The New York Herald Newspaper, August 4, 1873, Page 8

8 SWELTERING SANCTITY Bow Publicans and Sinners Were Yesterd Given a Foretaste of a Hot Hereafter, How Worshippers Were Worried by the Withering Weather. Sunday Sermons Singed in the Summer Sultriness, What Ministers Think and Say When the Mercury is Among the Nineties, Congregations Longing for the Coolness of “a Lodge in Semo Vast Wilderness.” Themes for Monday Morning’s Sober Second Thought. The atmosphere yesterday was too close and sultry for physical enjoyment, and spiritual recrea- tion seemed the only occupation that ought to be in vogue. The churches were comparatively well filled with their Summer-time flocks, but, unfor- tunately, those who attended did not seem alto- gether to recognize that under their deep amlic- tions of sultriness and ennui they should adopt fackcloth and ashes, but indulged with somewhat of desperation in longing dreams of the real de- lights of worship by the seashore, under inland groves or among the wooded hills beside the coursing river. In imagination they feit the cool breeze fanning the glowing cheek, but oniy in imagination, One of the best climaxes of the ser- mon would then awaken them to actual life again, and the damp handkerchief would be the only con- venient consolation, absorbing the thick, raining perspiration from the heated brow and face. Every congregation was a moving picture of piety in distress, and the voices of nature, however faintly they stole to the ear, in the precincts of the hard, hot city, seemed ealling one with tantalizing Sweetness to the green shades that alone could attord repose and coolness, The groves were God's first temples, and well might it be at times when the edifices built by human hands seem lixe eo many “black holes of Calcutta.’” Despite difficulties, however, yesterday was fall of religious edification, as is attested in the follow- ing columns, and if profit was not drawn there- from it was only because of human wilflness or noglect, both of which may be ascribed to the in- fluence of the weather. ‘ter all, sermons, ready and readable, in all their variety, at the breakfast table, can be much more coolly and comfortably appreciated than in a ponderous and oppressive auditorium at midday. 8T, PATRIOK'’S CATHEDRAL, Religion and the Weather—Worshir in Chureh and Out of Church—The Service Yesterday. Religion suffers very much from August weather, Mf attendance at church may be considered any criterion by which to judge of the numbers of the Pplous people. There was not certainly much temptation yesterday morning for anybody to endure a promenade in the streets under a burning sun, with the only relief trom a profuse perspiration ‘the limits of a church pew and the prayers of the clergyman, jor, of course, only a clergyman could read prayers on stich a Sunday morning as we had yesterday. In Protestant churehes of all denomina- tions the obligation to attend service is not generally supposed to be s commanded by authority as itisin Catholic churches, 50 that St. Patrick's Cathedra’ h in the cool seasons is thronged with worshippers, may be considered a ZFFECT OF THE THERMOMETER yesterday upon the devout soul, and there was not @ pew in the sucred cdifice during the high mass that had not some oO: its ordinary occupan among the throng whom old Soi had frightened, either into lounging abort the house at home or into running to the sea shore or (i the shades and the breezes go! tne country. Thou- sands, of course, sought the cooiness and the Sum- qner beauties of the city’s garden, and if the shep- herd’s voice was not gtding these from the pulpit his reverence might, at least, make his mind easy that his ont flock was not wandering upon bar- ren soli, but was growing rich in the purity and the loveliness 0! # pasture traversed at will, For those, too, Who Went upon the ocean, or by the séa side or into quiet rural places where the feenes were ail of Sabbath stiliness and of sug- | gestive prayer, there might be little fear that some | Biray thought had not vouched the soil; nor mignt it be attirmed that the Iruit irom the chance seed sown, far away from scorching influence, was Dever to appear. And these are CONSOLING THOUGHTS, no doubt, to al) anx clergymen of all creeds, who are trembling lest the loss of the wee pabulum of devotion should bring to poor sinners deverybody but the clergyman is a sinner) de- struction Of spirit and the departure of grace, and their reverences of every denomination who are now absent jrom ‘their pulpits, wien enjoying the invigorating air which comes iresh and strong from across the ocean or is sweetencd and periumed among | the cultivated elds and weadlands and meadows, need not bother their heads in the least about the | Btay- -homes here, in the great city, and, least of | all, about the thousands who go on a Summer Sun--! day to say their Sunday prayers in Central Park, or on the Hudson, or anywaere tRat the air is fresh and pure and a breeze is blowing. THE SERVICE. ! For the first time this Summer there was no eer- | ™ t the Cathedral yesterday, and it is rarely that at this church there is not'some exhortation given. ‘The usual igh mass constituted the ser vice, the celebrant bemg the Rev. Father Kean, and the mas of ceremonies the Rey. Father | Kearney. Mr. Schmidt presided at the organ, aud the music selected was Mandanici’s mass in C. The offertory piece was an “0 | by Bassini, which was admirably Te anctus’ and “Ag- ay i me streaming intbrough | d glass w the stati indows the high altar had a cer- | lain mysrerious sort Of grandeur about it as the | priest, i stood before it, and the boys | m r searing torches, surrounded | ft, the liv uetuary, seemingly burning | feebiy, thro € scene a subdned bright- neve y : side of a church. | Bome of the voluniaries played by the organist added much to the effect of the service, the music | being tender, soicmn, and, as it were, Wandering | ° among religious thoughts. CHURCH OF THE STRANGERS, The Nature and Necessity of Prayer=Dr, j Deem# Answer to Professor Tyndall— Free Prayer Always Answered. Dr. Deems had a wel:-f!!ed house yesterday morn. ing at the Church of the Strangers, After the usual preludes of prayer, praise and Scripture reading, the reverend gentieman said :— Thave prepared uo sermon for this hot morning. | Tt has been My custom, when intending to be some trom home duties, time absent my to take | some passage from the Bible, not lo make it the theme of @ sermon, lecture or newspaper artic’, but for my private reflection and tnstruction. kat upon one and looked over upon an- other across « Wbeauriiul valley, 1 thought upon the words we have read this morning:="I will, therefore, that men pray everywhere, lifting ands, Without wrath and without doubt- In the very nature of man there must, by ssity, have been provided some method by uch he could communicate with bis Maker, God ‘Knew irom eternity th psolute need of prayer to | jis creatures, We require it as the parched soil Lhirsts for t rateini rain, Whether it be an | NoHIMCT OR