The New York Herald Newspaper, September 12, 1870, Page 4

RELIGIOUS. : Opening of the Fall Season in the Metropolis. The Pride, Pomp and Circumstance of! Modern Christian Worship. Our White and Colored Aris- tocracy at Chureh. The Philosophy of the Gentiles and the Teachings of Christ. Music—Its Ato-evcons and xustuence. More War Sermons—The Law of Pro- gress—Silks and Silence—Ethiopian Worshippers — The Subserviency of the World to Power and Riches—Papal Infallibili- ty—Father Quinn and His Holiness. As the fall religious season properly openen yes- terday al! the churches of the metropolis were well attended, with but few exceptions, and the services were more tan usually interesting. The swallows of fashion, wearied with excess of seaside pleasures and warned 0: approaching cold by the recent agreeable change in tne temperature, flocked to their accustomed )iaces of worship to give thanks for the Pleasant time they had had during the summer and to see and admire the latest styles in dress, while many of the preachers, Who had also been away in the countiy, mauliested extra zeal and enthusiasm in the cause of Christ, The day was charming, and altogetner the “opening” in the churches was a great success. Below wilibe found highly mteresting re- ports of the services, sermons and styles in the more promiment p! sof worship in this city, Washing- ton, Brookiyu and Long Branch. GRACE CHUR: Opening of the Religious Senson—Sexton Brown's Opirions on Cuurch Architecture The Pali Fashions. The diminutive cathedrat at the corner of Broad- way and Tenta street, known as Grace church, has an almost national reputation, and even the stranger Who iands upon the wharves of this pious and God- fearing city of New York has heard in his own land ofthe lights and glortes of this Episcopalian temple of worship, A structure of rare peauty and archi- tectural grace, it stands upon a costly and enviable site, witha view from Broadway's Grecian bend up tothe Fifth Avenue Hotel and down to Bowling Green. The worshippers who enter its chaste and classic portals to pour forth their gushing souls in wel-Dred forms of prayer and kneel in proud hu- multiy TO PATRONIZE THE LORD once a week, half the year round, form the élite and Yashion of our home-raised and tmported ChrfMtt- aulty, Nobody can be pious when the mercury dances up among the nineties. The broiling, melt- ing heat oi our summer months ts provocative rather of profanity and petuiancy and all unedifying im- plety cf thought and speech, than of devout ejacu- Jations an‘ soul-saving songs of saintliness; and thus 1518 that when the over-proof intensity of the early summer sultriness generates intemperate mo- tors of blood and brain In the delicate or- ganizations of upper-tendom, the select con- greg { Grace church flee far away from the holy carp pews and cushions cf their tem of worship, and gracefully yield to te tempiations of “love im the dal country,’ scan- at the seaside, and cards and the springs, all atarespectfui distance from the scene of their devotions. Now that the flerce heat of sin and sum- mier is on the wane, and the mercury in the moral comes down to the degree marked ion,” the elty swallows of fasion begin to > poling atmosphere of the seashore and mountain side, and return to their town haunts and the r routine of work-a-day worldliness and bath p ‘The eariiest returns of Grace church lieve just begun to come im, and by the end of the montli it is expected that 1t8 sombre pillars and stamed giuss windows Will be able to look down on 1is Whole cougregauon, Who, refreshed with a long and hearty RELAXATION OF THEIR MORALS, will have returned with renewed vigor to open a season of luxurious devotion. The Heap reporter, detailed for duty at Grace hureh yesterday, urrived there at half-past ten, the winch the regular Sabbata services com- mence at ali the other Christian places of worship tn if here he only found a small choir on jolt, going through a rehearsal. He Usat at ts extremely fashionabie abode of piety the services never commence before eleven o'clock, and having thus @ spare half hour on his hands tue reporter spent it in conversation with the sexton. Jf the church itself and everything 1p and around it, from the silk-covered cushions in the pews to the gorzeonsly appointed pulpit and com- inunion table, had failed to indicate the wealth of the congregation, @ single glance at that sexton would lave Leen sufficient to convince even a very stupid stranger that the edifice in which he ofi- olated was a highly amstocratic concern. Mr. J. H. Brown, sexion of Grace church, ts a credit to that wrell-to-to establishment, and scems to be as tnsepa- rable frow MILLIONNAIRE SANCTITY as the fifty dollar Bible lying open in front of the communioi le, He isthe largest, fattest, sleek- ced sexton unagimable.” He 19 but unforgetful of the dignity becomes his exalted position, and and weighty inportance at dangles over everything and ue-biooded and mil- He has the names of all the aristo- es at his fingers’ ends; can teil where acy live la ali the seasons better than the re all gone and the church Is closed, 0 goes aWay, someumes to the Ameri: sulnmer resorts and sometimes to Burope. He as thus travelied a great deal ca gion to visit every churclt ane to respectability tnt are the cathedrals of ork and of ow agonized trick’s in Dublin, ries of which he 4 the most beautiful church country town iy Scotland, He (ooks upon his a darling pet, and eyes 1 it With @ kind of a kK ae planned and built of ils own head an with ev it thoroughiy fam ine ev stan: nself o e spire to the length, breadth pd glass, Lt was he as. world.” ¢ eleven the mem- dvop in, and the ¢ door to inspect Troals of TEP ERS aie of luxur »eburch. 1 compte La 50 as Wey filed past. THY Wor. were in Bement that p were dressed in the the latest style of nat @ noticeable ase: scription nized as and re- wa nd showy d A COME LO be racog- tbe ward Hall ‘orm of enter of th Cry the inspect other plece of as though tis exposare used by au acciden- ent ol the dress rather than by any liwpiay On the part of the wearer. The of tue ladies and children was tovarlabiy ud magnificent, but cha and in exquisite as far removed « Th Lie W eve retined lookt wealthy strangers, Who svaght this fi family resort of the pious by that instinet whit always guides such people in their search after ex- clusiveness. The splendtd organ of Grace church ts ably pre- sided over by Professor Warren, and the choir ts composed ovly of @ quartet of first class artiews, The phogramime vesterday was & “Venite’? \Nares\. “Te tiention 1% looked | NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1870.