The New York Herald Newspaper, October 23, 1871, Page 4

— 4 RELIGIOUS. The Services at the Churches and the Eloquence of the Pulpit Yesterday. More Moral Lessons on the Chicago Fire. Collections in the Catholic Churches. Dr. Newman on the Power of Great Cities. Mr. Talmage on Municipal 227 National Stealing. Resignation of Dr. 740upsun, of the Broadway Tabernacle, Dedication of Madison Avenue Re- formed Church. Germons by Drs. Chapman, Newman, Merrill Richardson, Bishop of Georgia; Fathers McAuley, MeNerney and Nash; the. Revs. Henry Ward Beecher, A. F. Curry, Talmage, David Moore, dr, and C,H. Mann. MADISON AVENUE REFORMED CHURCH. Dedicatory Services—Sermon by the Rev, MH. PD. Ganse—Prayer by the Rev. Dr. De Witt Addresa by the Rev. Chancellor Ferris—The Beauty of the Lord—Dwelling in the House of God—Descripiion aad History of the Charch, The graceful new church edifice at the corner of Madison avenue and Fifty-seventh street was dedi- cated yesterday. The corner-stone was laid in May, 1870, and the walls have slowly risen until the tem- ple stands to-day A MONUMENT OF BRAUTY AND TASTE. It is built Of a soft-tinted sandstone and In the medieval Gothic style. There are pinnacled towers at the angles and over the facade, and a tal, graceful spire rises from the iront of the pile, pointing up to heaven. The whole seems tothe eye astriking embodiment of fitness and strength, The interlor is not less beautiful; the nave is lofty, with groined arches, but is not sup- ported by pillara, so that the view over the whole of the auditory is unobstracted. The roof and wails are colored in subdued and mellow tints, The chancel is filled by @ beautiful organ and choir, immediately in front of which 18 the pulpit, Pulpit and pews are of biack walnut, upholstered with warm-hued textures; and the aisles are car- peted with rich carpets of the same character. The whole is one of the most attractive and im- pressive interiors that are very often produced by the art of the architect. The auditory yesterday morning was completely wet ia tne Hils venerable tron gray hairs and feeble utierance, with lis cuaracter as one of the fathers of the church, made the impression uliarly deep and emotional. He was followed y the Rev. Dr. Ferris in a short address, A collec- tion was then made for the sufferera in the burned town of Holland, Mich., whose founders had emi- Gun from Holland, and were members of the uteh Church, The ladies of Dr. Ormiston's con- Sekine are super.ntending the collection of jothing to be sent to the same place, 8T. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, Aid for the Chicngo Sufferers—Charity To- wards Our Neighbor—Sermon by the Rev Father McNerney. There was, as usual, a large attendanes A the cathedral, not only at the last mass, bus lng the morning services, additions’ Le wimptoge ters taken by the several congrase’2ve from the fact that collections were to ™. made in aber Chicago sufferers,» Tt woather was exceedingly cheerful, and the apresrance of the interior of the por \maposing and picturesque as pare i 4@ genial sun shot tbrongn the handsomely Stained windows of the edifice. was commenced at half-past ten o’clook, the nev Father Kearney officiating as celebrant. At che termination of the first Gospel the Rev. Father. MeNerney ascended the pulpit and preached an ex- haustive se-mon, Before entering, however, on the regular discourse of the day the reverend gentle- man earnestly reminded the congregation thata collection would be taken up for tne alleviation of the sufferings of those who had been victims of the #ad disaster in Chicago. The people had lost a ca- thedral anda church which had not been wholly completed. They had lost besides six or seven eburches; they had lost their Orphan Asylam; they had lost their Convent of Mercy, an institution which had so fatthfull; fended to the wants of the needy; the clergymen had lost their residences; lives had been lost, and, as ali knew, thousands had been lelt HOUSELESS AND PENNILESS. The contributions to be given by the congregation would be sent to the Bishop of Chicago himself, who would doubtless see they would be properly distri buted. He conctuded a very eloquent and pathetio appeal by trusting that the proceeds would be large and the contributions gencrous in order to bring the necessary comfort and consolation to many ol the aMlicted. ‘he reverened gentleman took his text from the gospel accoraing to St. Matnew, xvill., 23- 85, describing the parable of a certain lord who would take account of his servants, One was brought onto him who owed ‘him ten thousand talents, The lord being moved by the servanvssup- pitcations forgave him the deot, The same servant ‘went ont and founda one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pence, but being unabie to pay he was cast into prison. His fellow servants seemg what was done told thei: lord, woo called the servant to him, saying, “0, thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all tnat debt, be- canse thou desiredest me; shouldst not thon also have compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee.” ‘Ihe Lord being wroth, deliv- ered him to the tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto Him, The reverend seatemen. proceeded to state that man should treat his neigh- bor with charity from MOTIVES OF GRATITUDE for wnat had been done for him by God. The Heavenly Father appealed to mankind as none other could appeal, and in accents that belonged to none other *Shouldst not thou have had compas- sion on thy fellow servant evea as I had compassion on thee,” What answer could be made to an ap- 1 of this nature? Could mankind refuse and come guilty of base ingratitude? The appeal was made in the name of God wno cr’ ‘ed us, in the name of God who redeemed us. ia the name of God wno had done everything to sceure for mankind eternal salvation. No sironacy or more solid proof of His love for men could be given than this, They were exhortea to pardon their neighbor. They were invited to give to. God what man refused to man. The Lord exnorted man to pardon because of the example which He himself had given. How many sins had He not pardoned Tan, and why should not man on others? Besides, what was the nature of the grievance of which man complained? Perhaps a slight word of sarcasm or a simple musunderstanding. From these or similar causes olten arise the greatest CONFUSION AND DISCORD. There might be real injary sometimes; honor and reputation were often malictously attacked; but, NEW YORK ‘HERALD, MONDAY, even 80, was there anything to compare in all this With the outrages offered to God in all His majesty? His name was Diasphemed, His authority ge ell @nd His Providence ignored