TBE RESULT QF EDUCATION | it i+ Use inom Prom the first of my recol- | lection | lad the of prayer to God for desired | blessings, She lands, al! times, all grades | Of civilization. mw as implored the Great Spirit for His wid an fection, The ignorant, the | learned ' eoren, the high born and the | slave, all pray. Whether the desire is spontaneous | In each beat or is taught by sire to son and thus | hanced down tt ough ail the generations, does not make the ti Porent, We &nd the poor, iliterate laborer sec) (vine ossigtance in prayer; aud we are ic { his death, endeavored to propili being by re rites. gious ai. snipplicate His favor, | sentiment of prayer. & Willioul effect, to daa | UNAREW To have one's praye ing my recent absence, as] | in arratrs, | cities erected new churches in NEW YORK HEKALD, MONDaY, A them unanswered, is the greatest disaster that can belal a humau suul, How to gears against tus is the teaching of the passage I have read. We must appear before God iti i) holy hands—that con+ cerus us; without wrath—that regards cur neigh- bors; and we muat offer our appeal without doubt- ing God's power and His wil! ingness to grant our ee, pees cee Prayer is not simply a listless wish; it implies an earnest lifting one’s self up toward the Giver of coe ed gifts—the diligent Seeking of tho blessing, We must be Lonest in our prayers; must lift up holy hands. How much is there in hands! Wonderful hands! What an hoportantipars Rhey Bin in life! Chubby, untaught, sprawling baby hands Tost the lyn toward the source of nou! ment ; mischevous, childish hands, thrust constantly where they should not meddie; destructive, way Ward hands of youth; busy, indus- trions bands of later lile. How they wield the pen, the sword, the plough, the many implements of handicraft! Wondertul hands! To ‘ave a hand in it” is the common expression by which we mean being concerned in the management or results of any enterprise, We are to lilt up holy hands, THBY MUST BE CLHAN HANDS, “How,’ says the blacksmith or collier, “how pen I make my hands cloan that are hard as articulate: horn, rough end black as the material they coine in contact with?’ ‘This all they mie be, and no scouring with soap and laborious rub! can wash away their stains; yet shall they be holy hands it their labor is consecrated by unselfish motive, 1s ennobled by religious love. Hanas may be Diack with ink from writing for the good of our fellow man; they may be 1ed with blood from binding up the wounds of the maimed; they may bo filthy from rescuing @ child from the gutter, un- der tue threatening wheeis, and in God’s sight they shall be clean, Dare holy hands. You, my fair lady, your hand may be white as pearl, of ex- quisite symmetry, lovely to look upon, so that I might take it im mine and regard it long ua of matchless grace, a thing to study and admire; yet God may see tt cruel, cold, wicked, accursed, used but to minister to your own selfishness. Beside it Bridget’s hand, hard, horny, scarred by the needle and disfigured by excessive work, may shine bright as holy hands and acceptable in His sight. Your hands canuot be clean, brotner, if in the last week you have taken or kept wrongfully one dime, even though they have been devoted, except at that moment, to deeds of charity. That sin is to be repented of before your hands are clean TOWARDS OUR NEIGHBORS, without wrath, We must OY forgive all rudge or quarrel with our neighbor beivre we are in the right posture for prayer, Husbands, have you sore spots in your hearts? It will be right when your wife gindly hears you say, ‘Let us have prayers.” Iknow. I have tried it thirty years, and when all is all right between husband and wife the Gest hindrance of family prayers is re- moved, You know yoursell week before last you missed prayers three or four days, because there had been hard words or sour looks between you and your wile. Don’t wait for your neighbor to forgive you. Forgive him. Bring yourseif s0 that you would be glad to carry God's blessing to him; ‘then you can and should come to God in prayer, and to the,table which commemorates Lits sacrifice, THE PRAYER TEST. We should pray with full faith that God will grant our petitions, 1 don't mind ail the contro- hae | about the eficacy of prayer. I simply pray for those who doubt it, [have prayed more tor Professor Tyndall than for anybody else in the world. No true prayer ever was wanswered or can be. It is simple impossib'e. We may not re- ceive exactly what our imperfection leads us to ask. The child cries for sweetmeats and receives whole- some food, His prayer is answered. His neces- sity 18 provided for. We may not be able to discera the (ulilment of our prayers, but if we pray according to the directions in the passage we have been talking upon there is no possibility of our prayers being Dnauswered, COLLEGIATE RLFORMED CHURCH The Rev. Dr. Ormiston on the Lord's Supper and Its Teachings. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was cele- brated yesterday in the Collegiate Reformed Dutch church, the Rey, Dr. Ormiston oMiciating. -Tne minister dwelt at some length upon the scenes of the Last Supper and the evidences of God which are presented through the symbols and signs which are left in the Bible. A vision of the coming Emanuel was given to Moses, and the effect upon this patriarch was to nerve his noble spirit for forty years of great work. The minister continued by saying that the congregation had assembled to stand before THE SITADOW OF GOD and in the presence of the embiems of the Almighty. We have a profusion of memories Which Moses could not have recalled. We may well say, “Oh, God, show us Thy glory.” We need this, Moses Was benefited by a closer communion with God, Nothing less than an uals conscious- ness of the presence of the living God can enable us to live, let alone die. It is easy enough to die. THE MAIN THING is to live rightly. Our knowledge of the manner of the divine manifestation of God is very limitea. God has promised vo make Himseif known to every soul that yearns after Him. The Almighty may be God the just, and yet save the unjust. True servants of God need manilestations of His power; tney want to become acquainted—I like the word— with Him, ‘Nearer, my God, to Thee’? is where the Christian wants to put bimselt. ‘The Almighty does not require much time to answer prayer. Pray now; pray in your pews just as yon sit, GOD’s GLORY can be seen only through the medium of symbols. | | He 1s here now; but we do not expect to see Him in person. Here are His embiems, Human ca- pacity is inadequate to comprehend all the attri- butes of God. Lest, then, we should grow Jax in our lore and faith we are given this beautiful ceremony to keep His memory bright in our hearts and aouls, In the ordinance of this day may we see our God. Owr views o! God's glory will | depend very much on our moral character, Ali of God's children will have some manilestation of His grace, unless they have been directly violating some of His commands. Will you then seek Jor some realistic manitestation