The New York Herald Newspaper, June 20, 1870, Page 3

"RELI THE FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI. Public Celebration of the Festival in the Metropolis and Elsewhere. The Ecumenical Council—Papal Infallidili- ty—The Power of Prayer as Preached in the Pulpits, Sermons by the Rey. Drs, Storrs, Hough ton, Foss, Deems and Hepworth, Henry Ward Beecher, 0. B. Fro- thingham, Fathers Hecker, Everett and Others. ‘The attendance at the churches yesterday was visibly affected by the weather, Fine enough to in- duce the butterilies of fashion to appear lo their most gorgeous toilets and costumes, it was too warm to allow any extra dressing, and so oppres- sive as to forbid almost any attempt at display. The result was that the churches generally were very poorly attended. In the Catholic churches, this being in the octave of the festival of Corpus Christi, the services were peculiarly fine. The sermons in a Majority of the churches were out of the ordinary orthodox style, and irom the reports given below ‘wil! be found to be interesting, instructive, and in some cases quite novel, ST. PAUL’S ROMAN CATHOLIC OnURCH. Retarn of Father Hecker from ome—Pro- gress of the Ecumenical Couxci!l—Discourse Upen tho Present State of Affairs in tho Holy City—Lupressive Ceremonies. The return of Father Hecker trom Kome, and the announcement that he would deliver a discourse upon the condition of atiuirs m that city, attracted to St. Paul's church yesterday a vast congregation. Moreover, the solemn festival of the Forty Hours Adoration was being brought to a close, so that everything considered ‘the occasicn was one of considerable interest to the Jaithful, and long before the proceedings com- meneed the spacious though unpreteuding temple, which is situated on Fifty-niath street and Ninth avenue, was crowded to the doors, Hotter, if possi- ble, than any day that preceded it, the oppressive- ness of the weather yesterday doubliess deterred many from venturing out of doors; yet dur- ing the long three hours of worship at st. Paul's the crowded asssemblage paid sincere tribute to the Creator with unmistakable earnestuess, Every one seemed to appreciate the grandeur and solemnity of the ceremonies, and with a reverence and respect that spoke volumes for their feelings the congregation bowed m hearifelt devotion, while the burning rays of adazziing sun streamed through the windows of the church. Athalf-past ten o’clock THE PROCESSION issued from the vestry. The spectacle was highly Muposing and when the strains of the organ broke soitly upon the ear as the long array of clergymen, acolytes and assistants slowly surrounded the altar the effect was such as to arouse the reli- gious feelings of those present. Solemn high mass was then commenced, the Rev. Father Spencer officiating as celebrant, the Rev. Father Lake a8 deacon, and the Rev, Father Dwyer as sub- deacon, ana the Rev. Mr. Brady as muster of cere- monies, The altar was briiliantiy illuminated with many lights, while tts handsome architectural beauty Was much enhanced by a tasteful display of the ‘choicest flowers. Haydn’s Mass No. 2 was per- formed with fine effect, a large and efficient chorus giying a splendid interpretation to those portions of ‘the composition where strength and harmony were most required. FATHER HECKER’S SERMON. At the termination of the first gospel the Rev: Father Hecker ascended the altar aud, amidst the course, md geitieman took from the gospel according to St. Luke xiv., 16 to 24, Which sets forth tie excuses made by those who had been invited to supper, one having bought a farm, another having purchased oxen and a third having married a wife, ‘and descriptive of the master sending jorn his ser- vant to the nigiways and bringing to the banquet ihe poorand the muimed and the halt and tue blind. ‘The concluding verse of the text being “For T Say unto you that none Ol those men which were bidden sball taste of my supper.” Fatier Hecker also added a te: the Acts of the Aposties, Xv, 7, “and when there had been much disputing Peter s€ up and said unio them, Men and breinren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my Mouth should hear the word of the Gospel and believe.” In his introductory remarks Father Hecker returned thanks to the congregation for the prayers which had been offered up for him during his absence of nearly eignt mouths. He trusted he had returned renewed in weal, renewed in his resolution to iabor more faith- fully, and he hoped with more strength to perform hia duties, His purpose now was to make a few remarks—few reinarks because of the heat of the day and the lengin of the ceremomes—and those remarks would contain some reflections couceruing THE PRESENT STATE OF THINGS in the Holy Council. If any one should have said fifteen or twenty years ago that a great event. one of the greatest events, perhaps the greatest event, of our age, would be the General Council of the Cath- oli¢c Church in the city of Rome, such a man would have been regarded as an idle dreamer or a religious enthusiast. At that period or about that period revolution was triumphani in the Holy City. The Pope was in exe, sectarian ministers were predicting the downiall ef the whole Church and her enemtes ad begun to sing the song of victory and joy over the dead body of Catholicism, But the fact now stared one in the face that no event of this day had so taken hold of the public atvention, absorbed its interest, as the Vatican Council in the Holy City of Rome, opened by Pius IX, on the Sth December, 1869. And was this to be wondered at? He thought not when the limits that constitute it were consiuered, Some imagined they could pass by the Council of the Holy Church as something insignificant, Nations dreamed that to ‘was of no importance, but someiow they had entirely changed their tactics. Even Protestant nations had thought so much of ITS GREAT SIGNIFCANCE t that they had even ventured to threaten the Council, in case it should undertake to abridge the Mberty of the Holy Church. And no one took more interest in what was going on in the Holy City than the ene ministers of Protestant nations, and especially the one of Engiand. Had they considered the limits of the Council they would not have been de- ceived, because if they looked at the numbers of the Council; if they looked at their education, pelea, 4 they had a common amount of intelli- gence; they looked at the great interests the thembers of the Council represented—if they re- led the number of persons and the extent of territory they’represented—it must be acknowledged that the Vatican Council was THE MOS1' AUGUST ASSEMBLAGE that there was any Knowledge of in the history of “men. No other assemblage in the present century conld bear any comparison with it, Consider, then, ‘the elements of the Council; consider, also, the work in which its members were engaged. Putting those Matters together, the Council had done already a very great and important work in_ removing ithe tendencies to scepticism. They were @ccupying every avenue of imparting know- ledge to the world. Concerning the Council, at Kome. The press was teeming with books and amphiets discussing questions before the Council. ihe telegraphic lines and cables across the Atlantic, the newspapers, the pulpits, all the avenues of im- parting knowledge were in a good measure occupied with religious truth, And if the Council no other etiect on the outside world than that, he augured from it a happy conclusion. And why? Because men’s intelligence was made dor truth, Once get a man’s mind turned towards it, ence get him to recognize it, and that recognition ‘would bring the aspiration to his will and the affec- tion to his heart, and might it not be hoped that ONE OF THE GREAT RESULTS of the Council would be great conquests outside the fola of the holy Church. jain, when the great ‘work that was doing was considered, the great fruits porne 10 the bosom of the Caurch were apparent. One of the greatest works before it was to discover, to divine and to disclose those truths which the blessed Lord once aud for ali had given to His Church and left m her keeping. Now for that work what was done?