of our Lord to whom they weie addressed, for every one who is conscious that he hy never dying soul to save aud dt it for the eky, ibe an anxious inquirer after truth, aad tie burden of the text is wach, ALY chUR¢a The Oatiolic Church—Scrmon by Rev. Ashton. day afternoon the Churoh of Calvary was led, despite the very unpleasant condition of the weatier, by a fashioaable and intelligent audi- ence, to hear @ discourse by tbe Rev, Dr, Ashton, who selected his text from Matthew, vil., 20—"By their fruits ye shall kaow them.” After enundiating the general principle of the text he spoke of tge veneration felt for that which 18 ancient In art, science, literature and even in the maiter of family descent, In aliuding to the latter pride he charac- terized it as ‘ast becoming absurdly prevalent in this country, and 10 this conueeiton showed how the litleness Of money was lost in the greatness of illus trious ancestry. When Uiey giew themselves to stalwart maniivol they were truly noble. Making a transition from vils topic, he spoke of the number s 1g tO be DESUBNDED FROM V2 APOSTOLIC AGES, Among the , Stood prominent the Roman Cathoile Church, This Cluurc: was erystal- ized despolism. Rowe shielded herself bebind its armies, It never had beea anything else but uncon- trollable amvition. It seeks power, and will have it atany cost. Having dwelt at some length on this branch of his topic, he showed how vasuy different Mt was in tls country. Here any one could go to any churc: he pleased; bat the Roman Uathol Church, since geting a fast hold here, became Consolidated despotisin. It sougis political power, andit would have it at any cost. No Ciureh, he claimed, had a right to aitempt the exercise of tha power sought to be exercised Ly tie Catnolic Unarch. ‘This Church b ted 3 GIVEN TO ST, PETER, = not as a phorical, but as @ positive, fact. Through this assumption of power it insisted that it could consign to helt whor 1 pleased and save only those agreeing wiih it ta falig. Atbad! “relics —a piece of the table apon i his last supper, the nails of the cross, a piece of the youd of tl ross and the Lke—he urged that they iced to @flect tho emotional nature, he Church mesmerized tts victims, and when the latior Woke up their first utterance was—iHumbug. Showing the absurd ridiculousness of this reile business, Which lie did by an amusing and effective couparison O| a dog on tie scent, he Sadie did not believe that the American priestiiood, meu ot eines. on and reiincment of Wie Roman Catholic Canreb, haa any sort of inteliectual faith ta tractng back Ue line of events claimed to be traceabie back to St, Potur. Dee THESE RELICS MERE JUGGLERY, There Was not a chip of wood or Dat! in any mon- astery or cathedral or convent in the world thas ever had anything io do with the cross of Jesus Christ. The climax of ail this humbugegery, lie asserted, was the alleged Infallibiliy of the “Pope, ‘The plain fact of the case Was teat Pope Pius Ix, ‘was hotiufallidle unless Napoleow IIL permitted it, ‘Tho church had not an apostolic origta, The Uaris- au Charch said BT MEN BE FRBR.” The Catholic Church used the Inquisition, Thore was blood aud there were sighs and groans through its histor, This Church seils indulgences for dollars and cents, Drawing an eloquent con- trast between the humble Saviour of man- kind, riding on au ass, and the Pope, with nis maguificent retinue, riding on one to-day, and showing the difference between the feet of the bog th worn, ye disciples, hie) Jesus Christ, Washed, aug the fer oO ais, Whigh the Pope washes, wit feek Thihee | Beotely was) sf tit the occasion, he pictured with masterly power and description the effect of such nonseuse and tuposi- tion in begetting infidelity among the masses of tho European country. From aii tls he deduced that the present Pope was not tie true successor of St. Peter. Pope George was aa imposter—no manhood in lim. Ag those who took muskets in the last war and fought our batties and won our splendtd victo- ries were true descendants of the Puritans, $0 those ey to lift the community up to a loftier standard were the descendants of the apostolic age. CHURCH OF THE AFFIVITIZS. ners Sermon by Rev. Mr. Frothingham—“‘The Principle of Free Religion.” Lyrie Hall, in Forty-second strect and Sixth avenue, was .well filled by a highly fashionanle audience yesterday morning, to listen to phe Kev. O. B. Frothiagham preach a sermon on “The Principle of Free Religion.” The preacher said that this was recorded as the first Sunday after the Ascension. Wille Jesus was talking with a group of his disciples, He was invisibly recetved up into heaven. Nothing remained but for Jesus to depart, His mission