The New York Herald Newspaper, December 19, 1870, Page 4

4 RELIGIOUS. Budget of Ser- mons. —————————-—— Yesterday’s The Anatomy of Repentance and the Dismal Swamp of Utter Negation, on Billiards Board Bills. Beecher and Catholic and Protestant Views of the Pope. PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD! The Theol gicnl Aspects of Scandal, Faith, Republicanism and Happiness. and carefully sermons de- city and air of a no doubt, We put rhea livered suburbs bright cont of we rep n the ve sun buted tl nearly all the places vident from use st of the of public wo: verat clergy= of New Yorkers, majorit morning a nt an excitement of @ from ( but this was few min duration, aud the day passed olf in pleasant sunshine, NEW EXCLAVD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. Nermon by son— Vivid Pulpit, Portrayal ter of the Pileria Fathers—Homespun Traihs ifost Etoay y Toh The New England Congre of Mad are and Foxt tomed through the growing p crowded to its ut to be won dual in tere ubject of | mh non would OUR POREFATHERS, Words au sary sermon of tne land- igrims on Plymouth R the theme was one In Which (Le congregation, largely made up of New ! >, naturally felt an interest, and aul felt th as one In which the best powers and eloquent +o! Mr. son would reveal themsely himself aud educated in ard, pint character, sper! by modern culture He preached with an Clo- preacied — before; e uheme wand leart; | roon. Alter j avory exercises of praye piures and singing he annont , he suo- | ject of b won would p © Christ. | landed at contained a and | | | numbers | | pastor, the Re’ NEW YORK HERALD, MO whole land blessom. Already the fires of Itborty in other countries are kindled from “this candio set in the wilderness,”” While we glory tn oar ancestors let us live and labor that the millions to come after us may have reason to honor our memory. It ts rarely @ sermon 13 listened to with such earnest, such deeply absorbiag, such continuously riveted such breathless and spell-vound atiention, He ti fused his own enthusiasm into all his hearers, Though nearly an hour was occupied in its deliver: it seemea a much shorter time, and as the last words fell irom his lips the deep love and holy veneration felt for these, our forefathers, was intensified into a deeper and more abiding earnestness, Singing, prayers and benediction, as usual, ter- minated the exercises. ST. JOSEPHS CATHOLIC COURCH. Sermon by tho Kev, Father Ouuphy~ “The Acceptable @ime.” The Rey. Father Dunphy preached the sermon at St. Joseph's church yesterday. He took his text from the gospel of the day. After alluding to the first advent of the Saviour he spoke of the festival of Christmas, It was @ custom as old as the world, he satd, for people to celevrate with unusual ceremony, not only the actual frst day of a hero, but each anniversary of It was always regarded as an occusioa for rejoicing. ‘The event which Christians were now preparing to celebrate was one far more worthy & grand celebration than any other which bad ever been celebrated in the world. We were now at the close of ¥. A SEASON OF PREPARATION, and as we felt the “great day” drawing nigh, the thought, whethor we willed tt or not, naturally forced itself upon our minds that another year had been taken from our Lifetime siuce last we had honored the festival. Iu spite of our joys, reflections would come up before us, and we could not help look- ing forward, at’ the same ume, to the econd advent of the Saviour, when He shall come mist clouds with great power and majesty to jadge man according to is works, It was at this of the season that the Church, like “a 1 ine wilderness,” called upon us to repent, rhad passed since last the same voice had itself heard, and yet how many had there been who had Hstenca to it with indifference? He would rtake to say What had been the fate of ail tuose wo, durtng the year, had PASSED AWAY FROM THIS LIFE, bnt, ab any rate, we could now protit by their expe- rience aud understand the lessons and teachings of tue Charch which they, no matter what their fate might be, would ne’ again have an opportunity of hearing. What did the language of the Gospel in tion with this great festival of Christmas ny When the Lord began His public life God wiled forth from the desert of Palestine a man who had lived in solitude, praying and fasting— Jonn the Baptist. He came forth ag the foreranner of the Grst oright Light which was to iiuminate the entire world, He came to preach to mankind the “grand evenv’ by preaching the remission of sins, ‘Those to whom he had uttered words of salva- tion had slept for ages in the dust; yet to-day, like John the Baptist, the Church cried out to every man to repent and prepare for the coming of the Saviour. Its voice Was THE VOICE IN TH WILDERNESS, and the words spoken by the glorious saint eighreen soey years ago had lost none of their signidcance in our da, ‘Tue reverend father then went on, at con- siderable length, to show that the way Catnolics snould give proper heed to the voce of the Church was to approach 1e confessional and become reconciled to God, They should not postpone the day of their retura to God, he said, for any reason. Now was ‘the ac- ceptable ume,” not to-morrow, or next week or peXt month, fer the present was only ours, and no one could guarantee What might be iu'store for us in the future. ‘The Church, which, like a kind mother, ordinarily made it &@ loving request io ask her chil- dren to approach the sacraments, at the present time turned that request into am imperative de- mand. LEXINGTON AVEAUE PRESBYPERIAN CHURCH, The Rev. Mr. Hugo on the Tyranny of the Roman Catholic Charch. Owing, doubtless, to the severe cold weather which the denizens of the metropolis experienced yesterday, many of the Jashionadle up town were not nearly so well filled at the morn- S might have been wished, This was particularly the case with that unique little struc- ture above named, which is situated on the corner of Lexington avenue and Forty-sixth street, as its pews were not imore than half occupied, which is reallya very thing. Upon invitation of the Mr. Hugo offictated m the pulpit, , alchough his discourse cannot with truth be 1 an cloquent one, it was, nevertheless , very in- teresting. THE TEXT ecoust Was for- | ied ta Northern adson. Having | ious schemes cussed " nand Middle | > Romanisin. a bothin | 11 Oppo- eutiment f Iie low the men and and Wins. how wet the atiention with like elo- | ‘athers earned | the Word of Go persecuted tows Lrecrom, aud the. Yney paid a great y handed it d were 10 giory of this is which we Having drawn @ mos: Vivid pice tive life he next considered We PUEIR LABOR colout Ued along phe co nomespun life’? which for a centy } was mad | ac Hi 1 city, was selected from IL Timothy, il., 9—“But the word tig not bound’? Paul, said the speaker, was wn into prison because of his religion, and so agreat many good and pious men at @ not note period, and that too by those who pro- (to worship God in spirit and in truth, but who, nevertheless, could not bear to see any one else worship him waless they conformed wholly to their belief, viz, the Roma tholic, Of all other religious sects on the face of the earth, the Roman Catholics p thought, minently tyrannical, and he believe theia so, for he was by Hungarian, and had felt most everely the isranny of that bloodthir=ty monster, c Majesty, THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA, years ago, when the famous Concordat public, xe and his father were Protestant qupisiers ia Hungary, and they both attended tne convention which was soon alter beid for the pur- e of : up mad signing a petition to the Austrian Empcror, prayiug that they might be allowed to educate their chiidren and worship God to the diclates of their own conscience, yho was th a very oid man, attacned c, with others, to tae petition; bat he 3 fathe his signat | hunsed, beg then quite a young man, and not iy mscalied as a pastor of any particular , did not it His hearers Knew full well the jale of (iose who had, as the Emperor termed it, to siga (hat paper. His venerable father mined to solitary confinement for @ period and had all his estate confiscated, & five of the seven years sentence he lus ashes were not allowed a de- ¢ lumself was exiled from his native and had, too, all his property confiscated “use he altended the assembly, This was of tie ROMAN CATHOLIC TYRANNY. He is now, he t liberty to go home proviaed he will siga a paper declaring his eternal allegiance io Ausirit, adautl (hat bts olfence was great and that his ser just. This he would never do, even ib y again beleld the land of bis na- are in any quarter y themseives to their tte Bible Ir the public schools, ent to get away from thelr poor, ative land and itive under a liberal and iree land, but they want, and ¢, to destroy the instituuons of land of uioption, one of wiica 1s the Bible, ould Warn ail Protestants to be on the alert and to keep constantly belore them the scenes that were chacted Im Philadelphia in 1844, when a Catho- lic schvol board prokibited the reading of the Bible in tue schools, and the result A iO% ENSUED, which well nigh resul in the spilling of a vast deai ol blood, As for himseif he challenged the right of C c to be elected to the School i thy Board, 1 not ia sympathy with the in- sLibutL uy atall. There were recently thirieou teachers appointed In the sehools of this ven of whom were Cutholics and but two if they had desired to do tt the not have appointed one single Pro- Protesta Board would testant ! CHRISTIAY FRE CHURCH, yon by the Rev. ‘onte. 2 morning services in the Christian Free in Twenty-elghth street, near Broadway, y itved; (heir pla tarmhonses, the large families they n §reckings-—those th ed; sree aes hood—the open Bible both ciyil anc potisin; tue lands divnity to labor; in, ect nurseries e cultivators, history m nh any romance, comforts and Lu. arts of commer ecured our co costier churches 168 I absorv- Th mind t OU toa ie 3e tue founda- such stuit” > them, forward tie homain avey where svom In two and a half centur tore three bundres miilions will inhabit tus land. Wha all their destiny ¢ Shall the tustitudons wrofethiox impro aud made " Then b much remains tot duty 0 he euforced in conciusion, f6 Now) the grows of tue sane p3 OF FREEDOM AND RELIGION Which were @ sown by the Pilgrim aiuers, A litue 0; the sacrifice of our fathers could inake this SPE! hy; but each } 2 commenced yesterday morning by the singing 2 old Missionary Hymna, “From Greenland’s icy mountains,” after which the pastor, the Rev. | Charies B. Foote, announced as his text the | fourth verse of the first chapter of st. | John—i, ¢@, “In Him was life, ana the | lie was tho light of men.” ‘The rev. erend gentieman in his discourse remarked that would honght of this Scripture have been } clearer bad our tran nm read, “in it was life.? | It refers to the term word tn the first verse. It gives usto u tand that the term “word” does not na vouullzed utterance, nor wisdom; it means a { me person. The person we call Jesus. He lived amoug ine and is conduct His an example for us—it sheds ligut on tue dark ways of lie, | Part of Jesus’ misston was to show ns how to live, | how to be perfect and how to please God. He took | human nature in infancy and carried it into the arena | of common itfe, He ved in private circles and He | eltred in public affairs, ue Kew Want and sorrow aud tril just as we know it, Whoever will do as He did Will share the grace of God, and ike Him gain VICTORY h and sin, and will at! > throne and the glory ot little heed to the creeds and doctrines © interpretations. It we study Christ fim we shall attain to full salvation manhood. we traced Him through beauteons chiidnood and youth and mannood at home aud tilt Lic consecrated Limself to His great mission in the i } Ove t " Jordan, From Hits baptism and the Father's ac- knowledgment He went to the temptation. It was @ dark, sad part of His Lite, Almost without food or friend or sympathy, “alone with the wild beasts,” He telt the power of the tempter as severely as ever wedo. Kingdoms and emoluments and joy were offered Him, but Ho preferred a pure life to a dis- honoradie acceptance of them, Let us do likewlsc, and, like Him, we shall eventually gain a lasting kingdom. From His iat Be wot to teach men THE Bi La And shall not we also point men to the skies and ead the way? He teaches us also the power and bleaseduess of prayer. On all