The New York Herald Newspaper, August 25, 1873, Page 4

o 4 ‘NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. MIDSUMMER MINISTERINGS. Services and Sermons in the Summer ‘Resorts and Cities. os FINE WEATHER AND FULL CHURCHES Christian Virtue and Happiness Illustrated by Antiquity, Philosophy, the Olassios, Modern Progress and Daily Life. ‘ ENTRENCHMENT, (NFIDELITY’S = LAST. Man Debasing Himself by Rejecting the Divine Origin. MR. QUINT AT PLYMOUTH CHURCH, Experience the Handmaiden of Philbsophy. i ° BEECHER AMONG THE HILLS. The Brooklyn Shepherd Finds a Flock in the White Mountains, His Views on Doctrine and Belief—Homes Turned Into Hells—God’s Hotel Tables”—Harvests the Best Proofs fn All Things. Miscetlaneous Services and : Ceremonies. TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH Human Fallibility—The Neglected Duties of Paganism and Christianity—No Man Is What He Ought To Be—Sin Always Makes a Fracture=“I Want Another Chance!” The Tabernacle Baptist church, situate in Tenth street and Second avenue, was crowded yesterday, asit always is on the Sabbath, whatever be the state of the thermometer. The Rey. Wayland Hoyt, the pastor, possesses the rare gift of being able to fill his church, winter and summer, and in this matter bears comparison with the Brooklyn Boanerges, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. The text chosen by Mr. Hoyt was the tenth verse ot the second chapter of Colossians, and whicli reads as follows:—“‘And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” The Scriptures inculcate upon erring humanity, said the preacher, a perfect and undivided love of Christ, for in Him and by Him the soul of the Sinner Onds its glory and redemption. In this affection the head and the hand are one ®oth working unitedly. If youare in Christ you are one with Him and are completely justified. I use the old word “justified” in preference to the new word “pardoned,” for it is as infinitely superior as 1s the grandeur of the ocean to a little two-foot deep pond, HUMAN FALLIBILITY. You will all remember, without doubt, the terri- ble accident which occurred at Ricnmond some time ago. You will recollect that a fair and shapely building existed on a- hilltop, and to all outward appearances that building was strong and power- ful agd built on a solid founda tion, and no person ever imagined that it was not perfectly safe and durable. Well, a number of people crowded into it and it feil—and there was a horror of great dark- | ness! so now let me ask you, my dear hearers, what one o! you can say | am without great detects in my nature and can be like @hrist, devoid of sin? PAGANISM VS. CHRISTIANITY. Take, for instance, a Pagan, worshipping in his temple some hideous block of stone or wood, which the poor fellow believes to be powerful, to save and protect him trom harm. Taik with’ nim qui- etiy, and uf he be truthful he will tell you that he does not live up to what he professes; and in like manner you wiil find among the most highiy intel- Jectual and cultivated men of our own day that they do not likewise live up to their profession in the redeeming sanctification of a Saviour’s blood. * Count Demestre once remarke: “I cannot tell what the beare of a villain is like, but I know that the hearts of so-called good men are perfectly irightiul oittimes.’* NO MAN IS WHAT HE OUGHT TO BE or ought to have been, for forgiveness from Christ is wanted to make our erring souls happy. When Bishop Butler was dying itis soul was greatly troubled. Numerous clerical friends were stand- ing round his bédside, and none of them appeared to ve able to give him consolation, until one of them said, “fhe biood of Christ cieanseth from all iniquities."". ‘The dying man, who was entering the dark valley of the shadow of death, remarked, “I have read that @ thousand times, but have never realized its intensity as I now do in this supreme moment.” Yes, continued Mr. Hoyt, our huinan natures are tco weak without Divine assistance to combat the snares and temptations of this life. God can, however, find no flaw in human nature when Christ stands by the re- generated man, for he is one with Christ and Christ is in lim and giveth bim that peace which the world cannot give. When a prisoner is brought be.ore a human bar of justice and there is no person to accuse him he ts dis- charged: So let us hope that, when the day of judg- ment shall arrive, although we be not iree from sin, yet by Christ's love tor us that we may feel we are justified and fear no accusation. AN ANECDOTE OF MR. VAN METER’S CITY ARABS, I remember once, in my church in Bfooklyn, my friend Mr. Van Meter, the well known philanthro- pist, brought over three handsome boys, all father- less and motherless, and in fact city Arabs. One of the boys Was a beautitully handsome litle fellow, and Mr. Van Meter assed the congregation it any one would give a home to one of the Lord’s chil- He asked three times before’ he got any an- 5 » When a maa came forward and said he would do 43 a jatherjor that boy, Butin the case of a Christian towards Curist, he has only to stretch out his arms and he is instantly received with ail his sins upon bis head, 1, WANT ANOTHER CHANCE, is @ frequent wail among 1 world; n that you hear in the unto me ail ye that but Christ says, “€ ry and y » aud I will give you and your new chance of doing good will commence, € sionally in this world you will fud the heart ofa Irie which beats sympu- thetically with your own, but sometimes a breach Of faith on one side or other will puta stop to this harmony of spirit, FOR SIN ALWAYS MAKES A FRACTURE, Lately, on the Hudson, J have visited with great interest many places of historical interest in our revolutionary war, and! have thought how Washington must have been grieved to the heart's core when lie jound that Arnold was a traitor to his country, and was about to deliver West Point into the hands of the British forces, Did you ever see flowers growing in a cellar, and how the leaves allturn im the direction im which the light enters the place—be it only through a chink in the door—and can you forget bow Christ has turned the full light of redemption on you’ When @ sinner turns from his wickedness and jorms part of Christ’s vine, he can say, ‘God ic me as ke Joves his Son, and I am complete in Gq.” Oh, to Tise above the meanness and lowness Which exisis inthe world, to” be transfgured into Christ's resence, the evil forgotten, the good remem- dered! On, to wear white robes because we are Christans! that is God, thatis heaven! MR. HOYT’S EXPERIENCES OF FRIENDSHIP. I,myseif, was an ignorant, retiring boy, and was like a child lost in a iorest. | At jasc I stood verore agreat and noble teacher, who took me into his irendship, who shook my laziness and stupidity out of me. What was miserable was dispelled and what was good remained. My iriénds, when Christ, the altogether lovely, enters into a man’s COM pOspiol Nature is changed, and his loving | soul clings unto the light of Christ, for He ioves us and pecer our love, The sermon ends