and ridiculed. ere filled by the congregation, excepting a few seats in the galleries. In the puip:t, beside the pastor, the Rev. H. D. Ganse, were two venerable ministers, the Rev. Drs. De Witt ana Ferris. Both had grown old in the ministry of the Reformed Church, and their presence seemed especially impressive at the dedicatton of this new edifice to the future worship of men and women, most of whom were lat younger than themselves. THE SERVICES were opened by an invocation, after which was sung the grand old Hymn of *Coronation.” The Rev. Mr. Ganse preached from the text,P salms xxvil., One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I see! that I may dwall In the house of the Lord all the days of lire, to bebold the beauty of the and to Inquire temple. For in the time of trouple paviuton ; im the secret of His tabernacle shall Hie'sbat! set mo upon a Foek. Tuis passage the reverend preacher applied to the present occasion 1n AN ELABORATE AND ELOQUENT DISCOURSE. He had selected these words of David, which were uttered a thousand years before Cnrist was born; but he dia not think ne had in 80 doing made & mis- take. ‘fhe only difference iu the worship of the Ola ‘Testament and that of the New was in the ritual, not tn the hearts of the worstippers. | 1t was remark- able how few and slight are the allusions to ceremo- nials in the Book of Psalms, These songs written by David, to be sung mm the midst of the smoke of sacrifice, yet have such & simple purity that they night have been the utterances of Paul. There are Lot a few passages where ‘A FERVOR OP LIGHT felt by that anctent worshipper 1s fearlessly ex- preased. However completely it may be an expres- sion of the religious feeiing of one who dwelt under the old dispensation, I think there i no text more appropriate for to-day. The nouse of te Lord was not dependent upon place, It was everywhere wnere He was. We re- member the vision of Jacob—how he saw the white angels ascenaing avd descending between heaven aod the earth, and that the patriarch afterward esteemed (nat be as holy ind and as the temple of God. Inthe days of David there was a mighty light that glowed between the cherabim tn the veinple. It inspired tho awe that should dwell upon the mind in @ sacred place. But in the New Testament no sach incentive to worship is men- Uoned and tt is not needed. We have THF OVYPOURING OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD 1n its place. There is now no special Zion or Jeru. saiem where God records His name. But in the tiouse of God a8 tt 1s to-day God the Father lends a listening ear to our worship, Here Jesus intercedes for us. Here descends the Holy Ghost, first to in- spire and then vo answer the petitions of men. The delight which the inteiligent worstup of God orings to the inteliect was expressed iu the words “to behold THE BBAUTY OF THE LORD." The Hebrew saw the operation of the divine law, thougt he could not so well comprenend the mys- tery of the universe as we. But he saw all, and asking for the solation he got the answer, which suMiced for bis heart worship—God! And that is 18 necessary to any intelligent worship. Science can only avow its own weakness and pov- erty, for there is no need of further knowledge. ‘The heart ries out for something more than sclence to bulid apon and only finds it in God and love. There are sorrows which no buman breast is 1a1 enough to contain, when the heart seeks for God, the Father whose help imparts @ stronger manit- ness, while under the tncreased buraens of life it gives us @ stro! friendliness, This ts the chief part of the thought expressed in the text—tne beauty of holiness, How real, How near and now lender was THE LOVE OF THR COVENANT-KREPING GOD! To us how muen wearer and tenderer when at the Jeet of the Saviour we grow stronger and better, and still with Our prayers draw nesrer aod nearer. We need but the lapses of @ fey waens to taeutty ‘hese very walls with tass beauty of the Lord. venderness i it peach id ‘in is ‘eshall bide me in His ‘That divine autnorty, and love siiall here. bi I of the Lord snall by and by out from walls and rafters; every within of my eye may commemorate It as do the Serf 5 and the whole place Co be crowded with the asso- clations and memories of joy. The truth is best \lentifed with practical lie In @ habitual resort to ee of God. we Gomi, feces Lees but can Ey ba premetne ng to come co God's Temple, Ln this there is security. ” THE FUTURE to Pye and to me—if God suffers these walls to stand od us thus t abide under this roof—will bring ex- perience of which we scarcely now can dream. and old shal) meet here, marnee, in days of trouble, and find Davia’s comfort in the spiritual meaning of the text. In the days of temptation from the outer world, which ts s0 near and ever marshals {ts hosts to attack to conquer the soul of life, what so Tully protec: the house of God? We have an assurance of heaven which cannot de- ~— ih A.TLEDGE OF HELP AND GRACE. Home bey A cold to many @ heart, but in God's promises We shall 1nd refnge from all sorrow and irom ail , When old age comes and nearing death, to whom time id saddens, earth! le will bea fiting gateway the piritual = The reverend man then sketched briefly as fol nad early ached th ver as foliows:—It had nearly re: e cenvenuial of its birth. Formerly it had been known ua the Northwest Reformed Protestant Dutch churon, but in 1808 had separated from the mother iechurch. The congregation worshi mn Front iia) oer upul ps, wi wu ‘West Twe he Btreet, 1m 1860 it in tion Hall, and about Catt ure & tion in the Madt- . Gause Olling removed w the middie prey tne venerable Dr. Adams hangs for # while with his gon square Presbyterian church, the papi. The Rev. Dr. De Witt offered a DEDICATORY PRAYER in extremely touching language, whica loft many was the golden rule of charity laid down by the Saviour himself, But, to bring the matter snl nearer home, let him who harbored feelings of re- sentment against his neighbor enter into the secret recesses of his own heart. How many faults, how Many crimes nad God already pardoned him? How many faults had he of which he still looked for pi don? Under such circumstances, coula man wit! hold paraon from his neighbor? Did not a voice whisper in his heart ‘I forgave thee ali thy crimes Decause thou desiredest it? Should not thou also have compassion on thy fellow servant, even a8 I had compassion on thee?’ Thou showid EMD TRIE WARNING and take to heart the words of God, whose example ‘of mercy was given to the world. Let men be mer- ciful to their fellow men. And forgiveness must come from the heart, Man mi Bay prayers, make supplications and sacrifices if vain; for God would not extend mercy to those who were unmerciful. Let there be charity in men’s. bh for the love of God, and love for their neighbor for the love of God, a 3 would not fall to bring consolation and eter- nal bliss. At the conclusion of the sermon the service was resumed. The mass sung was by Generali, in 0 jor. The first portion of the “Gloria” is very Drijiant, with a beautiful organ accompani- ment. “Et Incaruatus,” in the wee & fine terzetto for soprano (Mme. Chomé), enor (Mr. Groschel) and baritone (Mr. Urcns), and was satisfactorily rendered. At the of- iron “0 Salutaris,” by Bassini, was sung by ime. Chomé with much expression. The ‘‘Sanc- tus’? and “Agnus Dei” performed were by Chern- bini. Professor Gustavus Schmitz presided, as usual, at the pate organ, and played a brilliant, though Po ive selection at the conclusion of the last pe! THE SWEDENBORGIAN CHURCH. ist’'s Death a: Resurrection—Seecking the Living Among the Dead—What ts Typified in the Crucifixion—Sermeon by Bev. C. H. Mann, of Orange, N. J. The pulpit of the Rev. Chauncey Giles, in the Church of the New Jerusalem, corner of Park avenue and Thirty-fifth street, was yesterday, during the absence of the pastor in Chicago, filled by Rev. C. Hi, Mann, of Orange, N. J., who took for his text Lake xxiv., 6-7:—‘‘Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but ts risen, Remember how He spoke unto you while He was yet in Galilee, saying the Son of Man must be delivered unto the hands of sinful men, and be crucified and the third day rise again.” THE RISEN LORD, said the minister, was the great theme of tne a@postie’s preaching. Christ, and him glorified, was thelrery. The book entitied ‘Acts of the Apostiea’’ commences with the great announcement, as the fundamental principle upon which they acted, that Jesus had shown himself alive after his crucifixion by many “‘infallible proofs.” The Lord’s resurrec- tion was ever regarded by his disciples as the great fact of His life. Paulalways preached Christ risea from the dead. Indeed, it was the doctrine of the Tesurrection that offended the Greeks at Mara’ Hil, It Js not nearly as much of CHRIST THAT DIED 4G CHRIST THAT ROSE ‘again that they wrote and preached. It was the Lord’s irlumpb over death that was especialiy preached for the comfort of men. From the risen Christ they argued the resurrection of the dead and hence the eternal Iie. The mi fr proceeded to describe the crucifixion, the bar! Tesurrection Sage Lord, and said that whe various phases of His ” _-YROM THE MANGER 10 THE GRAVE, are as so many stages of the journey whose goal Uiat described by John in Rev, te, 13-16, When we Titsearth ws present before ourselyen pletures of them in their glory. We d me seene 0 of Uneir childhood or inold e as the central dgare in which to as they are in manhood, in the their attainments, so ao w this how should we consid: take scene vent of their lives it them, bu! buge to the Se a seeking Carust where He not—for rega as CRUCIFIED RATHER THAN GLOR: He said, “Wh. moans 4c. The a et yy the cBaracter ws to wh, Waa subject. They looked Him as conquered ana” overthrown who triumphed over his enemies, Thus they as athoug men Him who is vor over. all The risen Lord rm haa alw: in the Christian Charch after The redorvecticn of the body, Aa the Lord was laid away in the tomb only rise 1 @ glorified body, so shouid we rise Aj fH ae ae means still rines higher aud spiritual lessons, To us natural di is a THE METHOD OF SPIRITUAL LivB. To us the Lord rises not from natural, but from sptritaal, death. So He assumed our nature, im- mersed in every form of evil tendency, and thus joined to the death of hell, eo He conquered it, and 08 triumphant over evil, Bat same kind that as 0 us as to Him; it means fe overpaie his assumed evils aid endured every temptation, and rose triumphant, 60 may we, in His strength, overcome our temptations and rise above our evils. It is @ most comforting doctrine to know that the TRIUMPH OF THE LORD OVER THR RVIL OF HELL means our redemption (rom the seisn afeotious of our unregenerated hearts, ‘The rebuke thas, 7° shoutd not seek the Lord among the dead, glory, applies to our reception of the Wore? our moues of life, and soevery motive opted actuates our’ spirits. | In all of ‘thes! tre of the Tiving Lord mean tha’ #6 Five above the jeath of the letier 10 TUE LIFE OF. B06 ip heared ‘appearances of material. {hat we trample the Brat we rise 10 the glories of ‘hich ts heavenly. | Such is the the realities of application of When men, “at AD angry Fatner the Nibie thee the doctring king theliving among the dead. fe have: . wi eeeking dicata old? Can his mother’s womb an caren ‘THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD, immersing in nataral truth; and when the. Lord answered, “Except ve born of water panes the sptrit he cannot cuter into the |." He was rebuking nil i thefiving among the dead, The minster gave sexe eral other illustrations of tnis point from Scrip. tures. We cannot have toogreat a on Of God’s triumph over evil, We should Ven atin the trine in its purity and st in, and recet heart, Th inthe true di ae of re‘lem| for WHEN THE LORD CONQUERED 1HEN ARB WE RE- DEEMED. This ts the first atep towards worshipping. arisen Lord. #4 4.8 ® When we ‘and & conquering. behold gach characteristics in the Lord, then, in our Struggles, shall we be tnapired with Tita strength; HIS GREAT ARM. ABOUT.OUR HRARTS; we shall secure from. His hand the sword that will enable us to attain the-victory. ‘The glory of wor- shtpping a risen head! Who'can estimate it? it fills the whole man; it permeates his spint and strengthens ‘its heart, From this temptations are endured: from this his trials are borne; from this sorrow has no power over him, and bis. struggles end tn a and triumph. The worship of arisen head! This is not. seeking the Irving among the dead; it is seeking life among life; it is looking for heavenly love where it may be found, and is the attainment of conjunction with the Lord, GRACE CHURCII. Sermon by the Bishop of Georgia—The Life and Character of Peter—Something About Impulsive Christians. The fashionable worshippers In this beautful tem- ple were treated yesterday to a sermon by the Rev. John W. Beckwith, the Bishop of Georgia, Tne usual services having been completed, the Bishop ascended the pulpit and announced as his text the words of Peter, when he was sinking in tne waves, “Lord, save me)”. After briefly alluding to the narrative in which they occur, he sald that there was nO more curious and instructive figure for Christian Study in sacred history than the apostle ‘whose bref prayer for help he had just read. Peter was the personification of. wnat might be called THE IMPULSIVE CHRISTIAN. His character was made