The New York Herald Newspaper, May 19, 1873, Page 4

4 ‘THB CITY'S CHRISTIANITY. Religious Events Yesterday in the Metropolis and Its Envirors. Brilliant Dedication of aMeth- odist Temple. Congregational Singing of the Responses at St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT A CRIME. The Rev. Mr. Sweetser Moralizing on the Hanging of Lusignani and Nixon. THE SEVERAL SCHEMES OF SALVATION, Frothingham Defending Rationalism as the Safest Oreed—No Hereafter at All Bet- ter Than the Orthodox Hereafter. Beecher on the Letter and Spirit of the Bible— A New Way of Using Old Clothes. Opening Services at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Dr. Dix Denouncing Ma- terialism. Yesterday was bright and hope-inspiring, and nature was full of fair and glowing promise. The frail and tender children ef Gotham went forth in varied, rich and pleasing attire to perform with humility their solemn duties of devotion. It was really surprising how great and grand was the ex- hibition of piety. The fashionable streets and ave- nues were overflowed by the glittermg stream of worshippers who make an abnegation of self in their aspirations aiter Heaven. There was a per- fectly dazzling medley of beautifal raiment and emiling faces, young and oid. In humbler quarters, too, there was even a greater tide of worshippers: but, then, it was the same tide almost that on every Sabbath rolls towards the portals of praise, whether the sky smiles or frowns, Several religious events of real interest occurred yesterday and will be found faithfully reported be- tow. BI. STEPHEN’3 ROMAN OATHOLIC CHURCH. Congregational Singing—A Partial Re- turn to the Early Discipline of the Church—Sermon by the Rev. Father Fiynn—Devotion to the Mother of the Incarnate. The high mass at St. Stephen's church yesterday morning was celebrated by the Rev. Dr. McGlynn. The grand and apparently novel feature of the service was the singing of the responses by the congregation. This manner of celebrating the great eucharistic sacrifice 1s by no means an inno- vation in the ceremonials of the Catholic Church. According to the discipline of the early Church the entire congregation present at high mass were ex- pected to respond to the salutations and solemn imvitations of tne priest at the altar, Even at the present day high mass is celebrated in many towns and villages on the Continent of Europe and in Canada with congregational singing of the re- sponses, And it would be difficult to find a more complete, intelligent and edifying expression of the homage and admiration due the bloody sacrifice of the new law. It was certainly a pleasant sight yesterday in St. Stephen’s to see the faithful—iearned and igno- rant, high and low, rich and poor—engaged in sing- ing the praises of Him in whose house they were assembled. Although the congregation had had several rehearsals last week, under the direction of Dr. McGlynn, and the pews were well supplied With sheets of music contaming the versicles and responses, with the Gregorian chant, the people did not join with that vim and courage which only practice can beget. The tameness and timidity which invariably accompany first efforts in public will disappear in time, and the people will be able to taste the sweetness as well a8 delight and feel the grandeur 01 congregational singing. Alter the first Gospel the Rey. Father Flynn as- cended the pulpit and preached ‘4 GOOD PRACTICAL SERMON on devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He said:—"During the month of May the Church in- vites her children to pay special homage and honor to the Mother of the incarnate. She bids them implore in a particular manner her aid and Betecton in all the vicissitudes, trials aud temp- tions which are continually harassing us day aiter day. And, indeed, my friends, there is no one alter God wore worthy of our homage; no one after God who loves us more tenderly. ’ She is, therefore, most willing to obtain from her Divine Son favors, graces and privileges for us. She con- siders us her children, since we were specially eu- trasted to her by Christ on the cross, when in His last moments He turned to His biessed mother and said, “Woman, behold thy sou.” And then turn- ing to His beloved discipie He bid St. John to behold His mother. In these words the fathers and saints of the Church always Tecognized the will of the Incarnate God, that we should consider the Bicssed Virgin as our mother, and that she shonld regard us as her children, whom she should protect, gig and love with a mother’s love. Mary is, tien, 0 mother; We are her children, and hen and propriety 6! paying her devotion. But, my iriends, w ourselves with merely singing the praises of our oHering ap to her our prayers. to render our devo- tion botn sterile and barren, and consequently without fruit. We must go still further. We must endeavor te imilate her in ser ues; for as every parent is obliged to instr not by word, but by example, so is y imitate the good example oi Mary was the mode! of every charitable, full 01 faith and hope; humility was her constant companion; purity aud modesty shone forth in ber every word, in her every action, | Exact was her obedience, heroic her patience, ter- vent her prayers. She was THE LILY OF THE VALLEY, the rose ameng thorns, the most beautifl among the daughters o1 Jerusalem. Every virtue adorned the soul of Mary. Her heart was a garden decked with the choicest flowers of virtue. Yet there are two virtues to which I desire to cail your attention, which were the foundation of the others and made Mary so beantiful in the sight of God. I mean her ardént charity for Ged and her profound humility. Wonld that Peonid but pence won all to imitate Mary in her love towards Seat Would that I could induce you to pluck frora your hearts all that savors e aud by so doing render yourselves worthy ry’s protection! One thing alone is ne ary é our souls, Let us in this world love by keeping His commandments, by obeying His holy law. 08 Conform our Will to His will, Let us be humble, Let us pray to Mary that she may be tous a kind and loving mother; that she, by her intercession, may enable us to imitate her virtues during life; that at the hour of death we may be able to say with St. Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my cause, I have kept the faith. As to rest there is laid up for me a crown of justice which the Lord, the just judge, will render unto mein that day.” After the communion the Rev. Dr. McGlynn con- gratulated the congregation on their first attempt *F SINGING THE RESPONSES. fle told them that with a little more practice and a great deal more confidence Fore bes make con- gregational singing @ success in St. Stephen's, He advised them to take the music home with them and practise with their families, and be present at the rehearsal this evening, at which he Will assist. Many of the congregation took the music sheets with them, and will in all probability follow the ad- vice of their pastor, 8T, FRANCOIS XAVIER'S CHURCH Close of the Jesuit Mission—Results— Money for a New Church—Converts trom Other Churches. Yesterday the Jesuit mission in St. Francis Xavier's church, Sixteenth street, was brought to termination by the celebration of High Mass and benediction by Father Haxbier. Measures will be | taken, as one result of the mission, to raise funds | for a new sacred edifice, the present one to be con- verted into a sodality assembly hall. Father Glack- meyer preached, the burtien of his discourse being “temptation.” ‘He adduced the example of our Lord himself, who was brought cn the summit of @ high mountain by the devil and offered all the kingdoms of the world if He would fall down and worship him. But Jesus said, ‘Hegono, Satan, for itis written ‘thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’ Christians should taus resist the tempta- tions of the Evil One, who is still on the alert to destroy as many souls as he can. Father Glack- merer stated that several have become converts to Catholicity during the two weeks of the mission. LYBIO HALL The Different Schemes of Salvation—The Evangelist and the Rationalist—Sere mon by the Rev. O. B. Frothingham. The attendance at Lyric Hall, Forty-second street, opposite Reservoir square, yesterday morning, was largely made up of people belonging to the fasiion- able world. The subject of the discourse was the “Scheme of Salvation.” The word salvation, Mr. Frethingham began, is the great word of Protest- antism, and means safety, which means heaith, Health consists imthe perfect adjustment of any creature to its condition. The body is in perfect health when it 1s menaced by nothing from within in the shape of inherited disease, and by nothing from without in the shape of calamity and disappointment. The healthy mind is not tormented by doubts it cannot dispel, nor by prejudices it eannot overcome, and feels itsell at home in the mental! world. The health of the heart consists in its perfect adjustment to the world of affection in which it lives, when the de- sires are pure and the object attainable. In what does the health and salety in the salvation of the soul consist? In the great world of Providence andina SIMPLE AND PERFECT TRUST inthe order of the world. It is said that the safest creed is the most desirable. Salvation has always been associated with the hereafter—the future being. lt does not mean the health of mind, soul or body, but the healthful state of existence to come. If it can be proved that there is a hell, if we can be assured of its character, that which is wisdom here 1s iolly there ; fondness here, evil there, that men eat with their ears and worship with the soles of their feet, then we can listen to the proposition of the Evangelist and run our eyes over his policy. If hell is a place which we know nothing about, how to get into or how to get out of, we feel suie itis an unexplored region, and are periectiy confident that as to-day is the result of yesterday and as to- morrow will be the result of to-day, so the future, be it long or short, must follow from the present. A SOUL THAT IS SAFB now is safe always. The great saptist preacher, in Boston, Father Taylor, said, touching the future life o1 Raiph Waldo Emerson, “It 18 certain he can not go to heaven, because he is not a Christian; but 1 he goes to hell they will not kn»w what to do with him.’? What composes the safest creed would imply universal knowledge, @ periect ad- Justment of man to his surroundings. A pericct creed is but a perfect theory 01 the world. We can only tell in what it does not consist. No creed 1s a safe one that rests on insecure foundatious. If the corner stone of St. Peter’s should be loosened the building would fall. None of the beauty of its shrines would save it, Herculaneum was a@ lovely city, but built at the foot of Vesuvius and turned to stone, All its pictures and paintings could not save it from destruction. EVERY CREED MUST FALL if there is any insecurity in the corner stone, It is wrong to found @faithon asiender column. The Protestants base their faith on the Bible. If the Bible were 8 monumental book and an exception to all numan books, something abnormal in the world that no critic could teach them tne position might hold. But the Bible has all the marks of A HUMAN PRODUCTION. Scholarship and criticism have been at work, and have proved that the doctrine, its infaliibility, is wildly insane The Church does not rest on the Bible, but the Bible on the Church. The Church is not so safe a refuge after all, and many have leit it, The Rationalist receives help from a prima source. If his rights are questioned he falls bac upon the prophecy of the human race, science and philosophy. Rationalism is the THE SAFEST OREED. It has no questionable dogmas, and it feels in perfect sympathy with the human heart. The doc- trine 1s of to-day, not of yesterday. The whole scheme of redemption assumes health. It the doc- trine of hell is modified the whole scheme of re- demption isshortened, Tue human heart cries out against it. If there were no alternative but the orthodox belief in hereafter it were better there were no hereatter at all, Quiet annihilation would be better than to have creatures doomed to ever- inne agony, and immortality would be a curse, not a blessing. Who could bear to live that another should die ? FOURTEENTH STREET CHURCH, Twenty-Second Anniversary—Sermon by the Rev. Asa D. Smith, D. D. ‘The twenty-second anniversary of the Fourteenth street Presbyterian church was celebrated yester- day by the devoted communicants of the churoh according to a programme prepared by the follow- ing committee:—Stephen Cutter, Edward P, Walling, Frank A. Ferris, A. T. Wilds, Henry E. Crampton, Charles L. Watson and Albert C, Donald- son. The proceedings, beginning at nine A. M. in the Sabbath school hall, continued throughout the day. They were as follows:—Nine A. M., Sabbath school; 10:30, sermon by the Rev. Asa Smith; 6:45, young people’s service of praise; 7:20, reunion service. PRESBYTERIAN THE MORNING SERVICES were participated in by a large and devout congre- gation, many of whom heard the frst sermon ever preached within its walls. As the day was a su- perd one, the air mild and balmy, and the sun Warm and cheery, many who are not ordinarily church-goers were present. The occasion was rendered particular! happy. by the presence of Dr. Smith, President of Dartmouth College, who was the first pastor of the society. It is now many years since his eloquent voice was heard in this city from the pulpit of the Fourteenth street Presbyterian chure! His appearance is still graceiul aud commanding, and, though age has whitened his hair, it has not touched the silver melody of his voice. His discourse was an exceed- ingly clear and able exposition of the NECESSITY OF SPREADING THE TRUTH through the agency of the Christiah Church. ‘The Churen is the pillar and ground of truth,” said the preacner, Not to be under the influence of truth ‘was like a human being endeavoring to sustain life in an exhausted receiver. It was in ethics and re- ligion what light was to the material universe. After an elaborate exposition of the aims and pur- poses of the Church, which he characterized as the prominent feature in history—in fact as histor; itseli—he touched upon the twenty-second anni- versary, which had brought his hearers together, This alniversary suggested FOUR ELEMENTS which marked the twenty-two years of its labors. The doctrinal element. The working element. The