—Investigation, And why? Firstto tind out whether the truth was con- tained in the written word of God, and secondly whether it was confirmed by the belief of all the faithful during all time and everywhere. Now, dmagine for ¢ moment seven hundred men of educa- tion, thelr whole attention directed to and absorbed in this great work. People could éasily imagine what amount of intellectual what amount of light must all flood on ons before them, ‘hat had they to do? they studied the Holy Seripiures. He activity al those que! ‘whey read, NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, could assure the congregation that from his own personal exp tthe Holy Scriptures were read, led with ¢are and with the great. and sincerity by the Fathers of and if there were Protestant present in the church they would at least approve of the fact of the Council reading the Bible as a most hopeful event. Secondly, they studied theearly writers of the Church, all une fathers, They studied the doctrines of the Church, the theologians of the Church. And why? Because tney all bad had their light from God, They all had had thew intelligence, and, living a8 some of them did, nearer to the beginning of the Church, these works Were consulted as aids in order that the true mean- ing of the Moly Sevipiures might be ascertdined. ‘They took testintony of Churches concerning ever y belie!. They were not, however, finding out, wit this one aud that one fancied, They were not finding out what might be their various convictions, but THE DIVINE TRUTH Tevealed by the blessed Saviour, communicated to His Church from the beginning and from ull tine, Considering the great mitellect involved in the in- vestigation, he t nt no was safe in predicting among the results of the Council would be a new era in theological seience, Some complained that the Church had lost its grasp upon the active intel- lect of the age, Bus the very contrary was the truth, since the C@hureh was the very centre of ogress, “gala there were those who asked were _ the no disputes in the Couneil—was there mO Opposition? Why, of course there was, and none for ® moment should have im- agined otherwise. Consider that the Futhers came from different nationalities. They had been accus- tome to different ways of thinking, and many of them had been accustomed to think their own Way. They had different 1uterests, diferent habits. There were seven linndre.! of those men together, and could it be imegined that all at once there should be harmony and unanimity? It was most absurd, No one for & moment ° ¢onld that once a b % Catholic he at ofice jost his titan betta Tf Was no less true in regard to the luerareny. Te Wad true in regard to the priest, the bishop, the cardinal or the Pbpe—all car- ried their weakness sind Jmbertest ony . There were some, doubtiess, whose faith was a little jus whet they discovered that those to whom they ha¢ doket up disputed with each ocher on the great questions before the Cpanel Ree there was no other way to st ie ubh, ascertain Some had their jaith shaken, bit men passed from a state of iufancy tO manhood in their faith, He must per eet even if it were a. fault, that when he heard those disputes and those dis- cussions he ielt a certain degree of joy. The opposi- tion to truth made one ieel strong’ and the Church could not be KEPT IN A BANDBOX, She must go into the world and meet the intellect of the age, and if there was a contest at the be- ginning so much the better, And what had the contest, already done? It had caused jmen to speak out freely, aud to give utterance to the nvictions of thei hearts, He admired that, for how were men to be convinced if their thoughts were conceale|—how win them them to truth unless they w openly asked ? He was also pleased for ‘nother reason, Some said that iome was the centre of despotism. He said (o hnnself, “Here within uhis very city of Rome, here within those walls of St. Pe- ver, here men got up aud spoke out ireely their con- victions '1 opposition to the great majority and even to the Pope himself,” Does not that prove that the holy Chureh fears no freedom of speech? Where you find such men truth ts saie in their — hands, Ceriainiy it is. He augured from this conflict, this trial of fatth, strengthenug of the heart, a renewal of that hoty fait and increased energy in the Church. ‘The blessed Lord gave tie world an*example of how faith was fiucreased one day when going across a lake with fs disciples. ‘They were tozether on the borders of the lake, and went into a little boat, and when they got some distance from shore the Wind caine down and the result wasa storm. ‘The disci- began to fear, and at the time the Lord was asleep. ‘They awoke him, saying, “Save us, or we ”” The Lord rebuked the winds and waves, rything was calm, and, turning to ics, addressed them, saymg, “ Where is "And he (iather Hecker) felt that those Words had application at this time to those who Scemed as It something was shaking within them, Although the Holy Church was in danger, although the siorm was throaten/ng, the Lord was not aware ofthe danger, He believed it not, He opened the eyes of tau Although the Lord might appear to sleep. y when the real danger came— if it should come—He would be there to culm the waves and still the rage of passion, bringing them to that harmony and unity which belong to His Holy Church, awakening acts of jaith. Let there be no fears for the Council. The children of tatth look above those disputes and contests, for the blessed Lord was always in the sleep of the Holy Church. According to the text which had been read there were disputes among the Apostles who vere divinely inspired. It was in tue nature of things, and, therefore, there was no reason to be “iiscouraged. That very fact set aside many of the arguments that might have been made. Suppose the Council liad MADE ALL THE FATHERS AGREE unanimously, perhaps by acclamation, to all that had been proposed. What would have been the crime? It would have been that Rome crushed out saseneere it ae poe ane admitted of no 5 mn dragooned her mem- Sase sie ined broagh em into a senseless unant- nimity. What was the cry now? The cry was that disintegration had begun; but unheeding the clamor, the Holy Church went on with her work. Amoug the objects of the Council was to divine and deciare the truth, while there were other questions to be determined, Including the whole ques- tion concerning ihe discipline of the Church. The Council might yet last tor one, two, or perhaps three years, and not the least important aim was to Win, not conquer the whole world to the fold of Christ, Thoxe were some of the reflections he thought proper to make to the congregation, There were other matters concerning the Council on which he would speak on another occasion, He ailuded to we. erection of a basilica in honor of St. Paul convenient to the church, and in concluding remarked that he was exceedingly giad the bongregation had got on so well. He saw the churei crowded, and the surroundings disclosed a heaithy religious teelmg. He was grateful for having been allowed