great occasions he began his work by @ Ch ee of prayer, and he feit its sweetness and p . ‘He waszcalous for the things of Goa. No half work was ils, The world ever felt that He was in earnest. In His devotion to God He did not forget men, Society, as well as self, bas @ claim on every one, and-who should be more worthy to ge into the world than those who try to illusirate the pure lie of men, Some eople confine their social work to the rich, some to he ‘poor; but He, regardless of mere circumstances, Went wherever men were, to bless them as men, Like Christians, He had often to contend against time ‘Whuence, "though His mother sympathized with Him, His brethren opposed Him. Having shown WHAT OUR NATURB MAY BE on earth, He took to the throne of Ged, where tn tho highest Splendor He exhibits to angels and to us what man redeemed siall be. “Let us walk in tho light, as He was tn the Tiga! "At the conclusion of the sermion the well known hymn, commencing ‘Jesus, lever of my soul,” was ging, When the pastor invited those who were do- sirous of participating in the baptismal rites of the church to come forward. A large number accepted the invitatien, after which all present partook of tho communion. CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH. Bellet in a Deity Natural to Man—Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Hepworth. ‘This nandgome church was, as usual, crowded to the doors, The ability of the pastor as an expoun- der of the Gospel and as an exhorter 1s so well known that Sabbath after Sabbath finds every pew and every scat filled with eager listeners, At the service yesterday Mr. Hepworth’s text was taken from Psalms xty., 1—“The fool hfith sald in his heart, there is no God.’ He said it is a curious fact that though early history gives the record of a different deity for every nation, it plainly asserts that a belier in God is universal, Atheism is the product of clv- dlizauion, itis philosophy run mad. Sometimes in the pursuit of knowledge a man will lose his balance, and tn the attempt to grasp and comprehend the great problem of the universe he will miss his path, just as a traveller at night sometimes gets off the highway and dings himself in the mire. Most atheists deciare that there is no God simply because they do not understand all avout him. It ta about as sensible as it would be for a man of ordinary edu- cation to deny the reality of the solar system because he cannot understand the now and the why of its existence. Belief in Deity is natural to human beings. Tney are not educated into it, though they are sometimes educated out of it. Go back to the infancy of the race, and yeu will find everywhere some expression on the part of the people of their faith m the Unseen, and, to them, the Unknown. ‘The rudest savage tries to propitiate and to win the favor of his God, though his conception of Him be rude in the extreme. In the East the Sun and Moon were deifled; in Greece and "Rome the ideal man was deified, and in later times all this has given way betore a cultivated, religions nature; and we worship and have faith in a Being intinite in his nature and attributes. so the race has been at school, aud has gone through the primer of a worship of material things, though they be beautiful as a Grecian statue, and learned at last to pray vo the Unseen. I think the number of think- ers Wiio have arrived at THE DISMAL SWAMP OF UTTER NEGATION, called atheism, 18 greatly exaggerated. They are to socicly what wacts are on a tree, and are m nbout the same proportion, Once im a while you ind @ man Who commits intellectual suicide, ana bola'y asserts Ms disbelief, but he is & monstrosity, never to be envied—aiways to be pitied. ‘there is @ tinge ol -atheism in modern science, but it will not outlast this inquisitive generation. It will undoubtedly be- come the strongest ally of true religion in the next century. Doubt always precedes fatth in a think- er’s history, and the doubt of to-day will certainly change Into a larger-and more rational faith to-mor- row. Young wen, there 18 no conditton of wind 60 deplorable and enervating as that of permanent doubt. Theman who doesnot believe In a Deity, who once made and who now governs the world, Nol as a despot, but us a wise and loving father, has no ticentive to virtue, and no power to resist temp- tation. I cannot paint too vividly the 1RITUAL HORRORS OF ATHEISM. ‘The man who dethrones God, always and of neces- enthrones passion and self, He who dges not iieve in the lnfinite Law.iver becomes a law unto hhnseif, and is ripe for the commission of any crime, Black darkness stares such a one in the face, and the present has no value, and the future has ne hope. The o!d motto says, “Let us eat and drink, for to-mor- row we die.’ Only once in history have we seen the principles of atheism embodied in the jaws and con- trolung the sentiment aud usages of society, In France, when the nation throbbed with the anguish of adreadtul revolution, and when the people liad run mad and anarchy prevailed everywhere, the estabiisned forms apd faiths of the Church were rudely laid aside and a poor abandoned woman mibol of the people’s spiritual condition. anarchy and disorder resulted, ‘The nation Was compelled to go back to the old faith before peace could be restored, Now, though there is little speculative atheism in the world, there are too many men in Whose lives there 1s no living fait in a present Deity. I you pass logically from the Chrisuian iaith to a life ta which it is perfectly re- presented, from the theoretic to an embodied belief in Deity, what heroism and faithfuimess, what calin endurance and symuiciry of soul you discover. But if you take most of OUR LIVES JUST AS THEY STAND, with all their shortcomings, weaknesses and even crimes, ana deduce from them the faith, or want of faith, Which would naturally preduce them, you meet wiih a practical atheism in society which bodes no good, In politics, 1 trade, in the professious, in fashionabte circles, noi true religion, but a sham re- liglon, reigns; not @ quickening faith in a God whose law is supreme, bu a sort of hair belief tiat the whole theory of religion is on uncertain foundations, ‘This 13 the danger, against which [ would warn