—TRIPLE SHEET. : ¢ th. Deum” (Greatorex), “Jubilate” (Calan), fiftieth | shade, A third dress was of purple Empress clo! Paatin (Moudelssonn), and 237th Hymn (Mason). ‘The | phe skirt was bordered with a garniture like that Singers are Mr. Simpson, tenor; Mra. Bodstein, 80° | Oy ihe pottom of the polonaise, surmounted by a trimming composed of plaits arranged diagonally in sections of three, the intervening spaces being or- namented with bands of velvet, also placed diagon- ally. Above the plaiting the trimming on the bottom of the skirt is repeated, only reversed, The fulness in the back of the polonaise ts formed by two deep box plaits, finished at the walst with a bow of black velvet. The fronts are perfectly square— the trimmings of scalloped velvet Lice gaia up ind the neck, whic! open en an ne aetna 2 velvet vest underneath, A small, square eape proceeds from underneath the neck trimmings In front, and forms a pelerme in the back, reaching almost tb the waist, The sidewalk in front of the church looked very gay and bright withthe many hued tollets that as- sembled there after high mass and vespers. Be e's Second Mass," an admirabie consisted of Bel E com position, which we described before in the HeraLp. The full cholr was under the | direction of the organist, Dr. William . The sparkling overture to ‘La Gazza Ladra” was played ano; Mrs. Rashau (a lady amateur of marvellous uty and fine talent, a pupil of Mrs, Kodstein and wife of a member of the Grace chureh congregation), alto, and Mr, John Ciark, the happy possessor of a ‘well trained and naturally powerlul voice, basso. THE SERVICE ‘was performed by the Rev. Mr. Egbert, one of the coadjutor clergymen attached to Grace church, who, though evidently sudering trom a severe cod, Buc. Adin getting adinirably through the long and esting service of the Episcopalian church, and delivered a thrillidg sermon to an audience which did not fully occupy one-third of the seats in the ‘ch. on must not suppose,” said Mr. Sexton Brown, “that this is anything like our congregation. If you want to see the congregation and witness the regu- lar Sabbath services of Grace church, come here about this day month.” And the good man looked as if ‘twere a mere waste of tine for him to be troubling himseif about keeping a church open for so insignificant an assemblage as the really first class people formed who worshipped yesterday at Grace eaureh, ‘ ¥ ay. TRINITY CHURCH. ee erence er high mass, The vespers in this church are " jung entirely in the antiquated Gregorian chant, Fall Campaign Againet the | ign is by no means mp ren to t of art, ey Of Satau=The Fashion of with U; Churches— - foompa: ec appearance of Trinity church yesterday morning showed that the de- Hicious coolness of the past week bas already brought back to the city many of the ‘favorites of fortune” who rnshed away to the seaside at the be- ginning of the ‘heated term.” And not only was the church crowded, but its congregation mainly consisted of its regular members; indeed, the num- ber present belonging to this class seemed to science, steam, railroads and electricity. Even for the purposes of a dirge the Gregorian chant is the last we would select, especially as the books used at St. Francis Xavier's church give by no means the pure Gregorian, but dilute it strongly with French | ideas, which rob It entirely of its original simplicity, | Music is the hand maiden of religion, and therefore | the greatest care should be taken by clergymen to have the music in thelr respective churches of the best possible kind. The Gregorian chant is A DREARY MONOTONE, 00d as an opiate, but foreign to tasle and true de- yotion, Why not clothe the inspired words of the Psalmist in melodies that can express their mean- ing and give an idea of their sublimity? Gregorian chant is all very well for medieval monasteries, but in the midst of all this joy of welcome, as after weeks I am permitted to look down geein pn those I love above all others on earth—into the midst of family circles with which I have the tender. est sympathies and relations? Must I speak a word of chiding at the outset? Nay, may it rather prove that gratitude has been deep im your hearts, and only lacks opportunity of expressing it. THE PERILS T0 WHICH WE ARE SUBJECT. There is no being 80 absolutely dependent on the Creator as man; and his civilization, his develop- ment in the arts of life make him still more de- pendent on the power of a gracious Providence. The soul is terribly imperilied. You may laugh away its conviction, but sin dwelleth in us; and the fact of sin within the soul carries with it ail possibilities of sin, Oh! that men would wake up to the realization of that truth. Sin within me makes all crime possible to me; and nothing is be- ‘ond the power of that man in whom this traitor wells; and tnis 1s not to ve ded merely in its relation to the awful future, buf contemplated as de- termining the possibilities of actions among men. A CONSOLING REFLECTION. But from tnis dark view of the dangers and risks of tie body and soul demanding the intervention of gractous power, we turn to what is the wafp and woot of the spel—immeasurable beneft and un- Inmited in its extent and kind, Christ died for all men and for all that is in man. The leper was cured, and the orice anticipation of the future is the resurrection of this boay to enter its glorified state. Jesus has an infinite estimate of this body of ours, and cares for it with o personal inter- vention solicitude, He ines upon the just and the unjust in promotion of health, comfort and the development of man’s body, whether it encases @ believing soul or not. Besides this there is the promise, “I am with you al- ways’—“the hairs of your head are numbered.’ Your very joys are remembered, and heaven enters into the joys of earth. This gracious blessing reaches to the extent of the race, and governs each indivi- dual want, The Almighty grants us forerunning grace, awaking grace, consol! grace and innu- merable other graces, and finally will grant dying gracc—the grace we have all yet toreceive. The reverend gentleman concluded by an cloquent ex- hortation to gratitude for all the blessings we re+ celve, and so “letting our light shine before men as to glorify our Father who 1s in heaven.”’ be larger than 18 usual even far later | fora modern church it isentirely out of place. | We in the fall season, Perhaps a lengthened ab- | haue heard many members of the congregation at sence had only made thelr hearts grow | St Francis Xavier’s church complain of the stupia- . ity of the music at vespers. Tne followin: saims fonder of this beautiful church and those simple yet aa sung:—Diztt Donati losth; Landen Mpuert dignified services which have given it a name and pe oye ber nage iti ert hee bape ap es t , | arta Lauda Jerulasem, 14ith, Not only aid these fame throughout the whole country and made tt | p..ms sutter from the infliction of Gregorian chant, almost an object of pligrimage for but the beautiful hymn to tie Blessed Virgin, ave THE PROVINCIAL PUBLIC. Maria Stella, was treated in the same unwarrant- However this may be, it was evident that the able manner. Now, there are res splendid re- visious of this hymn, any one of which would be Knickerbocker element formed the solid substratum | preferable to the gorian chant. It is a pity that of the congregation, and an artist might have ob- tained from among them without difficulty number- such a choir and such an organist would be com- @elied to render the vespers