to make the voyage to Rome, for he now returned a firmer Catholtc. ‘The reverend gentleman, who throughout Was istened to with great interest and devout aiten- ton, added that countries abroad looked towards America a3 one of the greatest bulwarks of the Catholic Church, Let this congregation by their earnesiness prove worthy the name and the holy Church would find her future a joy and a glory. THE CEREMONIES were then resumed, and the immense assemblage bowed in solemn silence. The scene was maguii- cent and well calculated to inspire awe and rever- ence. The Credo was weil rendered by over fifty voices, and at the offertory a very beautiful selec: tion was performed. Nothing could surpass the appearance of the altar aud surroundings. To tue right and left rows of appropriately attired assistants blooming with the roses of health, mild and pious looking young men—some joining in the respons some holding large and handsomely shaped candelabras, having lighted tapers; others hoidiog thuniers, from which curled forth the incense; but all had some office to fill, and reyerentially did they perform their tasks. Solemn high mass having (terminated those partici- pating crpenne in twos from the aitar, which imme- diately after their retirement was rendered addi- tionally imposing by increased iliuminaitons. The remonstrance, of solid gold, containing the Hol: Eucharist, was placed on the tabernacle, and, amid the solemn peals of the organ, the pro- cession, now largely incveased, again issued from the vestry, and having surrounded the altar all knelt in the deepest reverence. The Rev. Father Desclim, bearing a large cross, accompanied by two acolytes, headed the procession, and was followed bya long train of clergymen and others. Being withili the octave of the Feast of Corpus Christi 11 the custom in the Catholic Church to carry the sacrament in solemn procession through the aisies. Having been arranged in order the cross-bearers, With the acolytes, led down the centre aisle, followed by a beautiful band, which consisted of brass instruments, and which, in con- Junction with the grand organ, played a beautiful, Sympathetic and most appropriaie chant, Then came a large number of acolytes in twos; these were succeeded by choristers, who at intervals sang the responses incidental to the chant, And behind them came young tnaidens, wearing wreaths and attired im spotless white, having baskets of flowers, which they strewed upon the way. ‘The thurifers were next, offering in- cense towards the Eucharist, which was carried by the celebrant, Rev. Father Spencer, accompanied by the deacon and sub-deacon. Two — acol immediately preceded them and two nee in the rear, while the members of a religious order carried the rich satin canopy under which the celebrant walked. Behind was a long array of young men, wearing badges and bear- ing lighted tapers. The spectacle inspired the deepest awe, and as the procession moved down the aisle the congregation knelt down in pious wor- ship. Having siowly traversed the church the pro- cession returned to the altar, where THE SOLEMN BENEDICTION was given to the assemblage, after which the pro- ceedings were brought to a close. Ajtogether the display Was most impressive. The music, under Mr. Ebenhard, the organtst, was efficiently rendered, more especially were the services of the chorons brought into requisition. The ceremonies did not terminate till after one o'clock, and although the day was exceedingly hot no inconvenience was cenrere owing tothe excellent ventilation of the cburch, ST. ANTHONY’S CHURCH. Imposing Celebration—Mozart’s Mase—Sermon in Italian Cucchiarini. Yesterday was the feast of St. Anthony, a day of unusual interest for the congregation of St. Antho- ny’s church, Sullivan street. Accordingly, unusual preparations had been made to worthily celebrate the festival. The church has been recently decorated with remarkably good taste, the designs being at once appropriate to the size and shape of the bulld- ing and chaste in conception and execution. High Mass was celebrated yesterday and a full orchestra had been engaged for the occasion. Mozart's Twelfth mass had been chosen, and, to render it efficiently, some of the leading members of the f[talian Opera Twelfth by Father Company fad been engaged. There Were Miss Marie Bavatt, Miss A. Leldeker and Miss Messen- hpusor, soprani; Signor and Herr Goller, tenore; D. Horeschetre, baritone, and Signor Garibaldi, basso. The orchestra was, taken all in all, effective; but the instrumentation was much too loud for a church of the size of St. Anthony's, and the effect, consequently, Was occasiouaily anything but agreeable. ‘The pastors of St. Anthony’s church and a goodly proportics of its congregation are italiaus. The festival yesterday was one of peculiar interest to the Italian people, and, accordingly, they turned out in iad forming, indeed, the majority of the congrega- lon. with full and celebrant = was High mass was celebrated Impressive ceremonial, The Father Guerrir! Girachino; Father Anschetely omictated as deacon, and Father = Idoard a8 sab-deacon, Father Anthony Komana, from Hinsdale, Mass., was master of ceremonies. Alter the Gospel Father Cxsar Cucchiartul, of Al- bany, ascended the puipit and delivered in the mel- liftous tongue of the land of Dante and Petrarch a discourse on the subject of St, Anthony. The speaker, from the begining to the end of his sermon, which lasted nearly three-quarters of an hour, rivet- ed the attention of his countrymen, and even those of the Consreqaiion: ignorant of the orgs beautiful Janguage of Italy scemed spellbound by the ex- pressive gestures and unflagging amimation of the speaker, Litie as they might be able to grasp of the meaulng of his words, they were somewhat ene tranced by the beauteous accents of the language, which was the medium of Ventura’s masterpieces of modern ecclesiastical eloquence, The preacher detailed the life of St. Anthony; his birth at Lisbon; his lmeage that of tie royal family of Portugal; his relinquishment of the ambition and mp of the world; his self-sacrifice, zeal and suffer- as a member of che Church of Uhrist, Above all the preacher dwelt eloquently upon the heroism with which St, Anihony had overcome temptations in every form, and had set a brightexample of virtue to the whole republic of Christ’s church. In conclu- sion the preacher prayed that God would impress into the hearts of those present the zeal, devotion aud self-sacrifice which characterized St. Anthony. CHURCH OF THE MESSIAD. Unitarianism Defined by Rev. George H. Hepworth—A Discourse of Great Power of Argument and Briliiancy of Illustration, It was evident, from the falling off in the congre- gation worshipping at the Church of the Messiah, corner of Park avenue and Thirty-fourth street, at yesterday morning's services, that a goodly number of the jashionable people accustomed to attend here have already joined in whe general hegira for the summer watering places, Nothwithstanding this, however, and the intense heat of the day, there ‘was a large assemblage—an assemblage in size, in- teiligence and close attention any minister might be proud of preaching before, and Which, if there be any lire or eloquence 14 him, should certainly draw itout. Beginning THE MUSICAL PRELUDE was a voluntary played on the organ by Mr. Howe, the ektlled organist, which was followed by @ “jubi- late” by choir, with solos by Mra, Picker and Miss Kushby and trio by the same singers and Mr. Whiting, each of whom sang imost ex- quisitely, and then the anthem “Almigity God,” by Byrnes, sung by the whole choir. An organ solo by the