up of the most startling contradictions. At one time he was carried away by impulses. of the most sublime generosity; at another he was a prey to the most miserable selfish- ness and meanness. Now he displayed the most ex- alted faith, and again he was utterly overwhelmed by douodt. In one hour he exhibited a courage that reached the degree of rashness, and in the next he ‘Was nervously timid. Judged by the ordinary stand- ards of the world, such a man would be regaraed as SINGULARLY UNRELIASLE— aman certainly not to be trusted in any great en- terprise, Yet Our Lord selected him specially from among the apostles to bo the most prominent igure in the early. Church. Why was thti?..Why did He not choose some one among His iollowers of greater steadiness and reilability? The answer lay tn the fact that Petet’s life asa disciple and Peter's career a8 the frst among the apostles were very different in character. In the first, the man was still growing; in the latter, we saw..the man, as he had developed into the ripeness of Matured moral and intellectual life. Between the two—dividing them the one from the othet—was Peter's terrible TEMPTATION AND FALL. Only a few nours before our Saviour. was hauled away to prison Peter had protested in terms of the most sincere devotion that though all men should forsake the Master yet would he remain faithfully by His side, Then came the answering prediction of our Lord that ere the cock crew he would deny Him thrice; the scene im the garden, where Peter, still under. the influence of his early enthusiasm and love for ‘tempted to resist His seizure by physt- nd, last, Peter’s temptation and fall and the bitter remorse that succeeded it. All through his after career the memory of thal hess was ever present to bis mind, he.sought to attest by the most exa!ted and_heroic sacrifices the sincerity of his repentance. When at last he wus calied upon to. die as @ martyr upon tne cross he requested his executioners to crucily him WITH HIS HEAD DOWNWARD, as he was not worthy tosuffer in the same way a his Master. After that one great fault he never wa- vered again in his allegiance to bis rignt, but perse- vered witlrout faltering tothe end, When we care- fully look back over his career we recognize the wis- dom of the Masterin making him the chief of tne Bposties, The men most needed then tn the Church, ‘and the men most needed to-day, as well, were men of zeal and earnestueas, who would devote their en- tire heart and soul and strength to the spreaa of the Gospel. Peter was perhaps the most perfect exam- ple that could be found of this SANGUINE AND ENERGETIC temperament, Unfortunately, however, men of abundant veal were frequently—almost neces- sarily: ly lacking in discretion. In selecting eter, therefore, Christ, doubtiess, wished to show hat most useful servants are the men who are most eager and anxious to do His work, and that even terrible and shameful sins, if sincerely re- ted of, would be completely forgiven. In the jatier part of Peter's life, however—in his career @8 BD apostie—the WEAKNESS AND INDECISION that marked him as a disciple were mainly counter- balanced by the WE and completeness of his faith. fhe hop then took up the story Of the text, and told bow the disciples, having set Out upon the sea by the Master’s order, and havin; been overtaken by the storm, were suddenly startled ay, presence of their Lord shining out from 1 aan of on night and the tom. est, Then, T reassuring words, by I; be mot afraid,” Peter, any character. istic exaltation of feeling, asked for to walk on the waves to the feet of uh mission ted, he set oat; bat soon the terrors that surrounded him mastered his faith, an d_ he be- gam tosink. How striking an iliuatration this was ‘Of a very common episote of the Christian life! Often the Lord allowed us to sink into the waves of doubt and fear, wnile our souls were alarmed at the risk of eternal wreck, and only rescued us when ‘we framed the prayer “Lord, save us!" The Bishop closed by an_ eloquent appeal to his hearers to take warning by Peter's fall, and example by his repent- ance and faith and noble works. NEW ENGLAND CONGZEGATIONAL CHURCH. mon ( tion of Babylon and the Burning of Chi- earo and the Lessons They Tench—{occn- diary Thieves and the Thieving of New York Office-Holders Compared—Sermon by Rev. Dr. Merrill Richardson. There was a large and deeply attentive congre- gation at yesterday morning’s services at the New England church, corner of Madison avenue and Forty-seventh street. ‘The sermon preached by Rev, Dr. Merrill Richardson, tne pastor, was one of unngual int and was listened to, as ail nis dis- courses are, with profoundly absorbing attention. His subject was MAN MORE PRACIOUS THAN GOLD, and the text from which it was evolved Isaiah xtii., 12—"1 will make a m&n more“precious than fine gold, even more than the golden wedge of Ophir.” He began with describing ancient Babylon, when ‘this city was, as he said, rich, haughty, oppressive: when the wealth of her princes and merchants was known over the world; when they coined their gold from the iife-blood of the people; when milliens tolled hopelessly that one might fare sumptuousiy. ‘What has been the resuitt In the pride of her power Babylon began to plunder other nations, and the result was her own destruction. She songht sti further to enrich herself, and at the expense of others. She lost all. God, in His provy- dence, taught ber that He would maxe aman more Precious than gold. Practically the chief men of Babylon had placed wealth above all ‘things else, To revel in luxury, to be clothed in purple and fine linen, to crowd every sénse to its utmost and make the world tributary to her resources of pleasure and the magnificence of her gilded palaces and gardens of art—this was her life. She scrupled at no means, Sne sacrificed her subjects. Now her banqueting halls were desertéd, the voice of revelry ceased joy gave plage to mourning and her vaunting king was reduced to the level Of the beasts of the field, The princes of this ancient proud city were mado to see that man was more Precious than gold. par A ee fide 8 ned Ha) shown jarati xt reael those rich ofties of the East, ho states that the oat PRINCIPLES OF GOD'S GOYKRNMENT are the same now asin the past. tn the ordinary course of our life God designa to make the tmpres- cel eeetasanerenain tine, man end not his this impression, whether the; bey y ‘War, pestilence, earthquake or fire, carelessness crime. orleans is by the same chi leas ing of che sun. As they trace the fire in Chicago to the breaking the destruction of ‘Troy to a vontest for a beautiful woman, ao cholera and plague are traced to foul cities, aud many diseases to man's vices, Here