The New York Herald Newspaper, October 30, 1871, Page 4

4 ELIGIOUS, Sanctuary Services and Sermons Yesterday in New York and Elsewhere, BEECHER SOLVES THE WOMAN QUESTION, The Rev. Messrs. Frothingham, Richard- son and McAllister on Our Mu- nicipal Scandals. THE CAUSES OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION, Zaccheus Held Upasan Example to Pillagers of the City Treasury. ABORTIONISTS HANDLED WITHOUT GLOVES The One Hundred and Fifth Anniversary of Methodism in America, POPE PIUS IX. EULOGIZED. Father Preston on the Union of Church and State. OR. THOMPSON'S FAREWELL SERMON. Discourse by the Lord Bishop of Nassau, N. P., on Christ’s Compassion. MAN’S DUTY IS TO FOLLOW CHRIST Character, Not Reputation, the Jewel of Time and Eternity. REV. MR. HEPWORTH ON IMMORALITY. Effective Sermons by the Lord Bishop of Nas- sau, N. P., Rev. Drs. Bellows, Thompson and McGlynn; Rev. Fathers Preston, Vaisseur and Flattery, and the Rev. Messrs. Hep- worth, Frothingham, Richardson, Guard, Holmes and McAllister. ALL SOULS? CHURCH. Serm: y the Rev. Dr. Bellows—Charncter, mot Reputation, the Jewel of Time and Eternity. The Rey. Dr. Bellows preached an eloquent and timely discourse yesterday morning at All souls’ church, on “Character, not Reputation, the Jewel of Time and Eternity.” He began by tracing the difference between character—the true and genuine value of the Man—and reputation, or the value at which he is held by his fellow citizens. Frequently it happened that a good and noble man was for some pariicular purpose or object MALIGNED AND CALUMNIATED, Thus, for instance, @ political candidate might be known by his opponents to be a man of unimpeachable integrity and purity, but by the press and onthe stump he would be violently attacked, or at best would be passed over ina doubtful si- lence, lest some partisan advantage shouid be the result of deserved praise. Or again, some religious teformer, avowedly outside the pale of orthodoxy, but whom everybody tnat knew him personally could not fall to recognize as actuated by high and anseifish motives and a sublime enthusiasm for the truth, would be sneered at and ridiculed, in order that NO FAVORABLE LIGHT should be reflected irom the purity of his character upon the principles he espoused. It was, however, certain that in these and all similar cases, whatever might be said about the Man, Whatever might be his current reputation, there was always a deep and sincere respect even among his enemies for nis real character; and, marked as was the difference, therefore, between character and reputation, it shoula be remembered that they were not so far apart as might at frst be imagined. Take, for example, the influence amon; business men of character, Here was a merchant in New York, who cheeriully trusted a little trader of smail capital in Kausas or Mississippi, on the simple ground that bis debtor was a man of good repute for honesty and trustworthiaess among nis neighbors. The relauion between CHARACTER AND REPUTATION in such cases became very close and intt- mate. But still it was undouptedly one of the grand eviis with which American society had to struggle that character had compara- ively such litle valine among us. The Qature of the country—its vast area, the facility ot communication, the easiness of making a living— were responsible for this. A man who had worn out his character in ove city and business might in twenty four hours transport himself to another city a thousand miles away, and, engaging in a new occupation and sheltering himself under a oew name, make a fresh start in the world. Unuer such conditions smartness and address were much More vaiuable qualities iban established honesty, Thus it happened that we saw floating about among asa NUMBER OF ADVERTISERS, greedy to get rich by speculating with other with no vestige of prinetple or more numerous than could be found in any other country as well settled and as advanced in civilization. Perhaps one of our great curses was the easiiess of making a living. In oid times @ doy uad to serve out a painful apprenucesnip of ten years, aud then straggie en for years aud years more, to make good his footing in ihe world, What guarantees for prudence and virtue and honesty this was! The many brilliant temporary successes achieved by disiionest’ men had unduubteuly demoralized thousands of our youth. But, ater ali, how poor and vain aod empty such success, m spite of its EVANESCENT SPLENDOR AND GLITTER was! We had not yet fallen 80 iow that men of bad character, whatever might be their wealth, could gain an enirance into the only ‘society worth cultivating. Dishonest men were still shunned by the pure and nobie and good, and if @man met tem In decent society he at once began vo suspect his host and inquire how it Was that they had got there. Or if these bad men had been born in good society and were too firmly established to be rooted out, they were still terribly punished. A mark was set upon their foreheads and men shrunk away irom them as though they were infected with some hideous disease. ‘To ali, \uerefore, who realized t TRUK VALUE OF LIFE and saw clearly that duty and happiness were in- separable companions, mere wea th, unless hon- estly Won, Was utteriy worthless. And none, per- haps, felt that 60 bitterly and constanuy as the creatures who had fallen before some great tempta- tion and Ned soid theuseives to mammon. Mr. Bel- lows then proceeded at length to discuss the means by which we could stem the influences of demorali- vation to which the character of American society exposed ns, He said that ali remedies would be necessarily very slow ip thelr operauon. First among (hem was the careful EDUCATION OF THR YOUNG. Except in @ minority of unfortunate cases, the chil- dren of pure and nhobie and conscientious parents would also be noble and pure ana conscientious, This would not be the case where children were corrupted by bad servants or by some unhappy and exceptional conditions; out it might be accepted as & general principle. Let it be remembered, tov, that no partial cultivation of Virtue was possible. If a man wanted to get good servante or cierks Le must set lo Work and RLEVATE THE ENTINE CLASS from which his servants aud nis clerks would be taken. it Was much easier wo sappiy the entire city with pore water from soime hoge reservoir than to maintain pure and undefiled a hundred distinct wells. Ji Was easier—far easier—to raise tbe cha- racter of an entire community than to secure the virtue of & hundred separate individuals. This was a WIS AND BENEPICENT PROVISION of the Almighty Ruler of the universe and could not b@ ularemarded. contrivances avail to ensure - and upright- ness, Car railroad canpanied aan boner get their = receipts except i employing honest men. Mr. ‘Liows closea by enforcing upon his hearers the primary necessity of affording a good education, under conscientious and noble teachers, to our rising youth, if we would have the character of American society, even in part, raised to a higher standara of purity and integrity. + ST. STEPHEN'S ROWAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. MoGlyun—Nature and Grace—Tae Things That Are Crsar’s and the Things That Are God’s—Sal in the World. For the first time Blanchi’s mass iu C was sung at Stephen's church yesterday morning, with excellent accompaniment, by the