with the old question, “Are you ready to meet your God’—and let us not trust to our own goodness, but rely on divine mercy. God grant this for Christ's sake, Amen! « 81, BRIDGET'S ROMAN CATHOLIC OHURGE. The Gospel of the Day, with an Exhor- tation by the Rev. Thomas J. Mooney. At St. Bridget’s chureh, yesterday morning, @ large and re&pectable congregation assembled at haif-past ten o'clock muss. The Rev, Father Lynon oMeciated as celebrant and the Rev, Thomas Jd. Mooney. pastor 2 wn. « SUELO, WYER Bag Bes CURA. A Gas Ad Uy assisted tn the sanctuary. About twenty acolytes, neatly attired in soutanes and surp! re B1s0 the altar railing, able. The sacred music rea- ered by the choir was of an excellent character, and the singing, which was participated in by sev- eral well-trained male and female voices, has been seldom surpassed in churches of this OA After the tcommunion the officiat! clergy- man read Gospel of the day to the congrega- tion trom the fenth chapter of St. Luke. The Epis- tle and Scriptural texts contained in the Gospel furnished a wholesome lesson for the pious people in chureh; and without ports it tedious for the: they were permitted to drink in the sweetness 01 the words without any comments. The Rev. Father Mooney Sohseqnently advised the congre- gation to unite in helping to advance the interests ofthe new Central Home for the Sister’ of Charity, ee he has labored so lovingly to provide for em, MURRAY HILL PRESBYTERIAN OHUROH, The Rev.'John Miller on the Power of God. The Murray Hill Presbyterian church was well filled yesterday morning, the pulpit being occupied by the Rev. John Miller, of Princeton, N.J. The sermon was a very impressive appeal for the exer- cise of greater faith among all classes of people, church-goers as well as sinners, in the promises of the Lord, It was delivered more as an exhortation than regular discourse, and for that reason appealed more directly to the hearts of all present. Taking for his text, “Kept by the power of God through faith,” the minister com- pared the faithfulness of the Almighty to the watchfulness of the chief of a great establishment. He illustrated ‘by saying that a small scrap of paper, with words upon it, placed in a letter-box at the corner of a street, will, if rightly directed, reach a friend in far off Australia. It 1s a trivial little matter to all the clerks and deputies through | whose hands it passes, but it may bring great joy { to the heart of the person for whom it is intended, A very little faith only is requisite in this case, but the simple act of writing and depositing the mes- sage is an exercise of this'virtue, It is very differ- ont trom casting 1t afloat on the great ocean ina ottle. THE HOPEFUL ARE NEVER FORSAKEN. The spirit of God cannot be corrupted. If we belong to the kingdom of the Kedeemer we may stumble, but we will not fall, We will rise again through faith. When we enter upon a Cnristian life we are born again, but we do not at once get off our swaddling clothes; we are yet poor, feeble, sinful men, until we are deemed worthy to be at- tendants at the mercy seat of the Most High. The Holy Ghost has yet to take possession of our souls, Some doubt the merit of another's atonement for our sins. Our whole life of Christian work must Saving be based upon what Christ has done jor us. His supremacy must ' not be disavowed nor his goodness towards us overlooked for an instant. If we get to heaven and are asked what it was that brought us there, we can only point to the King on His throne and say, “The taith that we had in the power of God.” If I, as your minister on this occasion, stand here betore you, it is only because God per- mits, Christ’s righteousness is our claim for re- demption, A FAITH THAT ENDURETH. It is true that I do not understand how fora long eternity I can be kept happy in heaven, but I hope to be “kept by the power of God through faith, ready to be revealed at the last time.” Then I shall see the beauties of heaven with immortal eves, With my humanity alone to guide me it would seem that the same _ master and the same scenes would soon grow uninterest- ing. ‘obe like the Sphinx ofthe desert, with my eyes always fixed upon one set of objects, would to me now seem dreadfully monotonous. Monotony always makes one uncomfortable. Nothing could have been sweeter to the ear oi Penelope than the on the plains of windy Troy, and her own hero, too, among them. But even she, the heatben ideal of the faithful wife, grew tired of this. No, poor hu- manity, in its weakness, cannot compretiend the mysteries of heavenly bliss. Here is another op- portunity for the exercise of faith. We know that the Apostle tells us that there shall be secured to the iaithful a happiness that fadeth not away. “I do not doubt; God will make me happy,” should be the expression of our feelings. Have faith, then, in the inheritance which fadeth not away. WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION, If we are saved, then, and enjoy the eternal biessing, it is alone through the power of God. Let the poor sinner ask this laith of God, and when he ets the faith next pray for the blessed acceptance. Even the wind that moves through the branches. of the trees outside this church—the trees them- selves, forsooth, Move and exist by the power of God. if this picture of heaven entrances you see it Ly) the power of God. The tree and the sinner alike work out their own growth and salvation, ALANSON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Sermon by the Rev. C. E. Harris on God’s Attributes—Original Views—The Power of God and How He Uses It—The Sophistry of the Infidel. The Rev. Charles E. Harris preached an excel- lent sermon last evening in the Alanson Methodist Episcopal church, His subject was on the attri- butes of God, and both the arguments and the skill of the treatment were original and agree- able. It was+much in the Beecher vein, and was delivered with all that clergyman’s fervor and humor. Mr. Harris took his text from Revela- tions, xix., 5, 6, Veginning, ‘‘A voice came out from the grave,” &c, The idea of thisis that God reigns every where. To describe the dreadful grandeur of God is, of course, impossible, To be able to do 80 would be to have more than an angel’s power. Compared with His grandeur all earthly pageants are as nothing. His canopy is the heavens, His subjects all creation, His body guard the angels. His laws are based on love, How {ar superior to all worldly kings! how different from ail earthly potentates! The first at- tribute of God is sovereignty, and the first attri- bute of sovereignty is power. He has a moral sovereignty.. You see His power in the domain of nature. No power can refuse alle- giance to Him. We can do so to earthly kings, but how can we do it to God? What are we without Him? We cannot move astep, not live an instant without His sustaining power. He often makes use of the man who reiuses Him allegiance as the instrument of His will, The night, the noon, the day, the vast moun- tains, the great ocean, the smiles of