The New York Herald Newspaper, October 31, 1870, Page 4

4 RELIGIO rhe Choice and Delicate Mor- sels of Yesterday’s Spirit- ual Refreshment. DRUMMING UP RECRUITS FOR HEAVEN. The Joys of Serving God and the Horrors of Human Dopravity. THE ROMAN BEAST. A Pulpit View of Woman Suffrage and Our City Government. Aesthetic, Prophetic, Practical, Doctri- nal and Dogmatic Piety. aad sunshiny morning and 4 bracing atmos- phero yesterday tempted an unusually large number of churcugoers into their pews. Late in the after- nvon the sky grew overcast, and all the eveuing a » made the streets extremely uncom- The last services of the day were not ll attended. We furnisa below our of carefully selected and carefully vis of the principal sermons preached, | nave of great interest, and here and ler will light upon an inspiration from » exhortation to repentance of singular Grigzaiing © fortabic. therefore very W usual t Heaven or force aud b ND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. God's Grace; or, Who Are to be Saved=Sor- moo by Rov. Merrill Richardson—Rail- roads, Banks, Stock Exchanges, and Gold ooms as Wedlums of OfencemAdam’s Taal ple. 1 beautifal temple of worship, the New al Church, corner of Madison eventh street, was tilled to its terday morning Engia avenue and F¢ mimost ca) acity py the 1 intelligent, fashionable and deeply at- tentive congregation. After the preliminary exer- of prayer, reading the Seriptares and singing, th partly by a splendid choir of select and ac- y by the congregation, Jar aud eloquent y of His jod has saved us not 3, but according to his grace, given usin Christ Jesus before the world luctory proposttion was that the rding to our wort nh wa: work of God's gr began in the beginning. Paul paserted grace was always tm the gov- ernment of God G he therefore urged, was always a principle of God’s govern- ment. The very moment Adam _ sinned God pitied and blamed but He followed him with His grace. followea the first transaction, Altars ¥ ed to God. Men then saw that God conid be What faith was there In Abrabam | aud evea Job, though he was not of the Hebrews, knew that God was gracious and could pardon. Aud then came all the rites and cere- jonial of THE RITUAL SYSTEY. But when the Jews fell into mer monies Isaiah told thei that it was not forms that God regarded, Dut the ueart. When the ancient Hebrew built his Altar aod offered ap bis sacrifice with right humtilly of heart then that crifice becaine acca able. That whole z , ule same as sol lnwt monte hood, and hosts, ud parade: part of their re- ilgious syst in their worship was THE SCAPEGOAT! NEW YURK HERALD, MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1870.-TRIPLE SHEET. bas theoretical and till greater practical denial U $ or this truth, This denial may leid mon s to the belief tnat the brute may hereafter have a spiritual existence as man has, but it is still more jikely to lead to the belief that man, after death, goes down to non-existence lke the beast. A man’s brain may bo like that of a chim- panzee, but it 1s not the outward shape or organi zation, but the achievements of each which 13 to decide this matter. The sheep and tie goats have similar conformation of heads, but tho former is ® stupid and the latter an intelligent animal, Tho elephant has a brain very unlike, in suapo and organism, that of The brain. of the emmpanzee 15 like, in form, that of man, Yet the hant has an mteligence much more like that of n than is thatof the monkey, The brate has .lways the same, and Uransinits only the same Josuuets which have characterized hls species ronghout all time, Man, on the contrary, his ad~ ge by age from barbarism toa higher and vuization, aud with a wonderful power shows an ever active and ever progessive dhe forces which inspire men are tuward, brain. ho matter how outwaid and matertal the objcct may be. THE VAST MATERIALISM of this age ts, Indeed, very sirtking, and 1s one of those things agatust ‘which we have carofully to guard, But, amid all tas materialism, the number of those who feel the inward tafluence of reugion fre not few, and whose inner life is rich and pure aod true, / We have seen men in history carciet away too far by spiritual and strangely tatepse ub- sorption in réligious ue. — But this ‘ascetism be- | Jouged to a former aye rather than to ours, and tt I linpossible to recall the past All the saints: of all Ume were those who lived an Inner Ile and had a care for the souls. And the lives of such men surely compensate largely lor the too pre+ vailing materelism of our age. There is no earthly power which wil not fail. Youth is perishable and caunot be renewed. The decay of our mortal con- stitution 18 nob to be regarded as someting ali gelber hideous, There ty a te. der aspect to be taken of it. TO DECAY AND PERISH after all and despite all, the result of all haman materiaustic ambitou, And has God, we may tn- deed ask ourselves, given us these wonderful powers of mind merely to be spent in ace cunulating what must surely perisht A man Who forgets God may, tor a tin, leaia more honor- able lite than some who are swayed by religious tn- fluence. But this forgetfulness of God will produce its Inevitable result, aod a naturally neble mind will become utterly bound up in the perishabie things of this'life. THE WINGS OF RELIGION are love and falth, and with these man will triumph over all the crumbling of whatever material prosperity he may have been sur- rounded with, God symbolizes the — effect of love by _ pointin, to us the example of the exhaustiess aud untiring solicitude and energy of a mother’sloye, When the day of trial arrives and our bodily \veakness seems evident What cap sustain us but Jove and faith in God? Lt is this love and iaith which brings about THE RENEWAL OF INWARD LIFE. There are those who have what they call faith so long as they are prosperous, but thelr faith fails them when the hour of trial comes, True faith mounis higher and higher amid vicissitudes and ca‘amitics, and leads us in triumph to that heave which Is the true object of the soui’s ambition. CHURCH OF TRE MESSIAH. The Political Condition of New York~Its Bearing on the Question of Public Morals— Republicavism tae Acme of Governmental Forms—Discourse by Kev. George Ul. Hep- worth. The Chureh of tne Messiah was crowded last even- ing by an unusually select and attentive andience, to hear the drst ofa series of political discourses by the pastor. f Mr. Hepworth’s text was taken from Nehemiah v., S—Will ye ever sell your brethren”? He began by saying that he proposed to deliver two discourses upon the political condition of New York and its bearing upon the great question of public morals, To-night he would confine himseif to the more gen- eral subject of the responsibilities of a citizen of a republic, and on Sunday night pext he should speak In detail of the evils with which we are beset on all sides and of their possible remedy. He sak REPUBLICANISM IS THE ULTIMATE OF GOVERNMENT, Just as the palaces on Fifth avenue are the ultimate ofthe Indian hut, ‘The savage built the simplest protectioa from the storm for himself and his family, This Was the first sink in the logical sequence. Generations