accomplished organist of the charch, Mr. Danforth. The mass was rendered in most creditable style by the full choir, the dificult solos of the “ulora” and tae “Credo” being fnely rendered by Miss Emma Howson, Miss Benzeger and Signor Bianci, At the offertory Miss Howson sung AN AVE MARIA with an exquisite grace, pathos and finisn, which showed that this lady is entitled to hold a place among church singers not oiten attained even by leading operatic artists, Taken altogetner the sing- ing yesterday at this church was unexceptionally good. The attendance at church was, as usual, very large, the customary brilllancy in beauty and fash- ton characterizing it. High mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father McCready, and after the first gospel the Rev. Dr. McGlynn read the gospel of the day, from the twenty-second chapter of Matthew, and the epistle, from the first chapter of Paul to the Corinthians. He sald that in the epistle Paul still continued to exhort the faithful to a continuance in the grace of God, and even though they had been converted and were loliowers of Christ still the Apostle was zeal- ous for the perseverance of these people, thus show- Ing by his counsel how necessary it was to persevere in the grace of Goa. The preacher then associatea the gospel of the day with his previous remarks, and proceeded to explain THE OFT-QUOTED SCRIPTURAL PHRASE, “Give unto Cmsar the things that belong to Osar, and to God the things that belong to Goud.” It was to be deduced trom this—not that there were cer- tain things which to the world alone belonged, and certain things which should be offered to God; but that in the aifairs of life due attention should be paid to worldly authority, with a clear comprehen- sion, however, that God was the Supreme Being, ruling over heaven and earth. Our Lord made the reply above cited in answer to the tempting ques- uon of the Pharisees, who, having seen Ilis works, the miracies He had performed, and having heard His divine utterances, endeavored to get Him to eA something Which might come in antagonism with the laws of the State, and thus to procure tor Him punishment or to test the claims He advanced for his aivinity. So far from our Lord intending to inculcate that THE WORLD WAS SEPARABLE FROM THE ETERNAL FUTURB or from the omnipotent sway of the Father, even fe paid tribute tor Himself and the chief apostle, and performed a miracie to procure the coin for that purpose. Without enteriug into the vexed and intricate subject of the rhlationship which should exist between Church and State, the text might be considered in a more edifying manner on the present Occasion by reflecting a little on the duties of life and how religion can be combined with all the require- ments of the world. It was, of course, weil known that certain philosophers had lavored hard to prove Unat there was no such being as God; that the world ‘Was in Itself a compiete whole, needing no intinite hand either jor its creation or for its protection. ‘These men, in all the fiush of health of mind and body, advanced their impious doctrines with litte fear, and denied ail that did not conincide with What they call reason. But it ia plain that the Christian belief was the rational one, and these men themseives, when bowed down Db} THE INFIKMITY OF THEIR NATURES, suffering from the iis of common humanity, baa often been led to feel, from the Christian tenderness showa then in their suverings, that the kind auues undertaken by friends must have been prompted by some more sacred feeling than mundane motives could supply. ‘Their belief would lead to the conclusion that so far as (he duties of society are concerned the social fabric depended merely upon a kind of compact, for which, however, there could be no authority, and as there was no author ty, Of course its violation couid not be a crime, Laws would consequently only bind when the offender was caught offending, and should necessa- Tily have no effect and be inno way binding in themselves, Doctrines of this sort would undermine the whole natural world and destroy the only one graud essenital atirioute which man possesses. There were duties which all owed to 1€@ a few months, or, at most, for a year or two, and then you shall come to see me in =~ new house and in my fine gardens, and we shail never part more.” m5 Wey pa Save ae aoe Cp a} yond away irom the pain . ‘The 8 siand on the shore and watch the stout vessel as 10 glides with the mist and out of ‘and then turn back and say to cach other, ‘tA little while to this pain, and then what happiness will po éurs | Well, iis just so iu fe, The wue Christian feels it to be so. When Christ gave us the beatitudes He seems to me to have been building the ftoundution of a tri- umphal arch—only the foundations. His holy les- sons of self-sacrifice, His unshaken trast in God, His submission to another will than His own—these are STOUT GRANITS BLOCKS Placed upon the foundation, one after another Until all ts complete except that one stone.—the key- stone, as it is rightly called—without which the whole structure may fall at any unusual disturb- ance, but with whieh the arch must stand lorever; and When He gave us, revealed to us the doctrine of immortality, 1t seems to me that He lifted the key- Stone to Its place and fastened it there witn the ce- meat of truth and faith, Be1ore that was done we wavered, but now that it has been done there secs to be a deeper meaning tn the Lord's Prayer, and we say “Our Father” ag we have never satd it before. Jam reminded of all thus as I think of the good man Who has lately passed away from us. Hs life Was a Derfectiy quiet one, as yours and mine are, but his death had something Very beautiul in It. ive saw the snadow just as in an August day you see the fog creeping over the land and feel sure that in a few minutes it will eactose you; without a murmur, without a regret, sure that when the mo- ment came some angel would put into his hand the should be unceasing and uncompromising. bad Lo encounter in toeir every day lite the tempta- Uons of the flesh, the inducements to illicit pieasure, the love of distinction in thig itfe, the amassing of great riches; but if they ma up the shield of faith they would triumph in all things, be the dangers what they might be, themselves and to cach other, and these were binding simply because they fell under the Universal government of the Almighty; they were written on the hearts of men as indelibly as were the commandments written on the taniets on Sinal. ‘These were the Christian duties which were taught by religion under the guidance of God, wiiich haa roduced civilization as it is, and without which arbarism should take the place of the great com- mon carity which BINDS MANKIND TOGETHER. The preacher continued to explain how it was that many of these duties should be performed, and how the objeclion was a mere seeming ove, which said that in order to be religious and endowed with the grace of God persons should leave the busy life of the world aud cloisier themselves for prayer. It was not necessary to lead the ilfe of a recluse that the commaudments of God should be obeyed, nor to assume A DEMURE EXTERIOR, in order to please God. There was Impressed on the consciences of men in the past and in the pre- sent that divine breath which ever worked its soli- tary healing im every troubled