the flowers, the voice of the thunder—all tell of the existence of God. Mysteries, intricacies, greatness cannot weary Him. You see His existence in all, and yet more in the still, small voice which whispers within yourself, All we touch, all we feel, all we taste comes from Him, He has given us the power to do these things. The ditference between GOD AND OURSELVES is tmmediately apparent. You can't create, you can’t destroy. Not the smallest atom can you make out of nothing; neither’can you completely annihilate anything. Some people afirm that after God had once created the world He was satisfied and then left it to take care of itself, But this theory is ridiculous. It is the old about na- ture and laws. Law, what is la’ It is the mind. So that if you separate God from the earth itis like separating your arms from your mind. You can’t make a movement unless your mind wills it. So it is with God. The earth cannot exist, cannot move, without His ever-watchful care, There are some people who are never satis- fied with God’s work, and who speak of nature ail the time as if nature were not God. I saw one of these ag ts on vacation. He had been talking about the world, as it were, not being perfect. He wanted to improve on nature. Lying under an ap- ple tree quite fall of fruit, \d seeing the apples and seeing also some pumpkins in a neighboring fleld, he sald, “Now, how much better it would be if those pumpkins, fine and large, grew on the tree and these little bits of miserable apples on the round! How much better the effect would be!’ ust at that moment an apple fell and hit bun on the nose, His first exclamation was, “Thank God, that wasn’t a Pumpkin!” This is about the average value of these criticisms upon God's work. He alone can do anything; we are merely His tools. People say, ‘1 was converted under Mr. Harris. They might as well say, ‘I was cured under Dr, and So."" I tell youif you were not converted by God then your conversion is not worth much. We must jook at God as our sov- ereign. He would be nothing without His power. What is any sovereign without power. But with all His power, His omnipotence, He can’t work a contradiction. He can’t say in advance, “This Igt of people I'll save; x THIS LOT LL DAMN, This would be a contradiction, Neither could He any more tan we make the past the present or the present the fnture, or two and two make five, nor any impossible contradictory thing. This does not impeach Lis power. — It does not impeach your | eyesight that | should say you cannot see what is invisible, or your hearing because | say you cannot hear what is inaudible, —Neitfler can God do what is wrong. What would you think of a husband who said, on the first day oj bis marriage to his wife, “The first two children we have I will care for and mature and clothe and teed and educate and dandie on my knee and love, But the four or six or eight or ten I have aiter thatI deny, 1 won't feed them, | won’t clothe them, I won't care for them, I'll make them suffer, Would not such a Jather be fit fora lunatic asylam, and yet there are people who say God does this, ‘They make lum say, This little lot I'll save. The resi can all of tnem go to hell, without distinction.’’ But there are Chrisuans who believe ip such a God, Wf that 18 the God {[ am to worship, let me be a Jew again. ‘The; have no such God. He knows some of us will not be saved, but He puts us on this earth with a free will to do as we please, and we all have the ability to be saved it we please. He puts us in @salvabie position, It" ir business then to do the best we Rabe t > hb We dees iv wake tome songs of Phemeus discoursing of the heroes away | wnat God knows so long as I know that I can pe saved i! 1 want to? This is the position God gives us, Dear me, how the time does pass; it’s already nine o’clock. Let us pray. 8T. STEPHEN'S ROMAN CATHOLIO CHURCH Sermon by the Rev. Father Flynn—The Love of God—Who Is Our Neighbor? The Good Samaritan. The high mass at St. Stephen’s yesterday morn- ing was attended by a large and respectable con- gregation. The good effects of the devotions during .the late triduum were apparent in the fervor and piety with which the faithful assisted at the holy sacrifice and the earnest attention with which they listened to the preacher. The Rev. Father Flynn, having read the gospel of the day, Luke, X., 23, 37, 8aid:— In the Gospel of to-day our divine Lord points out to us the way to attain eternal life, the end for which we were created. ‘Master, what must I do to possess eternal life ?” asks the lawyer in the Gospel. What is required of me for admission into the mansions of eternal bliss? In answer, Christ 4 refers him to the law and asks him, “How readeth thou?” And he, answering, said, “Thot shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, and thy neighbor as thyself.” And He said to him, ‘Thou hast answered right; THIS DO, AND THOU SHALT LIVE.” In these words our Lord has given us a complete summary of all that 18 required of us to merit eternal life. We are to love God with all the motions and inclinations of the heart, with all the thoughts and conceptions of tne soul, with all the desires, wishes and determinations of the will -in a word, with all the powers and faculties of both soul and body. If we rei love God we will do our utmost to please Him by submitting our intel- lects to the supernatural mysteries which He das revealed, by acknowledging the authority of that church which He has \established here upon earth, by obe: ing His commandments, by a strict observarce ol ey Jaw. Thus it is that the recept of the love Of God is called ‘the first and reatest commandment,” because init are con- ‘ained all the others, and he who fulfils it fulfils them. He who loves God will not murmur against Him, will not disgrace His holy name by cursing and swearing; but, on the contrary, will praise Him, bless His holy name and & ve Him due homage. Consider for a moment God’s claims to our love. He called ‘us from nothing into exist- ence. He fashioned our bodies with His own hands and breathed into them souls capable of knowing and loving Him, Shall we hesitate to love our Creator? He redeemed us from the power of ‘ SATAN AND SIN with the blood of His only begotten Sen. Shall we refuse out hearts’ warmest love to our Redeemer ? He has sanctified us with His Holy Spirit. Shall we delay to offer the tribute of our hearts to the source of all grace and goodness ? Nay, rather let us ex- claim with the Apostle St. Paul:—“Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribu- lation? or distress? or*tamine? or nakedness? or Gh fee or persecution? orthe sword? I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love: of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.”’ In lovii God we give our hearts’ affections to an itfivitely perfect being, and as such worthy beyond the power of language to express of our adoration, love and homage. Christ himself teaches us how we are to show our love for God:—“He that hath my com- mandments and keepeth them, he itis that loveth me.” And St, John says :—“I’or this 1s charity that we keep his commandments.” According to the apostle every act of our lives should be referred to the glory of God. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever else, you do all to the glory of God,” &c. The trials and sorrows and sufferings of this tife give us splendid opportunities to display our love of God. Love will teach us to bear them cheerfully, as it teaches THE FOND MOTHER to suffer with joy for a beloved child, the friend to eect pate himself and even risk his lile for his riend. ‘To the love of God we must unite the love of our neighbor; for it is written, “Tnou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” And if, like the lawyer in the Gospe!, you ask, ‘Who is my neighbor ?” I re- fer you to the parable of the good Samaritan. He did not stop to inguire about the nationality or creed of the unfortunate he found on the roadside, but at once helped him and: provided Jor his wants, All men, without dis'inction of race or creed or color, are our neighbors. We are children of the same God; we were redeemed at the same price; we are destined for the same end. Our charity, like our religion, should be Catholic. While we hate gin, we must LOVE THE SINNER, While we shun and abominate errors in faith, we must have charity forthe erring. Christ while on earth extended His charity to all men, even to His executioners, ‘Father, torgive them,” &c. Like the good Samaritan, we must succor the afflicted. Ifour neighbor be in trouble or amiction let us pour into nis amMicted soul the oil of comfort and consolation, Let us bind up his wounds and sym- pathize with him in his misfortunes. In this we will fulfil the law. The love of God and love of our neighbor, so forcibly taught in the Gespel, will be rewarded with peace and com/ors here and eter- nal tife hereafter. s BROOKLYN CHURCHES. PLYMOUTH CHURCH " The Rev. Mr. Quint Again Occupies Plymouth Palpit—A Sermon on Chris- tian Obedience—What It Is and What It Is Not. : The congregation at Plymouth church yesterday morning was somewhat larger than that of pre- vious vacation Sundays. The weather, which was pleasantly cool, and the fact that the churches in the neighborhood are not yet open for the season, mainly contributed to this result. The Rev. Mr. Quint, of New Bedford, again preached, and * LIKE MR, SKIMPOLE, 4 in Dickens’ “Mutual Friend,” essayed'a more am- bitious note than last Sunday and was tolerabig successiul. . The subject of the sermon was “Christian Obedi- ence,” and the text selected was, Hebrews ¥., 8— “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which he suffered.” In explaining what obedience was, the preacher answered some objections, among which was this:—“if obedience were made salvation, what would become of free race?” To this was answered that obedience was the truit of love to Jesus Christ, It was by obedi- ence to the truth that we became children of God. The idea of obedience clearly involved the idea of jaw. Christ was the end and ultimate of the law. Then, if so, 1t Was manifest that those who lived in disobedience of the law of God, the wrath of God abideth on them. 1t was said, too, that obedience to God meant obedience to the laws of our being. In acertain sense this was true. If we lived. ia Obedience to the laws of our body, soul and spirit we were living in harmony with the laws of God. But who could do that? Our hereditary disability prevented us from doing this—in the disobedience of one man all men have become sinners. Then we are disabled from being in perfect accord with the laws of our being. It was just here the trou- ble came in. God knew this, and knew where the defect was, and, therefore, we need and cannot do without some outside governing power. Then it was said if I do what is right then Iam obe- dient unto God. No, because all that you are obedient to is your own sense of right. It was true that it was a good deal better for a man to obey \ perrereed, conscience than to violate ae conscience, but this was only doing negativel right Sometimes ‘ See “4 DOING WHAT GOD REQUIRES is not always obeying him. Because it depends upon the motive that prompts it. Abraham was commanded to go into a country he knew not of. Suppose, before he had gone, he bad mounted some eminence where he could have surveyed the country, and seen that it was fertile, and @ desir- abie land to dwell iu, and when he saw it, he said, “Well, I. will go.” He would be obeying God: but he did tt becanse it was a good thing to ‘do, and not because God bad commanded him to do it, Obedience to God was not true obedience, even if we were Onristians, and only did that which pleases us. The idea of duty is influential, and above enjoyment. Obedience involves the taking up of the cross; it must be an obedience that must stand the test of temptation. The above is an outline of the sermon, with several war stories, used as iMustrations, omitted. CHURCH OF THE HOLY MEDIATOR,#ORMOND PLAGE, : Sketch of Its History and Progress— Sermon by Rev. W. H. Reid. Some friends of the Rey. W, H, Reid rented the Juvenile Academy in Woshington street, near Con- cord, opposite the Brooklyn Institute, and trans- formed it Into a neat and tastefnl Episcopal church, which was opened for worship on the first Sunday In April, 1869, with about fifty families attending. November 1, 1870, the vestry, leased old St. Ann’s church, and the services were continued in this edifice until May 1, 1873, when, in view of the fact that the Brooklyn terminus of the bridge will be placed on the site now occupied by old St, Ann’s and the removal of a number of the vestry, among whom were those upon whom the church mainly viepended for earthly and material sup- port, tle vestry deemed it expedient, in order to perpetuate the orgamzation, to remove the churel to the upper part of the city. They there- upon purchased the property formerly owned by the Central Congregational Society (Rev. Dr. Scud ler's) as the most iguble Jogation for the ‘_ parish, The opening services were held on the first Sunday in May—the third Sunday after Easter—the Bishop of Long Island confirming a class of twenty adults, Although the change was made at the most unfavorable season of the year, when families were about leaving for the summer resorts, the church has succeeded beyond the expectations of the most sanguine of its friends, The pews are about half rented and there is already the germ of a strong congregation, and a large number of jes are intending to unite with the church on THEIR RETURN TO THB CITY. | The success of the church thus far has been largely due to the efforts of its pastor, Mr. Reid. An piles acy worker, an earnest laborer in the vineyard the Lord, an eloquent preacher and beloved: by those wi ow him, his ministrations must prove success: A fine congregation for the summer time assem- bled yesterday morning. Mr. Reid discoursed from the text found in St. John, iii, 19% In the introduction it was stated that since philoso- phy had began to argue ‘irom