man's agency i@ the gully cause, rmission ist ‘The per- Such events are providential only as ti occur In Goa’s plan of life, Men are left free to act. God does not rorpene, to preveat snes | He lots mankind iearn by the results of ¢helr own toily and gin, He overtules evil for good. How easy we might say, God could nave stayed tne ravages of Lhose great and terrible OONFLAGRATIONS OF THE NORTHWEST. Why did He allow those of wind to blow at jase tte Er out at nan gered ntning way. fem thelr mavural course to kindle a fire or divert the flames from honse, or eity, or wood, or prairie. They go their endless rounds a8 season succeeds season, a3 night follows the day, fhe earth- quake did not come to shake San. Fran- cisco, It would have come it no city had been there. If your house'stands in the path of fire or tornado it ts: had been under lower would have been killed. All the great ol creation wil have their course, Man’s concern is to learn their nature, and, as far.as posstbie, guard agains: destruction. God Will not.repeal a natural law to save a man or a Nation, God has deeper de- aigns in His‘plan of itfe'than material good or tem- ry suffering. Foreseemng all losses and reverses pad a dusasters, he foresees alzo how they — vo eenUe VIEWS PLE, TRUE Recent calamities have brongnt to light moral quall- ‘ties more precious than wi —principles of char- acter whieh can be seen ip no other circumstances, ‘Thousands were suddenly reduced from amMuence to poverty. The blow was terrible. We cannot oe ity, But amid those ruins, w The” enn mulaering a are el warm, other an calm, full trust, feehng that they are alt there if gold is gone.: A clergyman; his church, consumed, his congregation ruinod, says:—‘'l once amote; i ‘am ready to doit again.” That man was all ‘The fire had. not taken one cubit from his moral stature. A young man was to be married the next day. The bride had lost all but the calico dress she tad on; in that the wedsing oor Tne. That was something more precious than gold. No wedding of wealth can compare in moral grandeur with that wedding of poverty. A millionaire, looking on the ashes of his property, exclaimed ‘Thank God, if all my family are safe.” But instances of heroism and sublime cou are innumerable, Put all these to- gether, view the whole moral spectacte as we view the whole of the BURNING OF CHICAGO, and ts aot the moral In tts way wend As magni- ficent, as sublimely at? TY would not that we on rejoice ia the calamity in’ view such moral ualities, That is not it; but this: when the adversity came it revealed qualities more precious than gold. .What sermon or book could make the eiminadan between man and mammon so clear as ose SQUARE MILES OF FIRE? Millions of minds are impreased by that event with the folly of making the world their por- tion. He next proceeded to show what would be the morat@esults of uninterrupte? prosperity. Next, that men Know not what is in them wll triat brings tests; and having eloquently enlarged on these points went on toshow that the same teste reveal what depths of wickedness ate in some. The Chicago fire brought to light demons in human ney A litle section of hell was laid open by the g' of those flames. Such revelations of CONSPICUOUS WICKEDNESS IN NEW YORK make us almost despise our race. The wretched thieves and incendiaries amid the flames of a great city are as vile as some holding high posttions in unis city to-day. After this telling allusion to our municipal office-holders he’ enforced, in couciusion, that all im tne daily events oi Providence should read the deeper events of life. THE FRIE METHODISTS. Elijal’s Test of Relizion, and Gods Fiery Response—Tue Halting Israclites Convinced ef Pheir Sin—Sermon by Rev. A. F. Carry. The Free Methodists advertise themselves as a “peculiar people,” and they must not be surprised, therefore, if others consider them so, They also claim that they are “a tive religious denomination.” Yet there is apparently less life in them than In almost apy other Christian body in this city. Several reasons might be assigned for this. They are not, 1n the first Place, a denomination at all, but a number of mal- contents separated from the Methodist Episcopal Church, who have set ap for themselves. They hold the same doctrines atid essential principles of faith and sing the same hymns. Their denomina- tional differences consist in pecuilarities of dress and ritaal rather than of doctrires. They don’t believe organs and musical instruments were ever itrasted—The Destrac- of a ag In a stable, ag designed to take the place of the human voice in sounding forth the praise of God. They therefore zealously discard all sush accompaniments of Worship. Nor do they believe in what they consider CONFORMITY TO THE WORLD, in the wearing of gold and ornaments, reathers and flowers, silks and velvets, plaiting of the hair and other adornments. And hence they dress in the plainest style imaginable. This, Jike the Society of Friends, is thelr peculiarity. But gathered within a church the men and boys occupy one side and the women and girls the op- posite. This exclusiveness is supposed to prevent flirtation by the young people and distrac- tion of thought in all. They hold class meetings and quarterly meetings, as the forefathers of Meth- odism aid, and admit the members thereto by tick- ets, Hence they claim, im these and in other re- spects, to be the real, ‘simon pure,’ old-fashioned Methodists. The pecullarity of their name, ‘Free ‘Metnodists, consists, as they aver, in their freedom from sin and from the entangling snares of the world, which, they think, have bound the Christian Church of every name save their own in a worldly ‘bondage, from which they cannot escape except by a miracle of grace and divine power. ‘The denom- ination,” a8 they are pleased to call themselves, does not make very rapid headway in this city, nor, indeed, throughout the country. They have two PREACHING STATIONS HERE, hired halls on Eighth ayenne and Twenty-firth street on the west side, and et 274 Grand street on the east side, The membership here does not ex- ceed 150, In Brooklyn they have a church and one Or two halls, and a larger and more thriving organ- George W. Al peg Jormenty 01 . Anderso! a journalist of this city, is now President, They pub- in. @ Weekly paper here for the dissemination of their own peculiar tenets, their advertise- ment yesterday of services to be beld on Eigith avenue and Twenty-fifth street, a renorier of the HERALD wended way thither. — Two of the corners. of those streets are occupied by rum shops, and the other two by tea and cneese stores. The reporter looked about, but saw no sign of religious services being held in the neighborhood. He