organist, played with cunningly artistic finvers, and a congreganonal hymu wound up the musical preiude, and then came THE SERMON, by Rev. George H. Hepworth, the young, gifted and most popular pastor. The subjcct—What Unita- rianisin is and what it 1s not”’—was one of peculia: interest, and evoked not only his most scareliin: power of analytical argument, but the brilllancy o: IMustra.ton and fighis of eloquent utterance that have placed him in the foremost rank of our pulpit orators. He took his text from St. John, xiil, 13— “Ye callme master and lord: and ye say well, for sol am.” He began by saying Uiat the lookout upon the future of Unitarianism 1s better now than it has ever been. Fifty years ago it was a little too far aneud of the age to clam avery extensive re- cognition. It contradicted so many of the religious prejudices of the time that 1t was compelied to wait for justice. Now, lie was proud to say, the masses of the people, who are not exactly at ease under the rigid sectarianism of many other churches, are be- ginning to make Inquiries coucerning thelr belief and the work they propose to do, Scarceiy a day passes without the receipt of letters from ministers and laymen inquiring a8 to the doctrines that ure peculiar to them. ‘The question is being asked from all quarcers: os WHAT 18 UNITARIANISM, and that question he proposed to answer as best he could. We have been suffering as a religious body for a long time past Irom the misapprevension of the uniearied and the misrepresentation of the know- ing. The religious papers of other denominations have never done us exact justice. They have never stated our views or our peculiarities fairly, and, hence, the prejudice of many agalust us. it has been saia of us expecially that we reject Christ, a statement than which nothing can be more false. We believe of Christ what we think Christ believed of himself, And in our estimate of His person and mission we do not materially differ from some of the most learned of the Catholic Church and many of the advanced scholars of the Church of England. Every sect should be judged by the statements of ita Tepresentative Men. it is hot just to take the writings of a few extremists, who are not regarded by the Unitarian body itself as in any degree repre- senting its average Sentiment, as the true and only exponen's of its position or belief. We have men in our ranks who are not trusted theologically, who really belong outside of any distinctively Christian sect, and the sayings of these men are sometimes taken as representing the feelings and thoughts of the whole. We believe that Christ is simply what he 80 repeatedly said he was, THE SON OF GoD. We do not believe that he was very God, according to the Athanasian Creed; first, because such a dogma is not to be found in the scriptures, end sec- ond, because we think {t does not accord with the reason aud common sense of mankind. As the Son of God, he is ihe whole world’s Saviour, How un- just to affirm that we believe in Him less than the other sects. We think we believe in Him more. He is the providential instrument through which God has revealed himself to mankind, and the book which contains the record of his lite and teachings is the corner stone of our faith, He in- sisted upon it that they were more STRICTLY BIBLE CHRISTIANS than any other body. We interpret the book by the light of a right reason; we welcome to our aid ail the research of science and ali the zeal o¥ philosophy, sure that neither the one nor the other can take a single word away which God has spoken. See how tne world at large has come up to our position. Fifty years ago nearly all the world believed in the terrible dogma of tota! depravity, and not only the heathen in thetr blindness, but even little children, before a thought of evil had entered their lives, were supposed to be the VICTIMS OF GOD’S WRATH. You remember some of the horrible sermons on this subject that made the cold chilis run ali over you and made you wonder why men were made at all if they were so sure tobe damned, Well, how silently that doctrine has crept ont of our hearts, What a different idea of God we have now, Some of our brethren say that we have brought about this change. He thought not. We have been on the crest of the wave, a littie in ad- vanoe yn of the religious world, but we are not the power that is drawing the ocean up to the high water mark; the silver moon over our heads is the great attractive force. Itis God who is lifting each ane higher, and not us. What I want now Is that nitarians shail take some pains to maxe their views known. We have been asleep for a score of years. Let ug publish our thought; let us show the World through some authoritative statement that we believe in Christianity as the one great redemptive force; let us dare to say what we believe. We area part of the Christian world, and he believed that more than half of the people in New York city agree with us essentially. We have erratic minds among our number. He wished that they would form a sect of their own, lft a banner of their own, and fight their own battles in their own way, but the sect as such is firmly planted of Christianity and no power on earth can move it, The sermon was listened to with the most earnest attention, Chaunting the Lord’s prayer, a congrega- ouet hymn, and benediction terminated the exer- 3, CANAL STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Sermon by Rev. David Mitchell—Christ’s Claims to Man’s Faith. Yesterday morning public worship was conducted in the Canal street church, in Greene street, by the pastor, Rey. David Mitchell. ‘he organ recently placed in the church was well played, and is evi- dently working a great improvement in the musical part of the service. The reverend gentleman an- nounced as his text, John xiv., 2: “If it were not so I would have told you.”” These words, he sald, should be considered in their connection with tle saying, ‘In my Father's honse are many mansiv: 8," and they teach us that the doctrine of a heaveniy state isto be received simply because Christ has taught it. As if He had said, it is enough for you that I have declared there aremauy mansions, Accept the truth from my lips, DON’T BE WASTING YOUR TIME to prove that my words are true. Christ has thus revealed many other things to us, such as the Father- heod of God, salvation through His own work and death, the immortality of the soul, not ina didactic Way, Dot dogmatically, but naturally, as the breath. ings of His pious mind. Some say they would be- Te ocurtina a ‘oved lke . ots Gua . jesus Our belie? in His wordsr ett 88 jateg First—He has all the right that pertains to his be- Ing our brother, one of ourselves, A child with un- questioning faith believes his parent, a husband his wife, and in general a man his brother man, though he has never seen him before. If a stranger whom you met on the strect directed you to some particular place, or told you your wife or child was sick, you would not, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, stop and ask whether the tidings could be true. We carry on business largely on this principie, and ad- mit strangers to our hospitality. So with Christ. We believe in His humanity. His words @ppeal te eur sympaihies, because they are THE WORDS OF A MAN. Second—Ohrist has ail the right to our belief in His Words that pertains to one who is sincere, ‘The laat tung Wo give up is belie! in @ fellow man’s Blucesity. | JUNE 20, 1870.