experience she has made rapid DIOEreas, In proportion as she has adhered to this- grand principle she has steadily advanced, but whenever she has aban- doned it she has labered in vain. . It was demanded that Christianity should be brought tothe same test; that she should be fairly and fully proved; that the facts in her favor should be subjected to the touchstone of the heart; also that imfidelity, too, should be judged by its practic cal tendencies and its legitimate results, and then let the result of the trial decide which has truth for its basis and which is the greatest seurce of ele- vation, peace and happiness, + The influence of in- fidelity on the temporal je of man, it was stated, was clear, as, by divesting him ‘of his im- mortality, 1 divests him of his true dignity and importance, Whatever degrades man’s estimate of his own essential nature must proportionately degrade himsel!. Since he cannot rise higher than his principles, what foundation has he for a genu- ine selt respect? What room for ndeur or ele- vation of soul? As tne rejection of the divine orl+ gin and of the eternal duration of human nature must tend TO DEBASE A MAN PERSONALLY * 80 must it equally tend to debase nim socially. No man can esteem his neighbor who looks upon him as not immortal—as being but a portion of mere modified matter—a little more than a galvanized piece of clay, and regards his life as little better than affecting tragico-comic drama without cause and without consequence. How gloriously do the views which Christianity gives of man contrast with the debasing views which infidelity furnishes! It recognizes his divine origin—as once having borne - THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE; as majestic though in ruins; as still susceptible of the divine similitude; as ransomed with the brood of the God-man; as destinea to eternity; as his life time and as sowing here the harvest, which he shall be: forever reaping hereafter. Contem- plated in this light, the eae Ar ngue Lee gavage pssymes gn [ncomprehen: portance, Kanhewhle \ahdali iy divents man of his worth it denudes morality of its safeguards and its sancti- ties. Morality is the conforming of our conduct to the standard of rectitude. We have no standard of right save the will of God. But infidelity sets this will aside and declares that there isa universal sense SORE ASAT of what is right and wrong which iurnishes the standard of morals, THE LAST INTRENCHMENT for the defence of his moral system the infidel re- sorts to is the sense of shame and the influence of man on man. Crime, as it becomes famillar to us, ceases to be shameful to us. At the root of the social influence of man sceptics lay their axes with unsparing hand. The pastor concluded his sianeny remarks with a passing notice of those bold, bad women who are now advancing those horrible doctrines against the sanctity of the mar- Tinge tie. ‘The musical part of the services was excellent. A fine quartet has been brought together. Mr. Brownson has a magnificent baritone organ, and one which with cultivation will give him high rank among the church artists of the day. His singing of the solo in Lozel’s “Te Deum” was exceedingly creditable to him. In Mrs. Sheppard and Mrs. Sawyer the church has two fine and reliable singers, and at no distant day we imagine that this quartet will rank ‘among the best in Brooklyn, PATCHOGUE PIETY. Experimental Religion Not Enthu- siasin—Sermon by the Rev. William Lawrence. PatcnoovE, L. I., August 24, 1873. The easterly storm which has prevailed here for the last ten days has had a tendency to deplete the large number of guests who filled the boarding houses; yet, notwithstanding the unpropitious weather, the village presents an animated appear- ance, especially Ocean avenue, which is a mile and a half long, and is the principal drive to the beach. Among the places of worship here the Meth- odist church seems to take the lead. The pastor, Rev. William Lawrence, is an able preacher and occupies @ prominent position in the New York East Conference. His theme this morning was, “Experimental Religion Not Enthusiasm.’ The text was taken from Acts, xXxvi., 24, 25—“And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said, with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But ne said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.” In his opening re- marks the preacher said that vital religion is but little understood by worldly men. Witn many the mere form of godliness comprises all tne meaning which they aMx to the word “religion.” In this aspect it excites in them little opposition, It is only when it becomes a living, experimental power that the whole energies of tne carnal mind are aroused and concentrated in bitter hostility to it. A narration by a sincere Christian of his» religious experience, in which he depicts his depth of grief as apenitent sinner and his height of joy as a par- doned believer—a life spent in prayer and praise and in seeking for the treasure and rewards of PIETY AND A SELF-DENYING ZEAL, which revealed the reality of a man’s faith in the truth of God’s word, was to the masses of men madness and enthusiasm, Such persons were deemed enthusiasts; and unbelieving men looked upon pure religion as the offspring of a heated brain. Religious experience was to them an un- fathomable enigma. This point was elaborated, and-the interesting interview of Festus and Paul, of which the text made mention, was narrated by the speaker. Paul denied the allegation of mad- hess, and strenuously maintained that he had spoken no more than the sober truth, without any exaggeration. The reverend gentleman pro- ceeded to define the nature of enthusiasm. Probably those who applied the word to religious men might fina them- selves in an awkward position if asked for its meaning, and this mirror, rightly placed, might reveal to him his own likeness instead of that of his religious neighbor, An enthusiast could be detected by one or more of the toilowing evi- dences:—Either he has chosen an wnworthy or un- attainable object, or, ifit were desirable and at- tainable, used totally inadequate means to attain it, or else, though the object be worthy and the means used appropriate, the individual pursued it extravagantly. He showed that religion was an object worthy of pursuit. It was a pearl worth more than all earthly possessions—q panacea pre- scribed by ; THE DIVINE PHYSIO‘AN fOr all spiritual diseases, God promised that the: who sought this treasure would find it, and wit- nesses could be summoned from earth, heaven and heil; from the jungles of Indta, the rugged summits of the Alps, the sparsely populated prairie and the crowded city to prove the faithful ness of the Divine promises. The mere enthusiast, who boped to oo an object by inadequate means, might strain his eyebalis after the winged goddess Fortune, but she would always fly trom him. The religion of the Bible guaranteed no success to such enthusiasts, but it did do so to every sincere seeker who used the right means, which were