succeeding added a new comfort here and satisfled a pew necessity there, until the hut was by. degnee sa formed to suit the higher taste IWS OL une ieestoereiee have everything that can make a home comfortable and elegant. In government men were at first satis- tied with the law of might—tron-handed and tron- hearted might. By slow degrees they worked their way through the long sequence of changes until at ft was a figure; and the Jews throngh it saw how the sins of tue nat sald be Lorne away into Lhe ess with the goat. Bat to make moral tin- { pression upon the lvart there is no significance in | any form or cere aie Ww that grace was in the system fr Was instanced the a Old Nineveh, cor- | God was no | Ninevites, according 18, belonged to the ,, bul grace came into thelr hearts, how many heathen were saved, but cefor all, He next spoke of grace as GOD'S NATURE. God was not the cold, unre.euttng, unchengable God man ured Mim—not such a God as He was re y rayed in ar per, Grace ‘wus a part of Gods very natu iat grace was always in the system of God's go at, Was, he urged, shown all aboat us. Man learns ‘his way. | God demands perfect ovedience. The moment | Adam fell, the moment an angel fell, the moiment man, Woman or child transgress, there is grace for them. Many redicuie tne ‘idea of Adam faking an apple because of fis bitterness, Adam begun im ignorance. There was no FRIE RALLROAD to rob in those days, no banks to rob, no temptations ofthe Siock Exchange and Gold Koom. Il that God asks of angel or nen is to come up to the light they have. His next point was that God's piiysical 8 had shadowed forth this system of grace, Grace was a recovering process. A man breaks his bones, but yare knitted together again. It was So With grace. Some of te eld sages thought God Was Dots! y rigid 1% bis gove Reni beemtse He Was not 49 as to p al law. Natare would not heal the womud ‘unui the cause was remo’ sin may be parsoned the moment iniquity ceases; but fet iniqu’ty begin again and the past pardon amounts to no ing. Were society strict in requiring every ap, to come to : AN IDTAL STANDARD, very many of them would be obliged to leave Society. God was not a hard master. He did not require ideal periection. Wh nis su ject was up for discussion in Lon- two belie! year ay that they pxisience tue § Prolessor Stuart expressed | and Plato wero yhilosophers, aud re- i power of God. H Saivation would be ex- tended to milous of others » come np tot light they 1 Sa sachman God thinks twice before Le God, he did not be- eve, made 2 between men. But ‘was no! is no other name er CURIS? given u ! men can be saved? It | WAS 80 4 © passage in the New Testament ths » abused than this, Many puz whether iy ee jiv- ing beiore Ct i Whether ihe heathen of to-day, 2 h Some were equally puzzled t or @ Catholic, or an Epi-copalia a or a Congregatton- oli alist could be saved. He dwelt upon this length, enforcing with singular elony theory, as deduced from the text, In showed that grace came down from thi prevailea through tie present; that it wo tinue through the coming cen.urtes. This g) as free as the waters, All were invited todrink. It was theirs to sanctify their lives to God's service; to be Ilia now and they would be His pereafter. Singing, prayer and benediction terminated the exercises. CHURCH OF THE DIVINE PATERNITY. Unward Life va. the Materialism of This Age Eloquent Dis-oarse by Dr. Chapin Dr. Chapin’s church was almost filled yesterday morning by an attentive and somewhat fashionable congregation. The services were gone through in that impressive and earnest manner which has become characteristic of this church, The music was extremely good, the soprano parts especially being sung with much effect by a vocalist with a voice at once rich, powerful and cultivated. She was particularly telling in the hymn, “Jesus our Leader.” Feetile, helpless, how shall I Learn to live and learn to dik Who, 0 God; ty guid b Who shall iead thy child to Thee ? Dr. Chapin’s sermon Was, as usa), characterized by eloquence and by close reasoning. He took for his subject INWARD LIFE. as opposed to the maierialism of our age. The powerful ageat which keeps the world 10 motion is the vision which. ever ig to ix In the | fact that religion lays its requirements on the wii and works silently om the heart lies) the inward power which proves the authenticity of religion. Man 1s not all mate- rial ta bis natnre, There seems to be much | ommoue, last they were satisiied with nothing less than the will of tue whole people, aud so benefited were they in every way that they got at last to believe that the Voice of the people 1s identical with the voice of God, Tlisis republicanism, the latest born and most iruitful of good resuits 1s it that all the nations of the earth are looking towards it as the goal of their hopes, as the panacea for all political eviis. But republicanisin 1s not only to be attained; it is also Lo be pretected, The lips which said “ETERNAL VIGILANCE IS THU PRICE OF LIBERTY’ uttered a wise saying. Those words are a constant udmonition. We have learned, sometimes to our | cost, that our present form of government is based: first, upon education—i. @, the ability of each man to kuow what is right; |, second, upon integrity— 4. ¢., the Getermination of each citizen to do what is right. Uniess these conditions are emphasized by every department, are urged upon the people as | prime necessities by all our institutions, are protec. te) by an omnipotent public opinion, the beginning | of the end is at band. If corruption creeps into our of- ces of public trust, flaws ave admtnistered for private personal ends, if bribery has any chance of success anywhere, you may fecl sure that your days are numbered. History amply proves that such things are tie fruitfal causes ef ruin in any government: how much more, then, in such @ government as ours! if you ask why the old and firmly established Kingdoms of other days have failen into ruins— why they are not now tn existence, swaymg the fortunes of millions as in times of yore, the answer is plain. Because high trusts were given to un- trustworthy persons; because poilticians, instead of protecting the people's rights, became simply plun- & | derera of the pabilc treasury. When Rome was virtuous aud maniy—when to be a Koman citizen was an envied birthright the wide world over—her insittutions were the pride and boast of history. When political adventar when miittary butchers, put on the imperial | urple, then the empire began to mbie, and ended a heap of ruias. Now, no government requires such honesty of motive, such Mitegrity in its high as ours. When men rue us We are happy; When politicians govern us | we begin to see the handwriting on the wall. Our fathers felt this. ‘They who wou our lberties for | us, and handed them down to our keeping unm- paired giants; they were true statesmen. Now- adays we seem to bave neither giants nor states- men. We are ruled by pigmies and by intriguing | politicians. WE SEP THIS STATEME: in our own State, and espec republican form of government, so far as New York city 1s concerned, 1s a dead failure. We are ruled by [ VERIFIED titles of money, mude in such iashion