doubting. In the weakness of human nature perfection was impos- sibie, but the voice that ever called from wayward paths and pointed to the one sure road sanctioned by the Almighty couidnot be sulled, and in its whisper. ings were to be heard that unerring guide which steers men safely to do God’s will. The Saviour’s invitations to rest in His justice, His love and His mercy, with the means left by Him to heip sinners, forbade the presumption that the worid was a piace in which men’s souls were certain to be lost, for trials are not sins and strugyles often only purify. He who loved God and His neighbor, whose heart expaaded with charity for all and in whose con- pene = lurking evil found @ place, need not fear the world. CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH, Sermon on {Immortality by Mr. Hepworth— The Epistle to the Corinthians the Epic of St. Paul—A Good Man’s Death. Mr. Hepworth’s text was taken yescerday morn- ing from I. Corinthians xv., 19—“If in this ilfe only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most mis- erable.” He began by saying that the chapter from which the text is taken 1s the epic of the New Testa- ment, St. Pavl always speaks with dignity ana fre- quently with a fervor and earnestness not reached by other sacred writers. But. in this chapter, when talking of the loftiest theme which ever engages the aitention of mortality, he rises to suolime heights of argument and thought. His janguage 18 as lofty and a8 grand as the subject matter, It has the ring of a great soul in it—a soul which at times, uraer the inspiration of God, outdoes itself in elo- quence, AS Isaiah and Daniel stood in the royal presence, not as slaves or sycophants, but clothed upon with a God-given authority, and declared tne counsel of the Most High, so THIS GREAT APOSTLE stands imperialiy vefore the worid to deliver a mes- sage which makes every wrong trembie and every right look ‘orward to victory. His words touch the deepest interests of every househuld and carry balm and hope to every heart, He says truly that che aoctrine of the resurrec- tion is worth all other dogmas put togetuer. It gives stamina and virtue and encourages patience and caim submission, With a firm faith in another life in your heart you can bear anything. You feel sure that your reward will come im the great here- after if tt does not come here, and so you bear un- complainingly. You can fight in we arena and see you fall you fall to rise, But if you believe that this life ts ail, then it ts better vo be a coward and run from danger, for the worst thing that can befail you is alus@ of lie, Betier to lie, to steal, to murder, if by these crimes you can lengthen your days; and as for virtue, it i8 all nonsense, Chris- tianity itself is @ great sham Wiihout another life to gi ve it authority; for it demande that you shall love your comfort, your happiness and even your life for ‘he good of others. Such @ course 18 herotc if, when you have made the sacrifice, you are taken upto heaven to receive the reward of your toll aud pain; butit is worse than folly if, wheu you die, there is nothing beyond. Why love any one save yourself? Why put yourself out for another's enjoy- ment? The true rule is to eat, drink and ve merry, if to-morrow we die; and theu, having proved lun- mortality, he rises vo that persuasive BLOQUENCE OF TRIUMPH over death to which the whole world has listened in all these ages, and listened, too, with such glad ears and such grateful hearis. Under the influence of this chapter the world has change? its ideas of death, As our faith grows firmer our hope becomes brighter. We sill! feel the joss of dearones, The time wali never come when tears will not flow in the hour of separation, but our grief is tempered with the thought that what is our joss is thelr gain. A motier’s only boy sees better things for him beyond the broad ocean, an duty calls bim, He stands in the coutage aoorway, and, putting his arms around those who nursed him Ner could anv mere external | in his chitdpood, he says the goodby. ‘The white- haired old man cannot keep back the rolling tears, andthe mother lays her aged head on the strong man’s shoulder and weeps as only @ mother can. But he sava. cheerily. “Vear varcnts. it will be only death before you without a siudder, because when | others betier than yourself; that you shall sacrifice | “rod and the staf” upon which to lean, Such 18 the triumphant power of the Christian. Always con- Sciously in His Father's keeping, he is willing to go whereever it is best he should go, and when death comes be jeayes his bright example and his smile behind, and saying, “Lord, my lamp 1s trimmed and burning," walks intodhe dark without hesitation, sure that beyond it lies the periect day. ST. FRANCIS XAVIER’S CHURCH. Sermon by the Rev. Father Vaitsseur—The Propagation of the Faith—Pope Pius 1X. Eulogized. It is wonderful how delightful weather increases the number of good and faithtul Christians in this city. When the wind blows rather rudely, or the clouds look threatening, or a little rain or snow falls, that may endanger the texture of a vroadcioth coat, or roughen the smooth surface of a velvet sack, or put a love of @ bonnet into a shape not originally intended by the milliner “LATE OF PARIS,” vacant pews and aisies unvexed by worshippers stare the bold weather contemner out of countenance. But when the sky 1s clear and the sun shines bright. ly, and the air is balmy and fresn, how the pious ones come forth and crowd into the sacred edifices and forget the outside world, with its follies, its latest fashions, and its ways that are dark and ita tricks that are vain! The weather was delightful yesterday, and piely was ata premium. St. Francis Xavier's church is no exception to the general Tule, and among the crowds that were present at the nigh mass services there were many of the fair-weather Christians, The services were, as they always are at this church, Imposing, and Berge’s choir performed the musical part of the mass in their accustomed style of excellence, ‘The Rev. Father Vaisseur, S. J., who has just re- turned from China, preached tne sermon, The main subject of the sermon was the propagation of the faith, ana the reverend gentleman, as a sort of introductory, called the attenilon of his hearers to what Was at present going on in the Catholic world, and to the great necessity there was for every good Catholic to keep his faith intact, All, he said, should fight in the armor of Christ, Catholics had thelr flag, their admiral, their king. They had right on their side, bui their enemies were legion, Under the banner of tne Church, upheld so gloriously by the Pope, they could be certain of victory; but to make that victory certain their COMBAT WITH THE WORLD They reed for tally took Yet how many Catholics had been stipwrecked because they lost sight of their faith? Strong men had gone to destruction everlasting in their blind search aiter infiniie happiness here velow, while poor, weak women, by praying devoutly and clinging to the TEACHINGS OF THEIR EARLY YOUTH, Were able toturnadeaf ear to the clash of the worid’s religious wrangles and pay no heed to hu- Tecan opinions of infinite things. The chiel Catholics had to fight under was the Pope, @ good and holy man. “Behold the man!’ said the minions who brought Curist before Pilate, and