giving element, ‘The social element, He was gratified to say that the strong doctrines of that Church had never yielded to the teachings of Lela gossip or the cant of modern sciences. He was able to say that no ROSEWATER THEOLOGY had ever been preached there. Of the working element its efforts had been jelt steadily since the union of the two Churches forming the present society in missionary labor, home and ioreign. The giving element had also shown generosity and had grown with the growth of time. But it was the social element which united the other three and made no distinction in their Church be- tween the rich man and the poor one. Many of the old faces which he used to see during his eee Bexar hes could appear no more in this world. Death had removed many; but it was a source of happiness to still recognize some of his early co- laborers, PARK AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. Our Opportunities of Doing Good—How Men’s Sincerity is Tested by Opportu- nity—Sermon by the Rev. Ur. Ander= son. At the Baptist church in Park avenue, corner of Tnirty-ninth street, the Kev. Dr. Anderson preached @ masterly sermon, which was listened to with deep attention by a large congregation. He se- lected as his text Galations vi, 10—‘As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith,” He began his discourse by saying :— The deepest groan of wretchedness that heaves the breast of despair utters itself in the wat!, “Oh, 1am of no use to any one.” And the misery out of which it 18 most difficult to Iift the sufferer is that blank inanition where all interests and eiforts for others cease, ‘ DOING GOOD 1s a necessity of life. Where itis not existence ts intolerable, Man must live for some one else be- sides sell, or he must perish in despair. Christ's life aud death on earth, though one protracted suffering, were made tolerable and glorious on ac- count of His doing good to ua, That which would have inade Gethsemane insufferable would have been the fact that He was not permitted to do good to others. And the Holy Spirit farnishes a heay- enly compensation for all ihe tribulations through which we enter the Kingdom by presenting oppor- tunities of doing good, There ia not a day, however dark, that dawns upon us, but there 1s @ call irom some one mere uniortunate for our bright. We are not commanded to do good with- out opportunity, Opportunity! Wivhouc it waat would man be? Life would be one duil, dead waste. It 18 opportunity that gives exercise to every right ieeling; it is that which planis our monument upon the shore of eternity. OPPORTUNITY TESTS OUR SPIRIT of doing good. It reduces the romantic to the practical and separates the sentimental and the actual. Ged gives us opportunities to gauge the re- acs one praying, and iurnishes to our intentions and resolutions scope for exercise, Opportunity 18 the directory o! our Christian life. Jesus Christ's life was made up of OOpOr Hint eet oppor «nities embraced, Opportunity, when followed, maps out Ged's purpose respecting us from our new birth to heaven; the neglect of it leaves us inextricably entangled in THE DARK JUNGLES OF DOUDT and uncertainty, Doing govd is @ necessity of lie, Just in proportion as the opportunity of domg good 18 embraced do we have a vital unverstand ng of Christianity. We should feel the power and influence of all that God has designed us to do this world, The moment we have ceased to bear the burden of others we bave ceased doing good. Opportunity is the spirit’s interpretation to uso! the Bivle, We are told the leiter kitleth, the Spirit giveth lie. We have to live into every truth oi the bible or it is nothing to us. How earnestly shoud we make opportunity our study! We should read up on Christian investments, The reverend gentleman, in conclusion, made a fervent appeal for centributions to carry on the missions of the church, saying, “I bring before you this morning the evangelizing work that lies atten us inthis city. Your opportunity now is to ve." CHUROH OF THE HOLY NAME. Opening of the Mission Yesterday— Touching Sermon by Father Elliott, ot the Paulist Fathers—The Mission Reg- ulation. In the temporary chapel of the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, situate on Broadway, near Ninety-seventh street, a mission was opened yes- terday morning by the Paulist Fathers, Before the elevation of the Host, Father Elliott, one of the Paulists, ascended the pulpit, and aiter reading the regulations for the week, proceeded to deliver THR OPENING SERMON. His sermon was a most effective one, rich in grand ideas, which he clothed iu the simplest lan- guage, 80 as to make himself comprehensible to the humblest among his auditors, After stating that there were two plenary indulgences and several partial indulgences for those who performed the mission, he began his appodixis of the mission, He spoke in substance as follows :— “Go forth to all the world and preach to all crea- tures.” Those words from holy writ are our cre- dentials for coming among you. We are here to preach to you THE WORD OF GoD, and to exhort you to leave your sinful ways and return to the fold of the fuitnful. {suppose many of you would like to know the significance of the black cross which ts here on the altar, and the meaning of the white scari that is thrown across it, The black cross means penance and the white scarf represcnts God and mercy, ‘rhe first mission that we know of is the one which God gave to the world in the person 0! the second of the lioly Trinity, He looked irom His throne on high and viewed with a sad heart the DEPRAVED AND SINFUL STATE OF MAN, To remove this sin and corruption He sent a mis- sioner in tbe person. ol His oniy and most beloved Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to preach truth to mankind and wean them from their evil ways, ¢ mission to His Son was not only for all the world, but jor all time; and when Christ sealed His blessed mission with His sacred blood upon the cross, it was not closed, for He had said unto His disciples, ‘As the Father sent Me 1 also send you,”’ and iu these words are contained the * ORDINATION OF OUR WORK. which is a divine one, having come from God's own hand. This mission of ours is the sume one that St. Patrick took to the Irish, that St. Boniface took to the Germans and that St. Augustine of Canterbury took to the English, You are not in the same state of idolatry and ignorance which overshadowed these uutortunate People, who did not know of the existence of a God. But in one sense you are more at fault than they, for you have had opportunities of Knowing God, and you have not availed ronneelves of those opportunities, or you have iallen trom the Church through indiffer- ence, superinduced by evil communication or friends who, having no religion, tried to make you sceptical of the trutn of the Gharch's divine teachings and the Apocalypses of the inspired men, It is our desire that every man, woman and child in the parish attend the mission, and if they do this we will feel happy at knowing that we have made others so. ‘iene following are the regulations for the mis- ion :— Sunpar, May 18.