that it becomes to do any deed, however daring or dastardly. the country repubileanism would die a violent death in less than a year. I mean that if the same degree of corruption which exists here should take posses- sion of the central government the whole country would inevitably be ruined. We are RAPIDLY LOSING OUR HOLD upon that loity maniiness which makes the past heroic. hen the very best, the most trusted, men were chosen to fill the highest places, and the mob had little influence. To-day the mop has come to the surface, has seized the reins of government, dic- tates our cular, made up of the minimum of moral principle and the maximum of impudence, Politics are a business, and nothing else. are chances to filch froin the money box which are not to be neglected. They are chosen to protect the that no one else but themselves has a chance to get his hand in. It is very curious to note that A MAN WHO HAS AN OPFICE which {is worth $2,500 per annum manages, by strict economy, Inagnificent mansion and to lay aside a capital so pletnorie that he finds jt dificult to spend the in- come. Ihave pondered over the problem and have never been apie to settle itin a way gnite consistent with the strict honesty of the Incumbent. But! cannot to-night enumerate all the evils to which we are subjected. whee f one koows ouly too well that our political condition 1s with a fear of the result of OUR CORRUPT LEGISLATION. Me are so despondent that they are Inactive. This is fatally wrong. We ought tu beso despondent tnat we snail at once rise up in holy indignation, hor cease out efforts until these wrongs are righted. As Cnristian citizens of a Christian communiiy—as inen who have received @ rich Inheritance trom the past, and whose duty ts to transit the glory of our Institutions undimmed; nay, made brighter by our example ana our work—we are bound to be up and domg. It 18 cewardly to sit idly by while bad mea ruie as. It ts oar religious bustness to stir up a bet- tor public opinion—to protest by word and dged aud vote—to exerolie the utmoat splenony and to per. sist with unchanging determination until tue rule of the mob is ended, and until all high ofices have good mou in them, I speak of this as a religious duty, 1 know of no better use to which 1 cau put my pulpit than to impress upon you the need of edort in this direction. CENTRAL BiPTIST CHORCH. Unten of Churches—Unity of Spirit and of Aciton—Promoters of strife and Dangers of Secte—Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Evarts, of Chicago. A sorles of spectal services were held yesterday in the Bloomingdale Buptist church, on Forty-second street, between Seventh and Eighth avenues, to re- cognize the union of tho Laight street Baptist church wiih the Central Baptist chareh worshipping in Bloomingdale, The services yesterday morning were oponed at half-past ten o’clock by the Rev, F, Evans, pastor of the church, who struck am attitnde worthy of liamlet Booth (to whom he beara some- thing of a resemblance), and made the usual an- nouncements respecting further services, private reuntons, &c., and dwelling very heavily on the great desirability of picking up heavier collections than usual at this particular time. He desired it Lo be understood that the collection yesterday was what he called a spectal collection, and then he found tt necessary to explain that what he meant by a special collection was that the usual collection was expected to be mightily increased in honor of the occasion, When these important matters were duly impressed on the minds of the worshippers, Mr. Evans retired and led forward the Rev. Dr. Eyarts, of Chicago, THE PREACHER OF THE DAY, who took his text from Ephesians, iv., 8:—Eno- deavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace’—and having recommended his hearers to read the whole chapter for themselves whenever they could get time to do 80, he said:—The unity of the spirit here meant was moro than a mere outward unity of form and ceremony, like the unreal unity of the Papacy, which ts good for litte beyond the exaction of an obseguious devo- uon from its tolowers. Tols world 13 greatly misled by the now rather popular cry for unity, because those who talk of unity only mean by it the concerted action of diferent sects aud parties in the matter of eutward forms, &c, The first thing necessary lor unity is the indweiling of the Holy Spirit, and 10 the absence of that all pre- tended unity would be only the unity of a party. Unity of the Church may be and is very desirabie; but the real unity wiich we should seek aiter is the unity of the churches with Christ, well as with one another. Christ was the Prince of Peace— “peace on earth and good will to men”—and this 1s the mission wich the Church has taken upon itself, We want a union of the Caurch based on a union of the spirit in all mankind, Mere unions of sects or of parties, based on comproiaises, have always and will always end in disruption. It should be all our mussion to bring back the Church from her divisions; but that can only be done when the warring earth shall be brought into harmony with THE GOVERNMENT OF JEHOVAT; and to commence this good work is to be the special mission of this pr sent Baptist Church. It will be assured by the ndwelinig ofthe Holy spirit. While the soul dwells in the bouy the band wil not fight against the foot, por theeye war against theear: all the members wili work together in harmony and aul- ty. And so it will be with the Church when the Spirit dwelis within it. Tho Holy Spirit does net dweil in the Church at present, and lence we have schisms and divisions. Let us pray for the pouring out of God's spirit all over the world, Controversies are of no use whatever, They are rather harmful than otherwise, and so are all debating societies; fer one man will hold one opinion aud another a different one, often inspired, as they are sure to be, by vanity and personal couceit, Out of these thing comes con- regalionalism, which ig@ the bane of the Church, ringing strife aud division. Besides the indwelling of the Spirit there are other measures needed. We need a more scrupulous con- formity to the Word of God. We must have pericct faith In that Word as our guide, and notin the dan- gerous interpretauons of It, One may make a will transmitting property to a large number of heirs fi'ty generations from this, Each heir will then have his own notion about the provistons of the testator} document; but when disputes come they must be ail seitled by going back to the will itself. Thus we dispute about God's laws and provisions. We must go buck to His word as itis found in His will—the Bible. What weald you gain by uniting THE PAPIST AND THE PROTESTANT communiti¢s, even if you could They would all separate and split up again, because they will not gO back to the origiual Word of God. Another measure necded Is the indwelling of cha- rity. Our best men have missed doing half the good Uney couid have doue if they were more imbued with with patience and Clarity, ny Wwitucoo UNFORTUNATE LUTHER AND, POOR MOSRS er, -.Falth and Dope re VeouTcam’t always cherished form of rule. Indeed, 80 simple and so | yin thls city. The | a Set of unprinctpled