—TRIPLE We may have our convictions shaken as to his judg. ment, or his common sense, or his genius. We nate- rully cling to tie thought that however-mistaken our friend may have been he was still honest. We must surely tee! towards Christ in this way. we could logically prove there is no Father, no Father's house, not many MUsions, We Would still look upon Christ as sincere in Hig statement. Sincerity does not guarantee accuracy and certainty, but it enters as a uost vital clement ito our veliely, Third—Chvist has all the right to our belief in His words that pertains to one Who practices what he says. A man who tells you that honesty is the best poe and putsout his hand for an unlawful gain will be A POOR PREACHER, though his wonts were inspired, aud the weak man will be felt & power if his uctions are consistent with the principles he avows, Apply this to Christ; itin- creases the power of His every word tentold. ‘To all who huye lived after Ohrist there is the ad- ditional reason for believing his words that he sealed them with his blood. Such were Christ's words—thelr antagonism to the world—that He early foresaw His coulng dooin, Taking prescience into aecount, Christ is the crowning martyr spintin the world’s history. Others may have suilered us long and paipfully, out not as much. The simple question, then, ax to our belief in any doctrine 18, “Flas Christ said ity? AM:RICAN PRESRYTERIAN, FREE CHURCH, Chureh CorrespondencePraetical Tempe= rance=Father Forgive Them—Sermon by Rev. Charles B. simy th. Atthe morning service in Masonite Hall yesterday the Rev. Charles &, Smyth dispensed the word of Ife to thirty-one souls, Shortly atter eleven o'clock the reverend gentieman entered the hail and took up his position on the rostran He seemed haggard and weary. He cast @ plercing glance around the hall, his eye lighting up at times as it fell upon Some faithful foliower; he then threw himself back in his chair as though controlled by some powerful emotion. Aftera few moments he proceeded with the usual services. Before the sermon the reverend gentleman referred to the aid he derived from the suggestions of correspondents when HE Sav IN THE EDITORIAL OMATR, He belleved that the same system could be carrted into the church services with much profit and he would adopt it in his free eh He w; wg reply from the pulpit to any letier he received provider the same Were respectful and suited vo the solemnity of the house of God. He quoted from several letters he had reccivel since he left the pulpit of tne Eleventh street church and replied to them in briet terms, He had received numbers of communications from friends in high position congratulating him on the independent course he had purs A und request- ing an expression of opinion on the situation. To all such he retursed the thanks of his inmost soul; he had not the slightest ill-feeling towards tnose who had hunted iim down in the 0 trial; they would live long enouga to know beter and their ignorauce of life was tuetr excuse, and he would say with his Divine Master, “Father forgive them, for they know not wiut they do.” He had received many lavitations to deliver lectures in the city and yictniy, ‘These he would hold under con- sideration, and would make his conciusions known in a few days. Atthe re: judg- pted an juvitation to deliver a lecture in Stelmway Hall on the 2sth in “PRACTICAL TEMPERANCE in Contradistinctton to Teetotulisin,’ He trusted that his frtends would rally In strong force on the Occasion, as the question was one that needed to be placed belore the pubhe in tis true light. The reverend gentleman took his t from St, Luke XXil., 19:—*'Tiis do in remembrance of mo.’ fie satd:—You have heard that there are measures under way looking to the erection of a monument to that Immortal Literary genius whose light has just gone out—Mr. Charles Dickens. You know that from the beginning of the world all navions have shown @ disposition to erect lasting memorials in nonor ot their tilustrious dead; and we daily receive souventrs aud remembrances trom absent friends or when we are about to depart from those whom we hold dear, Our Divine Lord, knowing the sympa- thies and tendenctes of the human heart, treated His disciples after this established system when He was about to leave th He took bread, ani blessed it and broke it and gave it to them to eat, saying, “This is My body,” and having taken the wine He blessed it and gave it to them and bade them drink, saying, “THIS 19 MY BLOOD; and having done this He looked on apostles and laid on them the solemn command ‘ais do in re- mewbrance of Me,” thereby instituting and perpetu- ating the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, which 1s vo be @ continual bond of anion between Christ and His Church. The Bible narrative is distinct mn the fact that Christ is both God and man, He is berfect God and perfect man entire within the one person. Christ took upon Himself the nature of man that He might teach us by His ex. =e the true mode of withstanding epee se ‘ing sufferings. He could have en the orm “yi by succort them in ther own form. But Christ is also true However men may differ in religious matters, all, even skep- tics, admit that no discourse has ever been deliv- ered on earth so full of deep, whole souled be- dignity and God-like precept as the Sermon on tie Mount, Even the Jews, when they heard His sil- very tones and the heavenly sentimenis He ut- tered, declared that “never man spake like this man.” His words and His deeds were alike. He went about doing gvod to all, healing the sick and comforting the afflicted. At the communion to-day we are especially required to remember Him, to reflect on His lie and death and to gather from our ineditations streagth to walk in the path of the righteous duriag our earthly pilgrimage. the conciusion of the regular services the id genticman proceeded with the inaugura- tion services of his Free Charch, He said:—To-day, beloved brethren and friends, with the approbation and blessing of God, we inaugurate the American Free Church, In sodoing we are not instituting a new sect. There are sects enough already, God knows, We are merely establishing another congregation “upon the foundation of the aposties and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,” which, so far from being an addition to the sects will be @ liberal rallying point around which all members of any of the sects may gather who sin- cerely believe in Him. We have NO THEORIES TO PROPOUND, no course of procedure to advise but what the Scrip- wures always taught and the Westminster Fathers adopted and many of you have been accustomed to, more or less, from your childhood, We haye not re- quested any 4to come with us or to join us who at- tended our lace congregation. All wie have come and joined have done so spontaneously, of their own free wili and accord. And yet there are enrolled al- ready about twenty-five communicants, a much larger number of persons tha : that with which many of what are now the most flourishing churches of the period were commenced. We trust that the nucleus of this congregation so constituted wiil be like the ee Seed sown in good ground, that t pagel bas He preferred to show His wili bring forth fruit in abundance, or like the acorn rom which grows up the deep- rooted, wide-spreading and luxuriant oak. In the meantime let us all clog tenaciously to the truth as it is in Jesus, and zealously uphoid, both in theory and practice, the grand principies of Cnrist’s owa Chrisuanity, pure and entire. ‘The regular Inaugural services were then gone through with according to the ritual of the Presby- terlan Church. CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION. Faith, Grace and Beauty—Tho Poor To Be Remembered in Warm Weather as Well as Cold—Sermon by Rev. Dr. Honghton. A cosily situated church 13 that of the Churcn of the Transfiguration, located in East Twenty-ninth street, near Fifth avenue. 