you. Beeve with your whole soul. Ifyou doubt, find your way out into higher truth. Make your faith in God the foundation of yeur character, and thea your life will be beautifal and your future hopeful. PETER’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Parente and Chiidren—Sermoun by Uishop Loaghlin, This elegant and commodious church was yester- day at morning service crowded to its utmost ca- pacity by a devout though fashionable congregation. It having been announced that the learned and highly esteemed Bishop of the diocese, the Rignt ST. Rev. Dr. Loughlin, wouid preach, a large number of peopie from other parishes at- tended. After the usual services, which were rendered very impressively, the Bishop ascended the pulpit and preached earnestly and eloquently. ‘The text was taken from the Gospel of the day— Luke il, 1-6. Beginning with an examination of the text, the venerable gentleman remarked thaf the subject of hts discourse would be more particularly dtrected to the exposition of the duties of parents toward their children, to themselves and to God, There was no especial reason, he said, to urge these duties on the congregation he was addressing, the noble work they Were carrying on in the paris de- mionstrating that they needed NOI REPROOF, BUT ENCOURAGEMENT. Yet too much could not be said in impressing on the minds of parents that they had duties to per- form of vast importance—duties which they nev could neglect or abandon, and for the proper di arge of which Ged would hold them to a strict ac- count. He would first consider what were the duties ol parents to God. No matter what good we may accomplish here, if we perish ourselves all 1s lost as favs we are concerned, And that we may save ourselves we must, while inculeating tnto the minds of the young correct principles, set sucu an exam- ple to them by our daily walk and con- yersation as will bring us near to (od, aod at the same tine draw the litte ones to his feet. God himself estabiished the reta- tions between ‘parents and children, Parents are the agents for bringing the children into the worid, bul they belong to God, and he will exact an ac- count of the manner in| which they have becn trained and brought up. And besides TUE DUTY PARENTS OWE TO GOD, their Father, they owe a duty to themselves and to the community at large. 1t may properly be stated that a aen’s duly begias when, before marriage, be selects his partner for life. The Church expects the co-operation of parents m the education of the cnildren, so tat their hearts and minds be inouided im the right form and that God may be giorified. Hence the Importance of making @ proper selection be.ore marriage. If both husbaud aud wile are indifiereai—i one of them is pot a Catholic—how will the children be educated in the ay? The chiidven are the lov med ones and heirs of heave ifed them uuned parenis owe than tat they muni if fuila by example as well as precept in tralning tls cnildren he cannot expect that they wiil refiect by their conduci ia after te credit upon him and bea dies MAN'S DUTY TO U1 properly perforined, is his ¢ the community. cohfession you must go orable, temperate and vir tues; mily and to lid to go to You want it vo be ion- 1ous, You must yourseif A. go Your exainple will eps of we child, leading in the path of godliness and warning him of the snares ind pitialis of the world, The family ts the foundation. ag tt were, of scot, aud when faml- cl to ther children aud tie com | are pure and soctety will also be pure, ‘This 18 a fratn to lice ens Chureh 18 tully altve, That the family and the community may be filled with faith and Kindled with love for the Saviour It is necessary that the children should be early taught and trained in the right way. With this object and for this purpose the Church 1s here and everywhere working with zeal for the establishment of schools, The work in this 18h has been most gratifying. Figce.aa nrecent visit to the largo sehool connedked ence on A recent VI e connect with the church, and sald that HB WAS MORE THAN PLEASED, Tho school was under the direction of the Sisters of Oharity and the Franciscan Brothers, the former | having in charge the instruction Of the girls and the latter that of the boys’ department. In the school may continue to prosper it will have to be liberally supported. Judging by their exertions in the past he had no fears for the future. After paying a high compliment to the parishioners of St, Peter's for their zeal and ilberality in every good cause the Bishop brought his discourse to a close, Father Franciola then from the altar addressed the congregation on several subjects appertaini i ee aiter which the service was brought acl Me CHURCH OF ALL SOULS. Civil and Religious Liberty—Sermou by’ Rev. Dr. Bellows, The fine, crispy weather which prevailed yester- day had a remarkabiy good offect upon the frequent- ers of the above church. Hundreds flocked from all quarters, and before the commencement of devo- tional exercises the church was fliled to tts utmost capacity. The fashion and respectability of the metro- polis wero worthily represented by the large assem- biage present, whose elegant and appropriate toilets were in harmonious Keeping with the sudden but agreeable change in the atmosphere. After the usual preliminary devotional exercises the Rev. Dr. Bel- lows preached a sermon, taking his text from Psalms, and proceeded to discourse upon the spread of Purl- tanism and the advancement of CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY throughout the country. In referring to the religious freedom throughout the land and the numerous blessings which attended it, he showed the great advantages which were to be derived from a repub-+ Itcan Jorm of government, America had raised the standard of liberty, aud her example must soon be rollowed by the civilized world. European nations had long been oppressed by MONAROMICAL TYRANNY and despotism, and the people were thereby de- parse of the grand and noble privileges whica a ree and independent administration insured. After having commented at considerable length upon the great diffusion of religious sentiment throughout the land, he went on to state that Mexico and South America would one day, under