adventurers, who have quan- | necessary to cover up their tracks, and by a mob | Who are obedient to the beck and call of these ad- | venturers, aud who, for the sake ot gold, are withing | Tf | New York politics should spread themselves all over | jaws, robs Our treasury, overrides the | courts of justice and has its owa way in Gvery partl- | ‘The successful politician of our time 13 a man | entered int» for the simple purpose of getting money | ‘The ofice sought has oftentimes | & merely nomial salary connected with tt, but there | money box, and they do thetr duty 80 far as te see | | ment | the feclings of a noble heart. save enough in four or five | ries derived lis strength from the example set us by years of faithiul servico and hard work to buy a | about your ideas of the Word of God; you can! certain of the indwelling of the Spirit; but you may always know wien you havo charity. I do not like scandal, and when @ brother in the Church back- slides we ought not to rail at him or revile him from the helght of our superior virtue, but we ought to seek him out and speak to himself and pray with him for repentance. We have not been as good as we ought to be ourseives; for we might have had more church property than we have now in New York, I have seen chureh sites here that we might have purchased long years ago for twenty-five hun- dred dollars that would cost twenty-five thousand now; but we never bought them, as we should have done, Let us pray. PATRICKS CATHEDRAL, Sermon on Forgiveness by Dr. McNierncy— An Impressive Service and Fine Music. In St. Patrick’s Cathedral yesterday morning nigh mass was celebrated by Rey. Mr. McGean, Rev. Dr. McNierney being master of the ceremonies. The mass sung was by Mercadante, In D minor. The solo singers weie:—Soprano, Madame Cnome; alto, Mrs. Werner; tenor, Mr. Groschel; basso, Mr. A. Sohst. The principal parts of the mass were-— Gloria, chorus; Laudanmwus, concerted plece; Qui Tollis, tenor solo, with chorus accompaniment at the offertory, and Salutaris, by Mariani, sung by Mr. A, Sohst, basso. Mr. Gustavus Schmitz presided at the organ with his usual ability. Madame Chome is an accomplished vocalist. She sang the parts as- signed her with great sweeiness und effect. The other artists acquitted themselves most creditably, The choir of St. Patrick’s 13 admurably organized, and the music is always of tha’ class that 13 thor- oughly adapted for cathedrai service. At the Gospel the Rev. Dr. McNierney ascended the pulpit, and after urging the heads of families to send their chidren not only to the Sunday, but also to the parochial schools, in order that the children may be in these Institutions thoroughly instracted in the principles of their religion, the reverend gen- tleman proceeded to read the Gospel of the day from St. Matthew xvill., 21 to 35. He said thatour blessed Lord, in the parable recorded in the Gospel this Sunday, to explain the assuranee juet made to Peter—who sald, “Lord, how often shall iny brother offend against me, and J forgive him, till seven tumes?"—saith, “1 say not to thee wll seven times, but till seventy times seven tune: The question of Peter betrayed the weal bess and the frailty of human nature. Jt told of the repugnance that was experienced and the obstacies that were to be overcome in the animadversions oj the cold and callous world. The response of our Divine Master was clear, distinct and unequivocal, and breathed the spirit of divine | juve, The love of God for man suffered no restric. Uon and adimiited of no exciusion. “So likewise shall my heavenly Fatner do to you af you do not forgive your brotuer from your hearis.’7 Whence, therefore, did tis precept ot forgiveness of injuries derive a claim to our regard? First, irom the authority of Christ, who sald, say to thee not till seven times, but till seventy times seven times,” It derived its strength, in the second place, from the deep sense of gratitude we owed to God an account of his great mercies, What did we not owe Him? Had he not remitted to us ten thousand talents, which were sins‘without number? The proo!s of God’s goodness and mercy were made manilest to us atevery step and in every known way. ‘hey might exclaim, in the words of the Psalmist, “What return snail] make to the Lordy? What return? Let them forgive the injuries done to them; let them forgive the offences committed against them by their brother. This was a debt of gratitude which they ewed to God—u charitable act which they were calied upon to perform. Let them Jose sight of man and think only ef God, whom they had onended. ‘they owed hua infinitely more than that. Let them not think of the Insults offered and the outrages done to them; let every senti- of wrath or indignation give way to Forgiveness of inju- our Divine Lord. How striking, how intense was the exercise of mercy expressed in those words:— “1 foigive thee all thy debt; thy sins have becon countiess as the siars in the firmament or as the grains of sand on the sea suore; they have suilied the robe of thy baptismal innocence; though thou didst owe me 10,000 talents more than thou wert able to pay, yet I forgive thee all. Have compaa- strangely | sion on thy falien servant, even a3 I nave compas. ‘Ths hearts of our best citizens are heavy | sion on thee.’ It was our interest to suppress all ebullitions of anger whtol were sulficient to stifle the noble impuises of our nature. Anger was the sower of discord, it was the ruin of friendship and the fell destroyer of charity. 1 produced hatred, enmity and discord. it tended to contention, to strifes and quarrels, and ottentimes to results more calaipitous than all these, Its excesses had darkened the pages of history, nor were our own days free from its traces. Witness the constant. shedding of human blood, the almost daily record of which appals and adrights we whole community. It was our interest to secure for ourselves a gener- one, was attached to this—‘forgive, that you may ‘be forgiven,” not for one ain, 6 for all your sins. ‘Lhere was no ungertainty in God's word, Th word was pledged to us, and the word of God knew no deceit. Had we not accepted this condition? had we not ratified it? Did we bee tine 4 tt Gaile We the opetten we make: seocutioge we ve us re those that trespass galas uae A compliance With this precept was an essential nm prere\ ite, “IE thou offer thy giftat the altar, and there then re- member that thy brother have anything aningt thee leave thy oifering atthe altar and go first to be reconciled to thy brother, and then coming thou shalt over thy gilt.” Refuse a comphance with this ond al! else was of no avail. So long ag we forgave not our brothers from our hearts 80 long would our eutions and supplications be of no avall, rayers, uo His life on earth our blessed Lord taught us by precept and example to forgive injury. pro- muilgating this holy law He took upon Himself the yoke that He would impose upon us. It was His love ‘of enemies that induced him to come down from Heaven and make His abode among men, Let us be known as followers of Christ by our compassion and forgiveness of wrong, 60 that following the meek- ness of the members of His mystic body we may ractice every