the Jews cried, “Take him away.” ‘‘Behoid the man |” is the cry of the Catholic world now as it points to Plus IX.; “be- hold the man who knows wilat is justice, what is holiness, What is to be believed and what 1s not to be believed, what ts due to God and what is due tg mau!” And the bad men of the World, like the Jews of old, for the past twelve years have been cryimg out, “Take him away! He stands between us and our projects, We want none of his TEACHINGS ABOUT MORALITY justice or right. We want todo as we please, and it matters not what we do 80 iong as we gratily ourselves, This old man stauds in our path, and he 1s arrayiug the great army of devout Catholics ina solid phalanx against us, and he must be set aside.” Tue question which side a good Catholic ought to be on, said the preacher, could be easily settled, without even a thought. There was wrong ana impiety on the one hand, right and justice and the Jove of God on the other, ‘The reverend father then went on to tell how vast was the field for the missionary 10 China, how much had already been done and what was yet to be accomplisted. ‘There were now only ‘a half million of Chistians oui of the 490,000,000 popula- tion of the empire, and this certainly seemed at first blush to be but a very small result of the years upon years of labor tuat had been Ca gers! by the missionary for the conversion of the people to Christianity. The cause of it ail was, in the firsy place, that the nobles knew they would lose their positions and their honors if they became Chris- tuans and the middle or trading classes would have to make restitution Of the goods and riches they obtainea by FRAUD AND WRONGDOING. The most fruitful eld for missionary iabor, there- fore, was among the poorer classes. The reverend gentleman then explained how he and the fathers associated with him had established asyiums, or- phan and others, in China, and necaed assistance irom America. To secure this, In fact, 1: was tneir intention soon to deliver a lecture on China, which would give the Catholics an insight into the ob- Slacies (hat lay in the way of the missionary. TRINITY (HORCH, Sermon by the Lord Bishop of Nassau, N. P.— Chrisv’s Companion—Sympathy and Suab- stance for the Sufferers from the “en Bore. Yesterday was @ sombre, winter-like morning when the bells of Old Trinity were musically peal- ing, but when service in the church had begun the sun broke through and brightened the dull sky, and the rays lighting “the dim cathedral aisles” were tunced with the stainod glass through which tney passed. A large congregation was gathered in re- sponse to the harmonious calling of the bells. The beauty of the service at this church is well known; the singing of its choristers can only be spoken of as almost periect. Before the serinon Dr. Vinton announced that the Lord Bishop of Nassau, N. P., would preacn. He stated that a great calamity nad befallen tne chargé of the Lord Bishop, and requested that tie congre- gation would aid the sufferers with SYMPATHY AND SUBSTANCE. The Bishop took hia text from St. Jon, x1, 36— “And Jesus wept,” &c, He said:—On two occasions 1s our Lord recorded to have wept—on nelther for himself, At the great grief of the sisters of Lazarus over the body of their brotner He sned tears. He knew that their grief would soon be checked by the restoration of Lavarus to life, yet He could not but sympathize with them im their sorrow. The sympathy which be then showed sorane from His own sorvows, As regards G He learnt obedience from His sorrows, and, as re- gards man, He learnt sympathy. He knew what | hunger was, and, therefore, could not send away & MULTITUDE HUNGERING, | He knew what it was to lose a kind triena, for He had probably lost Juscph, His loster father, and so was grief stricken at the sorrow of Martha and Mary. From our own experience comes a proper kuowledge of tie visitations upon others, But tus knowledge is lost through exemptions trom griet or trouvle. When on a bed of sickness we can sympa- thize with others sick, but as health returus we Jose, in @ great degree, thai power of sympathy, We feel more heartily forthe mourner when we have had to mourn just beiore, With our Lord itis not so, He ig ever the same, His fount of sympatuy is always READY TO OVERFLOW, It is becanse of this we can appeal to Him now. His remembrance of His sufferings 1s perfect. He learned sympathy from haying taken upon Him our nature—not the nature of any certain man, but of humauity. Otherwise his experience would bave been but partial. The rich tan cannot enter fuily into the troubles of the poor man, because lie does not understand them. Jt is tinpossible for any man to fully understand the sorrows of his fellows, Macaulay tells us that Johnson coud only under- stand physical sorrow. He had been A POVERTY-STRICKEN AUTHOR, and oft had bungered, He could thereiore pity the starving, and many @ hungry person he bronght vo his home and fed. He could not, however, get an insight into the cause ‘of mental grief, We have each some trouble which we do not tell because none others can fuily understand it. The second time that Jesus wept was at His cntry into Jerusalem. Then His tears were sned for sin, He looked thropgh the lulr gee clty and saw the festering ein beneath. Possibly he dowa the vista of time, and, see- ing Lhe uns eousness of the now past and present, wept that His commanaments should be forgeten, | It He felt sympathy ‘or us in sin surety He feels for us when tempted. He had endured temptation, knew its triais, and 1s made by Hts experience to have compassion for us pore not that com- assion, even if you should yield to allurement, Trouxt you are debarred from His presence by sin remember that you still have His sympathy. The 1 & > omplying the lesson drawn irom the Bishop, Spay ms ~rhorig nature to the cane examples of Chris0S SyMpaw. *+ An aw cf mtn and their aMitcted tellows, ssre~ ~ calamity has come upon my people. A GREAT HURRICANES and an immense wave caused by It has devastated my diocese. Many dwellings and three of my churches have been laid in ruins; vessels have been swamped in the harbor dr driven ashore. One of the tsiands whose le are under my ch irge was 80 completely devastated Liat those peopie were competied 10 live upon land crabs, So widespread is the desoiation that we cannot hope to regain our 108303 unaided, and therefore 1 appeal to you lor ald, Jf you cannot assist us otlerwise give us your sympathy and prayer. This you can give and be benefited by the giving; for, remember that he who 1s wrapped up in himself, whose thoughts are but applied to {he proviem how he shall vest benetit himaseif, and wap has no interest In the good of his Teliows, is the most puserable of men. THE BROADWAY TABERNACLE. Dr. Thompsows Farewell Sermon—His Ac- knowledgment to His Congregation. At the Broadway Tabernacle church yesterday morning Dr. Thompson made the following acknowledgment of the gift of $55,000 by his peopie:— “] will pay my vows unto the Lord now, in the resence Of all His people, in the courts of the Pons house, m the nitest of thee, O Jerusaiem.’” For I feel tt to be a religious duty as well a3 & per- sonal privilege here upon the Lord’s day and in the Lord's house, and ag in the face of all the world, with devout thanksgiving to Almighty God, an with overwhelming gratitude to you my people, to