of God's grace? SOUTH BAPTIST OHUROH, Early Church History—The Origin of Cor- ruptions=The Ambition of the Priest. hood=The Overthrow of the Independ- ence of the Church=The Establishment of Preshyters—Archbishops, Patriarchs and the Popc—Second of a Course of Lec. tures by the Rey. Dr. John Dowling. The second oi Dr, Dowling’s course of lectures, on “The Early History of the Church,’ was qelivered last evening at the South Baptist chureh in West Twenty-filth street. In despite of the inclemency of the weather, a very respectable congregation was in attendance, THE SERMON. The reverend gentleman selected his text from Jamés, IIL, 5—Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleti!? He said he should endeavor, in the | present lecture, to trace the progress of the early corruptions of Christian centuries after the apostles, from the very smati beginnings of error (of whi he spoke in his first lecture), and the successive steps towards cccle- during the two or three eiastical domination up to the time of the supposed | conversion of the Emperor Constantine, soon atter the commencement of the fourth century of the | Christian era, As the flame kindled by a single spark, uniess arrested at the beginning, soon bursts forthinto & disastrous and wide-reaching conflagration, so tne very first sparks of eccle- siastical error, whether governmental or ritual or doctrinal, uniess checked at the start, will, by their wide-spread influence and fa ching rain, force from us the exclamation, “Behold how great a matier @ little fire kindleth |" Jn expatiating on the first step in ecclesiastical corruption, a8 referred to in his previous lecture— | namely, the interference with the oMcial purity or equality of the Christian ministry, he said the manver ip which the change was brought avout whereby the title of Bishop was wrested from the pastors, to whom it that the first step in antieChristian error was a few | years older than some had supposed. With us and every consistent Protestant, Lhe carly existence of error is no argument for its truth, WHAT SAITH THE SORIPTURE ? | The Pible and the Bible only is the religion of | Protestants, ‘The foundation stone of error having | been thus laid it is easy to mark and define the | stones that were suceedsively laid thereon until | the edifice was complete. The next step was tle destruction of the independence of the churches— an inevitable cousequent of priestly usurpation. A class of men having overthrown the pastors it wad not wonderful that it should soon claim authority over the churches, ‘This claim was soou conce ted, Tho government of the churches, bitherto vested in the people, might better be entrusted to tho men who were thought worthy of being the bishops of their bishops. It may sately oe conceded that in many instances the character and the talents of the newly elevated dignitaries suMced to lull sus- pition and inspire a belief that (ue power intrusted 0 them would not be abused, and thus my paitior: ity, which it wonld bave been imp: trom the people, was yielded up through ven tion and unbgunded confidence, Tue pastor was now no longer one of the people, appointed by the churehes, amenable to their discwpiive, and accountable to them. under God, for PURITY OF LIFE AND FIDELITY TO DUTY. He was now a subject of his Bishop, a member, less of the church than of a little kingdom of clergy, of which the Bishop was the petty sov- ereign and ruler. Another step in this progress—and @ qgniet tride 16 was—was the alliance between the kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of | | Words of Christ she received the power to remit | that God may grant peace and happiness to His | kingdom on carth—the Church, Christ. ‘The Doctor then reierred to the supposed conversion of Constantine, at the beginning of the fourth century, by the miracle of the cross, and showed bow, after this, the spirit of wordly ambl- tion, avarice and pride made rapid headway among the professed ministers of Christ, and how corrup- tion in the churches followed naturaily thereon. He mentioned as anotier step the establishment ofthe metropolitan or archbisiop, the dignity of patriarch applied to bishops of Rome, Constanti- nople and others, which was followed by the con- concentration of ali power in the hands of one—the Pope of Rome, Alter dwelling a short time on this dignitary he stated that he would have to postpone further remarks on the subject to next Sunday evening, and closed, is §T. STEPHEN'S ROMAN CATHOLIO CHURCH. Sermon by the Rev. Father MeQuirk— The Tridaum—An Indalgence Not a License to Sin—The Churoh the Dis- pense of Indulgences, The high mass in St. Stephen’s yesterday morn- ing was attended by a large and seemingly devout congregation, The Rey. Father McQurk having read Archbishop McCloskey’s circular letter pro- claiming the triduum, or three days’ devotion, and special prayer for the deliverance of the Church from her present tribulations, preached an instruc- Uve discourse on the nature of indulgences and the power of the Catholic Church to grant them. He said:—The promulgation of the triduui by our venerable Archbishop atfords an aypropriate occa- sion to say something on indulgences, There ts scarcely any dogma of the Church 60 misunder- stogd or 50 maliciously misrepresented by those who are not of the fold. It has been stated time and again that an indulgence is A LICENSE TO COMMIT SIN or a pardon of sin, while the Church in her author- ized catechiams and through her ministers ts daily proclaiming that an indulgence is nothing more or jess than “a remission of the temporal punishment due to sin after the guilt has been remitted.’ In- stead of being a license to sin, an indulgence pre- supposes a freedom from sin, that ts to say, no person can gain an indulgence, unless he ts heartil, sorry for his sins, contesses them at the tribunal of penance aud receives absolution from tie rep sentative of Corist in the confessional. Ev morta sin merits a two-fold punishment, an eter and a temporal punishment. ‘The eternal punisi- ment is remitted in the sacrament of penance, the temporal generaily by indulgences. ‘The reaiity of a two-fold punishment is evident irom the Sacred Scriptures. Alter Adam had repented of ms sin and God had forgiven atin, we find the father of the human race spending 900 years of exile on earth as a temporal punishment for lis disobedience. Moses and Aaron had ottended God by twice striking the rock, whence miraculously gr water to quench the thirst of the exhausted Israelites. God certainly forgave them their sin; yet as a temporal punishment they were condemned to die—Aaron in the wilderness and Moses within sight of THE ¥KOM!SED LAND, When the people of Isracl murmured against God they were forgiven at the urgent prayer of Moses, ‘1 have forgiven according to ‘ihy wor Num- bers Xiv., 20, Here we havean Sepiee declaration from the mouth of God tbat He hat forgiven tie sin; yet, He adds, “they shall not see the lana for which I swore to tiieir tathers. Say, therojore, to them, “As live, saith