Charity, and this will Dring us conso- ations innumerable here and delights ineffable in the world to come, JANE STREET METHODIST CHURCH. The Temptations in the Wilderness—Sermon by the Rev. William C. Smith, Tho Rev. William ©, Smith, pastor, preached a morning servico in the Methodist Episcopal church, Jane street, off Greenwich avenue, The congrega- tion was not very numerous, nor yet very fashion- able, but thoy appeared to be very devout and very attentive to their pastor’s explanation of the scrip- tural meident seiected for consideration and the lessons he deduced from it, The preacher having Tead as his text the first verse, fourth chapter of St. Matthew, “Thea was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil,” proceed- ed, he was sorry to say, Without much previous pre- paration, (o suggest some reflections which it affora- ed. This was not the first time Christ was tempted; He was tempted during His whole Itfe, and tho temptations culminated in the agony at Gethsemane, “the hour and the power of dark- ness." The temptation in the wilderness and Christ's victory over Satan were probably the ful- filment of the dacient prediction that the woman's seed should crush the serpeat’s head. The ex- eriences of temptations into which we are permit- fed to fall are profitable aud the examples of vic- tories by God's servants over the Evil One are most encouraging. He wished to draw attention to one int— aoe oHnIST WAS TEMPTED IN A SOLITUDE. Retirement is good for us all, but then If evil agencies and companions are absent, even though we may lock our doors, Satan, who regards not volts and locks, can be there, and we are often most in danger when alone. One of the bost things for a Christian or anybody else to do when tempted is to sing sacred songs. If you can’t -sing sweelly as wellas you can. Read the Scriptures, pra} sing, for SATAN DOES NOT LIER SINGING. ‘When the Evil One goes about seeking to enter the heart of man by temptations and cunning to “places that hold no water’, i i the Christian ely ce | a hymn, he retires aud hig place 1s t for me.” When Satan se beautiul young lad, instance, with fowlng ringlets and cheeks red th the hues of health, and inher innocence and Joy- ousness plucking Wild Lowers in some meadow, ho says, “1 wil seduce her from virtue.’? He draws near and finds her singing, and departs, saying “PAIS 18 TOO DRY FOR ME.” He approaches the old man sitting on the stoop, to spoll Lis faith and hope, but hears him singing, Thus far I’m led, both old and weak, and he departs, bate Mer dry for me.” He per- ceives the minister 1u the pulyit‘and wishes to draw hin and his people irom God; bul hearing the minis- ter sing Happy with my latest breath Af T may but gasp His name, the Evil One says, ‘Too ary for me.’” ‘The preacher concluded by exhorting the people to sing God’s praises more and more, that good might be with them here and reward them eternally hereatter, CHURCH OF ALL SOULS, Jucob’s Wrestle With God—Sermon by Rev. Dr. Bellows. < For several Sundays past Irving Hall has been occupied by Dr. Bellows as, the Church or All Souis, and nas always attracted a large congregation and @ very fashionable one. Yesterday was no excep- tion, the hall being filled with an assemblage, moat of whom were ‘favored of fortune,” as could oasliy ba tultt hy tho ricnuess uf Costume and display of elegant costumes of the lady devotionists. The text which Dr. Bellows chose to expound upon was ‘‘Jacob’s wrestle with God,” and being a very frnitfal and interesting theme, his discourse was listened to with much attention. The text was taken from the book of Genesis xxiL, 24:—“And Jacob was left alone; and there wresiled a man with him, until the breaking of the day.’’ ‘The reverend gentleman proceeded to relate the history of Jacop—-how he had received the birth- right of Esan, and had occupied his thoughts with woridiy matters. He was of a noble race and de- sired to retain the power and influence of his peo- ple by increasing nis riches, Nor was he particular 8 to the mauner of atiatning wealth. His doctrine was to OBTAIN IT BY FAIR MEANS if possibly by, if not possible in this manner, then to use all the means at his disposal which uecency would allow without endangerimg his position in the egeaanle He then followed the career of Jacob to the time When his brother Esau, with a mighty army, was marching towards him to smite him. And Jacob sent forward his servants with presents of catile that he ae appease him. Jxco¥ also sent his two wives and his sons aud servants “over the brook that he might be alone.’’ and there “WRESTLED A MAN WITH Him" until the breaking of the day. F Christians, Aud Jacob was left alone, from this the preacher drew a moral. Faid he, should divest themselves in spirit of worldly things and of power and honors and should reflect on their eternal salvation. Jacob sent away his aay and ellects that he may be alone with God and that his thoughts may not be abstracted from his heavenly Father, So should the Christian sink into himself'and examine the mmost recesses of his soul, that he may be able to gain an insight of what would be pleasing to God. Dr. Bellows dwelt very much on this point and spoke in strong terms of the necessity ef placing Spiritual matters above temporal affairs, JACOB'S WRESTLE WITH GOD was a figure of the Christian fighting against temp- tation and being victorious in the struggle. Alter exhausting the subject of his discourse he conciuded by urging his hearers to reilect on what he lad impressed upon them and they would reap the benetit of their good work in the world to come. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN SPRING STREET. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Aiken on the Political Responsibility of Religious People—A Lash on the Political Vices of Modern Babylon. At the Presbyterian church in Spring street, near Varick, there was a large gathering of genteel peo- ple, It belng known that the Rev. Dr. Alken would discourse on the all-engrossing subject of politics. After the usual exercises the reverend gentleman preached on the ‘Political Responsibility of Religious People,” basing his arguments on Jeremiah xxix., 7—“And seck the peace of the city, for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.” Tho speaker said:— ‘This was written about 600 years before Christ, when the Jews were captives in Babyion, and were likely to be captives for an indefinite time; they would therefore be able to feel an utter LACK OF INTEREST in everything around them. Seeing that the Jews were careless about their Interests, Jeremiah admon- ished them to attend to their houses and to the inte- rests of the city in which they lived. The words of the text may be particularly applied to AMERICAN CITIZENS, asin his country the individual influence of every cluzen moulds the government under which he lives. We look around us and gee CRIME AND CORRUPTION RAMPANT and triumphant. There 1s no city in the world where there is so much organized and unorganized vice. THE TREASURY 18 PLUNDERED, and men are not even astonishea at exactions which im former times they would have been startled to eee, Corruption has crept everywhere, ana