in these dreary, unin- less designs of the most truthful character possible for a new tlustrated edition of the immortal teresting measures, ‘There 18 no more reason for it than for excluding Gregorian from high mass. Diedrich, Many a ponderous Peter stared from his pew in unsurprised dignity and half-awakened cou- DIVES AND LAZARUS formed the burden of.a long sermon preached at the sciousness at the white-robed choir; many a GOOD-NATURED RIP VAN WINKLE. Gospel by Rey. Father Xenan, tn which the unpossi- peacefully and noiselessly slept through the some- bility of serving God and mammon was fully dlis- what lengthy sermon. it is # curiously touching cussed, The preacher showed that the pursult of riches generally made one unmindful of their eternal fact this clinging of so many of our old restaents to the fortunes of so decidedly a down-town church Interests, that covetousness was the root of all evil, that avarice isa cancer in the heart and that the oor are the friends of the Reaeemer. Rev. Father as Trinity. But it is not altogether inexplicable. The beauty of the church itself and the exquisite taste tnat seems to pervade 1ts services account Daly celebrated the high mass and sang the preface wih much fervor and correct intonation, When the not unnaturally for such an attachment. True to its SOBERLY RESPECTABLE INSTINCTS, Gregorian chant 13 abolished in this church it can- not ve to —— ba gd fe leading ones in the city for music and pulpit eloquence, the general appearance of this Knickerbocker sec- ¥ ie (i tion of the audience was emmently “quict,” almost sombre, in its coloring. Indeed, so far as this por- uon of its congregation was concerned, the church presented a striking contrast to many of the houses of God up town, where the pews are gay with every faring tint that modern art has called into being, whiie the sparkle of diamonds and the sullen flash- ing of golden ornaments disturb the devotions of the worshippers. Still, however, a few patches of violent color—here a bonnet of pale grass green, or there some ribbons of startling Magenta, or, again, a manile as many colored as Joseph’s coat—betrayed sadiy that evea Trinity is not wholly free from the contagion that has made so many of our churches mere haunts of fashion. Probably, however, the majority of these OSTENTATIOUS SINNERS ‘were strangers, mere visitors, attracted by the de- served fame of Trinity music and of the general re- finement of the service. In the tree seats which run along the aisles and standing at the back of the church there was the usual throng of curious and noisy and not over well- dressed spectators, and there Were also a sprink- ling of humbly devout worspippers, the HERALD reporter, of course, being included in the latter category. Here and there, tuo, ® recent arrival from the Old Country mignt be noticed. Oppressed evidentiy with that melancholy consciousness of being “a stranger in a strange land,”’ he was seek- ing comfort in hearing from the !tps of the priest the same solemn words he had heard in the anctent little church of his natal village, while he recog- nized, perhaps, with a sensible guickening of the pulse and ilghtening of the heart, that the solemn tones of the orgaa and the voices of the choristers were the sume that had been familar to him from earliest boyhood. Before such an audience the reverend rector of Trinity and bis curates opened yesterday what may be not iinproperly termed the “PALL CAMPAIG! ST. PHILIP'S EPISCOPAL COLORED CHURCH. An Ethiopian Sermon and Ethiopian Worship- pers—Fashionable Colors and Colored Peo- ple=Sermon by Deacon Johu Peterson. Morning service was held in this edifice yesterday, and owing to the temporary absence of tne pastor the pulpit was suppiied by the Rev. John Peterson» oue of the deacons of the church. Deacon Peterson proved that when called upon to fill a church va- cancy he was fuily equal to the occasion, He was attired in the customary vestments worn by minis- ters of the Episcopal Church, and the spot?ess gown of pure white linen was in striking contrast to his venerable sable countenance, The church is situ- ated in Mulberry strect, near Bleecker, and 1s a rather pretentious edifice. The ceiling and walls are painted in VARIOUS COLORS of a neat pattern, the pews are painted white and are furnished with brown cushions, The altar is of wood, plainly but prettily decorated. The reredos contains seven panels, and the initials “I. H, S.” appear in the central panel 1n gilt letters on a bine ground. The divisional altar columns are painted red, surmounted by gilt capitals. A stranger enter- ing this edifice would at once perceive by the ap- pearance of the worshippers that it was THE ARISTOCRATIC COLORED CHURCH. Though the church will hold 1,200 there were but 150 people present, and all present, possessing the virtue of humility, sat in the body of the church. against the Devil and all his works. Fresh from | The galleries were entirely deserted. There those watering places, wherein tie character of | Were many ladies present whose — complex- devotees of fashion, they had laid themselves open | 10nS were almost as ir_ as those of to the most terrific assaults of such temptations as | Caucastans, while the remainder repre- sented all degrees of color, from a saffron hue down toebony. The males, too, exhibited all shades of color, and some aged ones, woreover, could boast of a plenitude of white hair. The ladies present were evidently not pupils of Mme. Demorest, and cared not to emulate the example of the Empress Eugonie 1 matters of fashion; they were plainly “envy, hatred, malice and all uncharitableness,’” the congrogation seemed inclined to join in-the solemn confession at the opening of the service, “We have erred and strayed from Thy ways like lost sheep,” with mark earnestness, Al through the service, too, both on the side of the pastor and on the side ot the flock, tlils tone of un- usual serionsness seemed to decidedly prevail. Verily, the angels must already sing songs of re- Joicing over many an er patns of grace! Still, it should be noted that but respectably aitired and showed their figures to advantage. “fhe Ethioplan sentiment on fashion seems to be that there is nothing like white muslin for a dress, as almost aliof then: were attired in this emblem of parity. White dresses and overskirts, ‘TRINITY ENTERS THE LISTS = we against the powers of evil, armed only with the | With red or blue sashes, were the prevailing Voice of reason and strong in the simple majesty of | fashtons, while other ladies wore black silk or reps, ‘With sash and overskirt of the same material. Long - it 3 K a e] truth. She does not seek to reclaim the sinner by | Torove the time for the opening of service the people awing him with an over vivid portrayal of the tor- at 0] " “2 3 de- | began to gather together, and were ushered into setraounits the delignea of Darnley ane ces cal their seats a venerable sexton attired in a white endeavor to capture him by the attractions of a cere- | Coat. One fact was particularly noticeable in the service, that all