1t 1s embowered amid trees and shrubbery, and one can sit within its quiet pre- cincts and listen to the music of the birds who sit and sing in the branches of the surrounding foilage and almost imagine himself in the country. Nor is this novel characteristic an outside one alone. Within the edifice is low and builtin that quaint, gothic style of architecture peculiar to country churches. THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH are comprised almost entirely of wealthy people. Situated in @ locality where are the homes of many of the most prominent men, both in business and social circles, it has naturally drawn into its folds an unusual number of this desirable class. Yet the congregation are noted for politeness in accommo- dating strangers, and they thus display a kind and Christian feeling which is not always associated with wealth. THE MUSIC of the church is simple, yet it is of a quality that must always poe even musically cultured ears, ‘The organist of the church is Mr. Albert W, Berge, the eminent composer, and his reputation as one of our first organists has long been fuily established. A paid choir has always been distasteful to the pas- tor of the church, so that the only vocal mvsic ever heard within its walls 18 made by a number of theo- logical students, who give their services without fee or reward. The pastor, the Rey. Dr. Houghton, tg a minister greatly beloved by his flock. He 18 @ plain, unas- ae man, and although he does @ great deal or work it is performed tn such a quiet way as to be scarcely known outside his own congregation, ‘The church yesterday was sa attended for 80 warm @ di The day being Trinity Sunday the sermon preached was appropriate to the occasion. The pastor took his'text the first epistie of St. John, fourth chapter and the nineteenth and twen- ty-first verses. It was as follows:—‘‘We love Him because He first loved us; and this commandment have we from Him, that He WHO LOVBTH GOD LOVBTH HIS BROTHER ALSO.” The season which the day commenced was one of the most important of the year. It embraces twen- ty-flve Sundays. The 3 read for morning and evening prayer du this season are such as must claim most careful and serious attention. It will be noticed that the system of the Chu ia that of God himself, To believe in the Son of God must ever be the first step toward a Christian life, and another must be to keep His holy will and com- mandment> We showd ve faitb(ul iw all thipgs, da SHEET. faith, grace and beauty. The child should be frat } ‘augnt faith, and then he should be taugut his duty— that is, what he should as @ Chrtstian do, He must be first taught that there is a God before he ean be taught to obey him, He must be taught the prayers of the Charch and thon the first — princ pice of Christianity—fatth, grace and beauty. irace is brougit prominently before us during Whitsuntide, uriug the season of Trinity we are parUcularly to stat duty, We have been taught how it was that Christ first loved us, and we are now to learn how we are to love him, Faith and grace | are made the subjects of the first season of the year, | ‘They are undoubtedly of equal importance. But we are “not to exalt any one of them; we are to study how Uo give each its proper tmportance, EVERYTHING LN ITS DUE PROPORTION. Jaith, grace and good works characterize the syatem of the Chureh, ‘Trinity suns declares that love to 4 brother is love to Christ, To sum up all, the faith ofa Cortstian 18 love, because Christ frst loved us. ‘Therefore we pray that God may Dbiess us With His grace, ‘The first principle of the Christan Year ts glory to God in the highest, and this prineiple should underlie every action of our life. As We gO forth for the summer to our homes in the country Jet us do something for the poor. Let us remember TAat the poor we have always with us, aud so help them, and Godgln our cool retreats will bless us, and we can take additional comfort from the thought that We have assisted those Who are not so Lorcunate as we. CBURCH OF THE NATIVITY. Tho Love of God for Man and Man’s Debt of Love to God=sermon by the Rev. Father Everett. ‘The Church of the Nativity, of which the Rev. Father Everett is pastor, is situated on Second ave- nue, between Second and Third streets, Viewed from the outside its appearance is by no means im- posing, and its architectural merits are not of the highest order. Its interior 1s equatly unostenta- tious, and very little attention has evidently iy paid to the ornamentation of the church. But if everything is plain, and the gorgeous embcilish- ments to be found in other churches are wanting, there 1s an imposing air in the very want of these adornments which makes one feel that the struc- ture is built for the worsmp of God, and that the one object of saving souls is the supreme desire of the pastors of the cnuren, and that in that one object ‘he fery manner ia watch the preacher delivered it Was most effective. In conclusion, the reverend gentlemen taok occa~ sion to refer to the tusult he ad been sul 1 to on the steamer from Boston by some white brute, by the name of tram Young, who at a restaurant table had ordered him away and refused to serve him becau.e of his color. Evidently the matter was 40 outrage on the part of the steward, and great in- dignation was expressed among the meuibers of the cliirch that such treannent should be offered to their pastor, Lt is very probable they Wil take some public action ia the matter, TWNTY-THIRD STREET © PRESBYTERIAN cHuxen, Muste “The Language of the Soul?—Sermot by the Rev. H. D. Northrup. ‘The Twenty-chirt street: Presbyterian church was very largely attended yesterday morning in spite of tue Intense heat, Which, tustead of preventing peo- ple from venturing ou!, seemea to be rather a capt tal excuse for the donning of cool, white garments, more or les#expensive—the value being determined, as ur as the ladies were concerned, by the amount of costly lace with which their dresses were decked. The gentiemen ta white, ladies in white, children ia white, bables in white—vive les habits vlancs, ‘The Rey, Mr. Northrup took for his text I. Chronicles XXiXx., —‘Aud all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang and the trumpeters sounded.” He said that there are two gen- eral divisions under which alt music may be comprised—the one secular, the other sacred; that itis universally admitted that there ts music Which Would not suit the purposes of worship, and, on the other hand, tha there is music adapted to our church services Which Would not be appropriate to some occasions, Hence he made the distinction olsecular and sacret, It was notso much with MUSIC AS ONE OF THE FINE AK or Wilh music in ils secular aspect, that he had to do. it Was more especially of religions music of Which he had to treai, premising, however, that cer- (tin Llngs belouging to the other branch of the subs Ject might tail out by lie way, Ibis worthy of note, lirst that as the world has a political history, ag there ts @ history of science, of Itverature, of certain great principies, »0 ticre is @ history of music. The World has bever been Wituoul its “concord of sweet all others are forgotten. And that success has at- tended their efforts can be seen by the large coug! gations which attend services (here, Yesterday, at the half-past ten mass, when the heat was wlinost unbearable, the number of worshippers which filied the church Was a pleasing sight to behold, and th: rapt attention with which the