—Masses at seven, eight and half past ten A.M. The mission will be opened with a sermon at the last mass, Vespers at half-pust three P. M., with ser. mon to the children. At halt-past, seven P. ‘M., rosary, sermon and benediction of the blessed sacrament. Monpay, Tuxspay anv WkpNEspayY.—First mass at five A. M., followed by an instruction; second mass at six A. M. and third mass at eight A. M., with instruction to the children. Evening service same as Sunday evening. ASCENSION, THURSDAY, Hey, 22.—Holy Day of Obligation. First Mass at 5 A. M., with instruction, second inass at 6 A. M., and High Mass, with sermon and communion of the children at 9 A.M. Evening service as usual. FRipay aNp Saturbay.—Masses at 6, 6 and 8 A, M. ual. ‘asses at 5, 8and half-past 160A. M. ast3 P.M. Evening service at hall-past vice the Papal Benediction will be given and the renewal of the baptismal promises wiil be sol- emnly made. Conrxssions willbe heard, on and after ieee ae 5to7 A. M.; 10 A. M. to 12 M., and from 3 to 6:0 P.M. and on Saturday night. Two Pixnany INDULGENCES and several Partial gences can be gained by those who make this 8T, PATRICK'S OATHEDRAL A Lovely May Sabbath at the Shrine of Praisc—Fashion Blending With Picty— Scrmon by the Rev. William Kearney, On “The Efficacy of Praye The beautiful month of May, which the Catholic Church has dedicated to the honor of the Blessed Virgin, gave a lovely Sabbath yesterday to all who felt disposed to enter their respective temples of worship. The Cathedral looked radiant with all the indications of happiness, neatness and beauty. The Virgin's altar and statue were literally buried in floral offerings donated by the good ladies of the parish and woven into magnificent bouquets by the hands of the pious Sisters of Charity. A fashionable congregation filled every available seat, and united their prayers in appa- rent devotion with those of the ministers of God’s special graces, High mass was celebrated with becoming dignity by tie Rev. John Kane, In the Sanctuary, assisting the Holy Sacrifice, were the Very Rev. Vicar General Quinn and the Rev. Father McNamee, with the usual number of aco- lytes, The music, presided over by Mr. Gustavus Schmitz, was as usuai very fine, The sermon was pieeohes by the Rev. Father Kearney. He chose jis text from the gospel of the Sunday, St. John, Xvi., 23-30—"Amen, I say unto you, Whatsoever ask the Father in my name He shall give unto you.’ This text he made the groundwork of his sermon on Indul- jon. THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER. Our Lord, he said, alter His resurrection and a& little before His ascension into heaven, was dis- coursing With His apostles and instructing them on the necessity and use of prayer. He told them “to watch and pray at all times, for they knew not the day nor the hour.’ Prayer, when uitered with true devotion, was a most powerlul appeal to the intelligence and mercy of God, IT BLEVATED THE SOUL from the sickly cares of earth to a higher sphere, and mingled its aspirations with the songs of the angels. Prayer has always its eifects. God always listens most attentively to the prayers of the righteous, and is also picased to hearken to the petitions of the sinner when presented with @ osition. These dispositions o1 the soul 0 Be its Own interest in prayer should be humility, confidence and perseverance. We must humble ourselves in prayer, for we are face to face with an omnipotent God, whom we have otiended @ thousand times by our transzressions, We must prey in confidence to the Kternal Facier through is Son Jesus Christ, who has said in the most encouraging manner, “Amon, | say to you, whatsoever you ask the Futher in my name He shall give anto you.” We must pray With perse- verance, remembering aiso the sweet worus oj the Scripture, “Be thou faithful unto death and | will give thee the crown of lite.” These are the chief characteristics of the gift of true prayer. But they are, alas, toe frequeutly forgotten by the greater number, and PRIDE, TLMIDITY, LUKRWARMNESS AND INDIPFER- BNCE substituted in their place. Hence many have reason to complaiu that their prayers have not been heard; but they themselves are to blame, ior instead of pleasing God they offend and make & mockery of Him. Some pray with true fervor and with the proper spirit. To these God is ever willing to listen, and if they receive not the direct object of their petition they are certainly rewarded by other special favor which God in his omniscient wisdom sees more fitting to grant. Alter dwelling still jurther on the uses and abuses of prayer, the reverend preacher finally urged upon his congregation the necessity ol its frequency and continuance, It was THE PEACE OFFERING OP OUR SOULS and the indication of our desire to renew our friendship with God, which should always remain with us under these circumstances, and it was an actof sweet submission which God could not but finally reward witha crown which He has promised, and the glory of His Kingdom which shineth for- ever. After concluding the Rev. Father Kearney an- nounced that next Thursday—being Ascension Thursday—would be observed ag a holy day of obli- gation, and also that veapers during the Summer hand, our help, which makes that day cheery and | NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MAY 19, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. Season would commencea on Sundays at four o'clock P, M., instead of at half past three. BLEECKER STREET UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. Mr. Sweetser on the Crime of Hanging— All of Us Responsible For It—Lusignant and Nixon—Civilization Still Back- ward. The Rev. Edwin Sweetser preached last evening on “ihe Death Penalty.” Preparatery to the ser- mon there was @ very short prayer ana four hymns were sung by the choir, Mr. Sweetser took his text from Galatians, 1, 6.—‘Brethren, 1! man be mistaken," &c, ‘the reverend gentleman said that on Thursday last a strange exhitition teok place in Morristown, and continued:—We are in the nineteenth cen- tury. Morristown ts in New Jersey and New Jersey is in the United States. On this occasion @ man was taken out of a prison and watened by a number of privileged spectators and by crowds who had gathered on the house- vops. He was gradually pal an end to, and his life was given u p to satisly the laws «f the land, which he had violated. Ye was a young man, in iis iull vigor and strength, and hud committed a murder by killing the wile who was uniatthiul to him. On Frday another just such sickening sigit took place in our own city of New York, in this case it ‘was that of 4 man Who had kliled another on the street in coid blood, In this case the man was choked to death, also to satisfy the law of the land, by @ number of persons specially appointed tor that purpose, The only difference between this and the Other scene was that here the death was mane gost and the c:owd more orderly, Now, what is THE REASON FOR HANGING MEN, and what food do such beastly exhibitions accomplish The State hangs. Those who simply are resent to periorm the ofiice are appointed by the otate and are in its pay. “Now every one of us 1s part of the State, and we are all peisonally accountable for the judicial hansing which takes place, We, the people, are the State; it is the same as if with our own hands we were to put the noose round the wretched criminal’s neck and strangle him. By consenting to such an exhibition in this country of civilization we are GUILTY OF THE SAME BARBARITY as the man who cuts ine rope. Ido not mean to say that hanging, by taking an eye ior an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a ii/e ior a lile, Was not right at one period of the world, But are we to coatinue the barbarous customs 0! our ancestors in this age of enlightenment? 