seemed to join in the siaging, and they sang as only COLORED PEOPLE CAN SING. There are scores of congregations m this metropo- lis who, if not too proud to learn, might here learn @ lesson as to the proper way in which congrega- tional singing should be conducted. The prepara- tory service being concluded, the reverend deacon mounted the pulpit and announced as his text the words, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” (Psalms, XXiil., ‘The music, | 4)-_ Jn sonorous tones, bat with faultless articula- ’ | tlon, the preacher portrayed the weakness of man in tus world. It was impossible for a Christian man to go through the world without the saving help and Knowledge of God, Man was but an embodiment of weakness and sin, always seeking for strength and freedom. It was here that the mercies of God were visible when He stretched out His hand and helped the weak and fainthearted, and gave them strength to go on their way rejoicing. They should seek the mercies of that Master who had FREED THEM FROM BONDAGE, and He would then look upon and shine the light of His countenance upon them. ‘The psalmist knew the power of God and knew that Goa was disposed to help all that came unto Him, and David knew also that with this help he would prosper and succeed in every good thing that he desired, Troubles and trials were the legacies of every man, and no doubt they were sent for a good purpose, Many @ grievous trial caused @ person to seek the Throne of Grace, and that person generally came away an altered man. A maf who lives in pleasure, free from care. and distress, rarely exhibits a Christian disposition; but & man bowed down with trial naturally looks to some one to help him out of the ditticuity, and so he ies to the mercy seat, Therefore take ail your trials = grievances to God and He will relieve you of em. monial of exceeding splendor, or to tempt him within her fold by offering to make him at once the equal in the church of a veteran saint. Nothing of what may be not profanely described as ‘spasmodic piety’? enters into her Pee She works for gooa mereiy with such weapons as argument and the moving example ofa pure and godly life; and she trusts more than anytuing else in the influence of that “neauty of holiness” which the Psalmist has 80 graphically described. Altogether, THE SERVICE YESTERDAY was of a very impressive character. however, seemed scarcely so good as ttused to be, tu spite of the several valuable additions recent! Tuade to the choir, and the inimitable execution o} Morgan. ‘Trinity music, indeed, seems to show an in- creasing tendency toward toose intricate and over florid Anglican compositions which Dr. Dix or Mr. Morgan, or whoever manages the musical business of the church, must know have rend been discarded by the acknowledged clerical lead- ers of taste in England. The anthem, espectally, seemed to strike a pair of confessedly unscientific ears as being marred by several clear sing against sound musical principle, Then the responses to the commandments in the communion service are de- cidediy change for the worse trom the magnificent chant which was used formerly for so long a period, Tudeed, the new chant appears to be singularly meaningless and inappropriate. Dr. Dix preached the sermon, taking for his text the parable of THE GOOD SAMARITAN, from the tenth chapter of Luke. Having read the Whole parable the reverend preacher drew outa comparison between the condition of mankind and that of the unfortunate man who fell among thieves, while the good Samaritan, he sald, represented our Saviour. fore the coming of Christ we were in Stale plight as that described agg the ah Ye “i pped of our raiment, wounded, and ‘ ° THE ae = ned on the wayside,” powerless to escape from CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRIMTY. the wrath to come. Muses passed us by, and Aaron ~ - passed us by, and then at last Jesus came to us and poured balm’ tmto the FRIGHTFUL GASHES made by the thieves, and brought us to an inn— that is to say, 10 his Chureh--and ordered that we should } cared for. ipaseion, indeed, was the one sigual trait in tl acter of Jesus.’ But twas to i nn idea of the compas- for Dis sinfai ctuldren, Angels could not use they had never sinned, and the devils were wholly’ given over to ally understand it, through y of tha’ incarnation in which God, ‘Son, allied Himself to our nature, and by submitting to 2 shameful death proved His sympathy with a pity for vs. Dr. DIX proceeded to impress upon Lis hearers the duty of compassion, fle ex- posed the various forms of selfishness and showed the terrible stale of hard-heartedness and wilfnl sin involved. He closed by calling upon the eon- gregation to subscribe 1 y to the collection about to be mace for the poor of t harch, After the lapse of two months they were once again en- abled to exercise ina pr form the feelings of benevolence tucalcated by the Cospel, and he trusted they would avail themselves of the opportunity. Eloquent Discourse by the Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, Jr.—The Goodness of God and the Gratitude We Owe Him. The Rev, Stephen H. Tyng, Jr., rector, oMiciated at the morning service in the Church of the Holy ‘Trintty, corner of Kast Forty-second street and Madison avenue. The church 1s a pretty building, of a peculiar styie of architecture, somewhat suggestive of the Swiss chai? exterioriy. The arrangements for the accommodation of the congregation and the convenience of those taking part in the service are all that could be destred, and evidence very consid- erable ta: THY CONGREGATION was large, and consisted almost exclusively of peo- ple of a decidedly respectable class. As usually te case In churches of every denomination everywhere, the larger proportion consisted of ladies. The cos- tumes of the fair portion of the congregation lacked the flash and glitter to be seen in other places of worship; black lace and dresses of the darker hues predominated, though a few of the younger ladies were attired in the latest Parisian fasinions. ST. PRAVCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH. Berge’s Second Maxs—Vashionable Toiletw— Gregovian Vespers—Dives and Lazarus in the Pulpit. The congreg RMON text “There are not found ave this stranger’? ated the history of d the return of one a glory to God, the preacher referred to the fact that we ¢ was a Sabbath of return, and asked whether, returned before God as strangers, mindful of past blessings, they were pr Jory to God like the Samaritan; or w: true inat, like the u nd the brute, the the sun had descended upon them and the On, With ail its joys sed over them, and yet on at high mass yesterday was ten lepers to give ight sprinkling of fall toilets was vi the fair worshippers, Dut conside: of the congregation 1s still at the watenng places | many unoccupied pews. The galleries | wever, pretiy weil filled. Among tie fash- ; that adorned the pews we observed | ingratefuliy they still turned 1a rebellion against the the following giver of ail these goods’ BEWILDERING NOVELIT NEBL 7! peknary ented OUT TO GRASS A petite