minutely described, clearly stated and illustrated by livi examples. No Christian man who pursued the pati God had marked out could be an enthusiast, be- cause he used the appropriate means to gain a worthy and attainable opect, whereas all who did not yield to God’s mode of OBTAINING FORGIVENESS OF SIN and put forth no earnest effort to reach heaven were open to the charge of being enthusiasts. ‘The preacher went on to remark that, whatever other enterprise might be pursued too earnestly and extravagantly so as to affix the charge of en- thusiasm on the pursuer, experimental and fervent piety ‘was not open to the charge. Enthusiasm was not to be measured by the > gee | of the fervor, but by its quality. man might ee be called an en- thusiast who lifted anything out of its proper sphere ot worth and own fancy alone had made it merit. Such were those who pursued wealth and worldly pleasure and made no effort to meet the demands of their higher nature, It was not possible to lift religion out of its position; for without its light gross dark- ness and eternal barrenness would rest upon man’s present and future state. Aroused by the tnought of eternity, o/ human sin and by the revelations of neaven and hell, was it any wonder that men should be in earnest ? This consideration was enforced by appropriate illustrations, He who sinks down into “THE LURID FLAMES OF HELL will never think he could have done too much to escape them, while he who rises to reside forever in the city of the living God will pot think thas he ‘was too carnest in putting forth effort to get these, On the top of the golden gates of the eons city which John saw in vision Was. the inscrip- tion, “The kingdom of heaven sufferetn violence and the violent take it by force.” In conclusion the congregation were ur; to manijest the raq- nisite amount of zeal and earnestness in securin, the biessings of the Gospel. The preacher assure them that when the eye had lost its brightness and the pulse pod feeble, when ¢he hour of departure irom loved irieuus had comp none a them would bo aid it the service which his* ever think that ing thelr calling aud ceetios ure NEW CAtHoLic Laying the Corner Stone of the New Church of St, Amthony Yesterday—An Imposing Procession of Catholic So- cieties, Bishop Loughlin, assisted by @ large number of the clergymen of his diocese, laid the corner sfone of the new Catholic Church of St, Anthony, Green- point, yesterday afternoon. THE NEW EDIFICE will be located in Union avenue, near Greenpoint avenue, in the midst of twelve other churches of varioug denominations, The congregation are bow worshipping in the old frame church in India street, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Father William J. Lane. The former pastor of this church was the Rev. Father Brady, recently deceased, who willed the present site to the congregation. This edifice, when completed, will have an extreme length of 163 feet 8 inches, ironting on Union ave- nue, standing back from the sidewalk 14 feet, with & rise of 8 feet and a breadth ot 72 feet. The basement will be 13 feet high between the floors, the brick work of the chancel walis 62 feet above the church floor to the apex of the gable. The height of the tower and spire from the level of the side- walk to the top of the cross will be 210 feet. Tne structure will be in the modern style of archi- tecture, 3. THE CEREMONY was extremely brief. At about half-past three o'clock the Bishop, in fall canonicals, preceded by a lstge number of acolytes and followed by the following named clergymen, marched in procession over the large foundation, performing the usual ceremonies:—Fathers Turner, Vicar General; Mortimer Brennan, of St. Mary’s; R. Maguire, O'Brien, Taffe, Carroll, McElroy, John Maguire, O'Hare, Charles Farrelly, McCullum, Walsh, Hickey, Ward, ‘William. Lane, Hauptman and Callahan. At the conclusion of the procession the Bishop briefly addressed the large Multitude present. He congratulated them for their devotion and piety in attending the celebration, remarking that in doing so they were Bei, ting God’s holy religion for His honor and glorification. THE PROOKSSION. Among the societies taking part in the proces- sion were twenty-three lodges of the Ancient Order. of Hibernians, Cun of about 3,000 members; ten societies of the St. Patrick’s Alliance; among the Roman Catholic associations represented were those o! St. Alphonse, St.Paul, The Assumption, St. James, St. Anthony and St. Louis; and the Father Mathew societies were represented by No. 3 of Greenpoint, with cadets and the Parent Society of New York. This edifice will cost over $100,000, and Father Lane, the indefatigable pastor, thinks that it will be ready for divine service during the latter part of November. The box placed in the receptacle prepared for it contained @ copy of the HERALD, current coin and currency and arollof parchment containing the names of the President of the United States, the Governor of the State of New York, the Mayor of Bee iy of Brooklyn and the dignitaries of the church. * The police arrangements, under the immediate supervision of Inspector John S, Folk, were so ad- mirable that the utmost decorum was maintained throughout. At the conclusion of the ceremonies Father Lane entertained the clergymen attending at his modest cottage near by. BEECHER AMONG THE HILLS. ‘Brooklyn’s Famous Pastor in Fashion's Resort Among the White Mountains— *' Preaching at the Twin Mountain House—Wondrous Enthusiasm—Carts and Trains Bringing Sinners to Hear Him—A Skirmish All Around the Fisid of Morality and True Gedliness—Hot House Religion, Domestic Hells‘ and God’s Hotel Tables Considered and Ii- lustrated. TWIN MOUNTAIN House, Warts Mountains, N. H., August 24, 1873, The widespread popularity of Rev, H. W. Beecher in the preaching line was shown in a remarkable } manner to-day at the Twin Mountain House, right in the heart of the White Mountains. The parlor, corridors and adjoining rooms were absolutely packed with people, and teams came from all quarters, even from Bethlehem, eight miles dis- tant. Considering the fact tuat New Hampshire bears away the palm for atrocious roads, this tribute to the preacher is all the more remarkabie, Aheavy train on the branch trom Littleton also brought quite a large number of hearers and elo- quence-seekers, and from the Crawford Notch came a long line of wagons. Beecher is certainly the lion here, and where he shakes his mane hotel and hamlets are excited. Over 1,200 people came to hear him to-day. After announcing the introductory hymn, in which he requested all who could sing to join, and those who were unable to sing to make a ‘joyful noise,” he selected his text from Galatians v., 22, He said that the apostle in these words does not mean that the good are free from command which the Divine law imposes upon mankind, but that the truly good man complies with the law with such cheertulness and pleasure that it loses to him the aspect of a command, The lay forbids steal- Jag, lies Gud {njury to our Nelghbor. If a