stepped into a restaurant and made inquiry, and Was directed wo the northeass corner, where “a Mormon church,” ashe was informed, held forth. Iie soon found the hall and the plain and peculiar mR ee ag "301 an er sh mn, “Brother” Sam Irwin, one of ayte S ORVILLE GARDNER'S CONVERTS of 1858, arose and made an appeal fur ald for the Chicago sufferera, Agecretary Was appointed and names and amounts were ‘istered, and in five minutes this little band of beilevers had subscribed $102 50—a sum relatively larger than nine-tenths of the churches of the city have sabscribed for this The pastor, Rev. Mr. Curry, then delivered a plain, practical ‘diseourse upon the woras of h to the prophets of Baal and the people of Is) |—“Flow long halt yejbetween two vale ait the Lord be God follow Him; but if Baal then follow him. (1 Kings, xvili., 21,)' He briefly recited the rogress of idolatry in israel, and the. circum. Kances which led Elijah to propose the text of truth which is recorded In this chapter. pocorais tothe word of the prophet there was lew or rato upon the land Jor three alt Yours yet we don’t read that any devas oe over the jand. But if any one will God's Bible carefully he will see that this world is to be swept by fire towards the lane days, And he (Curry) be- Weyed that the Chicago firé Md th fires are judgments from God for the wickedness of the peo- je, Idolatry is the great sin of this as it was in Elijau’s day—nearly one thousand years before Ohrisi. And as it was then soitis now—the few who fear God and keep His commandments are ac- cused of pringing these calamities on the earth. sail the wicked King Ahab to Elijah, thow he that troubleth Israel?’ The fear saint replied, ‘J have not troubled Israel; ‘but thou and thy father’s house in that ye fly for- gaken the commandments of the Lord aud hast followed Baalim.” Here was tne real cause of their trouble, and yet they could not see it nor it. The gathering together of Beal's of them-—the building of che altars and offering of sacrifices, and the fire test which the het stihe mitted, were next recounted, and as the preacher ‘Waxed warm aud eloquent ove! ELIJAW’S VICTORY ITH me “halelujahs’’ and ‘‘amens” and ‘giorys’’ which came from the hearts of bis hearers were frequent ‘and earnest. after praying for six hours and cat- tung themselves with jances and knives and leapio; W o their altar unti it was soaked with blood, there was neither voice nor any ‘answer, nor any that regarded. As soon, however, as Elijah had prepared his sacrifice and poured ‘waver on it and on the altar and around, @o that there could be no possible chance of trickery, he red to the God of Israel and the fire came a and consumed tne sacrifice, the wood and the stones and the dust, an ‘up the water that was in the trench, It was s bad ad of faith—a complete victory of re+ i) over idolatry. And it was the more con- sptcaons because bani was the god of Ore or the Tepresentative of the san, pie could no halt between two opint Saving seen such @ remarkable refutation of their own belief, ‘tney fell on therr faces and said, ‘The Lord, He is bo Tat the Lord, He is the God.” They them set KILLING ALL THR PALS® PROPHATS, ‘They teit not one remaining, and fora time iolatry received a back-set in Israel, The preacher then Closed with an application of his subject to the Doewaphe a] There isa great deal of halting be- ween x — doubiemindedness and hypocrisy in the Church, the State, the family and among in- dividnais, Instances of it were recited, and the hopping about of puliticians daring tue Bext two OUTOBER 23, 1871.—TRIPLE SHEET. AL is discourse of veray between ir ST. FRAYCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH. Sermon by the Rev. Father Nash—The Value of a Good Life, ‘There was quite a large congregation atthe high mass services in St. Francis Xavier's church yester- day, The sermon was delivered by the Rev, Father Nash. The reverend gentioman expatiated at great lepgtn upon the necesst'y of leading a good life inthis world 1n order to ment the grace of a happy eter- mity inthe next, It was ali very well, he said, for man who desired to succeed in any department of lite to gay that he had.no time vo bother his head about religion, that Bis "busitiess ‘would not silow ‘bim to attend to the affairs.of the other world, even for a brief moment during the day; for such aman would find a day would come when he would be GLAD TO OBTAIN MERCY and time to pray, yet might not be granted tho favor, The iaea of etermty was so appalling in iteelf that the mere thought of it, outside of every otner consideration, should ve suMicient to make a man pause tn life and dwell apon what was before him, upon the myatery of the:great future, 10 which his goul had such an interest. What ita man was & politician and said to himself, “That office that [am seeking, and which I may get. by doing what is not exactly right, is necessary to my future. success in life, necessary for the welfare of my family; for once J attain it my future is made and my standing in the world secured above all fear of want, all apprehen- si0n of obscurity?’ What would it profit him if he LOST HIS souL in the securing of it? He. ht hold it fora year or two, or more; but would that be enough to make his life a; If before him the days beyond the grave loome'l upin darkness and despair? In this connection ne would say that there were two classes ns, of Catholics—those did what tneir religion taught thom: was right, and those who came to church with their books iu their hands, and wien among Catholics appeared to be:Catholtos, but who out i eg halis and bighways, ASHAMED TO’ ACKNOWYEDGS THEIR RELIGION; @ class Who beg | to be no bisats, and declared that all religions. in, their opinion were the same— one as; ag another. Such men spoitt az.Sist their own and could not be trasted in che ordinary Ousinesses of lite, as they could not be trusted in their own faith. ‘Suppose Catholicity lt 13 to be an obstacle to @ man's rising in the world, must he iy dergerve for mere gala or an empty fame that must end in course of tiie like all things of this earth? And. yet how many were there who for the of @ temporary enjoy- Ment .of position and riches set principle, and scorn to be looked upon as men of Tel n? Of what avail would it pe fora man to gain the whole world and lose his own souls The Parable of the rich man who filled his barns with immense stores and considered himseif secure, and yet. whom God called to account “that Nery nignt,’? Ought to be @ lesson to every man wh» hesitates wr tne possessions of the things of this world an THE SECURITY OF WAPPINESS everlasting in the life to come. Human nature, it 1s trae, was weak, but God. was always on the