proper rue, enjoy the civil and religious freedom that prevailed in the United States. He then alluded to the triumph of John Calvin and the VIGOROUS AND UNFLINCHNG ADHERENCE of his followers to the cause which he advecated, and in connection therewith poimted out the great reiigious advantages which resuited from the untir- ing energy of a noble and independent mind, Reference having beem also made to the freedom which the press in this country enjoyed, the reve- rend gentleman concluded his eloquent discourse by commending to the carnest attention of the con- gogauion the glorious benetits of universal religious ecdow, West FI’ THIRD STREET BAPTIST CHURCH. Tho Mystery of Godliness—Dedication Ser- vicesSermon by Rev. W. H. Pendleton. The new Bapust church on West Fifty-third street, having but recently been completed, divine service was held there yesterday for the first time, The Feast of Dedication and memorial services con- nected with the opening of the new house of wor- ship took place dwring the week, and were attendea and assisted by all the shining lights of the Baptist Church. Yesterday the new edifice was dedicated, and @ large number of persons were in attendance. The new building is in the NORMAN GOTHIC STYLE of architecture, and is seventy feet wide by 100 deep. The entire front of the building is composed of the stones that served the same purpose ia Dr. Cheever’s church, which formerly stood at the corner of Union square and Fifteenth street. ‘The stones were all numbered end removed to the new loca: tion, where they were erected in the same form. The structure 1s adorned with two towers, one of which on the east corner regches an attitude of 110 fect and the other eighty-tive feet, THE INTERIOR of the new edifice Is very beautifal indeed. The pews, galleries and all the other wood work Is of solid black walnut, of elegant finish and graceful design, The platform on which the pulpit rests extends from the back wall thirteen fect, and is butit of black walnut aud elegantly carpeted. At the back of the platform, behind the pulpit, there is an open bap- ustry, having two entrances, on either end, from whi marble steps and screens lead down to the basin. The baptisiry 1s surmounted by an arched and pedimented canopy, supported by twenty columns of different variegated marbles. The churc seat 1,000 persons, and in its general construction and arrangement is equal to any in tne city. The services were opened with prayer and the singing of the 111th hymn, after which there was THE SERMO: by the pastor, Rey. William H. endleton, who took for bis text—‘‘And confessediy great is the mystery of godliness” (I. Timothy, ili, 16), These words, said the reverend speaker, liave not been inaptl called the magnificent form of an apostolic creed. They preiace one of the most comprehensive pas- sages in ali the Word of God—a passage comprising Within its brief compass several fundamental arti- cles of the Christian taith, it comprised the prin pal articles of evangelical beliet, and was acon- densed system of divinity, m which the several doc- trines of Christ are revealed. The great char- acter of Jesus Christ was acknowledged and His mystical divinity § proven. ‘The Gospel is frequently deciared to be a mystery, and 1 1s disclosed for our belief, simply on the faith of its divine origin. First among the Gospel truths the apostle places the divine incarnation, which 1s one of the fundamental trutis upon which the doc- trine of Christ must rest or fail. Here the speaker produced many arguments to prove the divinity of Christ, and was of the opinion that every thinking man would come to the conclusion He was divine— a perfect God anda perfect man. When the stone was rolled from the sepulchre and the crucified Jesus rose to lile it ratified His claims to divinity, and we are taerefore forced to the conclusion that He was either the Sp RaAaNG? TAKEO STON that ever lived? or else that ke was the dear and well-beloved Son of God. He spoke of the treatment these truths received at the hands of men. They were rejected on account of their mysterious characier, and the same argu- ment is advanced by modern sceptics in regard vo the incarnation, which is the revelation on which all others rest. This dented, ant Christianity sinks into a grave from Which theve is no resurrection, All true RELIGION MUST COME FROM GOD, and He must be manifest in it. In our reasonings our starting point is oursely but, as we know not our own origin, reason can give no answer, and tis natural religion can never raise the soul above the doubts. and perplexiiles into which Is plunged. ‘Yhe conclusion therefore is that there is a higher reveaied religion coming from God, founded on divine revelation, and if from God is mysterious, for God himself 1s a mystery. in con- clusion, he said, these truths, being divine, became infallible, and to renounce them because they were mysterious would be to return to chaos. We should jet our faith in them increase, and show it by our love for Christ, THE PRAYER OF DEDICATION was then offered by Rey. A. G. Palmer, D. D., who prayed long and earnestly for the success of the object for which the church was bnilt—to bring sinners to Christ. At the conclusion of the prayer the dedicauon hymn, beginning 0, bow Thine rnal One! ‘On Thee our heart adoring calls; ‘To Thee the followers of Thy Son Here raised, and now devote these walls, was sung, and, with a blessing from the pastor, the services ended. CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY. “Behold there Standeth One Among You Whom Ye Know Nov”’—A Sermon by the Rev. U. T. Tracy. ‘The odd, straggling, cosey structure dedicated to the worship of God, and dear to a fashionable con- gregation, known as the Church of the Holy Trinity, sermon by the Rev. U. P. Tracy. The music at this church is, perhaps, as finely rendered as at any place of worship in the city, being under the direc+ tion of the famous organist, Mr. Henry Eyre Brown, and the list of singers includes Miss Amanda M, Wells, soprano; Miss Mary £. Hance, contralto; Mr. Weeks, tenor, and Mr. Thomas, basso. The sclec- tion yesterday was particularly fine, including an epening voluntary extempore, Brown; ©! Patria, chant; Bonn ket, 41, Menaeissohn; hymn 41, | conclusion @ voluntary upon the organ from the D minor quartet, fhe Rev. Mr. Tracy said Uiat Christ came to si man from the punishment which he had justiy merited by bis sins, Man was weak and suffering temptations on every hand, but God was merciful, and it was from that iniiniie wercy that He seu His son on earth TO REDEEM THE WORLD. Jesus came to us in Bernlehem in the guise of tho poorest and saddest of cue race, having un inex- pressiple 10’ us which coyered us with its glory aud its protecting light. Buc we must walk in that light, we must feel (ue Lafueace of that love, and was well filled yesterday afternoon to listen to a | NDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1870.