man loves honesty, truth and charity so that it becomes part of his nature, the law has no reference to him.) In music there are LAWS AGAINST DISCORD; but good musicians need them not, since their ear can only admit of harmony. So, when a‘man does right because he likes it—on account of its beauty, its fitness, its comfortableness—he needs no com- mand or rule of obligation. * Better such a staie of mind than the resolution of a man to obey the law for fear of being punished. Yet this ignoble ob- servance of the commands of God may be trained and developed into the higher standard, until re- ligion and natural feeling become synonymous terms. Many wish to know the real meaning and object of Christian life. Itis not the diiference of eared bag sect which makes one a good Christian; 0 THE WORK OF MERE PREACIING. It comes from a higher source; it is the fruit of the Divine Spirit. Externals or mere aceessories can- not alone bring forth such fruit. The glory of the rapevine is notin the wood, the blossom or the eal. God placed its excelence in its ripe, luscious fruit; therefore the life of a Christian is shown in the constant manifestation of the Divine Spirit in him in being good, kind at all times, and not in the mere fact of being a member of a church which, he thinks, is superior to all others. Love is the first fruit of the Divine Spirit; it is the summer season of the soul, and the trees, flowers, pastures and fruit of grace are matured and brought to their fullest development by THE SUN OF LOVE shining in the heart. What is this love? It is explained in the mandate, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy wuole soul, and thy neigh- bor as thyself.” No man ever reached the entire observance of this sublime command; but it can- not be modified one particle. Because we cannot. reach the summit there is no reason why we should not attempt the ascent. In mundane affairs every man strives after something he can never reach—., the perfection of some human work which is sus- ceptible of constant development. This command- ment is preached as an inaccessible heignt to pre- vent any one irom boasting in pride that he iul- filled it to the letter. It serves asa constant incentive for us to climb up farther, and not bok back. The second fruit of the Divine Spirit is joys, to laugh, to relax the heartstrings and feel the comfort of the presence of God at all times, The benefit of religion is not to make a man sour or angular, but to make him the most cheeriul creature in the World, In the New Testament there is not a mor- bid passage ; yet parts of it were written in prison, in bodily suffering, beneath the lash of persecu- tion. Now, some people think they are model Christians, yet they never smile from one end of the year to the other, Why should one be gloomy and sore with Christ ever with us? The third fruit of the spirit is peace. When the tide is coming in the waves roll, and through narrow creeks gurgle the waters. When it is at its full commotion ceases and the surface becomes a mirror. Thus it is with the soul. WHEN JOY BECOMES PERFECT peace is the result. Then comes long suffering, continuance in love and grace. Some people like camp meeting, where religion is the sole occupation of a number of people for a fixed time. They are not to be entirely condemned. Acorns are better than no food; a short candie is betier than no light, but this HOT HOUSE RELIGION is not suMcient. We want a religion that will hold allthe year round, in every place and under all circumstances, A strong, healthy man cares not jor the trifling obstacles that beset his path; so the soul nurtured in grace throws off the temptations and annoyances that assail it In life’s journey. The next fruit is gentieness, How soft, how thriiling the touch of the mother’s hand, and how beauttul the tranquillity of home aiter one has been among strangers! The Divine Spirit will by this iruit create a paradise of home whieh some men turn into hell, Goodness comes next a8 a quality. Itis that which attracts by a subtle magnetism the touch and friendship of every one to the happy possessor. The fruits cannot be obtained by the instrumentality of human means, God is the sole author of goodness, and as the lants, flowers and trees grow and ripen neath the sun so the soul’ is stirred by the Son of iteousness. To be a Christian it is not necessary to be a Roman Catholic, an Episcopaiian or member of any particular sect; nor yet that personal religion which says, “When wore yon converted? I can tell the exact hour, It geme au of @ sudden on tye, whep | was walking in the field.” That sort of conversion will not de. The dye will come oué of that cloth. It is like graiting peer apple trees—the fruit is not worth the trouble. Now the evidence of the presence of the Spirit is its manifestation in the and not in the idea of belonging to Church A man becomes #& jan as & child grows up to Manhood, and no sudden conversion can produce sucha result. Regarding the differences of doc- trine, the right Church is that which has the G people in it, and the best doctrine ts that wi produces the best fruit, Orthodoxy is a mere in- strument, and it requires a great deal more te be- come a good Christian, People are more sensible in farming than in religion. Farmers do not fight over the various kinds of agricultural implements on the question of selectiou, They take whatever they require and go to work, Wnile sects quarrel and fight over Cin ped pepe snag neglect the work for which doctrines are designed. The harvest is the best test of the farmer and of the sect. Men cannot always think alike on religious questions. Evem in the Roman Church there are different opinions, although they do not come to the surface. Measles are more dangerous when they don’t break out om the skin, Religion is ‘ABLE, GOD'S HOTEL 7, where the guests cal! for what their particular In- clination suggests. One hundred families may be in a tenement house, but that cannot make them one or keep them {rom fighting. Already Doningsy Ultramontanes and Italians are in rebeliion against Rome. Such a Church is a vast conglomeration of men who don’t believe alike, The true Church ts where the fruits of the Spirit are ponasantly sore The preacher said he would even send family to @ Catholic church should he be in range pase If that community proved the richest in the its of the Spirit, he wouid ¢ell them to act as the whale does that secures a few fish and spouts forth the ton of water that they were in. Leavii aside the useless shpendeges of such a form ol belief, some fruit might be gleaned from the ex- pple from those who manifest tne presence of the Divine Spirit within them. He next considered THE QUESTION OF INFIDELITY, which he considered as being only disbelief in the external form of religions, which differ so much. The saving efficacy of grace, the ch: of heart andthe growth of goodn come froth some higher source than man. Therefore an infidel, in the full sense of the word, is an impossibility. He unconsciously acknowledges the