testify of the muuificence—tie maguificeace— of the provision which yoa have made for my support and comfort to the end of my days. What ami, or what is my work, that you sould love aud cherish me after this sort? 1 receive your bounty with a numility as deep as tne gratitude with which I acknowledge it, Icaunct appropriate It to myself ag a personal favor, though your generosity has been pleased to convey tt under that form. Not anything in me, but that which is in you, is honored and wlusirated by this gift, Your loving consideration for the ofice of pastor in the Church of Unrist, your generous apprecia- tion of the ministry which Christ hath ordained, your loyal consecration to Christ himself as the Head of the Church—these are the sentiments which have found expression in @ gilt beyond precedent at once in its nobleness and in its tenderness. Not because I have lived among you for almost a gene- raticn, but because Ihave been your pastor; not that 1 may live without temporal anxiety in the fa- ture, but that I may be enabled to devote such strengih as God shall preserve to me unto His glory; for these highest, best of Christian motives it i that you have so honored yourselves in honoring your now disabled and retiring servant, Already has the report of your action been read io all the churches of the ‘and, showing that you estimate the oifice of pastor by a wealth of affec- tion that figures cannot express, by a senti- ment of honor that years cannot exhaust, It has been read in all the colleges and seminaries of tne land, teaching voung men that the love aud esteem of the Church wiil more than compensate for whatever worldly pros- pects they may renounce in devoting themselves to the ministry; it has been read in all busi- ness circies, reminding the world of the dig- nity and grace of Christian liberality; It has gone beyond the sea to furnish a new argument to those who are there contending that the voluntary affec- tion of a Christian brotherhood is stronger and richer than the endowments of a State establish- ment, I bless God in you, for you, through you, and I see in this your unanimous and sponianeous generosity towards your pastor, the pledve of your ce and heartiness of purpose in your future work, Personally I am greatly comforted that the secret trial which I had so long borne at last shared by you, and is re- lieved by a love so sympathizing, so con- siderate, 0 abounding. It was no small part of the burden that, for your sakes, I eit bound to carry it alone. When one is calied to contemplate the up- rooting o! his whole life, the sundering of the fond- est tes, the impertiling of most cherished interests, afiections, hopes, he must needs prepare himself for such an act by solitary communing with God. What- ever his secret grieis, before tue world he ought to show a Christian faith and cheerfuiness— enamelled, it may be, by passing through hidden fires, Under such a visilation no one can advise, no one can help him. He must make up his mind to accept aud todo the will of the Father, it was a@ great trial to me to feel that I must not reveal my purpose to my brethren until vhe moment for action had come. Had I done so the air wou:d bava been filed with rumors and sur- mises, and Isnouid have been overwhelmed with personal inquirler aud discussions. Better far was tue counsel of the Psaimist—“Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be sui.’ But when the judgment of physicians beep Aeh confirmed my own — forebodings threw myself upon tie confidence and Magnanimity oi & people whom I have never discriminated and never could discriminate in my relation as tie pastor of eaci and all alike; and tne rallying of your affectionate sympathy under this impartial trust 13 the expression and the pledge of Your yeep, learty wud abiding unity ia tue work of Ubrist, “seer es Ww PSs Rog ‘And now, dear brethren and friends, 1 have to force down my heart by power of will,’ lest in at- tempting to teil you how I thank = you, and how I jove you, I should appear “ too Weak before sou. Henceforth, whatever work do, whatever comfort I have, whatever memory I cherisu, whatever joy I feel will _be in- dissolubly linked to you. My very life for Christ's work will be your gift. And if for the illustration oi God's providence and Word { shall go down into Egypt it will be because my brethren have lifted me out of the pit and put me in Londs and sent me there. But tiese will be bonds of love and of grati- tude that shall hold me to you while life shall last, and shall draw me to you as my home circle in tne Father's house. May God supply ail your needs ac- cording to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus; and unto God and our Father be glory forever. Amon. ST. ANK’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Father Preston on the Uaioa Between Charch and State. The announcement made in yesterday’s HERALD that the pastor of St, Ann’s would preach on the subject above mentioned drew to the church a large congregation, comprising many opponents of the Catholic belief concerning that question, High mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Poole, and at the usual time Fatier Preston ascended the altar and found in the Gospel of the day—Matthew xxii., 16 21—the theme for his discourse. The Gospe! of the day, he observed, brings before us one of the most important subjects which can concern a commu- nity; and if ever there was a time especially appro- priate for the consideration of this great question, now 1s the day and the nour; for in that which Is called the march of PROGRESS AND CIVILIZATION the principles of morality and the higher truths of religion are lost sight of, and even Catholics are led away by the ¢azzling but fatal tenets which have obtained extensive credence in our times, The ad- vocates of these principles not only threaten to de- stroy the foundations of religion, but they venture tolay hands on the foundations on which rests society itself. It is now quite common for men to talk loudiy of things which they know nothing about—to cavil with the religious truths—to lay down the law through the public press and in every other way; and they dictate to their fellow men the course they ought to pursue without ever having investigated the topics of which they treat, On us it is incumbent to listen to that simpie enunciation of truth in to-diay’s Gospel, and then to see what are our duties as Catholics. The Pharisees accusea Christ of being an enemy of Cwsar, for they knew that He nad come to establish a new order of things im the spirituai world; and they thought to entrap Him and get Him to say something which conla ren- der Him liable to be brought before a public tribunal. Christ answered thetr question witout going into its merits. but while CESAR HAD RIGHTS, and the community owed him things, ft was trae that God had rights, and tie community should pay Him certain things, Here our Lord teaches us the independence of the divine and spiritual order. The temporal order 1s like wise independent in its aim and sphere. And while neither can invade the domain of the other, the spiritual order 1s the guide of the other to its true destiny. The temporal authority is from God and depends on Him for its existence, It is the right of government. Society demands for its protection and man demands a government in the