preacher of the day was listened to was suilicient proof that jits elo- quence and his labors were not without fruit, aad that the word of God spoken from his mouth went to the hearts of his hearers aud raised their thoughts on high, The Keverend Father Everett, by whom the ser- mon was preached, is the pastor of the clirch, and Is bot be.oved and respected by his congreza’ to whom He has atways been as the Good shepherd to his fock—kind and gentlewith the good, but steri: aud strict with the transgressor, His text was from the gospel of the day, com- mencing at the seventeenth and ending with the twenty-third verse of St. Luke, sixth chapter—*Aud he came down with them, and et and the company of nis disciples, multitude of people out of ail Judea and Jerusaem, and from the sea coast, of Tyre and Sidon.” ‘The reverend preacher spoke in glowing language of the GOODNESS OF GOD, of the love of God and of the great debt of love due him from Cbrist God, the Father, had sent His only Son to red ind from sin. That Sen had come on earth m human shape; had sumered iguominy, contuinely and deaih for our sake, und to open for us the roud to heaven, He showed us by His lite of huatiléy and obedtence to the wilt of Lis Father, how we should gain that end, and wien, by his cruel death and GLORIOUS RESURRECTION heaven was secured to us Hie left to us, His teachings and His aposties to guide us from darkness to ligiit, aud, above all, lie left us Himseil in the blessed sa- crament of the Hucharist, that we might want for nothing that would help to our salvation. God having thus done everything for us, ought we not give lilm the little He asks in returny Ought we hot offer up to Him that which we hoid merely by His tea ogc our lives, our hopes, our hearts ? He asks us for but littie, and that lite 18 ourseives, Father Everett concluded by exhorting his hearers to consecrate (ir lives to God by prayer and goud works, aud they would reap the benetit of it i the world to come, TRINITY MEiHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Sketch of the Church—Importance ef Salvae tion—How te Obtain Eternal Lifc. ‘This church is located in ‘{hirty-fourth street, be- tween Seventh and Eighth avenues. It was built about twelve years ago for the erratic but very elo- quent Professor Mattison, deceased, After a time he seceded from the Methodist Church aitugether on the question of slavery, and set up for himself, So popular was he that @ neat church edifice was promptly erected for him in Forty-first street, near Sixth avenue, where, during the war, he uttered his earnest protest agalust “the sum of all villinies.’? When slavery ceased to exist, and the war, wulch had made the Methodist Church in the North less temporizing and more united in opposition to its cause, had closed, Professor Mattison again return a to the Church of his choice, joined the Newark Cor ference, and Was stauloncd ih Jersey Ctiy aud N ark, ‘Trinity church has since had some eminent preachers filling its pulpit, among whom were ine eloquent Alfred Cookman, J McKowa, ihomas F. Hildreth, and its preseat pastor, Cyrus DL. Foss, a man who, it 1s confidentiy stated, has no superior, and few equals, as a pulpit orator, His sermons never fail to carry convietion to the understanding, though the hearis of his neavers may be stevie against their truths, He is a young man, thirty-eight years of age. Some ot his religious friends and brethren thunk so lu hum that his name has been mentioned wiih the episcopacy as a itung su Thomp- son or Kingsiey, jately decease|. Yesterday inori ing hus pulpit was supplied by the Rev. J.P. He man, pastor of the Forty-third street Metlodist Epis- copal church, Whose subject: was THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING SALVATION. The Intense heat kept a great many away from church, and the congregation was very sparse. ‘The text was 1. Peter 4, Lo—“Or which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched dili- gently,” Humanity, he said, 1s divided, religiously, into two classes—those who search diligently after the things of God aud those who care ior nune of those things, the Late ed aud the uniuterested, ‘There are subdivisions in the first Class; for all ave not interested alike. The tmportance of ‘Saivation is Keen WD this, that che prophets inquired and searctied diligently, and We are toid that even the angels de- sire to look into the matter. ‘Ihis searching afier salvation is an indication that God is in us, and to the extent that He occupies our hearts shal we be interested and shail we cherish the things of Gi Salvation is simply God in us—moving, directing aud inspiring us—and subordinating our natures bringing them mto harmony with His will. Th study of divine things shows an appreciation of eternal verities. ‘Ihe bearings of THE INVISIBLE FUTURE upon the visible present cannot be disputed and should not be disregarded, Ir there is a heaven of joy or @ heil of wo we ought to know tt. Lf there is @ Saviour offering free salvation to us we ought to accept it, that We may escape the one and attain to the other state and place. And by inquiring and searching diligently can we only obtatn that kno ledge and be made partakers of the grace of Go By faith in Christ all things ours, becau Chrisi’s, and Christ is God's. ‘The sermon closed witit @n appeal to te impentient of the congregation Lo search and inquire diligently after these tilags. In the evening Key. ©. D. i'oss preached to w large congregation. ZON CHURCH (LOLORED), Calling Sin by Innocent Names—Sermon by Rev. W. L. Butler. The colored church on Bleecker street was crowded yesterday in consequence of the return of the pastor, the Rev. William F, Butler, without whom the con- gregation 1s tn a state of syncope, After the singing, which by the way 18 particularly good here, Mr. Butler came into the pulpit and began his sermon, taking as his text Kings, vill, 12. He commenced by saying that MEN ARE IGNORANT of the evil of their own hearts. They build them. selves up in self-love and self-esteem, and do not care to inquire too carefully into the psychological phenomena of their own natures, They pass casity through life and believe that as long as they are not doing harm they are doing good. ‘That 1s, they live in @ slate of passive absence from wrong and think this cnough to serve God. The tendency of the age is towards calling evil by false names. They call infidelity and scepticism by the name of free think- ing. They call adultery and sexuai unpurity FRER LOVE, and in every way endeavour to discharge their Wrongs by giving them @ nomenclature which sounds well to the heart, but which 1s ag bad in God's eyes as if they called their sinning and thetr crime by the right names. It is thus that the worst courses of vice have small beginnings, It is tik on the body, but which unchecked spre whole system, and finally engulfs iv in ruin and death. So is it spiritually. ut the Almiguty wiil hold us accountable for every lota of the sin-we com- whether we call it in our language biack or white. Men would be overwhelmed with horror if they could see with the same eyes actions they did which they once would have considered FRARFUL AND DAMNABLE, Tt was all a resuit of yielding woo easily to circum: stances. Ifa man would be @ Chrietian he must be strong and determined, no’ weak and pliable. This GiKaurse Was nerticnlarly ation aud eloquent, apd over -he sounds.” Creation Was ushered in with song. Through ali Seripture there runs a strain of harmouy, and tie hisiory of man Is in part the hisiory of pipes aud tutes and harps and um- brels and solos aud choruses and hakelujahs. You