side of him who wanted to do rigot and was willing to fant bis way to Heaven against temptations, What a fool was @ man io the full vigor of youth who ‘ives Way to his bad ons under the piea that he is unable to resist them, and yet who thinks that when old age has disturbed his brain, weakened hia energies and shattered bis strength, he will be strong enough to resist ail inclinations to wroog and be com enough to make his peace with God? It was not sufficient fora man to be a good Catholic not:to murder or steal or cheat his neigh- bor, It was his duty to give good example to his neighbor, do good to others and OBRY THE LAWS OF THE CHURCH, It behooved every Catholic ‘to think of his last hour, when he would have to appear before God, and not to put of the day of his repentance to the last’ day of ms life, when probably God would withdraw His merciful hand and send him tuto eternity with ali his sins upon bis head, Now was whe acceptable time, the aay of salvation. ST. STEPHEN'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Elequent Appeal by the Rev. Dr. McGlyan— Sermon by the Nev. Dr. McMullen, ef Chi- cage—Noble Response by the Congregation. St. Stephen’s church was crowded to its utmost capacity at the high mass yesterday morning, in Tesponse to the appeal made by tne pastor on the previous Sunday in aid of the Chicago sufferers, The morning was so pleasant gut of doors that ladies arrayed themselves in ‘THE BRILLIANT COSTUMES OF THE SEASON, and worshipped in the full consciousness of being endowed or ornamented with ail the graces of Bature and art. Mozart’s Mass, No. 12, with an increased choras, was sung by the chotr in the usuai excellent manner, High Mase was celebrated by the Rev. Father Mooney. After the first Gospel the Rev. Dr. McGlynn ascended the pulpit and, having made the customary announcements, alluded to the collection which was to be taken up that day in afd of Chicago, Be then again read the Archbishop’s circular and sald:— REY. DB. M’GLYNN’S APPRAL. T recommend to your human sympathy and Chris- tan charity the sufferers 1n Chicago. It should be far remote from every well-tormed human heart, as it ‘Would be especially antagontatic to the true spirit of the Christian religion, and uaworthy of this sacred Place, to insult the overwhelming sorrow of our sister city by attempting to demonstrate that her affliction is but the merited chastisemont of BER REAL OB {MAGINED INIQUITIES. Itis far more in keeping with the general and Sympathetic character of the Christian religion to believe tnat our heavenly Father has aMicted our sister city more in meroy than tn justice, and to shed heartfelt tears of sympathy over her ruins and the desolation of her children, in imitation of our Master, who, when He would become our teacher, took to Himself a heart, the tendorest and humanest of all hearts and the ea test to thrill with pment for al the ils it burden our poor hamanity, Our hearts would be not unlike that of THR PHARISEE WHOM CHRIST CONDEMNED if we should stand up here before tue holy altar to confess the sins of our brethren, rather than to be- wail our own. Well may we, then, bere to-day raise our voices in lamentation over the destruction of our beautifal city of the West, tn imitation of that Saviour, who shed tears over the impending de> struction of His own Jerusalem, tne beautiful city of His people. The m of God Our Father has not left this great cal: Without its many and abundant compeusations. In touching this city, that, perhaps, more than any other was the special Joy and boast of this Western world, He has touched w.th wondrous force the hearts of all the nation. In the presence of so it disaster we May Well feel that we stand @ litte nearer to the judgment seat of God. We must perforce BEND THR ENE® AND DOW THE HEAD and acknowledge our weakness and our littieness, and exciaim, with full conviction, that Gou alone ts good and God alone is great. We are taught how fleeting and unsubstantini are those rovidence of God, we exercise 8 of Lavare which hedwe in ‘and shape and control our mortal lite. Kut most of al we fina, I bad almost said, adequate com- ‘pensation for so great a loss in the LORIOUS OUTSURST OF NOBLE HUMANITY and Christian charity that has thrilled throaghout the land—nay, throughout the civilized world, This touch of sorrow has made ‘‘the whole world kin;’’ were lented charity has shown us that the the surtass ‘of commercial eel 'and. the" eager ai ie pursuit of wealth, pleasure and fame tere 13 that Is sonna to the ‘Or, again, to oh th r, 0 nage the amps, there is, still fresh the lieart of kindly. sym. vem to our nature by loving od «=owhen He made us His, own imag and the heart that is of at same = fesh . in which red to us “the benignity and humanity of our Saviour.’’ Thank we have taught chivs and hi and ¢! t of aelf-saci ot a thing of the pase aad the lurid light that is cagt over @ on on! Pye oh the Lay ot La are city by | rmitted cern the o 1g of @ vista better days for humanity ana for the world— the nations that have learned to recogniae common brotherhood shall strive in war no more, Dut alone la the glorious rivairy of the arts, civill- gauon and the deeds of Christian charity. REY, DR. M’MULLINS’ ADDRESS. The Rev. Dr. McMullin, one of the Chicago pastors whose churches nad been burned down, then ad- dressed the congregation, speaking from the gospel ofthe day. He explained how ought to love Shpresstonea'in ueiy Worcs teat eect "Tmo ox: ex: 0) ample of ie Who had forgiven bis serval + the debt and 1] epee of the foopree man_towar iow servant were poin' w a fell as illustrations showing how the Saviour 4 “Ay to LOVE ONE ANOTHRR, jection in this “Love w oighbor as tl mann te Loni prayer, * passes we forgive, them who reepeee jaihst us,” a6 etoe evidence of Wi weeat & ma Goats imer has fs ea awa, On auty. "9 me! those who obeyed. this ‘arin injunction. — The ner then briefly alladed to the Chicago calam- ity, and said that no douut in the wisdom of God W FROM THM DISASTRR. GREAT THINGS MIGHT FOLLO' ‘not be wisdoua of God or his poneficeace measured, and tn at York rere Mpg Eg eranger the Frmnodnroesy eernaponple of to Kmplre ts THE FIRST BISHO! the Right lev, Blahop Quarwen, had-oaug’ st. Syste ity, befure he was- raised . Splsonnase: Bishop Quarter was one of God's plety, “he wrought a great work be the Cathollo Church was to-day un Onivgg was ane 16 hiataborvand oxample. Te was Mart The mI ‘ore ees nF Bel im by that ed By a at he peaker) fad ever vocation to tke priesthood. During hours of the tire nad been absent from eh cts Oty hi se tees aay aan ae anes re, in which the remai of the sainted Bishop reposed, the relics of thas in the church holy man. Ail else had perished; It was God's. will that. the body of filshop Quek ter should have escaped the ‘devor element. ‘The preacher continued to ‘witht ‘years Chic would be netelt”afuingrencor pid mote beautiful than ever—aud that the generosity of New York would never be forgotten. Over three thousand dollars was taken up at church during the masséa, SARs FATHER °NPAULEY ON THE CALAMITY. At the nine o'clock mass at St. Theresa's churob yesterday the Rev. Mr, McAuley announced that col- Tections were about being made tn ald of the suffer- era by the Chicago calamity. Having referred io the most touching mannef to the terrible conse- quences of the fire—a beautiful city reduced to ashes, men and women, young and old, huddie@® together in the most dreadful forms of human misery—the reverend gentleman observed that though it was not competent for them te inquire why Frovidence in His all wise mercy had geen fit to strike the devoted city, it wae at the same time only natural to attribute ite destruction to the prevalence of crime... () o ‘Was a@ regular Sodom, id while ie centre of wealth, it was le Sin had brought its own punishment, and he trusted, that the fate of Chicago would prove a warning te other cltiés rivalling it in infamy, Since the ge every calamity that had befallen the world was the regalt of sin, and it was impossible to steer our way back through the history of the past without keep- ing oureye on the Divine Helmsman who guided the destinies of the world, Father McAuley passed a high eulogy on those who had so nobly helped their susering brethren, and said the ready manner in aun “ie 80 apenas tigi tang Ng eae @ Spiri e away to a K- vent the fear of Got and the love ory virtue predomi- The fate of Uhicago was a sigm that evit times were at hand and that the sins of mankind had called to Heaven for that vengeance waich is now falling fast and heavy upon us. RESIGNATION CF DR. THOMPSON. Yesterday morntng Rev. Joseph P. Thompsom, pastor of the Broadway Tabernacle church, made to his congregation the following announcement:— In fulfilment of a purpose formed some time ago, Tor @ reason strictly personal, which at that time was conclusive to my own mind, and which has since become imperative, I do now resign the oflice of pastor in this church, which I have held for more than twenty-six years, I shall request the charca, at its Emin) Om the 1st of November next, w unite with mein calling acouncil for the dissolu- tion of the pastoral relation. The cause which bas compelicd me to this step at the same time compels my retirement from évery form of puplic o:fice and responsibility. Im making this announce- ment, trom a decided though painful conviction of duty, 1 throw myself upon that indulgeat rogard patie lirerg this people of my love have always fa- vor me, It appears that a physical injury sustained by Dr. Thompson in the service of the army has so far im- patred tis constitution that he can no longer endare tbe pressure of pastoral cares. He will devote bis retirement to the study of Egyptology, and will pro- bably sovn go to Germany and to Egypt for this par- pose. BROOKLYN CHURCHES. The Chicago Fire and City Corrup- tion as Pulpit Topics. Henry Ward Beecher on Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. ig oe od eres Sermons by Dr. Chapman, Revs. H. W. Beecher, D. Moore, Jr., and T. D. W. Talmage. REV. MR. TALMACE ON MUNICIPAL COR- RUPTION. Tho Rev, T. DeWitt Talmage preached yesterday at the Brooklyn Tabernacie on “Municipal Currap- Uon and Its Remedy.” Ue took for his text the foi- lowing versea:—‘‘Some, therefore, tried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was confused; and the more part know not wherefore shey had Come together.” ‘And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander eckoned with the hand, and he would have made his defence unto the pee ple. But when they knew that he was a Jew all With one voice about the space of two hours cried Out, ‘Great is Diana of the Ephesians.’ —Acts xix., 82, 33, 84. ~The trouble alluded to in the text grew out of an opposition to the manufacture of little Sliver boxes which were used by tne heathen to hold thetr idols. The whole city was in an ap- roar. Péople were running about in an excited manner, some advocating the polloy of Paul and fome advocating the policy of tne silversmith, It ‘Was, after all, A MERCENARY MATTER. It was the wages they were looking after. Here ‘Was @ mon who had a manufactory for making these boxes, and if idolatry was allowed to die out (hese boxes would be of no use, and the manufactory would have to be closed. Finally it was proposed te call @ convention to decide ag to whether Paul or the silversmith was right. This convention wae heid in the theatre, that being the iargest building 1m the city, Ihe people gathered in large numbers, but they all wanted to talk at once, Some cried one thing and somo cried another. Alexander was then called for and came forth from the multitade, the Jews putting him forwara. He put up his band as a sign for them to be quiet, as he desired to make bis defence unto the people; but when they knew he was a Jew they hissed nim down and kept up the confusion for avout two hours. During this time they cried eS “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.’? ie Christian aspect of the case was ot taken into consideration. With them it wag wages. The worshippers of Diana were dead aod the temple had gone down to dust; but the Amert- can people had raised in place thereof another idol, iB IDOL OF POLITIOAL PARTISANS! wi 1, and this they worship to an extent that was to destroy country. The Ephesian idotatty was Not so abominable as this absurd 1d: Of politt- cal partisanship. honest officials, and mentioned the names of Theo- dore Frelinghuysen, genjamin Butler, of New Jersey, and others. Joseph, of Bible aistory, Was @ politician, so was Daniel, and they were ua- Tana tk tancteea ok the “poling and, and men Places, stuffed the ballot boxes with endorsements of the fact haracter of this country. asa pelineaas their sptrit from the gin Cnn od Tuis was curse to tie city of Brooklyn, yh New York and a curse in. His idea mee politician was that those who had the best o! always autumn than ever they Hoense anythin, in Europe where gave " year to do a8 vhey pleted, po a ee all they read in the papers? a aoe itgoes thi Us tne Ww resor' ican voter would gel; a ticket headed with Sue republican aud all the rest would be demo- crate, A democrat democrat a he would think he had voted the regular ticket. The politicians wov'd console themselves ‘with the belief that there w = harm in these little white lies; but these lies w. BLAOK Af andio the day of judgr answer for them. Politig poe than apyining