judges are held in the grasp of moneyed men. THE BALLOT, which ought to be the glory of the American citizen, is a thing at which we blush. That secret emblem of our linerties is powerless and a vortex of corrul tion, The religious portion of this community largely, | Will not say wholly, responsible for this evi state of things. Think of the power which they have to cont ol, Soprencnsaniy Oy they do, to a large degree, the intelligence, wealth and education of the community. Who wield the bad elements of the city? The men who have wealth and social stand- ing. WeJook around us and see IGNORANCE AND ORIMB in the ascendant. Some one is responsible for this, How ts it, then, when the moral portion of the com- munity has power, that it docs not control the evil elements around usy There are six reasons for this:— First—By means of recreancy to principles, RELIGIOUS PEOPLE do not stand out for the priucipies in which they believe. ‘chevy neglect to rebuke crime and with- draw their atd from those who endeavor to check the tlde of vice and corruption, Second—Religious people shift responstbility from themselves. ‘They look around and see organized ous and unrestricted pardon from taose whom we ad injured, Bul one vaaditign, aad 9a9 Gendvem, crime on every side; but every oue says quietly, +] at pel Keauapsible for Unis: Jk ts got OLY PusiQess ‘They confeas that is somewhere, but it is not on thelr Third— The power of the religious community 1s Paralyzed by apathy and indifference. Four’h—By mdojence and fear to stand against all these great evils and to strike down CRM IN HIGH AND LOW PLACRS; but most of our religious people are. apethetic and Indifferent and settle down tnto indolence, unwill- ing to ae exertions in order to accomplish some resul FUih—By & waut of combination ameng religious ple. Crime and corruption are organized; but © wealthy, intelligent and moral people of our OER ate: nae f ROS ERA leNer a Stati party spirit, lo not wholly depreeat it. Partics are nécessary; for when a party be- comes so dominant that {i fears no control it bo- comes corrupt. I never conceal to which party I belong. But party spiri¢ should have no place in this city under the present state of circumstances, MORALITY AND RELIGION are the great questions that use up and overhaul all other questions. Many men, religious though they may be, do got vote for the good of the community, but for tho petty interests of the party. Vice 1s organized and omer in voting and in scattering AU UE RONe: BaoM ha It She moral portion of this unity coul oO Ze could control the evil influences of this city. ‘tere was @ time when the foreign element tinea to ADROGATE OUR SABBATH Laws, With it were linked the whole liquor trame anda great political party. Here was a triple convention, but we endeavored to arouse the religious commu- nity to meet this question on the ground of the well being of the people. We swept the fleld and the enemies were nowhere. We may well pause, for throughout our city, fatr and great, like JERUSALEM OF OL} vice ig rampant and corruption laughs tn the face of honest men. God looks upon such @ community, which ts filled with crime and violence, with dis- pleasure, The best and brightest spirits have made their homes here; tet us thorofore uft up our voices to God that spel power: should make ttself felt aud remove the blot from the fair fame of this city, JOHN ST2EET ANN'VERSARY. Sermon on the Throe Great Sins by Dr. Tillany, of Newark—Faith and tho Selfish- ness of Mankind As It Existea—A New Mode of Applauding. A large assembly met yesterday morntng in tho Methodist Episcopal church in John street to cele- brate the one hundred and fourth anniversary of the church. At half-past ten o'clock the platform was occupied by the Rev. Dr. Tifany, of New Jersey; Rev. E, L, Jones, Rev. L, T.. Weed, the pastor; Messrs, Charles H. Applegate, Edward Allen and John Bently, the iast three, with the pastor, forming what they termed the anniversary committee. On enterlug the church was seen posted in prominent characters the following announcement:—‘Jonn street Methodist Episcopal church celebrates the one hundred and fourth anniversary of her dedication, October 30, 1870. With cordial greetings to all her children ond friends, sie invites their presence through the day.’” IMMORTAL IN HALLOWED MEMORIES, her voice stil 1# as i ancient day’—Welcome to all.” ‘The preliminary poitions of the service being con- clude |, the pastor came forward and introduced the Rey. Dr. Tifany, who would, he satd, deliver a dis- course for their edification. The Doctor came forward with an immense Bible in his hands, and said the Book he held in his hand ‘was the same copy from which Philip Embury, the founder of the church, read 104 years before to a Congregation probably. more numerous than the one he then saw before him, He would read a text from the same chapier Eimbury read at that far off date, and while he read he hoped the same fervent spirit would permeate the people before him thatit was re- corded permeated the congregation that had assem bled there on the of the dedication of the church. He selected for the subject of his discourse the text in the First Epistié of John v., 4—'‘For whassoever is born of Goa overcometh the world; and this is the victery that overcometh the world, even our faith.’? These words, sald the Doc- tor, expressed an idea of confidence in victory over the world, Tuo natural jue was one constant ex- hibition of conflict against the antagonism to the Creator, and at was one of the most important, if not the atest, acts Aman could perform during his Mfetime to overcome that prejudice and insubordina- tion. Connitarabia: Belp Would be obtained by en- deavoring more ly to understand the meaning of the words of the text. St. John said what was not of the Father was of the world; “the lusts of the eye, the pride of life and the lusts of the desn.”” In these three great sins lay tho very root and germ of all oarthly tronbles. the lusts of the festa we understood those who were prone to satisfy their sensual passions and devote tiemselyes to them Wholly; by the iusis Of the eye were understood those who desired to be looked upon as possessing some extraordinary natural gift or outward beauty aud whose only delight was to pice themseives promincuuly forward Jor others behold and ad- mire, while the pride of life was a constant desire to Jook forward for something in the werld trom which they alone would derive beveilt; the latter also were Included amoag those men wilo vaunted their os- tentations in the lace of the world and desired to lay claim to ELEMENTS OF SUPREMACY over their feliows. Vhis was his interpretation of those three sing. It was sensuality and self-gratifi- cation that ran through all sociéties, Dia not the Gevil appeal directly to & passion, the gratification of which he well understood, when he desired the Master to transform the sioue inte bread ? and did not the same tempter appeal to the lust of the eyo when he sat Him upon the pinnacie of the temple at Jerusalem; showing Him, wiih satanic pride gieam- ing in his eye, the greatuess and beauty of all the Kingdoms on earth, and in his promise