blonde wore a gray cashmere dres is the pictti lauititudes of this world’s people jousness of tndiference an Who has mingled with is mindfai of the merey and he returns ub the questiog: was There are not found to trimmed with stoae colored velvet, and a haif-fit- ting paictot of brown cloth, trimmed with a heavy brown fringe, headed with a handsome gimp, inte: epersed with jet and passementerie ornaments; bon- given him and grat lo give giory to the asked, where are the ni ST. PETER’S CHURCH. Return of Father Quinn—What He Saw at Rome—His Opinion on Papal Lofallibility— Will Pius IX. Outlive the Days of St. Peter? An unusually large congregation assembled yesterday morning at St. Peter's church, Bar- clay street, to greet the Rev. Father Wilham Quinn on his return from Rome, wiuther he re- paired last November to attend the Ecumenical Council. After high mass haa been performed from Haydn’s Sixteenth Mass, in B flat—in which soprano, Mrs. Easton; alto, Miss Munnier; tenor, Mr. Fritsch; basso, Mr. Stand, and the organist, W, F. Pescher, especially distinguished themselves— the reverend father, looking hale and hearty, ascend- ed,the pulpit, and after passing a eulogium onthe Rev. Father Shanahan and Mr. Ingoisby, deceased, he proceeded to thank nis flock for the kindness aud liberality with which they wished him God- speed when he departed for Europe, their conduct under Father O'Farrell, who took his place, and for the sympathy with which he had been received on his rewurn, He would also thauk them for their appors in ald of the building fund of St. Patrick's Cathedral. They had volunteered $5,000 a year and had kept their engagement. This magnificent edifice is growing apace. Now there is hardly A MONUMENTAL CHURCH IN NEW YORK; but if contributions flow in ih two years divine wor- slip will be held in it, and in a couple of years more it will be completed, and stand the wonder of America, a monument to glorify God, and show that this holy divine is not forgotten in a country where everything 1s cast aside in the search after wealth, Having spoken of his voyage and its object to visit Italy, and above all Rome, as a place ever dear to a Catholic and a lover of art, where the Catholic cere- monial is seen in all its grandeur and beauty, he Went on to say that going to such a place seemed like going nearer to God. ils holy vicar was there, whose hands and feet were ever kissed by the faith- fal, and whose benediction was ever ready to be be- stowed, A visit to the Eternal City is at all times a pleasurable one, but still more so on the occasion of the assembling of the council, wheve an ecciesiastic could mingle with all the BISHOPS AND DIGNITARIES OF THE WORT assembled in solemn council to discuss those sub- jects, chosen by the Holy Father. Such a meeting, seeing these grave men all assembled, not by force but at the call of the venerable Pontiff, should im- press every one deeply with the cathoiicity of the Church. The Concile Gewménique opened on the 8th December, when & grand procession of over a thousand prelates, cardinals and archbishops fled into the glorious church of St. Peter, all in full robes, and forming a spectacle inconcelvably mag- nificent and impressive. enhanced py his Holiness’ cortége, consisting of the Holy Father carried hy in his great chair on the shoulders of men, giving his benediction as he went along till he took his place at the high altar, behind which the dignitaries filed. Such was the ceremonial which the speaker would ever recollect. The Reverend Father Quinn was honored by ‘AN AUDIENCE WITi PIUS IX., and recetved the Papal benediction for his congre- ation. He would announce shortly what ihe com itions were for plenary mdulgence ior those who have prepated themselves to receive it. The Pope is nota young man; if he should live till next St. Peter's day he will have passed in the chair of Peter tne days of Peter, and judging from his present ap- pearance he is not likely to die before next June. Sul, life ts uncertain, and he may not outlive the days of Peter. The Italians say that no one outlives the saint’s days, but let us hope they are wrong in this instance. The activity of the Holy Father is wonderful; an early riser, he has always transacted much business before mass, and then after a frugal breakfast he gives a reception to such of the high ofMicers of the Vatican who may wish to see him, and gives audiences to other dignitaries of no mat- ter what religion. In his benignity he receives all, addressing them, whenever possible, in tne lan- guage im which they address him. After tius he cetves the public. Frequently five or six hundred persons call on him in the afternoon. All these fatiguing ceremonies are performed by the Holy Father in a manner which would do credit toa young bishop of fifty. HIS VOICE IS WONDERFUL, and it was the rare privilege of the speaker to see him ascend the steps of the high altar at St, Peter's and perform mass ina voice which filled the im- mense edifice. Indecd, he sings better than any ecclesiastic the reverend father Knows. On another occasion, on Easter Sunday, Father Quinn was at St. Peter’s when his Holiness was celebrating high mass. He had been fasting all day, and his cham- berlain begged him to take something, even a cup of coffee, but he replied, “No; perhaps this 1s the last Easter Sunday I shall celebrate mass on,” and continued to officiate fasting. On this occasion, after mass, the Pope was carried up the grand stair. case, blessing the people as he went—ihe speaker never saw him but that he gave his benediction to every one he met--to the grand balcony overlook- ing the square in front of St. Peter's, where 200,000 people were assembled to receive THE PONTIFICAL BENEDICTION. «after the usual prayers,” continued the father, “his Holiness rises, lifts his hands, raises his eyes in a manner I have never seen, and in his magnificent voice gives his blessing to the world.” In conclusion the werthy pastor said that he could not add anything to what has been heres! said re- Specting the work of the Council. It will recom- mence its sittings on the 11th of November next, and Lyle tg be in session for two years. The doctrine of Papal infallibility is nothing new, but merely a contirmation of what has ever been attributed to the Holy Father. He would like the subject discussed, however, by priests, for it is nota doctrine whici men are tree to beueve or nv. ZN. METHODIST EPISCOPAL (COLORED) CHURCH. Christ’ Crucificd—The Bewes of Seriptural History—Sermon by the Rey. William F. Butler. The inviting weather of yesterday, together with its being Communion Sunday, attracted an unusu- ally large and very fashionable congregation to Zion Methodist Episcopal (colored) church, corner of Bleecker and West Tenth streets, The body of the church ts at present under repair, and services are held in the basement. The congregation attached is so extremely large they it Is dificult to obtain either standing or sitting room at the regular time for services to commence, This is the largest and one of the most fashionable churches