-TRIPLE SHEET, coming. light sbining upon yess and pious teen centur fea te fuminos the ates through ich we must enter heaven, and tt reveals the darkness ofthe nether depths, Tne reverend Speaker con- cluded with an eloquent exordiam to heare rs, beseeching them to seck the way of cternal life. ST. ANN’S CHUR' Lecture by the Rev. Thomus 8S. Preston on Indulgences. St. Ann’s Catholic church was crowded last even- ing by an attentive congregation, who were present for the purpose of hearing Father Preston's promised lecture on Indulgences, ‘Tho reverend gentieman made his appearance at ten minutes to elght o’clock and spoke for an hour and ®& quarter on the subject with earnestness, ability and eloquence. Before entering, however, on the matter set down for discourse ne stated that the collection to be taken up in the evening would be for the beneflt of tue new church, and he hoped those Present would give large contributions. He assured them that they would have larger accommodations in the new edifloe than they had in the old church, where they had so often prayed and worshipped. The new church would be dedicated on the 1st of January. The Archbishop will officiate on that occasion, and also preach the deticatory sermon, at haif-past ten o'clock in the morning and tn the evening, at vespers, the Bishop of Brooklyn 1s to address the congregation, He (Father Preston) hoped to give his next series of lectures in the new church, where ho would give them Jarger accommo- dations, and he theretore hoped they would assist him, 1 making thetr contributions accordingly. BLESSING THE BELLS FOR THE NEW CHURCH, Father Preston also announced that on Wednes- day evening next, at hall-past seven o'clock, the Archbishop would oMiciate in this, church at the blessing of the bells for the new church, SERVICES FOR CHRISTMAS DAY. ‘The first mass wili be at six o'clock, and there will aiso be masses at seven, eight, uine and half There past ten o'clock, the last being a high mass. will be no vespers on Christmas Day, but last is to close with benediction of the Holy Sacr: Father Preston then entered upon the subject of the eveniug’s lecture, He read from the sixteenth chapter of >t. Matthew, nineteenth verse—''W hatso- ever thou shalt bind on earth shall aiso be boun! Heaven, and whatsvever thou shail joose on ear shail also be loosed in He: ‘The subject upon which he was to speak to-night wad one that Was much misindersiood by thos? who did not belong to the Catholic Church, and even there were Catholics who did not fully appreciate that Most consoling doctrine on which he was now to address them, If he were to attempt to remove ihe misunderstandings of Protestants on this doctrine— the doctrine of indulgences—it would be labor in vain. ‘hey had heard itsaid from chiidhood that the Cathohe Church granted iuduigences to comutt sin, thougn they might not have thougat it worth while to reply to Such calummics, There were men in Ue INTELLIGENT CITY OF NEW YORK who believed that. A geutlemanin New York had said to him, “Your Gharch grants indulgences to commit sin.” He (Father Preston) looked at him as if he was not in earnest, ay he did not like to in- sult him by letting him suppose that ne con- sidered him in earnest; put he found that the gentle. man was really in earnest in stating that the Catholic Church granted indulgences on the payment of a certam price. He was told bya Protestant clergyman that Le had seen a bricf with some person, granted by the Catholic Church, in which the power of committing sin was given for the sum of filty collars, (This statement caused almost every person 1m the congregation to sinile.) If there was any one person so lar deceived that any religious denommation claiming morality could teach such a doctrine ws that—if there was any one person in New York who thought that the Catholic Church granted indulgences to commit sia, all he could say ‘Was that such persous were inexcusable for their Iz. norance. He would show what induigences were— that the Church had power to grant them—and he would answer objections agains the doctrine. He would begin by telling them what indulgences were not and what they were. They were not a permis. sion to couimit sin, He need not say that to any Catholic, and he ought not vo be obliged to say it to apy Protestant, God had not the power to COMMIT SIN, and, therefore, could not will a contradiction. He could not will for @ moment that any one should disobey His law. Indulgences were not a liberty to cominit sta. They had nothing whatever to do with the remission of sins. Sims were to be remitted according to the Word, which said, Whose sins you remit, they are remitted.” God himself could not forgive a sinner who was not penitent. Induigences could not remit the slightest venial sin. It was not in their scope to touch fle sligiitest veniat sin, ‘They could only deal with sins that were for- given, An indulgence was the removal of the punishment due to forgiven in the sa- crament of penance. No man coud go before Almighiy God withont having rendered’ flim the greatest satisfaction for the sus comuutted since lus baptism. An indulgence Was the remtssioa, wholly or in port, of the temporal punishinent due to sin after it was forgiven, and the Church had power to remit thattemporal punishment on certain coudi- ons, and 80 remove the temporal punishment due to the sin forgiven. IN THE BARLY CHURCH & was then necessary, as the Church consis verts trom paganism and idolatry. Jewish law God demanded ments and expiations