the Lord, your children shall wander in the desert forty years, and shall bear your ication until the carcasses of their fathers shall be coa- sumed in the desert.” Numbers xiy., 33, iven alter their sin was forgiven God inflicted a ‘ead{ul temporal pun shment. If further proof Were necessary to establish the fact of temporal punishinent being inflicted aiter the e:erna! is re- mitted—the sin lorgiven—it may be found im the history of King David. The prophet Nathan, in- spired by, God, tola David that bis sin was forgiv- er The Lord hath also taken away thy sin; thou Shalt not die.” 2 Kings (Samuel) xil., 13. And in the next verse the prophet adds, “Nevertheless, because thou hast given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child that is born to thee shall surely die.” Many of our own troubles | and afflictions are like the premature deaths of Moses and Aaron, THE HORRIBLE FATE of the Israelites in the desert, the sorrow of David at the death of his child—temporal punishments inflicted jor sin. ‘The power to remit the debt of the temporal punishment, which remains due atter the sin itself and the eternal punishment have beon re- mitted in the sacrament of penance, was given by Christ to His Church when he said to Peter, “And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsvever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon eartii it shall be also loosed in heaven.”"—Mat., Xvi, 19 These words, taken in | their full and obvious siznification, conter the power not only to absolve from the guilt of sinand its eternal punishment, but also to remit the temporal punishment. That these words are to be understvod in their fullest signiiication is in consonance with the acknowledged canon of inter: pretation that, unless there is something in the context or subject matter to restrict the meaning, words must be interpreted in their juil and ordt- nary signification. The Church, as the guardian of “THE DEPOSIT OF THE FAITH” and the divinely constituted expounder of the Word of God, has always claimed that in those the temporal punishment due to gin. The early Christian Church exercised this power, and her right to it was never questioned until the twelfth century, When the Church grants an in- duigence she merely offers to the Divine Justice the superabuudant merits of Christ, of the blessed Virgin, of the saints and martyrs, in licu of the tempdral punishment which she remits. In order to gain an indulgence we must be in a state or grace; we must receive the Holy Communion and periorm the conditions on which the indulgence is granted. Let us avail ourselves of the grand ptivt- jege Which His Holiness the Pope has extended to ail Catholics throughout the world, and let us pray SIXTEENTH BAPTIST CHURCH. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Jutten—Our Re- sponsibility Before God—Why the Almighty Forsakes Use—A Parallel Between Christ and Man=—God Jast Before He is Merciful, The Rev. Mr. Jutten preached yesterday morning originally belonged, and applied exclusively to those | Who sought pre-eminence over their brethren, is thos related by Gieseler, one of the most of modern eccloi accurate | iastical historians, After thedeath | of the aposties and the puplig of the apostles, to | whom the GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE CHURCHES had been conceded, some one among the presby- ters of each Church was suffered to take the lead “In the same way,” adds Gieseler, “the title of Episcopos (Bishop) was appropriated to the first Presbyter.”’ The power and jurisdiction of | these bishops was not long confined to their origt- ne! narrow limits, The bishops who jived in the the neighvoring towns and villages, and these, remaining under their instruction and direction, grew iinperceptibly into ecclesiastical provinces, Which the Greeks afterward callea dioceses, and thus by degrecs was introdu in the ministry, From this time onward we see an occasional departure from the style of the New ‘Tesiament, which designates the officers of tie Church as bishops and deacons, and we begin to read of bishops, preabyters apd deacons, speaker re‘erred to Ignatius, one or the early Fathers, who wrote in the beginning of the second slow | ed the distinction of orders | The | century aud is considered the earliest authority | for this distinction, saying that the words tributed to him bear internal evidence of a spurious character, These words are:—‘‘l pledge my soul for theirs Who are subject to bishops, presbyters and deacons.” In considering them in connection with the well-known meek and hamble character | of ge le they are rendered still more doubtiul from me century, uses the titles bishop and presbyter 3 applied to the same person. ut, admitting that the distinclon thea existed, it only proves at. | | His love, cl that Ireneus, a later writer of the | for us. He became the representation of His creed. in the Sixteenth street Baptist church. Iu spite of the intense heat there was a falr congregation present. He took his text from the well known passage in the New Testament, where the Saviour exclaims in His agony—“Ob, God! why has hast ‘Thou forsaken me ?"! It {8 one of the most suggestive ag well as one of the most painin! passages in the Holy Book. It shows the Son of God at that moment, when all the world and even his Father in Heaven have turned their backs npon dim, and He 1s left quite alone, His self. abnegation, His self-sacrifice, His love for us have risen at this moment to a wonderful pitch of sub- limity, and to us that sacrifice Is fragrant as roses. Then in this moment of agony He exclaims to His Father in Heaven, what we sometimes exclaim, “Oh, God, why hast Thou forsaken us! But*here you ask & most momentous question. You may as well say where is God's interest in virtue; where is tho interest that God takes in us? You ask @ question that has been bed 9 from side to side in this world for centuries, and which is now the Stambling block Of many, The only reason that I can see—the hy Speed that can be assigned—is God's sole love, His sole love tor us, Bat yet it is @ Siugular spectacle—tnis ABANDONMENT KY Gop of His only Son, The cause lies ip our tranagres- sions, The cause is assigned, indeed, in Isaiab lv. We have to take Christ in the light of a sabstitute for us. We must look at it in this light—that God could not bestow directly ypon us the falness of 0 But Christ sto6d in our piaces before His Father to take the brant of all our tranagres sions. Our Saviour became for us precisely what t say—a substitute. This view accords fully with all the statements made in the Bible. He gave us a world Of reconciliation, He was Himself a carse He soffered tn His own body the sins and pains guilt He suffered, The God that was His Father moved away from Him, and He was left alone in heaven and earth. I can hear the shouts of the demons at this moment. God did not move to help Him, He gave Him to the powers of darkness, 80 God forsook Him and He Was suffering tor our sins, Mr, Jutten then gave a labored description of natural