in the city, and stands better financially than any other (colored) church in the country. With the fashionable breth- ren and sisters connected here yesterday was se- lected as the day to appear 1 their autumnal cos- tume, and quite a number made their debit equipped in some of the most fashionavie cuts of the season. One noticeable feature in this congregation is the large number of the fatrer sex who attend here, many of whom are communicants of the chureh. This church was bought from a white congregation, contrary, it ap- pears, to the wishes of many of their cougregation, So great was the attachinent of many to the old structure that, after being bought b congregation, they still continued thetr stendance, ‘The pastor, Rev. Wiiliam F. Butler, who has served a more than ordinary term, is evidently aa intelli- gent man, and It is manifested to him by the atten- dance and appreciation tendered by his congre tion. The choir attached to thi choristerstip of Mr Kato, and yesterday discoursed some very appropriate music tn ve Rood style, Tue sermon was delivered by the pas- vureh is under the tor, Rev. Mr. Butler, (aking for his text trst Corin thians it, 2—‘For 1 determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ, and’ Him crucified.” Man, he s¢ other beings in the vi © by mls int tual constitution. He can review the past, contem- plate the present and look onward to the futur return to give glory to ( i but tus stranger, There net of gr ivet, trimmed with brown. Another | return to give glory wore an elegant costume in bright green Irish pop- ) ‘9 SWaMOF KEENE lin, trimmed with blas bands of velvet of the same | in the Master’s words. Must { make it Wine Whey Paul went among the wise men of the East and de- clared simply the story oi the Cross—the way of salvation. They felt the force of his veaching, that in their search after knowledge they should devote thelr chief thoughts ana time to know more Christ. That mau is the wise man who to cross of Christ to suudy the science of human demption. | This avo formed the very g' of Paul's apostlesnip, He who knows Christ knows the richest form of the goodness of God, It is only at the foot of pif at we can see the most striking picture of f) and from the darkness of the tomb comes the words, “I can.” The resurrection and the life, says the Lord, Life and immortality are brought to light by the gospel. The knowledge of Cnrist crucified is certain knowedge. Historical evidence and tnter- nal evidence must both we to experimentat knowl- edge. “I know’ is the language of experience and Pert be always ready to give a reason of the wii you. ho 5 “After the conclusion of the sermon sacrament was administered to over four hundred communicants, ST. STEPHEN’S CATHOLIC CHURCH. Sermon by the Rev. Father Grifin—The Sub- servience of the World to Power and Riches—A Timely Theme. St. Stephen’s Catholic church, in Twenty-eighth street, which by some people ts considered the aris- tocratic Catholic church, par excellence, of the me- tropolis, was crowded yesterday during the high mags services. The exceedingly pleasant weather, combined, doubtless, with a good deal of piety on the part of the regular congregation, was answerable for this not over-extraordinary circumstance, and it may be that the desire of tne female portion of the prayerful ones to show off their new fall styles lent an additional weight to the imposed duty of going tochuret. Indeed, the really fashionable ladies who make it a Sabbatarlan point never to miss mass at St. Stephen’s when the sun doesn’t make the atmos- phere too warm for devotion, or when Boreas doesn’t force ordinarily graceful noses to assume @ wine color not over desirable, no doubt attended, through no worldly motive, yesterday, for fashionable ‘women, like fashionapie men, often fall into a pious mood even when they have their latest styles to dis- tract them and VARIETY OF BONNET AND BROADCLOTH toglory in. Be that as it may, the church was well filled by a very ‘fashionable congregation,” which term, of course, does not include the numerous red- nosed ward politicians and well-to-do liquor dealers ‘who were of the multitude, with a plentiful quantity of dye on their mustaches and paste diamonds stuck in their shirt fronts, for the edification of the vulgar under ten who have votes, and who were Scattered about wherever they were able to get a comfortable seat. In fact, from one of the galleries the conglomeration of ribbons and satins of every hue and color, of silks and velvets and of what not— all that goes to make up the comme ii faut “get up”? of the pious girl of the period—resembied very much a parterre of flowers with the groundwork missing, and afew “weeds” thrown in here and there by Way of contrast, In the Catholic church, as a rule, thost who wear kid gloves and patronize French perfumes extensively, and who follow strictly the latest *‘cuts”’ of style and fashion, never forget their Sunday duty any more than do the lower classes, who, after toiling hard all the week round, feel it a consolation beyond price to be able to get at least ‘one day of rest, when they can, with grateful hearts, thank God fervently for the little comfort they have in this world, So tf these Catholic fashionables do dazzle the eye with their briiancy they do not offend, as many fashionabies do in other churches, by their frivolity and IRREVERENOR DURING DIVINE SERVICE; for it is charitable to beileve that although they sit in pews that are cushioned, and kneel on benches that are made soft as down for plety’s sake, their hearts are as earnest in their devoions and their thoughts as far away from the world as are those of the lowlier ones who boast not of their money bags, and are by circumstances compelled to kneel and pray with no softer siipport than they Who watched and prayed with Him who tanght men to despise luxury and ease and worldly comfort. The Rev, Father Grifin preached the sermon, and took his text irom the gospel of the day, beginning with the twenty-lourth verse. Parabies, as well as all the teachings of our Lord, he sald, must be inter- preted according to the circumstances under which the teachings were given or the parables were told. It would not do to argue from the texts of the Scrip- tures, or the words uttered by the Lord, apart from their contexts, as things to be done absolutely, For exainple, the parable, or the gospel just read, might seem to justify us In taking no thougnt of ourselves at all; in simply striving to obey the principle of first looking to the Kingdom of God—that and nothing more—and believing that God would come and give us raiment and food, Of course it would be very Wrong so to interpret or so to think. Yo be sure in a case where a person had used all his exer- tons to do well and was left destitute, God woula come and ve him, for He certainly valued the just more than the birds of the air or the flowers of the field. It could not be argued from this, however, that we should be free from all care or solicitude of worldly matters, On the contrary, the Lord in his parable on the mount said