on earth being fulfilled, This tradition of the asceut of Jesus was of gredt importance, The Church was below, the Head was above. In fact, there could not have been ove Church without faith tn one Head, and that Head waa the ascended } beller. Jesus. In entertaining thin beltef we found our- Se.ves In @ chain of circumstances entirely foreign to our modern thougit, There, on a great white throne, sat the Lord God Aluughty, the ruler of tie universe, 4 side, clo'hed in siars, Was His royal Son. we believe it? Do we beieve in any there among the clouds wire an indi- sD! up vidual God sits on a paipabie throne? Why, SOIKNOK HAD SCOUKED ALL THE UNIVERSE, and the astronomer, ager al ul research, said, “I find Doar in all the earth but living law.’ To ascend—what was that? Tho hi God that we conceived of was the God who and thougnt in the highest consclousness, Goa Rot become lofty whea he asconds up tito space. He became lofty when Re came and took possession of the soul, Jesus never rose so high as PEG Ry took @ towel and girded himself and kuclt down to wash ’ feet. When noble people of England, lords and ladies, leave their royal houses aud estates and go about lectur- tothe workingmen, then they ascended, The noblest thing was to serve. To-lnorrow we would stiewlng flowers on the solders’ graves, What did we do that for? Not to honor thein tn the flesh. ‘They rose Wien they went down, He (the preacher) beloved 1 no risen Chiist. Jesus Was al idea, & priuciplo, @ spiritual power, Jesus was not an individ. Wal, LULA spirit of Life, ‘The heaven He lived in was a heaven ure spiritual minds, They had heard of the free religious association, and had heard bls Dame ientiiicd with iv as one of its principal ofi- cers. Some meant vy free religion nothing more than churches without pews, and where every one might Worsiiip, ‘hat was not his idea. By free re- Ugion he meant the freedom of reiiglon—a@ religion that Wis not imprisoued In ecclesiastical thought, He meat THE FREEDOM OF REASON TO DEAL WITH RELIGION on rational principles. Religion had always meant aathority, To most minds it stood a dogma and dogma bouud thought. Free religion ! ‘e struck here @ new thought, We would walk iree, We would Bave the miud walk free all over Christen. dom, Take whe fences of, clear the ground, pull down the walls, Let the human mind have ree seope to Wave! where lt will, it was sectarian. isin that gave us birth. That spirit whieh divided and changed truth by opinion; the spirit that multt- plied petty popedoms; the spirit which culled into crosses sin ul Infailiblities and glittering bulls; te Jealous spirit; the spirit that launched and threw Cee deity, When itshould put infidelity to the yuh. ‘The prexher then went on to point out the advan- tage of a free religion, and coneiuded by predicting ‘that sectarian Vas doomed at no distant day, NEW PRESBY: ERIN CHRO The Rev. Charles B, Smyth on the Rane page—He Forns a New Church. The weather 1s probably accountable for the fact that there was &@ somewhat small congregation at Masonle Wail yesterday morning to listen to Mr, Smyth preach on “The Discipline of Christ... The fkermon Was af ordinary one, in which no ailusion was made In refercnce to the recent Uttle muss, He poke generally ag sectarlanism. He said that Christ h laid dowa laws end Paul had written them th the Boo! to the laws which should digzeiptine to the Claroh of Christ. He spoke in gen- eral den. itory ‘terms of the pulpit as it now is, and the wiy 12 which ministers understood their duties, it was an its effect on 1 sermon and one which had awitory, Before the sermon Mr, suyil ollowing* ANNOUNCEMEN’ o Ww he aivice of vatued and propose to m eet in Irving Hall, overwhelmed ¥ oe in & morass, we str £ ott hancis In distress to God, and all itbera 1 gesured that the fotmer Would biess and tuat the litter would cordtally co- operate im every Way that would comport with ther duty in regard to other o'ject? and be within (he Teach of ity. The hearty response which from the respectable portion of nity and from nber onuintal co-operation ends to Onrtsi’s own frov from the com. e Iverty 18 people fee, is respectfully 1, Tao seats will be tres and the 1 by voluntary contetbuu ‘The following are the GAL RULES. taro of this congreza- uittianity, pare aud en. If in Mis Sermon on the lonai pecaliari- Herew:bly Ne ly invit ns wud tt: ure, own by Ihr Mount, wishout any sectart ties, inclurling th t ail ents to consider hemsclves bound to ala one avother in regard to all tings ¢ are rigiit, in Ulness or in health, in proa- perity or adversity, 2vle 2.