temporal order. It is perpetuated throughout the age But, although the essence of the government remains ever the same, the form may change; and whatever be the form tne authority of God is with it, and is with every government rightly established, There 18 no authority but God; for, 1m the natural orders, no man 18 greater than I; and unless God gives other men the power by which “kings reign and princes decree justice,” 1 am not bound to ren- der them obedience, hence I could RESORT TO REVOLUTION at pleasure; and if such a principle of revolution be admitted there 1s no more society, St. Paul says, “There is no power but that which is or- aained of God;? and the powers that be are en- titled to obedience. The spiritual power stanas on a higher plain, and has nothing to do with the tem. ae Sphere, unless to guide men through it to the lestined land of beatiiude, It nolds its credentials trom God, and every man owes obedience to God, Need proofs be given of this tact? Did not God himself hold communication with man through the prephets in tne olden times? Pid He not sustain the Jewish theocracy and prove auch by many miracies? And in latter days who 1s there so bold as to deny the truths of Uhristianitty—to deny the existence of the Qathollc Church—the greatest of | spiritua ber =: 2 uth vag miracies—assalied by enemtes on all sides? Her sole aim ts to conduct man to his natural and true destiny; nay, tis Ged himseif intervening in men’s affairs; for wnat intervention cad be greater than Re iv my: yw as earth? It lifts ian FAR ABOVE THR TEMPORAL and above reason itself. What, then, are the rela- tious between them? ‘They cannot be united so that one shall ecli or cancel the other or destroy 13 functions; such # union would be destruction, A spiritual ruler may, ern fill =the = oflice of @ ‘temporal ruler, put he does not necessarily thereby destroy the existence or indopendence of temporal order. But the near OMnnot pny, Yt a sts srare”” Much, 2 yore ee leas can the temporal say to ind SPiritual, “Could down trom your loity eminence and ovey me; I wil contro! you and chain and imprison your ministers: lam supreme.’ No. The only union there can be between them ts that in which the State shall obey the voice of God speaking through the spiritual power, and shall accept that guidance which alone can lead men to eternal happiness. Now, there is- no spiritual power but in the Catnolic Chureh; for there can ve none in other sects, which don’t’ pre- tend to guide the people and don’t agree them- selves. In religion there must be some such guiding and the pastor, Rev. L. S, Weed, cautioned the people against crowding. Mr. Guard offered up a fervent prayer, and afterward preached a most eloquent sermon from James i., 18—“‘Of His own will begat power—yea, there MUST BE INPALLIBILITY, because God 18 infallible. ‘Ibe Uathollc Church has been, and shail ever be, a Kingdom which no power can overthrow. Tnis kingdom 18 not of this worl indeed. We are told that she desires both here an in Europe to usurp the temporal and make herself beth Church and State, jut has she ever laid un- just hands on the temporal? Kings sought to crush her; yet she invariably taught men to submit to the powers that be, “not only tor wrath, but for conscience sake,’’ and that revolution and rebellion led wo anarchy, Men may grow wise, as they think; but tru.n suall remain imimutabie. The preacher contrasted at length the action of the Catholic Church with that of heterodox rulers, who persecuted Catholics even to death, and he condemned the established religions of ‘Russia and England~especially the latter—where the bishops are more subservient to the privy council than to God. The Catholic Church never shall attempt to control the goverament. She cannot so debase herself, because her mission is to teach the truths of revelation and the principles which should be men’s ue through life, her voice be only heard, the . FABRIC OF OUR GOVERNMENT shall never he rent by such terrible revolutions as have been witnessed in other countries. In vonclu- sion, perauis me to put you on your guard against two heresies, which are te be found in aimost wer jJournal:—First, that there is no tem- por wer from God; that governments are only from tie will of the people, and that when @ man obeys his governor he obeys him-_ self, Now, if the government of the United States has no authority frcm God I am free to disopey it, and I do [rise against peace, happtness and pros- perity, And men may with their own hands over- turn our government. Far from such unholy vhoughts ts the heart of every Catholic, because he knows that in rebelling against it he rebels inst God. The other error is that there is no spiritual autnority whatever. Now, if there be no objective spiritual authority there is none, for what authority can have its origin in me alone? Beware, there- fore, of this error which denies God himself, Christ the Lord, by whose blood alone men can saved; which denies the natural order and reason itself, and would thus tmaugurate a reign of UNIVERSAL SCEPTICISM. One word more. If those who write and talk about the Catholic Church, without knowing either herself or her history, could only penetrate the hearts of her children and know them, they would meit down for very shame. They may drive Catholics from places of honor, call their ministers by approbrious names, calumniate them and manacie them. What Ol all this? Did the cross on which they cruciiied Christ put an end to Christianity? The more they deny us and oppose us the more we will stand in serried ranks, ‘@ shall have no fear; and in our captivity we shall have but one prayer—that God may forgive them and avert His wrath from the people wno have ventured to put impious hands upon our ministers. Father Preston concluded with an animated exhortation to stand fast by the prin- ciples of rignt aud justice derived trom the lessonin the gospel of the day, JOHN SIREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, The Origin, Me and Purposes of Man’s Redemption—Sermon by Rev. Thomas Goard. One hundred and three years ago the first Metho- dist church on this Continent was erected where the Present edifice in John street stands. At every recurring anniversary the present and old members unite together in celebrating this important event. Yesterday the old church Was crowded from morning till evening. The Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Peck, D. D., President of Syracuse University, preached an able discourse in the morn- ing, and Rev. Thomas Guard, of the Irish Wesieyan Conference, preached eloquently in the evening. The intermediate hours, save those required for home calis, were spent in prayers and experience giving. The annual report of the treasurer showed that on the estimated ‘ . RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE ($4,690) for this conference year there would bea deficiency in the receipts of $2,500, This sum was, therefore, raised by subscription during the day— $600 of it baving been raised in the evening and $1,900 in the previons part of the day. There was ot standing room in the old church last evening, He us with the word of trath, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” His theme was personal salvation, and he divided his text according to its natural divisions. First, as to its origin—Of His own