for. sins; aud so under the new law, The Church demanded tat tose who sinned grievously should do penance and suiler punishment for their sins. There was then public coniession and public penance for cer- tain sins, which obliged persons to be absent from mass and prostrate themselves at the dours of the church, to fast and put on sackcloth and ashes for a number of days. The reverend gentleman then went on to show how the temporal punisiment due to forgiven sins could be remitted. They were 1 of con- Under the certain —pont=h- RUMILTED BY PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD, fasting, alms deeds and other good works. Ie quoted various texts of Scripture in support ot his views; he could iso, he said, quote the writtgs of the fathers m favor of the dov- trines of indulgences as iaia down by the Catholic Chureh, and, in conclusion, ably answered those who said that indulgences interfered with the direct merits of Christ. It could not be an interference With the merits of Christ when the priesthood of the Catholic Church sought to apply the graces of Christ to the healing and salvation of meu’s souls, LYRIC HALL. The Pilgrim’s Progress from Engiand to New England, trom the Past to the Pre- sont, nad from the Indifferent to the Dif- ferent—Sermon by the fev. 0. DB. Broth. iughum. A multitude of Christians and a sprinkling of pagans were congregated in Lyrle Hail yesterday to listen to the sermon of the Kev. Mr, Frothingham, There were among them many beautiful women and many bearded men, ali admirers of the famous divine, Miss Gibbs, the beautifW ana clear-voiced soprano; Mr. Haws and Sir. Clapp, sang WONDERFULLY WE and Mrs. Hopper presided at the organ with her usual grace, The musical ton was as follow: “Hear Our Prayer,” irom the Kyrie; “Farmer's Mass) Pants the Hi for Cooling Streams,’ from Franz, by & Jackson; hymn 665, and air from “Alel,’?? by Vole, Among those present during the service was’ Dr. (Rabbi) Isaac Wise, of the Jewish tabernacle, Cincinnati, The Rev. Mr. Frothingham sat I spoke last Sunday morning on the elements of character. I propose to speak this morning on an episode of history. wo aundred and fifty years ago one hundred aud two persons landed at Plymouth, Where they proposed to practise tieir religion unawea by power and un- lufiuenced by terror. These persons had first axen A REFUGH IN HOLLAND, of December for America, where they arrived on the lith of November, They sen’ out expeditions from Cape Cod, where they landed, to tie Southern coast, and finally on the 2ist of December—we celebrate the 2d—they setiied in the harbor of Plymouth, Receiving additions from time to lume they Snally reached 21,000 ta aumber. Th the immigration trom the mother country om. itis safe to say at this day that one-third of enlire population of the United States may tra origin to these 20,000. ‘THE FRENCHMAN De equeville discerned tie infuence of these peop) all the institutions of the country. ie sat it extended first turougi neigavormg states and then to more remote ones, ull it tiaally per- | Ideuted and tnduenced al. is ikauence was t iy ft their numbers, for they were few; not fr their knowledge, because tiey were uneducated Success came from their earnestness and ther tn dustry. THEY WERE, TOILE iey had been farmers and artisans; foliowed the ludtstries of Une coun they relied upon their muscle. it wturday afterngen they lauded, and Jn England In Holland the try; in Ameri was steric lauds, to t lds. ONE B Tt ean give to ev children eight dotlars dnd eight a dollar to every one of the thousand millions of human beings upon the globe. {nm these days stock Obbing, old gambiing aud las other specigus 'y one Of It wom wnd there was @ severe and exact disciplin>, which | | but finally left the shores of (hai country on the 6th | e Was Christmas, but on that day iiey worked unceasingly. 7 built & block house | vo guard et the attacks of the Indans, and then they t the jorests and bles at the touch, Maing German, tt crum~ ‘THE PECULIARITY OF THE Pri was not that they were Calvinists, “Their religion Was a spiritual one, ‘They took the sacrament out of the bread and wine; they made holy no altar; they consecrated no church nor man; Yuey moaé elr ground holy by holiness; THEY MARRIED WITHOUT A pRresr, and thoy buried their dead without a prayer, In their earilest coming they founded Harvard, and Hpcmade anoviee advance when they gave birth to the public schools where every child might learn, Still the Pilgrims were not models of charity, Per- haps the finest specimen of the New England typa to-day—the man of rarest virtues and ot reat self-sacrifice—is one of the most bitter aud intole- rant of reformers—the persecuted, and not alwaya last to persecute, CHURCH OF ST PAUL THE APOSTLE. Sermon by Rev. Father Spencer on True Happiness. Inthe above named edifice the usual numerous throng of worshippers assembled at half-past tem yesterday. High mass was celebrated by Father Lake, while the chotr rang out the solemn strains of the Kyrie, Glorta and Credoin a very impressive manner, ‘The sermon was of the same philosophical charac- ter a3 those usually delivered by the Paulist Fathers, ‘The preacher discussed the remarkable question of happmess, which bas attracted the attention of philosophers im every age. He contended througuout that since no happiness coula be true and real except 1t were enduring, the per- ishable goods and pleasures of thiyworld cannot constitute the object of happiness, and that God alone 18 the object of true joy. The text was the words, “He that 1s blessed ou the Earth 1s blessed also in God.”” Low 13 it, observed the speaker, that, notwi tanding the general pursult of happiness on the part of 10rtals, so iew find 1t? Because they seek Not the true object of happiness—they look for i in the multiplictiy of things, instead of concen- trating weir d on the one highest God, who is from the beginning, the esseuce of all beauty and perfection, tie vast sea and the overflowing FOUNTAIN OF ALL DELIGHT, Since this is indisputable onr next aim should be to determine the best means of finding Him. This we can do by endeayoriug to become perfect in our State, whatever itmay be. Christians may be «ii- vided Into thee classes—lay people, clerical and religious, The first and third classes are tne most numerous, yet the same maxim applies to cach. Perfection is not for tne clolster alone, Christ says to all of us, “Be ye theresore perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.’ The ancient Christians under- Stood this, and won tie admiration of the pagans. Kings, and warriors and men of every rank in by- gone tines by obey!ng thls mandate have been deco- rated with the immortal crown and recelved the sublime tle of saint. ‘dhe SO CALLED “DARK AGES’? have been iltumined by unnumoerea brilliant lights ol heroic sanctity, aud there is no reason why our age should not be like unto those, “The religeuse,’? says St. rnard, “finds perfection in becoming & living image of his crucified Master.’? The laity will find consolation in patiently bearmg thetr crosses, in casting aside the spirit of vanity and by deveut jauce at mass, by charity, mortification and y' Then wil their hearts be filed with a true , especially On Ciristmas morning, when they siiatl find that spiritual joy by far transcends ma- terial comfort, The preacher co-wluded by quoting abeauttial passaze, inspiring the same sentiments with which he bumself was imbued daring his dis. Cours, BROOKLYN CHURCHES, PLYMOUTH CHURCH. Another Dramatic Performance at Plymouth Church—A Sermon on the “Anatomy of Repentance,” with Illustrations of the Pathetic Side of Embezzlement and Drunks ennense The auccess attained and the fame derived by the introduction of Hght comedy by Mr. Beecher last Sunday nad, no doubt, its effect in counselling ite contunuance yesterday morning. Following the practice of successful theatrical managers, who run for a succession of nights a successful plece, Mr. Beecher will, no doubt, continue this histrionte style of instruction so long as @ crowded house aud & more intensified attention testify to the power of its charm over the auditory whom he addresses, Yesterday moraing he preached upon the ‘Anatomy of Repentance.” ‘This subject did not seem to afford him that opportunity for comico pantomime and risibie illustrations — that lighter themes of tuquiry had been 80 powerful in developing, but there was a saMclent margin for humor and embodied caricature of cer- tain phases of human life to provox’ a merriment that fan along the scale of sities to audible hearty laughter. The dire: appeals to consclence, the delineations that dlesected the frailtles of humanity sonakedly that the wicked man turned from the portratt of himself as A GUILTY THING SURPRISED, and the pathos that threw around the undying love ofa comely-faced sister for her gay and careless brother, a divine radiance that gave her a celestial beauty, were achievements in pulpit oratory that sent the tear trickling down manya cheek whose appearance and manner had previously indicated that they were present only ‘tor their weekly amuse- ment. The text selected whs the tenth verse of the sev- enti chapter of Panl's secon! epistle to the Corin- thians—“For godiy sorrow workellh repeutance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the worla worketh death.” The nomenclature of the Gospel had been great; misunderstood and the plainness of tts meaning pe: verted by the desire of the teachers of religion, poth mintsiers and laymen, to drill the people who were instructed by them fto theological views. That kind of instruction had not been without its benefit; for when a man had by lying faith been en- dowed with a renewed pature his knowledge or that which he did believe was pretty complete. Repent. ance was a thing in itself the most fanuliar, and one in which there seemed to be tue being iystified. Repentance process by which @& man going wrong, and by his and docs right. A number of simp.e illustra. tions were then giv by Mr. Beecher illustrative of the act of repentanee in the every day aitairs of common lite. The repent spoken of in the Bibte and in the text waa, however, different. ‘That re- pentance was put in a ,generte form; for in that we was simply finds when ‘he 1s repentance goes were cailed upon to repent fora whole Ife. The mode in which this r nance had been accustomed to describe and the Ulustrations used, as the conver- of the Christian truth had ion of this generic repent- sion of Paul, by leac added to th ance. The chers a8 every real conversion, The bad dr given inthe pulpit and the experien had a bad and erroneous idea of repentance. ‘Then there was another popular — erre It. sup; that a man who repented under the sertpiural idea of rej er ic 6O Under The direct Wuinence of the Spirit of gud therefore tt was expected that the mantfé repentance would be ng to the ordinary mode of Now tite actions that dowed from the f the Spirit of God w ne as those Which were taniics influences, and were not supposed to develop anything taat atzide Tie No: e of our faculties, ordinary case of repentance everyday Lule. young mult who comes to tae city from the tnfvebces of a well directed home, when he litst experiences THE PERMENCATION OF CURY LIFR and city con ship, begins to be ashamed of | his httle ceonoms ius innocence, ft mplicity j and kis tempera He has not the means to } do a3 others do, but he feels that he must | have the moans, and the means mist be found. Now, there is not ng at that moment some guuefnl devil wit ady enougta to suggest thar t Meas @ obtained by little borrowings, He scorns t which 1s not tits own; | 43 the month; but t the end of and he pat to take that 1 at toe end of at of tlie repayment | unto the end of the next. month. ane this } thing rger proportions unt! the fervor of the Jear of det comes upon hin and. he StUDS, tint alte otlce of economy perance he morning a note empioyer's ing iin to w principal forth het vd 20h Ung gpau Was sk . AlMest 0 sf sister, the STULION OF thal Pesoiy minister were all dramacestiy vortraved by Mr vention of | Who, i id, Was hot of tat kind of gemaiity that | SPIUKS OF CANDY | that stana erect in tarabler sses tO display (heir ¢ | sWeetiess, bat of th k of = geniait 4 | bility iat « sed itself everywhere, sugar in tea witek swectened it, bay you | know where tii . Biiliard pla | drinking that tui comviviallly of ge i Hyp, (he contraction vf habits of dissipa- | as,