scenery in illustra- tion of his theme:—*When Christ pronounced the words ‘All is finished,’ then God returued His love aod Christ was iv His sphere again. It seems to me that spectacle of the cross ought to make ua exclaim, ‘My Lord apd my Godi’ It now beams upoa hearts that are sore, but many of us turn from it im indifference and itu scorn. And yet ue big offered up for our crimes. Two cxam- ples 01 CHRIST'S DANGER ocour inthe New Testament. But He had never escaped from the wrath that was meant for Him until this hour, when delivered up and in an agony of humiliation, Of despair and of suilering, He ex- claimed, ‘My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me |’ Now some go and follow their wishes daily and think this @ small thing. A second olass are those who think God loves to punish. They forget that He is also justice. They forget that God loves Himself infinitely more than He loves us, and that He must, frat of all, be true to himself. Love to Him 4s only the second sentiment, and He obeys that only in the second place, He must, of all things, be just and then be mercifal, for we are RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ACTIONS. When we see the sufferings of Christ we can un- derstaud what sin is, A mother will so:netimes leave her child along just to bear it cry for her, and thus rest its love. So does God test onrs.”” Alter an exhortation to those present to be at the communion table that afternoon, the reverend gen- tleman closed, BROOKLYN CHURCHES, CHRIST EPISCOPAL OHUROH The Nature and Benefits of the mental Ordinance—Sermon by Rev. Dr. Partridge. Notwithstanding tie extreme heat yesterday morning @ goodly number assombled tu Christ Protestant Episcopal church, on Bedford avenue. The rector, Rev. Dr. Partridge, conducted the ser- vice and preached a discourse suitable to tho occa. sion, His toxt was taken from the Gospel of St, Matthew, xvi., 26, 27, 28:—‘‘And, ag they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; thisismy body,’ And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the Nev Testament, which is shed ‘or many for the remission of sins,’”” In his opening remarks the Doctor said that tho cup of the Lord was not to be denied to the people, and both parts of the sacrament, by Christ's ordi- nance aad commandment, ouxht to he adminis- tered to all Christian men alike. The eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine being always connected with Christ's example, they ought never to be separated; whenever one was given the other should not be withheld, The memoradle act of the Saviour spoken ofin the text was per- formed very near the close of Ilis life in the presence ot His beloved disciples. Those gracious words were addressed to them under the most trying cir- cumstances, and on the very night in which Ho was betrayed He sat at supper With His chosen tol- lowers for the last time upon eartn and spoke to them encouragingly of LIVE AND IMMORTALITY beyond the grave. Even in view of His own suf- terings and death, which He know would take place on the morrow, and which drew from Him great drops of biood in the garden, and amid the awrul scenes of Calvary and the Cross and the taunts of the mutitude, He never for one moment torgot His beloved disciples, their wants and neces- sitios, when He should be taken away from them; nor did He orget that bond of union which would forever a ter keep His followers to,ether and unite them more firmly to Himsel: and the best interests o! His spiritual kingdom. In that solemn hour Christ declared His luve tor and interest lu them by establishing the Lord’s Supper as a sweet me- morial, ever to be kept up in His Church and among Ilis people to the end of time. That terrible scene could never be forgotten, and that night had been remembered by the faithful followers of the Lamb ever since, On the very last page of the history o! our raco, before His coming in glorious majesty to judge the quick and the dead, the account of the Lord's Supper will appear and be classed among tho sweetest remembrances of His dying love for the sinful children of men. This sweet memorial of Him has ever been dear to His Church aud people, who ard it with a jealous eye, and who read its history with deep interest. The Chareh could not too hivhly estimate its importance, nor could ‘it fallow fora single moment the separation of the elements used in the sacrament, nor think it can be neglected with impunity. However, the Church did believe that some preparation of heart is neces- sary for its reception, aud thatthe hoiy spirit of God alone could make persons worthy partakers an jacras the PROPER GUESTS AT HIS TABLE. An ordinance so wonderful, so simple, so lovely and attractive at its first appointment, shoud rivet the attention and secure the admiration of the world, But men had perverted it and thrown @ mystery akout it, claiming more for it than the Saviour jutended, while others mutilated, adored, carried it about and elevated it in such a manner as to render it almost worthless in the eyes of the people. The sread eaten at the Lord’s table was intended to remind its recipient of Christ’s body given to death upon the cress for our human sins, and the wio'e ordinance was meant to k2ep fresh in the momory the great atoning sacrifice made by the shedding of His blood on Calvary for the sins of the race, There is always @ special biessing attached to the right use of the sacrament and every other ordinance appointed by Jesus Christ in His holy Church and among His people; but approaching the table without a living iaith in His atonement, the individual would go away empty, miserable, poor and blind and nakod, deriving no real benefit Irom the ordinance, but, on the contrary, INCREASING THEIR CONDEMNATION and aggravating their guilt in the sight of heaven. Christ said, “Yo not come because you are worthy ; do not siay away because you aré unworthy, but come unto Me and I will give you rest.” Were it Not for this biessed sacrament in connection with that of baptism, which always precedes it, the unlon between the Church and her living Head would long since havo been broken, and instead of unity, love and peace there would have been discord and contusion reigning among the professed followers ot the | ‘The ordinance of baptism and the Lord's j supper were two monumental pillars raised by and | supported by tae authority of God. In tne former the Godhead were officially present at the porch of the Ohurch to receive the ever and welcome him into the foid of the at shepherd, Jesus Christ, and the latter was one of the great means of nouris:ing and training him tor heaven, Dr, Partridge enlarged upon the benefits accra- ing to those who observe the sacramental ordi- nance, and closed by urging non-communicanis to avail themselves of its benefits. The holy commu- nion was administered at the close of the sermon. 