will begat He us; second, the means by which it is accompiished—“with the word of truth; and thirdly, the end proposed by human redemption—namely,’ “that a kind of first fruits of Our saivation is the result of design and purpose of the counsel of God—His wili' not merely in its potentiality, but in the thoughts of His heart toward us. If God had not saved us of His own will we should never have been saved. ‘ihe super- apounding love of God 1s a mystery and ever will be tous. The objects and charcterislics of human love were portrayed and applicd to Jehovah’s love for us. e were not necessary to the Creator’s exist. ence at all, He said, yet He loved as, and if we could only understand Him how much of loathing that love had to rein in—onur hearts a mass of corrnption and vice—then should we understand how that none bus we should be His creatures.” A BEING OF INFINITE LOVE could think of ua The spontanelty, impartiality, patience, &c., of this Divine love, the condescension and humiliation of Christ in manifesting, it were thrillingly set forth by Mr. Guard, who remarked that not until we can understand all this can we fully appreciate the amplitude of this love—of the Divine will in begetting us. In a certain sense, he sald, it 18 @ diMcult thing to accomplish the soul’s salvation. This was amply lilustrated, showin; the free agency of man, the Po yd He! of God, the quickening of the spirit and the culmination of various events in men’s lives leading them to God. The idols upon which our affections are set are swept away. Commercial failures, disastrous con- fiagrations, financial revulsions—the props pe which men build their hopes are cut away as ina Moment by these, Like as an eagle futtereth over her {gone and stirreth 80, the Lord deaieth = with 8 children. He knocks of @ twig of the nest here aud there, as it were, until the young aa finds her nest too uncomfortapie and is compelled to make an at- tempt to fly upward, and then He puis the ever- lasting arms underneath and bears the soul aloft. ‘The nature of sin and the different theortes of men respecting 1t8 origin were detaued, and therefrom was drawn the necessity for the AGENCY OF THE DIVINE srrRiT to accomplish this great work. The second divie sion of the suuject was very beautifully tllus trated and enforced. God's interest in man was shown; the subjection of human souls to moral restraints, the conduct of life which the result of the creed, or what every man velteveth in nis heart and the governing influence and power of ideas, were clearly set fortn. If you will change @ man’s conduct, said the preacher, you must change nis character, and Mf you would change that you must change the !deas that gover him. This point was variously illustrated, changes our character and conduct by truth— Word of truth,” the gospel of tne grace of The jaw 18 the schoolmaster which drives us to Christ. Bat then we must have an intelligent faith in Jesus Christ @ universal Saviour and a viour—ever living to make intercession for us and henee abie to save to the utiermost all who come unto God through Him. Tne idea of first fruits as dedicated things, a8 good and pure was descanted upon, and then it was shown what God designed in makipg us first fruits of his crea- tion, And under this head Mr, Guard very justly held up to execration the vulgar and obscene prints tions which are to be found on almost every street corner. Art, photography, poctry, song and the press are prostituted to vice and crime. Great indeed must be the liberty of the country that allows those things to exist at all. He regretied that his eyes should ever have rested on them. He closed with an eloquent appeal to the unconverted, ner nest, 13 as a divine Saviour, living Sa- and pubile: EPISCOPAL CHURCH. ST. ANN'S Sermon by the Rev. Stephen F. Holmes—Our Duty Is to Follow Christ. Yesterday morning, at St, Ann’s charch, the Nev. Stephen F, Holmes, the assistant minister, preached an impressive sermon to @ large congregation from John xxt, 22;—"Follow thou Me.” He began his discourse by showing that the Jews, at the time of the birth of our Saviour, were looking for the ap- pearance of @ temporal prince, a Messiah who should rule over them with imperial majesty, bat that they would not acknowledge Christ because he told them that “lita kingdom’ was not of this world,” Hg went gn to ahow that the Goripures, teagh With & remarkable dintinctness the divinity ara human- ity of Chris!, that He was truly God and truly man, and that, while some overlook, ignore or deny His Godhead, some, on the other hanJ, practically for- Ln His humanity, ‘The result is that those whe ny His Godhead, while acxnowiledzing Hia almost superhuman nature, are resting their salya- tion on the morality of thelr tives, insiead of look- Ing to Onrist avd ng on His atonoment for the forgiveness of their sins, ‘To be eternally saved Wo must obey the conditions Goa. has laid down in His Gosper. We must repent and believe. Cnrist ad- dressesjthe words ‘foliow thou Me" to us, In 1ollow- it We shall have our active duties to perform He then proceeded to point out that the human mind has aspirations after somethtug hizher and above this material universe. and that this principie God had Implanted Tu the Human mind, kyon the holy angels yearn alter occupation. ‘vhey are iuiauo- tering angels sent forth to muisier; they minister to Onrist, and they are employed as messengers of God in winging their flight to earth on erranas of love, and thus it is that the angelic yearniug ts grati- fled.- An idie iife 18 an unhappy one; and ay the angels are devotional in their nature so 1s there in the mind of men a religious faculty. But what did Curst do that we should follow Him? He went about doing good,-healing the sick, cleansing te leper, raising the dead, and oftimes when ho was weary, sick and hungry. Let us, thea, follow Christ, so faras we are able, by going about “doing good,” Curist's life was a lite of praver. He prayed in the moun- tain and inthe wilderness. He outpoured His soul te God. Then let us follow Christ by letting our life be alife of prayer—in the closet, im the tamil: and inthe Church, We must above all things be prayerful. In the hour of trouble or when tempta- tion surrounds us we inust look to Christ for de- liverance. If we fohow Christ we sha'l not only have happiness on earth, but insure a giortous re- Ward throughuut eternity, NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATIONAL Civaca. Human Merey to Be Modelled After Divine Merey—Zaccheus Held Up as an Example te Pillagors of the City Treasury—sermon by Rev. Dr. Morrell Richard-on. There was the usual large attendance at the ser vices yesterday morning at the New England Con- gregational church, corner of Madison avenue and Forty-seventh street. Rev. Dr. Morrell Richardson preached one ot his usual eloquent discourses, which Was listened to with marked attention, His subject was ‘THE DIVINE MERCY OUR BXAMPLE,'’ and the text upon which it was based, Luke vi, 33—— “Be ye vherefore merciful, as your Father also is mercifuL” In God both justice and mercy are per- fect. Could we grasp ail divine attributes in thelr fulness we should fad no antagonism. His charae ter is aunit, Mercy and justice are eternal attri butes of His being. God pities, forbears, has com- passion, exercises patience and pardons a3 occasion