1s there to be no advancement? Is it because a thing was right at one time o/ the world’s existence that it is mght at all times? Are we to have no progress? Is it possible that we, who are educated «nd enlightened, can seriously and conscientiously say that to take a man’s life in this manner, in cold blood, no matter what the cause, can be a righteous and civilized deed? That @ number of men should gather around a wretched being dangling in the air and watch his writhings and struggles ter lie and yet give him no help isa monstrous act in these days. Such things may have been necessary in a primeval state of society. Rut can such judictal crimes exist in tuture and wul they be prerece countenanced by a Christian community? The reverend gentieman went on to speak in no mild terms of the death penalty, and characterized it a3 an outrage upon us all, 8T. STEPHEN'S EPISOOPAL OHUROH. The Opening Services at St. Stephen’s Church—Materialism Considered anid Its Claims Denounceti=Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix. The congregation of St. Stephen’s church, whose edifice was furmerly located on the corner o¢ Broome and Chrystie streets, and which since 1866 has worshipped in various localities, held its opening services in their new church, on Forty- sixth street, east of Sixth avenue, yesterday. It purchased the building from the Church of the Ad- vent, and the two congregations will henceforth be united. Provision has been made for good church music in the selection of the following choir:—So. prano, Miss Clotilda Saar; contralto, Miss M. Liv- ingston; tenor, Mr. John J. D, Trenor; basso and director, H. P. Danks; organist, Professor Joseph Poznanski, The rector is the Rev. Joseph H, Price, D. D.; associate, Rev. A. B, Hart. The rector preached in the morning, and in the evening the Rev. organ Dix, D. D., of Trinity, delivered a discourse on the passage from Matthew iv., 4—“Man shall not live Br bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’” THE SERMON, In commenting on his text he stated that he should first proceed to show that a great trath is herein contained, and, second, to luy down certain rules for practical action, By the term bread herein ig indicated everything that tends to make life desirable—not only the meat we eat, but everything which ministers to man’s necessities, his comforts, his luxuries and his vanities an ride until the time of hisend comes and his iile here becomes as a tale that is told. As it is said man cannot live by bread alone, so there must be another side to life, and the question occurs, How does that side differ from the other, for which bread is the only requisite ? There are FOUR PHASES OF EXISTENCE. First, the elementary life; second, a chemical ex- istence, asim the minerals; third, vegetable lite— as of trees and plants; and, lastly, the animal, which is sensitive, pomeeaing consciousness, 1n- stinct, locomotion. If man possesses doen! but an animal lie he could live by bread alone. If his idea of immortality beyond the Bare, of another, @ higher and uobler existence, is a delusion, the result of education, a system of lies, then it is his privilege, as it is his duty, to think only of the pleasures and comforts oi this world, of houses and lands, of fine clothes, and all the luxuries that minister to his eujoyment. This is the Ett of a small school of thinkers, who are afraid to speak it out, and a much larger Class are affected by it. They believe that the soul never stretches out towards God, and that the only object of man is to attain success in this world. ‘They live by the assimilation of matter, propagate their kind and return to the earth whence they came. To them all thoughts of God, of moral law, of truth and divine harmony are phantoms. They see as through the fumes of opium. This philosophy will not do. It has against it the protest of the reaiman, He knows that he is more than an ani- mal; he has flashes of the Divine glory within him, While man can live by bread alone here, it is of the other higher life of which Christ speaks, and Says he shall not live by that alone. i cannot be more simply expressed than by that NOBLER PHILOSOPHY OF LIFB out from which arise truth, honor, purity, broth- erly kindness and charity, in the exercise of which we are led nearer to God. He argued that ideas, thoughts, the principles of truth, honor, love, &c,, could not be generated from matter—could notemanate from the phosphorus of the brain or from the spinal marrow more than from otatoes. Man has another side to his lite; the food for the sustenance comes from the spirit of God. The soul instinctively turns to Him as the child seeks its mother’s breast without being taught. He showed how children accepted the idea of duty as if by instinct, and claimed that the doubt and unbelief of later years are the result of sin and the devil, by which they are led away. He Jaid Gown certain principles for the guidance of lie and urged upon his hearers to ac- vep’ the Word of life rather than the bread which perisheth. Never give up one word of living power for the flesh pots and baubles in exchange. Keverence and sustain those who are,thus constant to duty in despite of the scoits of the world and of those who claim the greatest wisdom in tt. He denounced the materialists, who looked only to this life; to them there is no God. They ave id men of bad principles, and their lives are in accordance. He exhorted his hearers, in conclusion, for their souls’ sake, to live near to God as possible. Our aim should be to be near Him. Our ears should be open to hear Him and our wills so schooled tiat we can act in accordance with His commands, Let us make Clrist the meusure of our action, His cross the measure of our glory. He closed with some congratulatory remarks to the church members on the erection of the build- ing, and urged upon them and others to be con- ae in their support of the rector in his ministra- ions. MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH AT WHITE PLAINS, Dedication of an Elegant Methodist Church in Westchester County—De= scription of the Building—An Imposing Procession of Divines=Dedicatory Ser= vices—Sermons by Bishops Janes, Simp- son and Haven and Drs. Eddy, Foss and Curry. The Memorial Methodist church at White Plains, which has been in the course of construction for the past year, was set apart for divine worship With appropriate ceremonies on Saturday morning. Its erection forme an epoch in the history of Methodism in Westchester county, for in spacious- ness and elegance this new edifice equals most of the churches of this persuasion in New York. It is located upon @ commanding site on Railroad ave- nue, is 135 feet by 64, is built of Philadelphia brick trimmed with stole, has a spire 160 feet high and is furnished with a large and melodious