to give Him all these things upon the one conJition of casting himselr down, he sepenied at once to the pride of Iie, or that antagonistic feeling which makes a man look to limseli and possessions to the atter ex- clusion of other aud more important matter. What Q spectacle it wouid have been for the Jews to have Witnessed their countryman, as they termed Him, HANGING IN MID-aIR, and prevented oy angelic support trom dashing his feet against the rude stones! ‘This would have been an excellent subject for the revered Josephus to re- cord. ‘Self-love and self-interest was at the bottom of all, Tell @ child that if he acts vigorously and learns well you will give him a holiday, he will ap- py himself with diligence to his task, not because of his additional love for you, but for the purpose of enjoying the holiday. A drunkard would some- times reform his ways, not because he felt his ex- ample was derogatory in the society in which he moved, but because he hoped for better health or something else from his abstinence. An economist treasured up his money not because he wished to accumulate wealth tor the venetit of any objects of charity, even in part, but in order that he might be able to rest in ease and comfort at a later period in his life. It was all @ system of selfishness and a change not of motive, but of gratification of one of the senses, ‘The reverend gentlemen concluded, amid groan- ing and other peculiar kinds of applause, by stating it was necessary to have a full and perfect know- ledge of God in order to enjoy Lis favor. CHURCH OF THE STRANGERS, Dr. Deems on the Importance of Divine Truth, Dr. Deems preached yesterday, in the Church of the Strangers, to a very large and fashionable con- gregation, among whom were several of the most prominent money Kings of the metropolis His text was taken from Hebrews, v., 12, 13, 14— “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which are the first principles of the oracles of God.” The sermon was opened by show- ing how much the Bible favored knowledge, quotations being made from the Gospels and the Apostles to support this proposition, If any man held that “Ignorance 1s the mother of devotion,” it was not Paul. He liked to preach to sensible men. In this epistie he was in the high tide of a great ar- gaument on a profound subject, when, ali at once, he was arrested py recoliecting the ignorance of his hearers, and he stops to reprove them for bel 80 dull, No man makes such headway with ae A GREAT TRUTH when he ts talking to a person ignorant in his de- partment. A machinist cannot explain a rare con- trivance or great invention to a man totally ignorant of mechanics, No man ignorant of mathematics, astronomy and chemisiry can appreciate the dis- coverles of Le Verrier and Faraday. Modern preach- ers have this troubie. There is more bad learning than bad preaching. A man ignorant of internal things, however learned in other things, is like a wet log laid on the fire, when there is a contest whether the fire shall kindle the iog or the log extinguish the fire. Men who soak themselves in folly and sin during the week are like suck wet logs. It was then shown that the material world is the fleld of our physical learning, the mind of man of our metaphysical learning, and the Word of God of our spiritual knowledge. This spiritual knowledge 13 progres sive, Not that any other revelation 1s demanded. All the sciences are progressive, although the num: ber of the atoms, the elements, the afiinities and the stars has been the same for a thousand years. There is no objection to the Bible because it is mysterlous, Everything worth’ thinking of isa mystery. Now, that Is not given sctentificully. Neither 1s nature. God did uot set out the world like A DUTCH GARDEN, but threw ali these glorious things about us and left us to make out the science. ‘That 18 our work, toget at the most profound spiritual truth, Tho value of this aeep knowleage was shown in many ways. It is @ sin to neglect any part of the Bible. It hurts the moral constitution. Men should more cultivate love of the truth than mere exactness of statement, Many people are very much afraid their precise words will be called mquest.on, while they have no care if their personal veracity is not questioned whether the truth or error succeed. Men who do not geok to knew we bilghest truth come to that state. Then it is teach und every man ts a teacher, w: he will and these half trutia which men teach ar» of more hurtfal than errors, ‘Tans, in times of the PI valence of doctriues, 1¢ 1s necessary to know central truths. Men will examine doctrines, There 18 no heresy whioh 18 whoily false. Men pervert the traun often unintentionaily, It comes in like a tide, Them we must bo anchored, Tue high winds blow, Christian ¢hould not be like a weather vane, turn by ihe winds but like a meantetn, faruin the wind, does not require great lect or wl Many a man of genius has * Namen CLUNG TO THE FATT of his humble and wise wife or chlid ana thas thered the hurricane of heresy. loreover, dee) knowiedge promotes humilit ‘ne oldest and wi: professor in a college is humbler than the supertie! freshman, Familiarity with spiritual things inere: our lovingness, The more we come to know Gi the more we love him, The more we know tha value of a man the more we love him. Again, sec. tarlanism ovves lis existence to @ wantof the know- ledge of profound truths, Some doctrine, some sacrament, some principle, trne in itself, is magni- fled as tf it were the great central trath, ‘The more @ man knows of the truth the mage churches he bee longs to. The true catholic ch¥rch 1s that which embraces all sects that have any truth, another reason was that the oracles of God are the tnatru- ments of our permanent sanctification, There is Much nonsense in the Church on sanctification, Jesus must have known the trug method of sanctite cation, In his ee he says, “Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth.” This was dwelton, THE FREE LOVE TEMPLE. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Frothingham os “ Personal Independence”—Woman Suffrage and Our City Goverumeat~The Impoieuce of Public Opinion, ‘The Rev. Mr. Frothingham yesterday delivered @ sermon on “Personal Independence,” After alluding at considerable length to a certain portion of the Scriptures which pointed to every man’s being per+ sonally independent, he expatinted on the various forms of government in Europe and the United States, The political systems of Europe, he sald, were based on the theory of human depravity, according to which every man was considered unfis. to think for himself. A king or potentate of some kind claimed to have a commission from God to think and act for other people. Our Bye tem recognized no crown, no king, no sceptra, Each individual here was a sovereign to himself, The system made every person ‘an entire and separate one; that ia, each individual Was equal to the other. Neither rank nor class nor position drew a line in the system between portions of the people. The principle of woman suffrage was ® part of the system in its perfected form; yet ‘woman was still dented the right of representation in it. A woman was certainly a