—the discipline of tins congregation shall be such only as is exprested 1 the writtngs of Christ and his apusties, and Dot by mere inference deducad ‘uin, in no degree talringing upon his prero- or upon Ure rights of free men, as claimed ren and set forth ta the great scan Mberty—the Declara- herent or belonging to this 1 shai Mot be required to recogulze any cougrege | betas vas od alone us lortof ihe conscicack, and h pe. 4en shall iat (0 Cais Cong whether or to anotier, or to nous, WO conicsseLh that Jesus Curistis the Son of God aud bath submit. nae quai oN 23 B iG du jong to one denowmin: 1 to be an ade ted to baptism; and he shali be luimself the sole Ju lge of the sinterity of Mis confession. All persous wio prove of tie muvement, and wives bitergwitu, oO. in any uly requested to Gum- end thetr name to t Niaty-secona sir se preseut there seemed tot syiipatiy with tits movement, and appa Smyth will have plenty of adeveuts, UR¢H OF MOUNT Z:Q%, The Veetiny of the Earth and Mau~Poor Comfort for Saint and Sinner—What Bisuop Snow Thinks of Feil aad Heaven, the Good and the Bad. The earth and man are postuiates, sc) -evident facts with which we are ail more or jess conversant, and in which we are also iliterested. 1t becvmes, then, of course, doubly interesting to us to know what tho future destiny of the earih of man may be And upon this sub} “pishop 8. S Snow, the pastor of Mount Zion,” the forer(inner of the Saviour, &¢., unflertook to culighien a smali congregation yesterday in te liutie chapel 7, om Washington square, ‘The children of Mount Zion, male aad fe- male, are among the plalnest pegple that can be found in the ¢ sence of everything faah- Jonabie or that would denote a permanent stay here Wes remarkable, and although the gation were assured by what must have appeared to some si Mdubitable evidence that tins earth Is to ig piace, they looked much Pplgriais secklag a tiioy Ovilently coaside more lk is out of sight selve vices coumeneod at three P. M., but for euty minutes preceding the Hitle osnd gathered and sang some of tie songs He Lueir hearts for that which Was to The pasior is & plain man, about rsof age, five fect ntue inches, and for na very erect, He opene the service by readiug the byiwa commencing store, at ny inore, which was sung with splint, The thirly-seventh Psalm was then read, upon which Pastor Snow made some inning comments. When he came to the thirty-second Verse, which says “the wicked watchetl the rghteoas and seeketh to slay him,” he remarked that that deseribed the spirit of Popery, which sul had the old desire, but lacked the power aud the opportunity, to perseoute the righteous, After the reading another hymn was sung, expres- sive of tie power Of religion to bear the spirit up and the desire of the Reart for the pleasure grounds of the New Jerusalem, and the joy which such a giori- ous hope inspires, Iitherto there had been no sup- piteauion, thankegiving nor prayer oilered, and the stranger waited for such an act of worship in vain, for there was none, ‘The sermon followed tie Singing of the second hymn, and the basis of Bishop Show's remarks was Matthew v., 5— “Blesigd are the meek; for they shall inherit the earih, NO HEAVEN FOR THE GOOD—NO HELL FOR THE BAD. The two ideas involved in this textare wit the eari 1s to be an inheritance and that the meek are be its luhabitants, These blessings were considerei by many to be too great for fulfilment in this lifo, aod 1 Is too tne that there are very fow signs of their accompHshment yet, and multitudes of thove who profess to be Christians are far from being meek. He believed, however, that thes? beatitudes are to be fulfilted hereatter on the earth, He knew Uiat be was running counter to the conceived notions Of so-called orthodox evangelical Chris- tans when he asserted that “there is not asingle pas in tho Word of God which says that wie righteous shall dweil im heaven hereafter.” He then scouted the sctentife tueories concerning the genesis of the earth and of man and the varlous speculations as to their destiny, aud read a number of passages collated from dufer- eut parts of the Scripture to show tial this earih ts to be the elernat dwelling place of men, and that God and Christ will reste here with them. But the idea of a material hell he coflsidered too absurd for Hell and heaven he described as states or conditions of extstence after death, but while acknowledging the personality of the soul ne fatied to point out or Indicate the piace of its sojourn be. teen death and the judgmentwhich some minds, from the mode of argument adopted, must have been: luquiring after, “THE WICKED SHALL NOT BB.’ Daniel's vision of tie stone cut out of the moun- tain without hande, breaking in pieces the king- coms and expanding into a great mountain, which ‘ullimatety to Ml the whole eaith agrees, according to the pastor of Mougs Zion, will tie Apocalyptic vision of the New Jerusalem coming ¢ God ont of heaven, and both mean stinp'y spiritual kingdoms, Out of the profeseed or nominal Church other porions of Seripture asthe” “Kings. of the other portions of jt ‘ Bust? the sone.of tie Morn Star, the watehers for the dawning of the of and of these He shall make om shall arermurend the ny of the earth, then, la to be the down from he was forced to the explan shall cease to exist—ihey will return to thelr original nothingness, The hymn containing the eat Verse, which so fully expresses the faith of little Curtstian band, was then sung in closing: We soon shalt nee the . When all our tolls shall cease ; en we shall cast our ari saway And dweil in endless peace, The pastor called attention to some of his pnbiter- tions, which were displayed for sale ona table be- Leatu the pulpit, and then dismissed the andienve. ZiON = (COLCRED) ChURCT, A Struggle for the Possession of a Pulpit A Disgraceful Row—The Police Called lu und the Gas Pat Out. Zion (colored) church, corner of West Teuth and Bleecker streets, was the scene of quite a disturb- auce last night, It seems that the pastor, Rev. W. F, Butler, i¢ a universal favorite with the people, who, appreciating nis labors with them for the past two years, during which lime he has accomplished much towards buliding up the church and largely increased the number of the congregation, petitioned the annual Conference for his reappointment, and the Conference being satisfied that it was for the Interost of the church, and aware of Mr, Butler's great toteiligence and zeal for the welfare of his people, reappointed him for another. ee But the trustees, under the leadership of Samuel J. Howard, did not acquiesce in the decision of the Bishop, and yesterday morning, when Mr. Butler attempted to enter the pulpit, they refused to allow tum to do so, Mr, Buller did not make any resist ance, a heat afternoon they pushed him from'tie ulpit e at ted to enter a; which drew From huth a dot of tours wai In the evening Mr. Butler went to the church with & body of police, determined to assert his right to fulfil ‘the duties of pastor. Upon his entering the church @ scene of the wildest confuston ensued. The congregaton en masse mounted the seats and chee and waved their handkerchiefs, both his white friends and colored ones joining in the demonstration. sisted the golice, and it was only after a severe struggle tat he was allowed to get into the pulpit, be'ng literally carried there by his friends. But the trus.ees, who were determined to gain thelr point, put the gas out, “preferring darkness to light, be- cause their deeds were evil.” ‘This settled the mat- ter, of course, and the congregation dis- persed without the slightest spiritual con- golauon, The action of the trustees is con- demr by all our itateiligent colored ciiizeas, The trustees desire some one whom they can mould to their own will, The matter 15 to be tos in the Batier has the official ‘8 of his To-morrow night there is to be a ". Butler's intends, bat it is feaged that vill not w the chureh to be opened, One Of the trustees, named Allen, was arrested by the polige aud log up for the night. BROOKLYN CHURCHES. PLYMOUTH cavact. ‘The trustees re-* A Good Time aud a Merry Time at Plymouth Church—idr. Beccker on the Use of lowe ery~Sermon on How to Keep Sauday, With Hlustrations from His Boyhood. A cioudy sky With a threatening storm at the hour the church-goers usually wend their way to the churches was sufficient t# prevent the overcrowd- ing of Piymouth church yesterday morning. Tuose who risked these meteorological threatenings and went to church were rewarded for their fidelity to the honoring of th aboath, The service had ail its usaal attractiveness, and Mr. Beecher was in a very happy mood, A joy that ditused itself into hilarity pervaded a greater part of the servi ‘The floral stands werggaden with spring flowers in an abundance and variety that can only be achieved by the floral committee in the springtiine, when nature spreads the lap of carta with her abundant blossoms. Among the varied announcements that precede the sermon was one having reference to nis Weekly floral display that will have interest in the eyes of those of our readers who are lovers of flowers, On the 9th of June there is to be a FLORAL CONCERT in Plymouth church. Ou that jorm vnly, but ihe entire chur flowers, and the ¢ t, which in former years has always been coasidored ex nt, is OR Liuls OCGA slow to surpass all ormer efforts, The admission 1s twenty-lve cents. ‘The prodis of tals