that when the motive ts good the whole is good, when there ts light in the eye all the body Is light, ‘that where the heart is there also is the treasure. He meant to show that when the heart is totally set upon the things of this world a man could not servo two masters-—one on earth and the other in heaven, It should be noticed thatthe Lord spoke to men who worsaipped material greatness, who considered poverty a crime and misery a thing to be despised. it was this priuciple of theirs which made Him so particular im telling chem that beyond ths life there Was a better one, and that all done here below should be done with reference to the World to come, A man, in those days when the Saviour spoke, who achieved success, who rode rough shod over his fet- Jow man through blood and caraage, put himself on the highest pedestal and likened himself to Goa, The people took their god not from heaven but from among inen who had achieved greatness by acts of worldiy prowess. Has this princlple ceased? Do we not worship at the same shrine? Let a nation be A NATION OF THIEVES, its leaders robbers, and Ue man who rises by crime is trumpeted throughout the land as a great map. Let a man nowadays achieve greatness, no matter by what means, and coupie it with riches, aud we put him forth as our god. Leaving everything else out of signt—honor, virtue, all—we honor him be- cause he is above us in power and wealth. God Las given men the means to become rich and great, and it is no sin to become rich or great; for It was. laudable in a man to be ambitious—to strive for the first place in nis profession, He ald not prohibit it; but it is only in becoming a slave to riches, to serve them a8 masters, and to have thought only for them—this 1s what is reprehended in the Gospel. Goa ts a very patient and a kind God, and lets us go on in our own way until His time comes; and trom the fact that He does let us goon so and does not interfere with us we begin sometimes to doubt whether there 1s aGod atall. Tne reverend father then referred to how easily the cries of conscience become stified, little by litte, as a man’s worldly schemes and plots succeed, and then continued by saying that money was a thing wecan afford to sneer at; yet very few ever refuse tt when it is offered to them. When the poor talk with contempt of those who are rich they are sure to tell all about how they got it and give w catalogue of their crimes; how they did such and so, and and forewore this and that, and affect themselves to hold omg 8 incontempt. Yetali the time we would like to be intheir place. In ninety-nine cases onta hundred we would probably use the same means to get rich; but who of all the carpers ever attempt v6 put down the longing inherent in all to become rich and to be weil thought of by the worla? God alone can put it down, When under, the poor rail at the rich; but if by a turn of the wheel of for- tune they sbould be made rich ke them they forget all their old principles and contempt for money. The reverend preacher then concluded by showing that the Lord did not intend anybody should live «2 life of idieness, but that every man and woman should work to use his and ber natural pow- ers for seli-preservation, and that everybody, no matter What his or ner station in life might be, by ete es dutiesof that station well would obtain ife etern ALISTS AT PLIMPTON BUILDING. UNIVE! The Law of Progress—Sermon by Curries BF. Lee. Yesterday morning, at Plimpton Building, the Rev. Charles P. Lee preached to a rather limited congre- gation. For the past three Sundays the attrenda at this place of worship has be ¥ large, and this fact makes more remarkable the slim attendance of yesterday. Several other Universalist. churches of the city opened for the Urst ume yesterday. ‘Ibis, it may be, accounted for the paucity of members at Plimpton Building. Suffice it to say, Kowever, that those who w t present had the misfortune to lose the opportunity of hearing an excellent dis- course from the eloquent clergyman who. preached. The Rey. Mr. Le hed yesterday, wili bo ordained and insta $ pastor of the LIST SOCIETY of this city on Thursday e tug, the 15th inet. exercises will take place at i rooms, corner of Sccond avenue After the usual e: Mr. Lee ce The blade, he ear.’? ows sto lis e growth loward Hon ¢ word ou ¢ "i ound in which to grow aud uine ln watch to mature whether that!progreas be wholly of ¥ oF not, and apply it to the growtn, all circumstances and events concerning either the world or man, and learn that truly the blade must come first, then the ear, and after that the full corn in the ear, Butin thislife how many cases do we see every day in the world areund us of peo- ple trying to reverse this order of things. ‘Take for ce the life of a fast young mam: he does every- ping before its ume, snd ay bias J tak. Tate cally speaking, the full cor ear ripens 4nd rots before the biale has matured. And in practical life it 1s very needful and absolutely neces~ Sary that we should remember that the LAW OF PROGRESS, While it Is alaw of development 15 aiso & law which may be slow in its consummation. It 18 very tin- Py that We should remember continually that rst comes the ear, Thus we must not strive to anticipate results, but should endeavor to pre- pare the way and be Toaay for their coming. ‘The preac length in this strain, and exhorted his hearers to wait patiently the Hipening of the corn in the full ear—the consummation of events. They should be like the fabulous Aladdin— await the arrival of the lamp of their desires. There ‘was nothing to be gained by impetuousness; every- thing in nature Was opposed to it. Let any one look around him and examine the works of God. He will see regularity everywhere—in the plossoms of the trees, in the ripening of the fruits, in the bud- ding of the flowers—in fact, all nature joined in unanimous acclaim in preacning the wo1 of the the text. In conclusion Mr. Lee said he hoped all would take to heart what he had preached, and would endeavor to put its advice into practice, and if they did the blade of righteousness would ripen in their hearts and the full ear of God’s blessing and love would come after. AMERICAN FREE CHURCH. for all ¢ The Franco-Prussi War—King William “Wide Awake” While Taking a “Nap?