8T, ALPHONSUS’ CHURCH, GREENPOINT, Dedication of a New German Catholic Church in Greenpoiat, L. 1,—Interesting Ceremonics=Sermon by Father Rector. A new German Catholic Church, St. Alphonsus’ church, was dedicated yesterday, in Kent street, Greenpoint, L. I. The structure is of wood, plain but very neat, tastefully decorated, and cost $30,000. It 16 90 feet deep, 56 teet wide, and the steeple is 150 feet high. In spite of the intense. heat there was a very large assemblago, composed of Germans from all parts of Greenpoiut, Williams- burg and Brooklyn. The ceremonies were conducted by Bishop Laugh- lin, of Brooklyn; Father Rector, of the Catholic church in Third street, New York; Father Ivo, of Pittsburg, and Father Bonaventura, Aftor the fisnal services attending the dedication had been concluded Father Rector preached the sermon in German. He quoted the Lord's words, “My house 18 a house of prayer’ (Bethaus), and then said;— Beloved Christians, these are the Redeemer's own words, and He addressed them not to one nation but TO ALL, MANKIND. You will easily call tomind the magnificent, the sublime temple which the Jews built to worship the Lord, You have done what they did. Al though this structure cannot be compared in grandeur and beauty with that built by Solomon, It Is still a house of prayer in the true sense of the word. Itiseven a better house of prayer, for the Jews aid notenjoy the privileges which are at present vouchsafed to Roman Catholics, We can truly say, no nation, no race was ever 30 near their God as we are. God came down to dwell in the Temple cf Solomon, but God will also dwell inthis house of prayer, Itis ina Catholic house of worship wnere He will seek ever to abide, Why? Because He wants to speak to us because He desires us to come into His radiant presence, It is His wiil that all Cathoitcs shall come anto | Him. Every day He descends upon this earth to | in houses of prayer like this, to uplift all hearts ‘are bowed with sorrow and to bless us all. ved Christians, you have built here a house UGUST 4, 1873—WITH SUPPLEMENT, wretched must the country be that is house of God; for where thas is wanti: ig wanting the Word of God. Whore God tg not there 1s no fatth; where here ia no faith sere is no Christian life there is no eternal salva- jon. Ok, how happy you ought to feel in the posses- sion of this temple, loved Christians! Here you oan come to worship God; you can bring your children, to toach them God's love and kindnoss. Until now you might bave had many excusos—or pretences, rather— FOR NOT ATTENDING CHUROH. a You might have satd, “Ob, I had to try an ox, or “On, I &c,; but all these jad to take a wife,” hollow excuses you must discard from. this day. How happy are you that Jesus docs not pronounce over this city the words He pronounced over the city of Jerusalem! Christ will be here in your roidet; He will listen to you; He will forgive you; He will be your God, A glorious offer! Here He will be, at this very altar, and ye all shall be wel- come. Who couid resist such a leving invitation ? When you come here tv worship Him and to be biessed by Him; when you partake of the comfort and biessing 0: ‘the holy communion, you will feel, indeed, that the gates of heaven are already open- ing. to you tn this world. nia ought to be a day of joy and great festivity. You have made great sacrifices, but you have on meade them for yourselves, for the salvation of your immortal souls. But this is not ail, The demands still greater sacrifices from you. This church ts, indeed, an ornament of this locality, and my heart is filled with joy as I look at THIS NEAT, OHASTR TEMPLE. But do you not owe yet thousands of dollars? Beloved Christians, contribute generously in order to pay this debt of honor, Your faith can be measured by the number of dollars you give. A good Catholic is not stingy in ench a matter—he gives freely and with a williug heart. 1 spurn the gift that must be wrung from you. He who loves will always be glad to make a sacrifice. Give, loved Catholics, and God will bless you a thonsand- es ene may Heaven bless this church and this altar After the sermon there was high mass, Father Bonaventura officiating, The music was excep- tionally good. in the rnoon there was a grand procession through the charch by the Hibernian and St, Patrick's Alliance, 9,000 strong. THE IRON TEMPLE, by the Rev, Mr. Fadygen, Manchester, Ongiand, Those who think all the beauty ‘and fashion of the metropo'ls and its environs have migrated to the varlous watering places for the Summer months should have visited Dr. Scudder’s church» in Brooklyn, yesterday morning. The gentle ther- mometer indicated but eighty-six in the shade, conseqtiently the church was well filled. 0, course myriads of fans, of every imagin. able device, from the colossal palm leaf down to the miniature “dagger,” were kept in constant agitation, but this interfered but little if any with the service, which proceeded smoothly and un- ruffled under the direction 0 the Rev. Mr. Fadygen, of Manchester, England. The reverend gentleman read forthe instruction of his melting hearers the seventh chapter of the second book of Samnel and @ portion of the 192d Psalm, after which the organ peated forth and the congregation joined in sing- ing S From Greenland’s icy mountains, From India’s coral strand, Where Airic’s sunny fountaing Roll down their golden sands; From many an ancient river, From many a palmy plain, They call us to deliver ‘Their land froin error's chain, The text was selected from Haggai 1, 4, and irom it Mr, Fadygen preached most excellent sermon, a3 doubtiess all will testify who had Sermon of tho good fortune to hear it that is, provided they were equipped with a palm leaf. A description was first given of the most wretched condition of the worship of God in the time when Haggai wrote, and the preacher thought that, even in this day and generation, God's people were inclined to emulate the example of the ancients in this—that they looked first to their own convenience and wellbeing, ana if they had any spare time aiterwards, why, they coula just devote a little of it to THE AUTHOR OF THEIR BEING. Uur property, our all, is God's and not our own. Inever feel, said Mr, Hadygen, as some of my brother ministers do, the least ‘blush of shame in asking of a congregt for the advance- ment of God’s work; 1s due, and I feel no hesitancy in calling for it. At this juncture it was a littie amusing to see the loox of uneasiness which rapidly stole over the countenances of a portion of the audience, who evidently expected the next move would be a wholesaie passing round of the hat. Several gentle- men sitting near the reporter ran their hands more or less partially through their pockets, and in a Moment more were heard to whisper, ‘‘Have'nt got a cent,” or “I declare, I've left my money home on the piano.” Things were rapidly set rignt again, however, When the minister changed somewhat the tenor of his remarks. God seeks not your money, he continued, untess it be accompanied by your souls, All we are and all we bave we are in- debted to Him for. Our weaith, our friends, our families, all are the gift of God, and in return for these he expects you to do all that reasunably