bell, The entire cost of the church aud ground 18 about fifty-five thousand dollars. interior of the buildiug is neat and tasteful, there belag Lo unnecessary ornamentation, It is com- fortably furnished, has a fe organ, and seating capacity for 700 persons. A commodious chapel and Sunday schoo! room 18 the rear of the main edifice, On Saturday the chancei and pulpit were adorned with choice flowers, whese iragrance biended with tie worship of the assembled con- gregation, which was largely composed of ladies. THE SATURDAY SERVICES. A large number of distinguished ministers were in attendance, and previous to the commencement of the services formed in procession in the chapel, marched down the waiu aisle aud tavk seats in the pulpit and altar, among whom were Bishop Janes, Drs, Kddy, Curry, Osbon, Brown and others, The exercises Were commenced With @ voluntary by the choir. Rey. W. #. iatiield read the intro- ductory ritual service; Dr. Osbon recited a bymn commencing, And will the great eternal God On earth establi-h His abode? Rev. Dr, Curry, editor of the Christian Advocate, offered prayer, alter which selections of Scripture were read and @ hymn sung, in which the congre- gation united, Bishop Edmund §. Janes delivered an able and eloquent won, taking tor lis text the ninth verse of tl hird chapter of the First Epistie to the Corinthnaas—For We are laborers together with oa Ho made a tervent and eloquent appeal to 18 hearers to be more active than ever belore m co-operating with God in workin» out not onty their own salvation, but in bringing others to the Saviour o1 men, Dr. Cyrus Foss, of the Fourth avenue church, preached in the aiternoon. THE SAUSATH SERVICES. The dedicatory services were continued yester- day in the presence of a very large assemblage gatil- ered trom Cobo yc te A “love ieast” was held at nine o'vlock, at which a number of the old members dwelt upon the reminiscences of the past, ag tnis village is a historic spot in national as well as Mechodistic history. At hali-past ten the public service was commenced, and after introductory devotional exercises Bishop Simpson proceeded to deuver a lengthy and characteristic sermon on the fululment of prophecy. He enumerated the iead- ing prophecies of the Old Testament re- specting the coming of Christ and the ultl- mate triumph of Christianity in the world. The dis- persion of the Jews throughout the world, and their issoation from other nationalities were dwelt upon as a singular fulfiiment o1 the Word of God, but the Bistiop expressed the welief that the ume Was approuching when the Jews would acknowledge Christ as the Messiah, The over- throw of Assyria, Egypt and Babylon, which way predicted iu prophecy, was eloquently dwelt upon, and the present state of Turkey and Itay, in the sickly condition 0: the “Mun of the East’ and the significant decline oi the Papal power, was men- sone @ striking prooi of the truth of the Word @1 God, In conclusion the Bishop urged the congregation to give liberaliy to pay for tueir beautiul lemple, LIBERAL SUBSCRIPTIONS. The Rev. Dr. kiddy made o witty and earnest ap- Peal for the liquidation of the rematuing indebted- ness upon tne new buildin s, amounting to $27,000. Subscriptions of $1,000, $500 and $250 each were made by @ number 01 persons, and before the ser- vices of the morning were concluded nearly fiiteen thousand doliars was secured. Bishop Janes dis- mussed the cungregation with tne benediction, The visitin; enus were requested to tarry and attend the bsequent services, They sac- cepted the invitation, and were bospitably enter- tained by the White 1.a1ns Methodists, SERMON BY THE REV. DR. EDDY, The congregation reassembled in the afternoon. Bishops simpson, Janes and Haven were present. The latter conducted the opening devotional exer. cisea, In consequence of the unexpected arrival of another Bishop, the Kev. Dr. Eddy, one of the mis- sionary secretaries, Who was announced to preach in the evening, occupied the pulpit in the after- noon, His theme was, ‘Sime’s Verdict in Reier- ence to Uhristianity,” He reviewed in rapid suc- cession the history oithe old religions, and showed how they had passed away and gave piace to the religion of Jesus Christ, He said that Christianity had lived 2,000 years at the centres of thought and of influence, wulch was a suiticient period to test its durability as compared with ether systems, It made its appearance in the world at a time waoen the earth’s golden philosohy was ripe and had not begun to rot—when poetry, oratory and sculpture were at their height. it came When Owsar was reigning in all pis power; but Where was Cmsarism to-day? The map of the world has been changed since the shepherds heard the anvels sing upon the plains of Kethiehem and the feet of Jesus left the Mount of Ascension to go to his Father. None of the world’s great political powers remained, but the religion of the tent- Makers and the fishermen lived. He would not undervaiue ancient philosophy, but it only re- mained to-day amid the curiosities of literature, and no one quoted it as binding either thought or conscience. In el as the deeay of Brahmin- ism and Buddhism Dr. Kddy mentioned the inter- esting conversion of @ young Japanese of high caste, and of his expressed desire to his father that he should preach the Gospel. Ris father, who was wealthy, said to him, “Our reiigion is going to die; another religion is coming here. You say you are going to Peron Christianity. Go to America to learn how and come back.” That young student was now undergoing the necessary preparation in a Methodist theological seminary in this country. The seaker went on to say that there had been ample time for the rending of Christianity by internal strifes and dissensions; but, although she hag had them, she has survived the bitter conflicts, and in that has showed her divine origin. The personal spiritual blessings which Christianity conferred upon its vetaries— such as the pardon of sin, the transformation of the heart, comfort in affliction, victory over death and blissful immortality—were eloquently enu- merated. Another financial appeal was made, and the church was dedicated to the worship of God. The protracted services were closed in the even- ing, Bisbop Haven preaching the sermon. BROOKLYN CHURCHES. PLYMOUTH OHUROH. Mr. Beecher’s New Theory as to the Re- ligious Use of Old Clothes—He Begs for Flowers and Ribbons for The Mission Girls—A Sermon About the Bible—The Letter and the Spirit. In the announcements that preceded the sermon yesterday morning, Mr. Beecher suggested a theory about clothes that was novel, in the relation of clothes to religion, He announced that the children of the Plymouth mission were greatly in need of clothing suitable for them to make a decent ap- pearance at the approaching anniversaries. He then asked the ladies to send some of the flowers and ribbons they had been using, and which they could easily dispense with, for the use of the poor giris of the mission. After a further appeal for clothing of &@ more substantial character, he said:—“Good clothing 1s frequently, a John the Baptist, it prepares the way for religious instruc- tion, It gives self-respect, and that 1s the first step towards conscience, There is many a proud boy or girl who will not go to school or to church be- cause they cannot go with about the same quality of dress as girls or boys in the same position of life as themselves, or in dress that has some approach to that which their betters wear. Now, I don’t mean to say that a suit of clethes ever con- verted a man; but I do say that there are thou- sands of men and women who would have been converted if they had had clothing good enough, as they thought, to wear to church. Besides this, it ig the mode Christ adopted in His work ot teaching and regenerating mankind. He first fed the multi- tude; He restored the sick; He made sorrowed hearts joyous, before He imparted instruction. At this scason Of the year, then, when SUMMER TIME HAS COME upon us, and we are putting on other clothing, let us think of these children who need what we are putting away; and let us not do it as though we were throwing some clothing at a boy or girl, but let us do it knowing that we are doing a work well pleasing in the sight of Our Lord.’’ After the singing of a hymn Mr, Beecher preached a sermon on the letter aud spirit of the Bible, selecting his text from II. Corinthians iil, 6—'*Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, bus of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” Paul, said Mr. Beecher, was thought to be a very dangerous man by the regular, pious, orthodox Jews, by that class of men who talk a great deal about the old lan Paul was, while respecting the ancient faith, desirous of correcting the abuses that had surrounded it. He appealed more strongly to the inner consciousness of man rather than to the naked truth. In his relationship to the Jews and in his entire moral bearing, Paul was @ full and grand man, oue of the half-dozen men who stand throughout the ages, aad when they take their de- parture from earth we still stand by them aud they serve as memorials of true greatness. This was made strikingly manifest im the second chapter of the Epistie of Paul to the Romans. There are men and there always will be meu who are atraid of departing from one jot or tittle of the formal, phy: cal and ecclesiastical statements of the doctrines oi the Bible—men who would burn and burn others rather than give up the mere external truth, but Who would indulge in perfect freedom with all en- viousness and all uncharitableness. in our day the Bible has been assailed; indeed it has been always assailed, but never so universally and on such ad- vantage ground as te-day. Now I regard indiiler- ence With iar more fear thin scepticism. SCKPTICISM HAS LIFE and nerve in it, but indifference has a very fatal influence. Ido not believe that the Bivie will ever be taken from us as alight and scuide to our way. It was never so important to the interests ol man as to-day; its mission is indeed scarce}; begun. The light shines stili in dark piaces, ‘and don’t think the oil is burned out yet. After refer. ring to what the Bible taught in relation to civil and physical things, he proceeded to set forth the fact that the Bibie, in its revelations of God, of manhood, and of life, had set forth principles that had not been surpassed or equalled by any other message to men, All attacks, therefore, that were made upon the mere letter of the Word, were at- tacks that were like a man going into an orchard, at night, and scraping bark from an apple tree which the owner of the orchard might prize. When the latter looked in the morning and saw what was done he looked to sve if the living bark had been touched, and found tt was not, He did not care how often the man came in the night to do that so long as he confined himseif to scraping off the old bark and Clearing out the insects. ‘here were no words in any language that fuily portray these spiritual truths, Itis with the lieart that man believeth, You see a sign post and it says “Goshen six miles.’? The hand points tie way, but it does not tell of the PLEASANT LEAFY LANES, BUBBLING BROOKS, SHADY TREES all the natural beauwies of that stx miles. ¢ Le word “sorrow,” how little It, asa word, iveys; but in response to our own heart Tull of sorrow how vast its meaning. The Baple cannot be a perfect, and absolute teacher since the infinite caunot be,compared ta tue Onite.., Phe uitud of nanny the ehtld cannot open to ree seventn and eighth of Romans. 5o itis that the Gatural man docs not understand the things o! the spirit. How can you understand the things of the spirit by looking at the paper with the type upon it. In the line of this remark, thereiore, it was neediul to state that the study of the Bible should be accompanied with prayertuiness, Religion 16 an experimental tui end no man can merely argue success(ally agai it. ‘Thereiore when we are assailed by the state- ment that there are statements in the Bible about Physics, aboat history, about material theories that are inconsistent, we say that we do not insist upon their correctness, we can afford to let them go. What we insist upon is that the main purpose Oi the Bible is met aud fulfilied by it; namely, the revelation of God to man and man’s relation to SEVENTH AVENUE M:THODIST CHURCH. Exhbortation to Punctuality and Fervor in Religions Labor—Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Wild. Dr. Wild, of the Seventh avenue Methodist Epis- copal church, Brooklyn, preached Sunday morning upon the necessity of order and punctuality, both as related to a temporal and spiritual life. His text was selected from Jeremiah, vith, 7:—“Yea, the stork tn the heaven knoweth her appointed times, and the turtle and the crane and the swal- low observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord.” 10 DO THE RIGHT THING at the proper time (said the reverend Doctor) andim the right place 1s to add greatly to our power. Ease and success are the frults of mdustry and fore- thought, The prudent and industrious farmer works with nature, and is careiul to observe the bond between it and tune; stady:ng these facts he Predicates his labor. to that end, So in our spir- itual husbandry we should be cureinl to observ the signs and times of the seasons. As two perso! who walk in step did each other, so @ man whe Walks with Providence cannot heip but ve benelited, Religion 18 order, It is walking in step with God. It is keeping abreast with time. An army cam March with less fatigue it they keep step than if each man walks independently, and it is Suse the same in spiritual matters. If a man walks out of step with Providence he cannot walk easily. In a temporal view PUNCTUALITY I3 NECESSARY TO SUCORSS. No man can get along and be a geod business man unless he 18 proupt, although there are ac- cidental cusses where they are upheld and sustained by industrious and active ones, You might as well put vour vest ou the outside oi your coat as to put pleasure beiore business; but there are many who doit, Orderis an easy thing to acquire. “ Once begin and practise it thoroughly and in a shert time it will master you, In alluding to crime Dr. Wild said:—It is far better to keep the law than to pay the penalty ef disobedience. | thought 0: vais the other day when 1 was travelling in the cars and newsboys were calling off THE EXECUTION OF NIXON. To them it was nothing but a providential piece