person. She reared children who one day becamé “sovereigns;? BHE PACD TAXES and had to suffer in every insiance more than man in ali pub‘ic calamities and national sufferings; but had no voice fn the choice of the parties wag de the laws by whic her property was controll Which — concerned ~ her Ube! as an = individu: of personal tndep ultimate consequences. Personal Independence wt that which made each iudividual his own judge of What was right, so long as he followed just convic- tions, it was in consonance with this idea that we in this country were always endeavoring to rem Aisabilities, Instead of feeding the poor in idleness, we were teaching them how te work and become useful. We were ina like wanner making our con- victs’ condition such that they might in the future do goo instead of following their old paths of wickedness, When we saw ® noble womav—as we did a short time ago—cail a public con- vention of women to abolish the very existence of war, we felt that she was speaking in the name modern society, tor it Was Wowan who suffere1 th Inost from war. It was the children women train that filled the warrtors’ graves, and the voice of modern society, through woman's appeal, cried ous that hereafter tho yotes of bleedin hearts should be counted as well as those of vieeding hands. The idea of personal 1adependence was that of renee self. Tne idea of reitgion exalted the individual, for did it not consider each one a3 an immortal soul? The grave for the Christian was not his goul; it was pot his annihijation. The reve Tend gentleman then proceeded to show how personal independence made u man feartess, staunch @nd true under all circumsiances, He then went om to develop the idea at ri ar length, and during the a Course of his remarks OUR CITY GOVERNMENT. He said that all tho political evils from which | taxpaying people wero suilerlug could be remed! by personal independence; that is, 1f each individual would determine to do what was right and be above every consideration that was wrong. It wag nos necessary for anything Uke common concert be personal system Waa tween men to attain this end. If cach map was rsonally independent the grand resalt would come gradually, but surely. As things were now the taxpayers, because they Were not person- ally independent, weat dowa to the cattle pens of the City Hall every day and got foeced, and went thelr ways rejoiclag afterwards, thanking their stare that they were not fleeced any more than they were, ‘The city could net be saved by what 1s called’ publio opinion, for public opinion was e vast mass of ince herent thougitt and feeling. 1% was formed by the Muititude, and the muititude never thought. The majority were ignorant and uniearned, and an untanght democracy was monarchy. People who talked about ipersomal independence causing anarchy knew not of what they spoke; those who poluted to burglars and murderers and thieves and all bad characters as examplars of the Idea, aid so either by ignorance or maligaity. Bad characters Were not to exemplars of personal in- dependence; ‘or they knew not what law was, but were advocates of lawlessness. It woox years for a man to become personally independent, years of thought and straggilig and often sorrow. It often. Separated mother frum daughter and father from son, ofien drew persecution and malignity dowa upon the heads of those who endeavored to advocate it prac- ticaliy, but the compensation was beyond all price oi Whoever could say, “My mind to mo ® jngdom 13,’’ was & man to be envied. Tue spoaker then conunued to tlustrate what, aiter toiling and ceuaeling to attain personal independence, an ines» timable blessing personal independence really was to those who attained it, ST. BRIDGE °S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Good for Evil—Sermon by the Rev. Father Mooney. The Roman Catholic church of St. Bridget, situated on the corner of Eighth street and avenue B, 1s one of the finest of the East side churches. lt hass very large congregation and an excellent pastor in the Rev. Father Mooney, who by his zeal has made his church and its belongings what they are at present. The organ Is one of the finest in the city, and the choir, which is almost entirely composed of voluntecrs, is in an admirable state of cultivation. The inside of the church 1s well adapted to religious services, there being an air of sanctity throughout the building, heightened by the disposition of light, which streams in through the painted windows with its oriuiancy toned down and, as It were, afraid of breaking in upon the solemnity of the place. The congregation is very large, and on yesterday, at the hal-past ten service, the church was very mach crowded. Father Mooney preached, taking for hia text the parable contaiued in St, Matthew Xviil., 23 tod 0 35. The parable relates to the king who, havinga servant who owed him ten thousand talents, and not being able to pay the debt, ordered him to be soid, but forgave him when he fell on his knees before him and besecched for mercy, That same Ronaved meeting a fellow servant who owed him a hund Rea cast him into prison until he should pay it. he king, ou hearing this, sald to him, “0, THOU WICKED SERVANT, forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst Me. Shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as | had pity on thee t’? The lord then delivered him up to prison untd he should pay what ne owed, ‘The preacher enlarged in eloquent terms on the conclusions to be drawo from the parable. Every one, sald he, should be ready to forgive his neigh- bor his offences, for no one knows the time when he will have to ask his Heavenly Father to forgive him his offences against heaven. Our Lord has told us to return good for evil. Tols is agian ® heaven- vorn doctrine, and yet ono which it 1s easy to per- form. What does it profit a man to bear animosity for a wrong done him? No end is served by retatiae tion. How much bettor is it to do an act of ki ness to one by whom we have been wronged. Ig both pleases God, makes a friend of an enemy, and one feels much more comfortable in nla own soul afier doing such an act. Father Mooney continued in this strain and con- cluded by invoking the blessing of God on the con- gregation, that tney may be able to carry out His diviue law. MOUNT ZION. Bishop Snow on the Destruction of the Roman Beast—The Fearful Destiny of Edi- tors and Reporters. ‘The Rev. 8. 8. Snow preached yesterday afternoon in Mount Zion church to a very numerous congre~ gation. Before beginning his discourse Bishop Snow pitched heavily into newspaper men and especially reporters, in hie own pecuilar way, and threatencd that the awful wrath of the Almighty would scorch and shrivel them up. This wasto be because they Maliciously refused to belleve in him and had not given him fair play. God would especially make examples of ail connected with “pat foul, SCURRILOUS AND LYING PAPER, the Herat.” Ife thon announced that his sermon for that evening would be “the judgment which has commenced and the impending destruction of the Roman beast.’ Taking for his text Daniel Meg he sald the fourth beast spoken of therein typlle qe ewrlre Of pagan Rome, Qa the bead of tale