— Eloquent Discourse by the Rev. Churles B. Smyth. An interesting sermon was delivered yester- day by the Rev. ©. B, Smyth, at Masonic Hall, Thirteenth street. After the usnal prelimi- nary services, which were listened to with devout attention, the reverend gentleman took his text from Ezeklel xxxti., 11—“Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, 0 House of Israel?” He said:—Since the frst rumor of the present war in Europe we have delivered several sermons on that subject. To-day we shall not dwell so fully upon it as on previous Sabbaths, but refer to it en passant in the way of illustration, The text was originally addressed, as ita terms mdicate, to the NATION OF ISRAEL. They had repeatedly apostatized from the truth and worship of God, and received national chastise- ment at His hand for so doing; and being in a state of apostacy and suttering when the text was penned, they are warned that unless they repent they shall perish. The dealings of @od with Israel are recorded for warning to all other nations. Those who reject Him must suffer unless they repent. Tne speaker showed that two things chiefly are taught in the text—First, that destruction 1s visited upon ungodi nations; secondly, that to avert tt they must repent In alluding to FRANCE AND PRUSSIA, he said that, paradoxical as it might seem, it was, nevertheless, true that King William was wide awake while taking a Nap; and that the Parisians had gone mad for want of a Nap. Napoleon’s last act was the most masterly one of bis reign. Being close to the Belgian frontier be night have stepped over and taken retuge from his foe in @ neutral nation; but he preferred to surrender himself to King William directly. In this he showed much sagacity. He proved hts contidence in the chivalry, generous im- pulses aud bag tone of hig victorious enemy, and threw himself upon the noble GENEROSITY OF 4 MONARCH who knows how to appreciate such conduct; and accordingly he has been ireated with every mark of respect and consideration by King William. de said that until thst moment—the moment of Napo- Jeon’s surrender in the manner in which 1t was made—he had supposed that the Napoleonic reign ‘was at an end forever; but now he should not be surprised to find it resurrected. Had the PROVISIONAL GOVERRMENT of France been composed of @ diferent class ot Men—men of calm judgment, statesmanship and solid Christian principie, and not of persons wno act More like lunatics than sane persons, the prospect would be very different. Every person imbued with American sentiments rust sympathize with a re- public, and rejoice to see one established in any na- Uon in Europe; and the more we sympathize with the Idea of a republic 80 muck the more must we deplore on the part of those who attempt to set tt up any conduct which is calculated to defeat the onject. The provisional government ought immediately to have disavowed Napoleon’s unjust declaration of War, and to have sued for peace, Had it done #0 It might have come to terms with King William, and secured his recognition and its own permancucy, but by espousing NAPOLEON'S QUARREL it has saddled his responsibilities, and made King William its enemy, and putanend to all hope of being adie to treat with him, aud we may conse quently expect to find ere long the Prussian fag waving on the Tuilleries, William dictating his own terms in Paris and securing the RESTORATION OF NAPOLEON. ._ In this connection be referred to the importance of national fasts, and especially at the prescut tine, iu France. He iustanced the good results which flowed to our own country during the late war from the days of humiliation and prayer appomnted by Buchanan end ‘Lincoln, and applied the sermon by urging upon his hearers the necessity of reocutapce in order to work the JUDGMENTS OF GOD which are threatencd against all impenitent sin- ners. He announced that next Lord’s day be would take ‘or his subject “The existing facts of the war, the mutual bearing of Paris and Kone upon each other and the bearing of both upon the Kingdom of Christ.” Atthe close of the sermon a respectabie- looking elderly genticman, a stranger, asked per- mission to speak, and on being accorded the privi- lege by Mr. Smyth he deitvered an interesting ad- dress in unison wit the sermon, and spoke of this asthe most remarkable age of the world, destined to usher in the destruction of all existing govern: ments and the estublishment of a universul the- ocreey* - LYRIC HALL. The Great Events of the Past Summer—Ser- mon by the Rev. O. B. Frothingham. The Rev. O. B, Frothingham resumed services at his hall, Sixth avenue, near Forty-second street, yesterday morning. Toe congregation was nearly as large as on ordinary occasions, and the choral part of tne service even better than usual. Mr. Frothingham chose as the subject of his dla- course “Wisdom.” After congratulating his dock on their safe return from the country he remarked that although the summer had been an idle one to him and them vast changes had been wrought on the other side of the sea. Thrones, said he, that wo supposed were founded on a rock have been tottering to tue earth; the wnole map of Europe has been re- cast, and during all the mighty events that have been going on we have not been able to enjoy the peace of the country or the grandeur of the summer season, Every week, every day we have livea in the excitement of tumult. It is the dread- ful privilege that we modern men may enjoy that we cannot escape from the sufferings and sorrows and agonies of all our kind. Our forefathers had moments of rest. ‘There were hours when they wero not compelled to feel, when their heart-strings were nottorn. The great events came to them slowly, and when bad tidings reached them from over the water the distance had already deadened the shock, and the calamity that was traught with destruction 1o a nation hardly stirred a ripple on the stream ox society. How different now! The telegraph wires are kuit ineach one of our heartstrings; nothing happens that AN ELECTRIC THRILL does not dart through each one of our bosoms. ‘There is po escape for it. Human we are and human we jeel ourselves to be, and it is only through faite and hope and love that we keep ourselves from being overwhelmed by the bilows that sweep over us. When summer began the Pope of Rome was ready to announce his infallibility with all the pomp and show tmaginable, and the declaration was so made. Every effort to make it unauimous acd unl al was put forth, and before the supreme coun- the successor of St. Peter and the Vicar of } Christ on the earth raised visions of spiritual supremacy such as the ablest of his predeces- sors had never entertained, He seemed w see tie tide of rationalism roll back; error cheeked and doubt and disbelief rebuked; sciisma crushed, infidelity banished, expelled and brought to nothing. He seemed to see himseif and his Church controlling the State, education, the civit | institutions, ruling over ail (he ideas and controling the interests of mankind—one great spiritual power, and that his own word, Scarcely bas the sound of that proclamation gone forth than we hear that his tuvone 13 menaced, Lf uot utterly destroyed; the army on whose support he depeaded taken away; the Emperor who his best friend a captive. The one nation in Hurope which was his reliance careless of What becoies of hin, RD ears the council of the imperial at very Pro- had set his Beet within bis own C his own auvis cily aad become hit testantism npon wht Europe ng of the ake whic nee forever and y on the Yrench throne. ig and chroanery, au trained and per to conseiidy to establish his dyn: With ¢ betere a harvest oi of sub coald be expected. ‘then, in the another parable of like import, ie “FIRST THE BLADE, THEN THB BAR, after that the fun coru in the ear.” [think we may take this sentcuce as a deviaration of the generai law tised sagac which was