of tortune, enabling them to seli their stock; but to the bereaved family and the culprit himseli it was death and disgrace, ‘he discourse closed with a touching appeal to the congregation to be fervent and punctual in divine labor, that the rest ot the blessed might follow tueir work. CHURCH OF ST. PAUL AND 8ST. PETER. Beautiful Ceremony of Crowning the Statue and Decorating the Altar of the Virgin witn Flowers. In this age of alleged infidelity and unbelief it does the heart of the Catholic ,ood to witness a scene of pure faith, as that which was performed by the good Sisters, the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, the Children of Mary ana the Society of the Holy Angels attached to this church yesterday. Such a scene can only be witnessed to periection in- side a Catholic temple. At half-past three vespera commenced, and the procession which had formed around the edifice, com posed of young girls dressed in pure white, with red and blue silk tashes, while the organ pealed forth @ grand march, walked up the middie aisle of the church, The scene was truly grand, the priests with their rich vestments, the altars blazing with lights, and the rich perfuine of incense and sweet cented flowers, the little girls with their dazzling eyes and smiling faces, aud the Sisters of St, Joseph, of almost seraphic beauty, made a happy group. Then commenced the hymn, -‘‘Mary, Queen of May,’ which rang through the air like the bells of Christmas Eve. The sunlight streamed through the stained giass windows, There is, indeed, a deep philosophy in that grand old church which teaches her children to respect and reverence the mother of Jesus, and makes them believe they are immortal children of eternity, and that there exist many things which the eyes see not and that the hanus cannot touch, The recitations of the children when they came up to the altar were full oi love, full of the sunshine of genital happiness, as it taunt them to believe that nearly nineteen hundred years ago the world was in darkness. It was to Mary that the Archangel announced the tidings of great joy, which is the whole foundation 0: the Church’s law. Happy and appropriate it was to hear these little ones in pol A praise Mary’s humility, her obedience and love, and in glowing iines speak and chant all that is important and consoling tor humanity. After the benediction the choir boys sung the Litany, and the girls, with their silken banners, marched out of the church, their heart saa all those present filled with a cneerful glow of piety. DE KALB AVENUE METHODIST OHUEOH. Christ’s Love for His Mother an Emblem of What Our Love for the Church Should Be—Sermon by the Rev. W. P. Corbitt. Yesterday morning the Rev. W. P. Corbitt, the newly appointed pastor of De Kalb avenue Metho- dist Episcopal church, preached to alarge congre- gation on love for the Church. The basis of his re- marks was John xix., 27:—*Behold thy mother.” ‘Tne sweetest name on earth, he said, save that od Jesus is “MOTHER.” It charms the heart of the savage. There is no tone so sweet as a mother’s voice, no odor so pleas- ant, no path like that trodden by a mother’s foot- steps. If ever, he said, I had a good motive in my heart I traced it to my mother. If I should ever become a Junatic and enter an asylum I should be an idolator; for I would chalk my mother’s name on the walis and fall down and worship it. The name of Jesus is like it, but more sweet and pre- cious. Without that name this world would post its way down to hell. There were a great many people in Jerusalem at the time of the Saviour’s crucifixion. Many of them had long thirsted for His blood, and now they were about to have it. Mr. Corbitt then briefly reviewed the per- sons and classes who were present at the cruci- fixion and theirpurposes. The mother of Jesus ‘Was there also. hat teok her there ’ he asked. It was love, unconquerable love, that chained her to that spot for six hours, and which all the malice of the Jews could not quench. In this scene also we see the affection of the child for the mother. ‘Two thoughts are here suggested :-— CHRIST'S LOVE FOR HIS MOTHER isanembiem of! His love ior the Church and ot What ours should be, We see here, also, the great care that Jesus has fer His People, The time had come when the prophecy of oid Simeon should be fulfilled—that a sword shouid Fowe the Virgin Mother's soul also. The speaker here gave a brief description of the agony of Jesus on the cross; but amid all, He looks down and sees His mother and poe a@ protector for her. Jesus is no longer ere in His bodily presence, but He is here in Spirit, and in all our afilictions He is aMlicted, and as He made provision then tor His mother, so He does now for each one of us; and though the future m: look dark and gloomy, He has promised that bre: shall be given and water shall be sure, If He feeds the ravens of the vailey aud clothes the grass and the lilies, shall He not mach more supply the wants of his children? Mr. Corbitt then reterred to God's special care in supplying our temporal wants and said he could not understand how the idea had crept into the Church that the Lord took interest in our spiritusl welfare only and did not care about our temporal. He gave numerous illustrations 10 prove that the latter is as much a matter of interest in its degree asthe former, citing some incidents from his own experience and also from the lives of Moses, Elijah, Jonah and others, and after depict- ing God’s great goodness he asked how can any man be poor who has such a father? We see also in this scene the SUBSERVIENCE OF ALL THINGS TO CHRIST. We read that from that hour John took the Virgin Mother to his own home. He might have made many and satisfactory arguments against this duty; but he stopped not to argue, but obeyed bis Lord’s command. We sometimes lio down in sor- row because we cannot understand how we shall be detivered from some great trial. But he asked the congregation to look at John, and then say, does not do now as He did then. This book tel us to cast all our care upon Aim, for He careth for us. The child sleeps sweetly upon its mother’s lap amid the thickest and flercest storm,, and so may We rest on our Father’s bosom, What need have we to tear when we have Jesus for a protector. ‘Behold thy mother! the Church.” We see again in this incident the seli-forgetting love of Jesua. The moment that we begim to ask—Has God said so and so? Wul Ha do this or that?’—the moment that faith begins to doubt, it begins to weaken and to tail and to lose its power. And the moment that love begins te ask, Can I, shall I, have 1? it also begins to lose strength. Olirist thought only of His mother. His was pure love, and it was such as we should have toward the Church, JESUS LEFT A LEGACY OF Love to His mother and to the Church. And_havin, loved His own which were in the world, He toved them to the end, and we, in loving tne Church, are loving God and loving our brotaer and our mother, Mr. Corbitt then applied the principles of nis dis- course to the present wants of the congregation, and asced for collections and subscriptions to carry on the ministrations of the Gospel there for the current year. He wanted $5,600, about hall of Wiuel Was taken UD in subscriptions.