handwork of God every moment. The true way to make Chris- tians is to draw them by example into the patha of grace, not by attempting to drive the, The hymns were sung by the entire congregation, apeompanted by a piano out of tune and Beecher’s bass voice. THE TENEMENT HORROR. AMONG THE BEREAVED FAMILIES. Action of the Destitute Sick Chile dren’s Relief Society. The HERALD yesterday contained an account ok the prompt action of the society which has the cus- tody of the Relief Fund for Destitute Sick Children in the case of the sufferers by the Eleventh street disaster. This society has been deservedly popular heretofore, from the fact thatit received and paid dollar for dollar the funds it had collected for the poor. It made no extraordinary charges, nodeduc- tions for rent, for clerk hire or any ‘‘incidental”® expenses, and those who gave their time to the cause of the unfortunate gave it ireely and un- grudgingly. But in their action yesterday, when they mo- mentarily diverted the strict chanael of their ex- penditures in aid of hundreds of sufferers, they made reparation for our paralyzed charity and forestalied the action of our proverbially generous city in the interest of those whose need could not be discounted. The following brief notes vy HERALD reporter will show how the society strove to aid the suffering ones, _ . THE PAMILIRS OF THE KILLED AND WOUNDED. The killed and wounded of the disaster beiongea to many portions of the city, but they were visited within a few hours after the catastrophe. * The scenes, in many cases, were truly heart-rending, and the reporter, who visited cach house, will not attempt to describe them. An outline of eich case is given below, and from it the reader can gain glimpses of the effects of such terrible accidents upon the little circle which surrounded those whose names appear in the list of dead and in- jured. THE FIRST PERSON VISITED was Mrs. Catharine Cronin, of No. 163 Malberry street, She was in Mr. O’Conor’s district, but Mr. Faure, the Secretary, who had early telegraphed all the superintendents, Sdvising them of the acci- dent, hastened himself to the spot. Her husband had died within five minutes of the time when he was admitted to Bellevue, She had no food, was penniless, enceinte and had a baby only sixteen months old. She arrived here with her husband only a week ago last Tuesday, A cousin was with her, else she was surrounded only by strangers. When the corpse of her husband arrived she burst into tears, and her emotion thenceforth was uncontrollabie. It was expected for a moment that the visi ors would be turned yay but when they said, “We come in the inter- és . pa RELIGION—NO RACE, but to alleviate misery, to aid the unfortunate,” they were received with an enthusiasm that was almost oblivious of the place and time. Food was farnished, and the deficiency in the amount raised bel J coe neighbors for the funcral expenses was supplied, leremiat Driscoll was killed and Timothy Dris- coll was seriously wounded. They lived at 125 creas avenue, and there a Mrs. Driscoll was ound, SHE HAD THREE LITTLE CHILDREN and was without food or money. Groceries were atonce brought to the house and the society's ane came to attend the survivor and dressed his wounds, Jacob Reuter was killed, his head being crushed to an unrecognizable mass. He had lived in Sixty- fourth street, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, and he left a wile and two small children to mourn him. A grocer, one Nicholas Ahrens, living in the neighborhood, had supplied their temporary wants, and the society left them orders for an abundant supply of food. John Fingar, who is at Beltevue, badtv injured, leaves a wife and two children, who reside at 366 West Fifty-second street. They had received as- sistance from one of the contractors who was en- gaged upon the building, and cards were left as- suring them a led of food, Martin Fahys lived @ bachelor at No. 4 Horatio street. He leaves @ sister, who boarded in the same house. They politely declined assistance and telegraphed for relatives, REV. ARTHUR H. WARNER'S DISTRICT. Michael McFee was instantly killed, and his wife and five children were found in great distress. She came to this country from land only a few months ago, and is wholly without friends and money. She was assisted to food, and was told that the expenses of the funeral would be paid by the society. Her husband's brother was thus re- lieved of the burden of the expense, which he had undertaken to meet by instalments from his small wages. John Foster (killed) was the youngest of the vic- tims of this disaster. He lived with his parents at 453 West Thirteenth street. His father is sufferin; from dropsy and the dead boy was the only ‘bre: winner” of the family. His stepmother received the offers of assistance from this visitor »very gratefully, and said that there was nothing to eas in the honse, and that their available cash wher the boy’s body was brought home was only $3; but THE PATHER, INTOXICATED, Tefused any help. Reliet cards, stating where ste might apply, were leit with bis wile, and she promises call should she need anything. Frank Riley, wounded and at Bellevue, has a wife and four children at 248 West Tenth stree Mrs. Riley, nearly crazed with thinking of her saf- fering husband and her starving children, spent most of yesterday in the street in“ the vicinity of the ruins trying to find the contractor, to get her husband’s week’s wages, and the visitor jailed twice on Saturday to find her, but succeeded yesterday, She was utterly destitute, and plenty of nourishing food for herself and children wag furnished at once. PATRICK DONOHUE, THE MISSING BOY. This family numbers but two, an old grand- mother and a little brother. Their neighbors had kindly helped them to what they needed at the moment, and if the authorities find his body among the débris the society will sustain his fu- neral expenses. French Reth, residing at No, 352 West Forty-fitth street, was badly injured, and taken to Bellevue Hospital. He has a wife and tour children who were found in astate of great poverty, Food was bo Heng furnished, and the wisitor will call again o-diny. Richard Ramsey was next visited, and found only slightly injured, and is being properly cared for at his home, No. 450 West Thirty-second street, having saved some money by his past industry. Joun Kelly was severely injured, and at once taken to Bellevue Hospital. is wife and three children were promptly visited, but found in ¢om- Jortable circumstances and im no need of agsist- ance. She was informed where to apply should she need assistance in the future. Thomas ‘Trainor, who lives in Fifty-fourth street and Second avenue, was visited and properly attended oe Subscriptions in aid of the above werk may be sent Lo the HERALD office. MORTALITY REOORD. ‘There were 615 deaths, 156 marriages, 413 births and 40 still births tn the city last week. Fire Mar shal Sheldon reports 15 fires (or the past week, upon which the estimated loss is $1,065, and tae Ansitrance £20.50