calls, He also condemns, executes judgment, shows His righteous wrath, turns against men and nations, rejects and casts off as the case demands, after further preparatory observations showing hat God, being supremely good, aims only at supreme good, he proceeded to consider the BXTENT OF GOD'S MERCY in His clemency, compassion, tenderness, pity, for- bearance, pardon, abounuing grace—in a word, ail that is included in the word mercy, God goes as far asmercy can go. To do more in this direction would defeat the merciful ends in view, ‘The Bible takes this ground, it would take a whole sermon to quote its passages. Mercy began with the race. The only New Testament repeats the idea that God would bestow more mercy mea would receive it. Men resist His pill, reject His truth, grieve Hts spirit, stop their ears and harden their hearts, Taey will not let God rule over them. He would have ail mea come to the truth and be saved. No matter about their talents, light, age, condition—these are naught; these are not in the way. God's mercy, like the sun and the rain, is impartial and universal. His mercy reaches to the clouds; it delves the deepest depths of the ocean; it takes within its scope the breadtti of tae Deavens; it ig illimitable, inexhaustible and over all dus works, Having exhausted this brancn of his jiscoatsé hé entered upon the second topic—sa inquiry 5 WHAT MBROY CANNOT DO. It cannot alter creation or repeal a singie law of Nature. Not a jot or tittle of Goa’s law or govern. ment can fail. God never reverses the course of nature to allow men peace or picasure in money. Good men and bad suifer alixe under natural laws. God pities the poor, the outcast, every suffering hu- man being, but it does not change the order of na~ ture. Klaborating this point more at length he next dweit upon the suderings which have to be borne through the folly, carelessness or sins of others. He pictured as terrible the burdens which wicked governments placed apon the industrions, and the tax the vices and crimes of socl- ety lay upon the virtuous. God sees it best to let men see these things and apply the remedies. In this way extremes of evil, like extremes in the elements, tend to correct ubemselves. Men need the instruction and discipline which comes trom such evils, God would that men should turn trom their iniguities; but He will not compel them. A father may command, entreat, expostulate, yet leave the responsibility with theson. While men go on in transgression they cannot be blessed. referred to the prodigal son, and showed that men cannot recelve mercy till they return to the law of duty. God does not inflict suffering arbitrarily or capriciously. He created our nature for good. Every law of body and soul has good for ltsend, We can obey and live, or rebel and die. Ta conclusion he snowed bow meu can be mercifal, as God is merciful. We cai do good to tho: do evil; we can bless, and not cirsd; we can be patient and forbearing towards wrong- doers; we can pity the poor and _ guil we can entreat and persuade to mght; can beseech men to be reconciled to God, we cap follow Christ in Iis patience with evil, and this, too, without countenancing sin; we can condemn sin @nd wickedness, We can ask for the criminal law to be executed with the guilty and yet desire every criminal to cease to do evil—that is, our sense of justice is in keeping with our sense of mercy. Im our private reiations we can exercise clemency aud to all meu. So can we maintain law and government as part of mercy. Governments are of God, It would be injustice and cruelty to the inno- cent to let thieves and assassins and incendiaries go unpunished, CIVIL LAW MUST HAVE ITS COURSE, as God’s natural law, else ail good would be de- siroyed. But while we demand justice we can de mercilul, as God is merciful, There isa good dea) of talk of py, and mercy for great criminals, Gladly would we have great criminals so confess, repent, restore and reform that we could actually bestow pity and mercy. Why wili they not come under term3 of mercy? But if they scora mercy, if they ask it not and will not receive it, how can it be given? When Zaccheus said, “if I nave taken more than is right I will restore fourfold.” Christ replied, ‘Salvation ts come to thy house’? Notable men there are in thts city who should fol- low the example of Zaccheus, aud the same mercy and salvation might be the.rs. TERESA’S CHURCH. sT. Our Duty to God and Ovr Fellow Men Eloqnent Sermon by the Kev. Father Flattery. There was a large and attentive congregation at this beautiful edifice yesterday, and the services— rendered additionally impressive by appropriate music—were, as usual, performed with all the solemnity characteristic of the Roman Catholic Church, The iast mass was commencea at half- past ten o'clock, the Rev. Father Boyce ofictaung as celebrant, At the termination of the first gospeb the Rev. Father Hugh Flattery preached a very eioquent and exhaustive sermon, taking his text from the gospel of the day according to the twenty- second chapter of St. Matthew :—‘Render, there fore, to Cwsar the things that are Cwsar’s, and to God the things that are Gud’s.” The reverend gen- tleman went on to say that im ordinary speech Cwrsarism is synonymous with grinding despotism, unrestrained indulgence and pagan ignorance, The Cesarism of the Gospel 16 of a different and more comprehensive character. 1: is comprised under three heads—our pnysicai heal‘h, our ngtural rosperity, and our just obilgations to’ ctvil soci bye Petnder each of these three jandimarks whet mark the horizon, dividing free will and respon- Bidility in lie from the guerdon which snail recom- pense them for a perpetual hereafter, we are apt to ive to Cwsar the things that are God's. It is law- ful to sendy, tie demands of bodily health. The opposite of this were ee oeANATICISM. AND SURER SUPRRSTITION. Disease and sickness are essential parts of | Ang A nature. To take care of heaith is but gine oe Cwsar what is truly his. But many trespass bey = the allotted limits. They seek nealtn as ao supe: good, not as a relative benefit. They value ae the result of their own tact and ju ment ue than as the bounty of Him from at descendeth every good and pertect gift. ALL EXPERIENCK AND HIStORY “ show the more the body 18 pandered the louder: e ncreased indulgence. ‘ihe palate kills mo matinan cue sword, ldleness ts the hardest Iavor, ‘The saints, men and women like ourselves, lived longest and worked hardest and thought least of ease. The energies of the body are best vitalized by incessant labor. Undue greéd of wealth con- founds the rights of God wita the iasatiavle de- ma aay OpROSPRRuTY HONORAPLY ACHIRVED {a not to be cevsured, This is tne theory of the Communist and wicked men who fll prisons and reformatorlt conspiring against hard labor, honest capital, sound government and tue mult. ied blessings accruing to soclety from the sta~ jlity and diffusion of religion, The Founder of Chrisuanity, Mf poor by choice, was descouded by choice of the royal race of David and Solomon, who had wealta and power in their day. The hierarchy and the people trace thelr pedigree to the palace and the hovel of misery. Catholio wealth is seon in the eee cathedrals of Europe, This noble spirit is not ®@ thing of the past, It is seen tn the voluntary suD- port by all pationa of the menudicant ghiel of tha