lays in your power for the salvation of not only your souls, but the souls of others, Where much is given mucais x<pected, and God will not hold him need who ignores all that has been done for him and lives only for sell. He demands that you not only work, but that yoar exertions in His behalf shall be earnest and heartfelt. Without personal exertion nothing can bo accomplished. Some think that to be a decent Christian nothing more is re- quired than to attend church once each Sunday, provided the weather ts not too hot or too vold anithere is not a reasonable probability that it Will rain, and to do this THE PEW RENT must be paid. While young it is probably very well to attend prayer meeting now and then, but in after years this can be abandoned, and ther when the shady side of life is reached and they are de- scending rapidly to the grave, the knowledge of having lived such an eminently useful (?) life will be cheering in the extreme. No, no; this will not do. I we would ail but take the places assigned us by God, Satan’s kingdom could not stand for a ay. AID FOR THE SICK CHILDREY. cunecsientattidicain ‘ Additional Subscriptions. The contributions to the fund for the purpose of supplying medical ala and food to the thousands of sick and destitute children who dwell in the crowded and unhealthy tenement houses of this city continue to be received. Work has already been commenced in all parts of the city, and in a few days every poor family will be visited, imme- diate relief extended to the sick, and a card simi- reference in case of need :— NEW YORK POOR SICK CHILDREN’S RELIEF FUSD—RABT SIDE DisrRic Applications for medical and other, relief in the Sox. enth, Tenth, Eleventh, Thirteenth and Eighteenth wards may'be made throuxh @ Calder, 327 Rivington strect, trom nine to tn o'clock A, M. and six to eight o'clock As before suggested, this Society purposes, as goon a8 a sufficient amount bas been subscribed to warrant the expenditare to charter a barge for the purpose of taking mothers with sick children down the Bay or up the Sound to enable them to breathe the salutiferous sea air in place ‘of the poisonous atmosphere of their crowded houses, As this course would probably result in saving the lives of many little ones, itis to be hoped that ladies and gentiemen whose financial prosperity enables them to “rusticate’ during the heated term will not forget the poor sufferers in the swel- tering city,and contribute liberally to the fund, The following additional subscriptions have been received since Inst report, in response to the appeal in the HeraLp:— Through Rey. Alvah Wis. Cash, Take Dela wall— war 0 Mrs, Wm. Hastings..#60 9) A. D. 8. 0 E asyer Through Mrs A. B.D. $0 Faure sheep, aisy a ena, jajor McEvoy, Phil- Brooklyn ve 200 Nadelph - $0 ash. : 100 Mae, + 100 ash 5) My Last Doliar....., 1.00 Cas 60 Isaac | Cahn, Bt Jam oO J » 600 Gaede eons 100 1 00 eW. G... 500 + 600 BLN. for Sihe Poor + 500 Fund” 10 00 10) Cash 260 10 AB sheppers 5 00 A. Friend to nor— BOR as +1000 For the Sick Chil- John L. Williams... 2000 dren of New York For sick Children... 25 00 Whose Mothers Are Little Theodore 200 | Destitute.......... 5 00 Cust 200 Sent to the Treasurer— Cash. 00 GAS. 200 Total... wy SLI 60 Previously acknowledged 1 735 45 Grand total........ $1,016 95 RNEUR K. LANSING, Earle's Hotel, Treasurer, A NEEDLE IN HIS HEART, A Singular and Probably Fatal Accident In Long Istand City, . Last Friday evening Wiliam Repadan, a shoe- maker by trade, but of late employed in a lumber yard, came to his boarding house, on First street, Hunter's Point, and, as was his custom before go- ing to bed, laid out upon the stoop. He fell asleep, and, in roiling over, a needie, which had been tn- GOUV which is Christ's own, It will be remembered IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT that you have bulit it. But why should you build | it? Because it was a work that tended to the sal. vation of your immortal souls, You were indeed | Christians in doing so. Men of earthly and sensa- | ous tastes would have rather seen here @ dance , hal lodge, a theatre than a temple; but only | those whose thonghts roam into the shadows of the world above us can grasp the sprireat glories | of this dwelling of God, What a blessing this edi- that we had incurred. One of the penalties waa that God should forsake Lum. On the force of our fice Will be to you aud your children! Oa! how | sorted In the lappel of his coat, pierced his leit broast and penetrated the heart. He attempted its withdrawal, but in so doing broke tho needie, leaving the point where it first entered. Physi- clans were inimediately called, but they could do noting, To make an Incision to recover the needWe's point would be certain death. They gave the unfortanate man chioroform, under the infu. ence of whici he has since been; but last evenin, he was not suffering as muoh as previously, thouge the plyaicians give litte hope Of his recovery. lar to the one subjoined left with them for future | Prgechet here ia no Christian life, and where. | THE MARCH OF IMPROVEMENT, Shall New York Isolate New England? HOW IT WOULD PAY. An Opening for Steamships Between Liverpool, New York and Chicago. THE SHIP CANAL SYSTEM OF CANADA, Shall the Hudson Be Joined with ItP The Coming Transformation Scene in Commerce. MontREAL; July 20, 1873, The history of the Erie Canal is the key to the wonderful development of the State of New York and of the tler of States westward from Lake Erle to the Mississippi and southward to the Onto River. The railroad system between the Atlantic seaboard and the valley of the Father of Watora has contributed very much towards the prosperity of the national granary, especially within the last twenty years; but the giant oarrier of the wealth of the West to the markets of the world ts, after all, the sptendid artificial waterway, 309 miles long, from the foot of Lake Erie to tidewater on the Hudson, It is ascertained that the greatest amount of tonnage ever delivered at tidewater in one scason was in 1862, when, according to the: Auditor's report, there were delivered 2,917,094 tona, of which 1,980,082 tons passed from Buffalo to Albany through the Erle Canal. This ts witnin lesa than 2,000 tons of the full capacity of our moat ime portant channeiof commerce. Yet the West is golng on doubling its population and increasing its cerval productions to such an extent that, with alt the help derived from the nine trunk lines between the, Lake region and the Eastern ports, the facilities for transportation are found each year to be more tne adequate than ever. The warehouses of Chicago and its sister distributing depots are choked up with grain one and two years old and the iarmers are driven to desperation through tho exorbitant freights tmposed by shippers, who cannot forward a tithe of the breadatufis consigned to them, From adequate data it is estimated thet the sur. plus tonnage of the Western States northerly of the Ohio River, which is duo to Lake Brie and would come to Lake Ene if it couid be carried promptly, is 