Waich the curious workmanship of Jubal as he iiakes the harp wud reed a device worthy of men- Uon tu the Mosaic narrative; you examine the in- struments coustructe. by David and Solomon to give expression Co the teuiple Worship; you hear the triumphant song of Moses celevraung the power and glovy of Mim who bus overthrown tle horse and gis Tiler id the sea; you see tie lk of Miriam, the Prophetess, st Ue Uumbrel as she treads on the jubilee; You hear singer answering singer and pro- Claiming that Saul lus slain his thousands and Da- Vid is leh Unousaius; and you listen to that comble nation of vocal aid dstruniental music at Lae taber- nucle ta Gibeon, belore te ark La Jerusaem and in service OL the tei *, When, as the text has it, ine congregat lulpped, and the singers Wg and tie taumpeters sounded,” celebrating restoration ol religion uader Hezekiah, whole Bible 18 devoted to the which resounded through the temple. When red uyou feel the air thrul with the nue wom; you get near enough ty hear (he solema uy Man at THE LAs? SU one pom = R, words, trembling on rugged, sorrowiu 4, and, tnauy caugat up im Vision With tke aimos, You lear tie voice of harpers harping With Uleir LArps as they sing the Lew song belore Uo tivone. All history is musical; tle World is musical; Heaven is musi¢al. ‘The old iiebrew melodies, i Uiey could be revived, would probably equal, if nol surpass, tle Most renowned producuons of moder composers. A public Wor- in the upper rooni—paruet vole slip without song is one oO: the chief elewents of aitractiveness and power, Music tay be said to ol things. 11s in some sense the Us ieart could not Utter ali 18 emotions withoutit, ‘Tneve 1s something about the Harmony uf svunds which pleases the ear; something about noise, wrespective of tne oF tune, Waich has @ ceriain charm and power. You see the edect upon clildres, Give a baby a rattievox and you make ithappy. A boy gets a whiswe or a drum, biows and thumps with unabaced vigor all about the house “i crazes everybody except himsell. He Uhinks it is delighiful. Now, you take noise and make iv musical aud # | toe youngsters are cuacmed With it, A man comes along will ao old hand organ, In the Just stages of adee\nc—it does not mitter—be Nas & crowd of chiidren around him wherever he goes, | A band of music Maren. s through the stveets—five hun- dred boys eseurl i—people rush to the windows— even the miuister leaves Lis sermon—to hear some favoriie alr, ‘They gel up a great judiiee in Boston or New York; (here 18 to be Music On a grand scale; people Nock wo hear it by thousands und tens Oo! ihousands, WHY IS 11? Simply because wieu the -weet strain trembles on the ait, Wien ihe niaguilicent choras swells like the thunder, When nbiuy iasicaments unite ther sounds lu pleasing comviuiiion it moves the heart—there Is something there in the breast which responds. 13 it possinle for aay orator aypealiug to tie under- standing and Che sensibllues, Lo outstrip the power Of musie in Moving Us beLN to suules aud tears When no word is 5, ken, When only sounds are ut- tered which convey 4 of the soul ¢ suid te had under the ini wad had old scene siumbering; had Cu waich had faded lsc r in te pulsiliou ol joys and grefs which he hud Wig W buricd forever. If Uke musical faculty is natural to Mau you will agree that we ae as iauch responsivie for its right-and proper use as Jor (he We OL reason or Uie alecuous, aud especially wheu 1 ven ory oud; had (elt Lon of oud Las is God's intention tual i) be alled to the , nployed a Wee 10 Wustrument in NLOL Whore It oF treat és au Lpportant In Kind of juusic we shail and what kind of music we shall have in our sanctuarie i 1 eitier as an eniertam- Met oF as ane yorsilp, We Caunot over- look the idea ot art. There is 40 occasion when poor music is to be preferred to good. it suould be our study to have tue best of everyting. ‘There is more sit im tayiug poor music in. church— music Witich ups and is likely every moment to break down and come to grief— than there is in @ concert hall, where you pay your Way in and utter loud execrations if the enter Air. Northrup sald his heal might be erhaps what he would say #boul te opera, ‘That it iaruishes some of THE BEST MUSIC EVER COMPOSED, he said, is undoubtedly true; that selections are y day, While few suspect whence Hie said he should not bestow unyuauded ‘approvation upon the opera, for its ace companiments are of stich a character—the celebrated in song 18 such, bemg in tuany that form ¢ rders on licenuousness— yuplug when translated in plain Boglish, so viilanousiy suggestive of tm- moratity; the ballet, Which in many cases 1s found to be @ necessary accessory, is so damaging to purity; the whole thing “is generally so un- true to life, uniess it be the lowest form of life, that it will not do for a Christan minister whose high work it is to guurd the morals ol soclety and lift men up to a higher piane of living, to take unqualified ground in its favor. Some persons say, e are nov corrupted by the ballet and sach ike things.” Then i say to such men you are ROTTEN ALREADY, and that is the reason you ure not corrupted. Mr, Northrup said he never attended vut one opera in his life, and did not know if he ever cured to attend another. He said i! was part play and part music, and bad nonsense from beginning to end. Men ges- ticulated aud shouted and screamed more like wild Indians than civilized pe Che tenor and soprano seemed Lo be making perate effort to do something nobody could tel: what. They were in one thrilling part, when in rushed @ female who cer- tainly looked as if something was the matter with her, She was terribly excited. Her haty flew in all directions. She was DR&ESED IN SHORT METRE, and, as nearly as he could make out, was jealous of someboay, He said, It 1s a@ pity we cauuot have good music without nonsense and vulgarity. Keep id the music, but throw away its questionable dis- gusting accompaniments. It easy for the sense of delicac aud purity in the young to be bluntea: a little thing will ‘some times do it; one short hour can work @ rum which years cannot repair. The question to be de- ¢ided lies between choirs and congregational sing- ing. David did not say “Let there be three or four persons praise the Lord,” he said ‘Let all the ple praise Thee.” Paul did not tell the Colossians to hire a quartet to sing with grace in their hearte; he told the people to do it. We are not told, at the Last Supper, that Peter and John sang a hymn—they all sang. The praises of tne sanctuary belong peculiarly to the people A juarvet practically shuts the mouths of the people. ve want the best kinds of music, and this ts the very reason why we want good congregational singing, for it is the best. Some mS say that it mast always be poor; that @ large number oe. Sons cannot sing artistically, They can. The del and Haydn societies, of Boston, can. There Teally ought to be music in every one of our homes There ought to be melody I ery one of our hearts Si. COLUMBA’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, Commencement of the Forty Hour» Devos tions. The Forty Hours’ devotions, peculiar to the Catho- lic Churen, were inauguraied at St. Coiumba's, corner of Ninth avenue and Twenty fifth street, yes- terday, by the celebration of nigh mass, Father MeAlecr, pastor, being the celebrant. ‘The devotions: will close on Tuesday, the church being open during the intervening time for worship and adora- tion of the Host,day and night. The services yesterday, outside the high mass, were those usual on such occasions, aud were conducted in @ wunner that was suieua wpd luoressive. The young girls bee