concert will go towards defraylog the expenses of the weekly | decorations of tie piatform of the church, oher Wovk occasion, In urging the claims of this Concert, WO Bpeak Of ihe use and beauty of this church dorai decoration. He #aid that OUR LORD PREACHED OUT OF DOORS, where the grotad was Carpeted with flowers and where he was surrowfled by natural beauty, that noboniy gave to Him exquisite iiustrations of the lessons He laughi, but surrounded His congregations 1b beauty #0 int lug that il gave a siguiuicance to the teaching that could never be forgotten. Tne Church in the inedieva: ages had sougiit to perpetu- jon not the plat bis decorated with ate this influence, ant the Church was right in the idea it had sought to cibody, however wioug 1 may have got ia the ‘iu Out of the practice, The Nuwers that had Xbibited ab Plymouth church jn the winte nn flowers were disticwt and expensive to obtaia, i been of such surpass- jug beauty tat they Would have been considered Heauiiul at a Bosion horticultural show, and any furtuer praise tian that would be unnec (Laughter.) He was go certain of the good of this display of flowers (hat it iv Were not tor (he expense lic Would Wave hot omy We plaviorm, but ihe entire c iL $0 decorated. Wuen Air, Beecher roxe to announce text the gloom Witicl Wie rain Clouds Casi ove aren ented his soe! ly the verses iu the bible, Horeqy 2 ka Wie gal- levy to open U at he might have that Which Goosh -] dying—“Light, frou. tuelr*seat t iu so gre oor Was Li up with wt Kini af moor Wats Tar tuo dazzling. ‘This was request at, ati were domg Un r thie plait r arly known in the eliave got up, and, addi ade 'a suggest! Uivough those windows ¢ that ab would not patatu acher and the cungre; aU higit for all tae parp had not-onty wise? it to bed vid that he had ivht coming to pay forit, and yet it was not led to, Beoe 1 istened to the explanation with a i “Twill see that it Sir, tte you aso.) This seat a good o! ot laugh. ter right through tie chu. of whieh Seat, bee ect was “How t e day,” and the texi Selected was the uric fourteenth verses of th» NiLy’ apter of J “4i thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbat doing thy pleasure on iny holy day, a bath a delight, the holy of the Lord, hon suait honor Him, not doing thine own finding thine own pI words—-then i aud I will caus it, wy father; for the mouth of the Lord ha in the course of this sermon the Were snnbved in a quiet, inferential that must have beea very disiressing to ti Beecher's hearers who have puritani saical notions as to a rigid Sabbata keeping He claimed for the Saobath great Nbe: t wage day in which) man could develop Lis maniood and ail that Was best in him, Many persons mistook its object, and they brought up their cluidrea with such gloomy associations surrounding that brightest of all the days of the week that made the chiidren wish that SUNDAY ONLY CAMB ONCR A MONTH, and that if it were to skip that they would nave no objections. (Laughter.) He was one of eleven chile dren, and in tis father's family Sun was’ dressed in .this puritanical’ fasuion. There were one or two books he might read on @ imo there was tie Bible and the Catechism, and books equally interesting, but if he got tng “Robinson Cra: he was told to put that away, for it was not aSunday vook. There was one pleasant remembrance In those dull Sundays. A negro servant of the family would take him in her lap, and she ha@ @ lap large enough for a sitting room couch—(aughter)—and this girl would teil hia tales. All fathers and mothers should make Sunday a vright, cheerful day for their children, and if they did not do that it was the fathers and mothers who were Sabbath breakers and not the children, He then turned to the question of work on_Sun- days, and claimed that Gil neo.ssary Work was law. ful to be done on that day. He reiusel and would always refuse to sign any pelition for stopplug the running of cars on Sanday. He did not wisn to inake & poor maa’s Sunday any less comfortable than a@rich man’s Sunday. gowe people seemed to think it was @ terrible thing to desecrate the Sunday by allowing a car driver to lose lis half Saaday who Was perhaps instrumental in geiting two hundred people to Piymoud chu j but they thought ita yery proper thing for a cbachuan t lose his half Sunday in a hive people ia @ carriage to te same churcu. iter, The ‘“Dutea »” which oniy developed the i or phar | | a eee drinking of “lager heer,” and the Sunday exeare slons were denounced as not needful to the working classes who couid obtain their recreation on other as but walks into the country, where nature Pye become & means of grace, Were encouraged ved. Tu this practical w: sermon, which in all Probability wil excite controversy,” was. studded With gem of practical wisdom and ib Wis, ST. JANES? LPISCOPAL CHURCH. Coufrmat by Bishop Littlelohu=The Use @odly of the Fifth Ward. ‘There was a large con <rozation at St. James’ Eptse Copal church, at the corner of Lafayette avenue and St. James place, yesterday morning. Bishop Littie- John, of the Long Istand diocese, was present, and after the pastor, ey. Charles W. Homer, had read the morning lessons and said the prayers, he came forward and said it seemed most proper that he should occupy the time usuully allotted to the ser- mon in making an explanation in regard to THR DIOCESAN MISSION, ‘This special work was oue in which he was deeply interested, and one in which he was bound up aa Bishop of the Long Island diocese. The mission was one of long stauding, and located in one of the lowest parts of tie city of Brooklyn, being in the Fifth ward, Jt was founded twenty years ago by the Rey. J. M. Johnson, who was regarded by all of then as one of the old patriarchs of Christianity, and around whose head was a halo of glory. That work was consecrated by him and by ‘the tears of that memorable naa Of God Wien about departing this life, The Bishop said he desired to jay Unis matter before them in al ils bearings, 80 that 801 might be done for tis once noble mission of the city, This mission lad not been successsul of late, and it was from certain causes Which 16 was ROG picasant for him to repeat, Tuere were MOULESIASTICAL FLUCTUATIONS 48 Weil as busiuess fluctuations, and the fallare of ‘this mission was u long story which he felt po incli- nution to relate. Suilice it to that the doors of this mission had been closed for the last twelve months, and yet there was no section ot the city to-day presenting to the eyes of the world & condition su mourn‘ul ‘to contemplate, and & condition which grieved him #0 to the heart as this did. He had longed to present ‘this case to this diocese, knowing that they would be glad to take up the mission and adopt it as their own, He Was gl to have their sympathies, bad heard of their contributions to far-oT missions, bat God in Hts wise providence had given them a Et in central circies. ey shoud remember there was missiouary work at their own doors, and he felt that he suould call upon them todo this work. There were portions of the city of Brooklyn which were leit as much without care as wluch might be fuund beyond Missouri river, In the Fifth word tee were more than 000 souls, the greater portion of which ad no counection with the church and were AAVING WITHOUT GOD. ‘this was because be 4 ad no mission there to bring them from the durkn™ss to the fight, There Was @ inatter of $4,000 required to meet the clauns upon the property—a prop rly which was wor ab least $35,000. It was put up at public aucilon, but he stepped In and saved tt to the diocese of Lung Isiand and now he stood responsible for $20,000. A por- tion, that of $4,000, must be paid on the ist ot June. ‘This Was &@ smal! matter, but HL was a matter wach he had to meet on Wednesday next, One church had given ha $1,000, he expected to get $1,000 from another on Monday, aud he fel) satisded that through thelr sympathy and liberality the batance would be maue up. God had prospered them and now he only asked them to ive this matter which he had presented to them thew con siieration, A colic don was taken Up aud the cous tributions were Ho ONPIRMATION, The right of contimation by the laying on of hands by the Bishop was then aduitalst tonixty candidates, the inrger portion being youas ladies, At the eto of the confirmation the Pi-hop ad dressed the youog converts upon the new life which they had just catered, CLATRAL PRUSBYRERIAN CHUR OH, Moral aud Spiritual Faise Balances=Sermon by Rev. Mr. Talmadge. Rey. Mr. ‘Talmage preachod yesterday morning @seriaon upon the moral and spiritual false bal- ances of the world before a very large congregation assembled In the church in Schermerhorn street. ‘The discourse was an eloquent and telling one, and partook considera¥ly of the originality of style which this preacher is wont to infuse into his sermons, Mr. Talmadge selected his text from Proverbs, xi, 1-"“A false balance ts abomination to the Lord.” It seems strange, Mr. Talmadge said, that He who weighs matataius in scales and the hiilg in @ balance should stoop to notice whether the eweight on tie counter is ®@ grain les than an and whether the bushel measure on the bara floor really holds as much as it professes to hold. Yet God does. There 18 nothing Insiznifeast to Him, He takes just ax much notice of the falling of a robin’s Wing as of the stroke of the wing of an arch angel, Yon see from the text what ininule observa- Nien He takes of the aifairs of the world, and you cole to she cone/usion that if @ single false balance 3 abomination to the Lord, in a great eity like Brooklyn how many abominations there must de! The government hal appointed commissioners, whose sole duty it shall be to inspect and to decide upon Weights aud meastres; but there are FALSE BALANCES A MORAL AND SPIRITUAL CHARACTER that are never bronghit to that test, and he proposed. to consider some cf them, The preacher first re- marked that Uaat was a false balance which weighed one bad action. against a thousand good ones and made it the heavier, How often tt was, after a man lived a ite consecrated to some grand because of a single indiscretion society threw him overboard, forgetful of the ten thousand gool deeds, because @ man did @ stugie wrong thing. This ounted for the difference of optuion that people have of cer- tain individuats m the community. Theat was a false balance that which weighed the Bible against secu- Jar literamre and made that book the lightest; and this was the kind of weighing which was going on ail the while. Tiere was always so much literature on ali subjec's comiug out of the priniing press that there arose a temptation, which every man and woman in the pose had felt, to neglect the word of God, This book was not in- tended as @ torch to carfy in front of some fegtal procession tit was intended to be CELASTING LAMP to throw its light upon our pathway wlien a‘l otter lights had gone out. That was a faire balance which made the ou jer thaw the inward m Of what uge was all your church going ond peat singing, and your cedle- Slastica! asrnteses4, without faith im te Lord Jesus Christ? That was the thing which to decide whether you are going to heaven or not, The posts of the sepu are not wide enough to allow @ coach and four to go in. » had move faith in thas man who might be some ttc In hits theology, but whoee life tion of the traths of God's word, than ¢ man Who adopted all luis religious iheories v lule fs life was hostile to the prficiples o: ine Gospel, He believe (nat MEN HAD GONE TO ILBLU with a Hellelherg catechism In one arm and a West- minster in the other, sourd in the head bnt rotten iu the life, ‘That was a false balance whieh made ut gratification destroy future bias. He b WL MER WhO solid thelr souls for six cents, ho for one moment's pping of a priass yed their souls, The fountains of this world’s had purpose, pi are salt water, and the more you drink the hiratier you get. Then where was liappiness ? Wealth exclaims, “It ts not here!’ Koyarty eries out, through the corridors of the pa’ace “It ls not here!” Fame answers, asit stands writin, ifs name om gilded column, “It is not bere! God only planted itin the soul Then, for the sake ofwhat toe world could five, do not sell your soul, Lt wasa dying world. its mountains woud fall and fs thrones crumble, 1 if you had no hing but that which the woriad gave you you would ne TURNED OUT ON THR COMMONS to die a poor begzar. This worid would use & man’s talent and energy, aud then, after he ts exhausted, banish him, was a false balunce which weighs ed present ti uunst future glory and made the latter the Hghtest. It was a porplexing question among theolosians why God allowed sin to come into the world. My. Talmadge said he did not know, y much Interested in the discussion. ted to Know how it could be driven out, ded his sermon with elo- quent appeal to the people tw confide in th ra and become trae Christians, and after prayer and singing the congregation was dismissed with the benediction. JERSEY CITY CHURCHES. SECOND REFORMED CHURCH, A Picture of a Good Man=Sermon by the Rev, Mr. Van Cleef-A Lesson to Our Merchants and Politicians. In the Second Reformed Church of Jersey City, yesterday, the pastor, Rey. Mr. Van Cleef, preached @ sermon from the text, “For he was a good man, and born of the Hoiy Ghost and of faith,” taken from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter xi, verse 24. Tho viescription given inthe text, sail tie preacher, is not that of a minister merely: he was @ good man. The man is not made outof the minister, but the minister out of the man, A iman may be impure, dishonest, decertful, yet if he be companionable, suciable and alwaya agreeable in company, the world praises him. WHAT 1S A GOOD MAN in the scriptnral sense of the term? Barnabas was s good man; so were Josef, Enoch, Noah, Avraham, Joel. Yet Bafnabas and Paul had many sharp con- tentions, and each was much to blame, The bess men have their temptations, thety doubts, fears and Jali, The Scriptures nowhere recognize meodmess ”