20,000,030 tons, Give the Erie Canal, the New York Central Ralt-, road and Erie Railway creait for carrying 6,000,000 tons in the aggregate frem Lake Erie to tide water, an amount which they have never yet car- ried, it leaves 14,000,000 tons to be distributed upon. several! railroads aad rivers running soutaerly and to Southern Atlantic ports, ff the farmers of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wiscon- sin and Micbigan, who are brooding over their, pecuniary distress whils their barns are bursting ‘with plenty, will note well these figures they wilt, perhaps, discover that the extravagant rates of freight, which render it actually more profitable ta burn thelr corn for fuel than to send it to market, are due not 80 much to railway combinations as to lack of capacity on the part of the canal and rail- way systems together to do the work assignod them. The Penosylvania Central and the We York Central roads wil soon double their facilities of transportation by laying a new double track be- side their present lines, and further help ia prom- ised in the opening of the Portland and Ugdens- burg Railroad. The completion of the Now York Midland and the Chesapeake and Ohlo roads will, of course, afford still greater relief; but if the capacity tor movi the crops eastward were to b2 double or trebled to-morrow, while there might be a healthy decline in ts, the superabundant fer- tility of the West would still clog the avenues of transportation. No matter-how ample the means of shipment, the resources of our great garden country will annually furnish inexhaustible sup- plies. On the other hand, the wide world stands Teady at all times to consume whatever surplug May accumulate in the port of New York or at other points in communication with Euro« pean markets. It is admitted that, under no circumstances—except in case of pestilence or famine—can the multiplication of routes for ship- ment exhaust the West or overstock the East. The preferable line of transportation, for economi- cai reasons, 1s demonstrated to be that where the carriage is by ‘water all the way from the Westerm storehouse to the ocean port. Hence the con- stantly increasing pressure upon the capabilities of the only direct water route irom the great lakes to the Hudson. Thus, it appears, that the amount of cereal products received for consumption and export at New York, at least, 18 controlled chief by the volume of traffic that can be forced throug! the Erie Canal, utterly irrespective of the exigen- cies of supply or demand, 6 Erle tube, through which millions draw tneir sustenance, is like the narrow neck of an hour giass, through which there can pass but 80 many grains of sand per minu no matter whether the reservoir is full or near! exhausted, ‘rhe circumstances of the case, which has becoma so burdensome for the producers, seem to be com- prehended at the South, where efforts are makiug to create @ new outlet for the surplus growth by. uniting the navigable waters of the Unio and Tennessee Rivers with the Atlantic Ocean—a pro- fect of the highest importance to the nation a& large. By the proposed Tenessee route distances between the seaboard and several central cities would be greatly reduced, compared with the lake and Erie canal route, to New York; but no saving of time would be effected, for the canal passaged would be correspondingly longer. THE CANADIAN SCHEME. Whether to the icp pte fecl:ngs of the West- era farmers, now banding together io Granges, ia due the present renewed interest which Can dians are takingin the improvement and exten: sion of their already splendid facilities for in- land navigation, or whether the preparations are simply part and parcel of a statesmanlike policy to turn to the best acceunt every natural advantage which the country enjoys, Is no! quite clear to an ontsider. They are at work, how. ever, and if in promoting their own ends they happen to further American interests at @ mos opportune period we should be the last to regret their liberal enterprise. The main features under favorabie consideration or in process of speedy accomplishment in the Do- minion are, in this counection— First—The Magic bebe of the Welland canals. Second—The enlargement of the St. Lawrence are ° @ capacity equal to that of the improved yelland. Third—The connecting of the Ottawa River with Georgian Bay (Lake Huron) by canal via thq French River, Fourth—The construction of the Caughnawaga Canal to unite the St. Lawrence, a short ashore above Montreal, with Lake Champlain by a shor! cut of only twenty-nine miles across a level trac| of country. Itis intended that the canals of the St. Lawrenca and Ottawa be increased to a uniform width of 100 leet, those on the St. Lawrence and the Welland canals to be deepened to twelve feet Wig he ang on the Ottawa to have nine fect, while the pro- bag water link between the St. Lawrence and ke Champlain will afford a passage for tha largest vessels that can enter the lake port hare bors or come through the Welland Canal—viz., steam propellers of 1,000 tons burde: From cares fal paaeey Tam convinced that the Caughnawaga Canal will be Umma | pushed to completion by the company chartered for this importamt work, THE CHAMPLAIN SHIP CANAL TO TROY. It seems to be assumed here by merchants an: Others interested that the State of New York wi lose no further time in turning the present narro’ and shallow conduit from tho head of Lake Chame plain, at Whitehall, to the head of the Hudson navigation, at. Troy, intoa ad canal for the ac- commodatien of such lake totinage as will bere- after be enabled to sail between Chicago, Duluth and Whitehall, This subject has been agitated for @ numaber of years by somo of the most sagacioug minds in the State and has invariably been urged as eminently desirable, ontirely practicable and by no means costly. The latest earnest advocate of this measure, so important to the continued commercial suprem- acy of New York State, is Mr. Smith M. Weed, of Clinton county, who demonstrated before the Assembly, towards the close of the last legislative session, the enormous advantages to be secured to ourseives by furnishing the last short link in @ nav- igable iniand circuit, for craft of very considerable tonnage, trom the mouth of the Miasissipp! River to New iork Bay, the intermediate channels of gommuntiention between the Upper Mississippi and Lake Mictigan being touad in the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, and 0 connectin, | them with Green Bay, and in the liinois River an canal, Which enters Lake Michigan at Chicago, THE CAUGUNAWAGA SHIP CANAL, The Caughnawaga Company have the right under their charter to enlarge the remainder of tha Chambly Canal from the point at witch tt ts inter. sected by the Canghnawaga Canal, a distuuce of five miles from Chambiy, and to enlarge the lock at St, Ours, on the Richelieu River. ‘This ix an tm: portant concession, for it gives access to the Port of Quebeo, and enables vessels or steamers of 1,008 CONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE.