The New York Herald Newspaper, October 27, 1873, Page 5

DOCTRINAL DIVERSITY. Preachers Droning Over Anti- Sensational Discourses. One Hundred and Seventh Anni- yersary Services in the Old John Street Church. Another Dissection of the Evangelical Alliance. “WANTED-A MAN.” The Cry of the Feminine Adopted by the Hero-Worshipping Ministry. A CALL FOR A SECOND CHRIST. Panperism and Plundering from Professional and Philosophical Points, Protestantism, Catholicism, Darwinism and French Revolutions. --- NATURE AND SPIRIT IN HUMANITY. “OLD JOHN STREET” METHODIST CHURCH, One Hundred and seventh Anniversary of American Methodism—Sermons by Rev. Drs. Chapman and Haven—Inter- esting Reunion Services. The 107th anniversary of the introduction of Methodism into America was celebrated yesterday in the “old John street’? Methodist Episcopal church, which is the cradle of the denom- imation, Every year this ancieni edifice is visited by old Methodists, many of whose ancestors wor- shipped in the first church built in America, and the anniversary is looked forward to with peculiar interest. The services were commenced at nine p’clock, when an old fashioned Methodist “love Teast,’”? which is a meeting for the narration of Christian experience, was held, presided over by Rey. J. B. Merwin, This was followed by a sermon from the Rev. Dr. Chapman, of St, John’s church, Brooklyn, one of the most eloquent orators of the Methodist persuasion. A large number of dis- tinguished clergymen were present, among whom were the venerable Bishop Janes, Drs, Eddy, True, Holdich and others. After the introductory de- votional exercises were performed Rey. Dr. Chap- man proceeded to deliver a discourse based upon the nineteenth verse of the first chapter of the Second Epistle of Peter—“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts.” After a brief introduction the preacher said that the Bible afforded a better grouna ior faith in spiritual and invisible realities, tn Christ and Christianity than would any henomenal manifestation such as the trans- Reuration afforded, That idea was out in the parable of the and Lazarus, im periods of doubt persons metimes fancied that if the; could carried to an eminence of glory and hear the voice of God attesting the truth of revelation they never could doubt any more, and sometimes when peering into the future and following in affec- tionate thought those who had gone before indi- viduals imagined that if the departed would return and tell us something of the beyond they would be centent and happy. It was this desire that led multitudes into the folly ol Spiritualism. Men were go impressed with what fy Tagen to their senses tha: they were apt to imagine that their testimony was essential to certainty, but such an idea was founded upon a false conception of the nature of sensuous evidence. Our senses have deceived us again and again; but the highest certainty was unded upon the testimony of consciousness. ie ©6r Bible, not less emphatically than hilosophy, declared that the highest cer- Etinty grew out of the explicit testimony of personal consciousness, It might be questioned whether any Smount of phenomenal evidence ever established a person in the faith of invisible reali- ti. We did not believe in Christ to-day because Ol Lis miracies, but rather because of his charac- ter, life and teachings and their influence through the centuries. It was not miracles that floated Christianity, but the converse—miracles seeming to him to be simply the fitting badges of the minister plenipotentiary from tne court of heaven, The proposition which the Doctor proceeded to evolve ‘was the supertority of the prophetic word over ey, phenomenal manifestation asa ground of faith in Christ, in Christianity and im the invisible realt- ties of the spiritual world. The “light shining in @ dark place” was defined to be a candle, whose gaya were circumscribed and often shadowy. The Bible, while reveaiing all that was necessary to know—the fact of the existence of God, of the death of Christ and his departure to heaven to prepare a place for His people—on the otler hand, did not apswer many curious questions, It was in the tight of the prophetic word that the transfigaration Christ unfolded its meaning to the disciples. Ecstatic revelations were occasionally enjoyed by Christ’s followers, but they were not the best evidence of the reality of Christtan experience or the genuineness of the Gospel. That was founa in @aily trast in Christ, communion with the Father, conquest over sin, the performance of duty an the pele that of an abiding hope of a glorious immortality. Such experiences as the disciples had on the Mount of Transfiguration were “religious luxuries," a stimulus God gave before Some great trial; but people could not live upon stimulants, even in religion. wvbrist taught his followers to ri for their daily bread, and not for ecestatic visions. The superiority of the prophetic word was seen in the fact that it is general, while all phenomenal Manifestations were special. Sixty different men, of every grade of inteliectual endowment, had contributed to the composition of the Bible, and the marvellous harmony of their work, performed at widely different periods, was strong proof that The spirit of God directea them. There was no doubt but the transfiguration had an abiding effect upon the minds of those who witnessed it, and as S part of Gospel history it will continue have an influence in the world; but it was Chris- Hanity itself that perpetuated the scenes of the transfiguration. The triumph of Ohristianity to be the dest = mir- aclo in the world’s history. Christianity ‘Was now the mightiest force on the face of the ed and the, grandest intellects God ever made re to-day sitting at the feet of the despised Nazarene and Galilean fisherman. The speaker Broceenen, in an eloquent strain, to show that lence was insuMcient to bring comfort and joy tn the hour of ber ement aud sorrow; but that the Word of God at such times shone brilliantly and lightea up the darkness of the tomb. In the afternoon a social meeting was held, pre- ded over by Rev. Dr. Weed, a former pastor. v. E, O. Haven, LL. D., Corresponding Secretary af the Board of Education, preached. Ali these yervices were well attended, and the interest was gmapated from the beginning to the close of the clses, 8T. ANDREW'S (R. 0.) CHURCH, Donfirmation Services—Address by Bishop Wadhams. Yesterday afternoon St. Andrew's church, City Mall place, was the acene of a most imposing cere- fony, the confirmation of about five hundred thildren. At three o'clock P.M. the church was Qronged with the parents and friends of the can- Udates, while the space reserved for the children was filled by the postulants, dressed neatly and, Hmany cases, exquisitely. The girls clad in white, 3t emblem of purity and modesty, looked like sngels denuded of their wings, The task of pre. paring the children for the worthy reception of the wacrament of confirmation devolved on the pastor, Rev. Michael Curran, assisted by the Rev, Father Henry. For the past two months they have been smtiring in their efforts to Mt the children for the reception of their first communion, and tn. Aruct them not only in the principal mysteries of Sligion, but in the characteristic doctrines of the tholic Church, And well did the pun ones— ya and Fp areray the good pastor for ais great dness and care, Each and every one looked THR PICTURE OF HAPPINESS, ee there shone on their countenances as they wd before the oMciating bishop 8 serenity and acid joy which must ha#ye gladdened the heart ther Curran, » When the Right Rey, Dr. Wadhams, Bishop of. NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1873.—TRIPLE SHEET, ensburg, entered the sanct every little oste ‘was stretched to catch a glimpse of the Bishop, who was to make them ‘strong and per- fect Christians.” As soon asthe attendant priests, the Revs. M. Curran, M, O'Farrell, St. Peter's; Felix Farrally, St. James’ ; Fathers McGean and McKenna, Transfiguration, were seated in the sanctuary. Bishop Wadbams ascended the altar steps, and, crozier in hand, delivered a very beautiful and ap- propriate address to the children, He reminded them that in the sacrament of baptism they were made children of God and 0O-HEIRS WITH CHRIST, after they had, through their sponsors, renounced the devil and all his Works and pomps. He told them that the sacrament which they were about to receive would confirm them in the faith, would make them strong and periect Christians, ready to suifer and, if need be, die for the faith which they had received in the sacrament of baptism. Tney should be proud of their faith, not ashamed to practise it. They should glory in being children of the Chureh, and suffer any and every affiic- tion sooner than abandon her or do any- thing that would cause her grief. If in their future life they obey her precepts and frequent her Sacraments, they will have peace of mind here and eterna) happiness hereafter. The Bishop then went through the ceremonies in strict accordance THE RITUALE ROMANUM. The imposition of hands and the anointing with the chrism when the ctl used the roy he ane te ehrismate saiutis («| ign thee with gue sign of th Teonstr sign thee with phe si ¢ cross and I confirm thee with the chrlent of halvation’’ were solemn and imposing 1m the highest sense of the words. Alter the ceremonies the confirmed went home, ac- companied by their parents and friends, many of whom reflected in their looks the jo, and spiritual bravery that shone in their children’s eyes, FRENCH REFORMED CHURCH, The Commanion—Its Nature and Signif- feance. The Rev. M, Borel, pastor of the French Re- formed church worshipping in the Calvary chapel, Fourth avenue, between Twenty-first and Twenty- second streets, administered the holy communion yesterday morning and preached an eloquent ser- ‘mon in explanation of the ordinance, frem I. Cor., XL, 23-25—For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you,” &c. He said:— I come to-day to speak to you of the communion— of its nature and its meaning. Iftn human sciences it is indispensable to have clear ideas and well settled principles to serve as a solid foundation of our speculations, is not this still more important when we propose to treat of the most important of all questions? In presence of the great affair of salva- tion, ail must be made clear and distinct. There- fore the first care of the preacher should be to scatter the clouds which gather round our faith, and in which the devil holds us enveloped, because he knows how much confusion and darkness aid his pernicious designs. But in pothing is such confusion more fatal, and therefvTe more neces- sary to be dispelled, than in regard to THE HOLY COMMUNION, What, then, is the communion, and what does he do who communes? He eats of the bread ot which Jesus said that it His body, and drinks of that wine which is His blood. He announces the death of the Lord—that is to say, he professes to believe that Jesus Christ died for ‘sinners, and he declares himselfa partaker in that death. He communes in remembrance of the Lord. The holy supper is not, therefore, a8 some hold, a means of obtaining salvation. Jesus did not say, “Do this, my body may be broken and my blood may be shed for you;” Bes he said, “My body has been broken,” &c. “You, therefore, my disciples, do this in remembrance of Me, your Saviour.” When in memory of the passage of the Jordan Joshua caused a monument to be reared, composed of twelve stones, according to the twelve tribes of Israel, the monumental pile was not a@ means of obtaining deliverance from God, but acommemoration of the deliverance alread, obtained, It is the same with the communion. it # nor @ means of obtaining the pardon of our sins, ut a COMMEMORATION OF THE SALVATION which we have already received. We partake of it, not that we may be thereby justified before God, but to declare that we are actually justitied by the blood of Jesus Christ, And since you now understand what the communion is, you are also able to say who those are ior whom it is designed. It is for those who beueve, those who aresaved. A!l other persons are, in the act of communing, in con- tradiction with themselves, They say one thing in words and another by their actions. For every communicant does, by the very act of communing, make this confession before God and before men :— “Lam a sinner, but Jesus Christ has reconciled me to God by His blood; and this reconciliation is due, not to myself, but to His grace. I am born again: my sing are forgiven; I am washed by the Holy Spirit, and 1 eat this bread and drink this wine in testimony of the grace which has obtained these blessings for me.” But it will be said :—Who Is saved ? Who can at tain to a firm and unshaken assurance that he has been redeemed? and who, consequently, may venture to approach the communion table ? Who ? You yoursell, who ask the question, my poor com- panion, in misery and in sin. Here the preacher cited various passages from the eighth chapter of the Romans to show how SURE AND CERTAIN is the salvation which God has Gospel, and then continued :—My brother, how can there be any uncertainty about your salvation? Come, follow me to the foot of that cross on which your salvation was accomplished. Perhaps the Rpectacle that you will there behold will give you that assurance of salvation that you seek. Then, drawing a vivid picture of the sufferings of Christ in making expiation for the sins of the world, he added :—Who now shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is Goa that justifieth, Who ishe that condemneth? It is Christ that died—yea, rather, that is risen again, in proof of the accept- ance of his sacrifice. Christ would still sleep to- day in the tomb if he had not paid your debt even to the last mite, Come, then, to his cross, poor sinners, laden with tee sins. Come, heal your wounds in the blood which was shed for you. Piange into that fountain which was opened for sin aud uncleauness. Though your sins are red as Scarlet they shall become white as snow. MADISON AVENUE REFORMED CHURCH, Sermon by ithe Rev. D. H. Ganse—The Evangelical Alliance Practically Con- sidered—The Good Done to Religion in Gencral—Unity and Strength of Christ's Church Not Impaired by Slight Div- ersity of Creeds. The Madison Avenue Reformed church, on the corner of fifty-seventh street, was well filled by a fashionable congregation yesterday morning, as the pastor, Rey. D. H. Ganse, had announced for the subject of his discourse, “The Practical Side of the Evangelical Conference.” The reverend gen- tleman was assisted in the services by the ven- erable Dr. Prime. Mr. Ganse commenced hie sermon by stating that he did not intend to preach on any particular text, but he would mention the I. Corinthians, xvi,, 17-20.—"I_ am glad of the coming of Stephanus and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lack- ing on your part, they have supplied,” &c, The pastor then drew attention to the fact that St. Paul was at Ephesus at the time of writing the words he noted, and hg had gone thither fn order to comingle with his’ assoclates ateheed In thé work of their Great Master. This was the first re- ligious conclave on record, We have lately had a conference in this city of ministers of God's word from all parts of the world, and it had been of such an exciting and interest- ing mature that he proposed to discuss whether the good done had been commensurate with the cost. The diMiculties connected with the work of gathering together so many clergymen of different denominations from far off foreign lands were manifold, and the difficulty of keeping them all clear of sectarian topics was a rest one. Learned professors came from afar, breaxing away from the routine of their duties and sacrificing their personal convenience to attend the Confer- ence, their only recompense being the view they got of this Western World and an insight into American institutions, The amount of labor in- curred by all had been very great and the expense involved by many was by no means inconsiderable ; and in addition to the work of these ministers the press was deserving of the highest Praise and thanks for the liberal labor it had expended in bringing the results of the Conference to the knowledge of those who were notable to attend. ‘These results were many. First there was the RELIGIOUS ENJOYMENT; and he would undertake to say that never was there, in theatre or concert room, exhibited rovided in the a greater amount of enthusiasm or more real pleasure experienced than in Asso- elation Hall during the days on which the Conference met. Secondly, there was the ox- cellent impression Which our native Awerican hos- Rieu and our various institutions . produced, he delegates were Christian gentlemen who came into Christian homes a8 guests, not as casual pe ea in cold hotels, and ier Would go and tell the plain, anbiassed and impartial tale of what home life in America really is among Christian fam- ilies. There was also the amicability which had been established by personal intimacy between clergy: men of diferent countries and creeds to be con- sidered, and every minister had learned something he haa never known before about religious sys- tems in other countries, This was of vital impor- tance, because it created @ religious sympathy be- tween the rn and Western worl B aides, @ more definite sense had been given to Christians themselves of their extensive union, and clearly refuted the idea that Protestants had broken away from the Catholic Church and the old landmarks of religion and had wandered away into so many DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS AND CRREDS that they were nee, and knew not exactly how they stood, Until this Conference churchmen ow how thin and fragiie were the divid- ing lines of creeds, Christ's gospel was found to be the same in all hearts, and that knowledge was worth more than all the money expended the production of the Conference. ie impression made on the minds of ali who attended will be of incalculable value, and the closeness of intimacy which was engendered can never be obliterated— it was the spontaneous effusion of honest Christian hearts. The st: th as well as the unity of the Christian faith had also been demonstrated. There has been lately a good ¢eal said and written about the growth of unbelief; but the Conference showed that but very little of this evil really existed. The leaders of this movement keep themselves always before the public to serve their own purpos but they have So sealing Sound the trumpet and rally the ranks o! THE CHRISTIAN ARMY, and a response will come from every fireside in the country; there will be no conscripts, butall jree volunteers in the Gospel’s cause. Another good done by the Conference was the eunoarage: ent given the ministry of other lands by he ad- vanced state of Christianity they found here and the impressions gained of the strength and unity of American faith. Finally, the success of the Con. ference CaM x: that religious men possessed able. eneralship, for if they had not it would have been impossivie to have accomplished so gigantic a Scheme so that it resulted tn ar intellectual tri- umph which will ever remain engraited on the minds of the American people and be recorded upon. que historical scrolls of all nations, PRESBYTERIAN MEMORIAL CHUBOE, “Wanted, a Man”=—Sermon by Kev. Charles 3. Robinson. The Rev, Charles 8S. Robinson, at the Presby- terlan Memorial church, in Madison avenue, cor- ner of Fifty-third street, yesterday morning took his text from the Prophecy of Esalas, xill, 12— “I will make a man more precious than fine gold.” They were accustomed to say, he began, that all the nations resembled each other very much, and that their various productions were all necessary to produce even a comfortable meal. They were also accustomed to say that all the professions and trades were necessary to each other, This wonder was exemplified ina great many modern works that might be mentioned. There was scarcely an art which was without its peculiar aid in the making of the simplest garment which they wore. This rule was also true in regard to the moral and spiritual world, They could see men whose character could be traced back to the moral influences of generations and generations of the past. Take, for instauce, the cultivated New Englender—how the INFLUENCES OF THE FIRST PURITANS were maniiestin him! Men were brought out by the characteristics of their predecessors. After allthe talk that had been heard on this subject, man was still the most royal thing on this earth. Tho lion’s strength yielded to Samson’s strength as he tore asunder the jaws of the beast. A man, take him day by day, was able to travel farther than a horse could. Take his sinewy frame, his delicate mould of intellect, his fineness of nerve, and was he not the most royal creation this earth could boast of ? Noone knew how much force and undeveloped skill was in every human being. He (the preacher) saw five little children who multi- plied figures in a most marvellous manner; they certainly surpassed many grown-up people. By. reat exigencies some men were brought to ex- ibit a power and a manhood which no one had ever expected to see in them before, Man was born one of the very feeblest creatures. One-hal! oi all boru human beings died before they reached maturity. One of the astonishing things which his profession revealed to bil was tiat there was no end of destruction and increase to the human race in point of the varieties of sick- ness and pain. Some new epidemic was springing ny constantly; some new illness, some new com- plaint, Again, so many lacked THE PROPER STRENGTH OF MANHOOD, the strength of exercising an influence over their fellow creatures, And still man was the most royal creation ot the universe. Take @ Christian man in the fulaess of physical and spiritual sta- ture resembling Christ. How few they were, put how valuable acquisitions when they found them! What a pity to see such a being marred by even a single vice or éne bad habit! . Life did not move on silently in one single groove, but they had life in all its vicissitude aud varieties, Human history went forward not tameiy and regu- larly, but impulsively and by fitsand starts. The word crisis meant a hinge,and one event was hinged upon and linkedin another, Their anticipations Jead them upward, their realizations lead them all downward. The moment a panic took place they said they had been foresecing it for a long time, and when it was over they said they would Jeel the effects of it foraiong time. This was true ina Pep many cases. Life did not come smooth; ike a brook, but in rugged waves like asea. It was astonisiing to see how great events were hinged upon littie ones. They could see AN EDITORIAL IN THE LONDON TIMES which might shake the throne of a monarch, pro- duce a financiul panic or cause a war between na- tions and make fields of battle overilow with blood. History worked by crises, and sometimes there was naturally a panic in men and a lack of good men. This panic might be brought about by sudden great exigencies big tiny 8 the actions of great and good men. Some of the best lives France ever knew were extinguished in the massacre of St. Bartholomew. Memories of such men were called to mind when we looked at the Place de la Concorde. Sometimes there were common weap- ons that worked quite as terribly as the guillo- Yne—s0orn, contempt, sarcasm, hatred,’ vitupera- ion. The Lord brought sometimes sudden exigencies upon His people in order to rouse their energies and to make true men and women of them; and there never was a crisis in history when a true man was so valuable as at this time, It seemed as if materialism were really swaying allmen, If they were to give them their opinions of their fellow men in the street in which they did business to- gether, they.would say that this one was mean, that one close, the third vicious, the fourth bias- phemous, the fiftn coarse, &c. Materialism HAD HAMPERED THE HUMAN RACK in its proper growth and ieee Teh 80 that they could count on their fingers the meu who, they would all admit, were true Christ-like men, He took their own testimony m this respect, and he knew that it was trustworthy. He knew that it was most humiliating to say that mankind was actually dried up by materialism, God had laid upon them tremendous exigencies just at this time, Was there ever @ time when the voice of scepticism was so blatant? Was there ever a time when there were so many lectures by infidels? Was there ever a time When the press seemed so universally on the side of anti-Christ? Hada they time, therefore, to have any wranglings among themselves? It was high time for men to think of these ques- tions, Wealth, vaiue now went for nothing. A man who supposed himself to be wealthy might be a beggar in three days. Men who Were in the Church of Christ were poverty-stricken at this period. God, at this very moment, had given them wider flelds of usefulness and opened to them ail the heathen countries of the world. If they only bad money, u they only had what they had had before, what an immeuse deal of good they might do! What was wanted was @ man. There waa once upon this earth AN ABSOLUTELY PERFEOT MAN. What they wanted was aman like Christ; a man bold and brave to challenge evil where he found it; @ Man of a cheerful spirit; a mau of a faith, cheerful, strong, invincible, There was no use in saying all men were dishonest and ali men werg liars. ‘Then it was necessary to have gener. ous Ea ie number of men who gave for the Church of Clirist pas so diminished that it was necessary now to give more and more and be more and more generous. His advice to the congregation was:—Let 4 m2. take the lantern of faith and go about to look for men. Let them look into their own hearts. Any one might be the man, if he was ay brave enough to fling himself into the breach, Perhaps he might be the man upon whom yd hinged. They mast not bandy words with each other. Let every wife as she knecled to-night pray God with all ber heart, “Oh, make the father of my children the man more precious than fine gold.” Then will Christ’s Kingdom come, and the King be seen among His people. PLYMOUTH BAPTIST CHURCH, Public Recognition of the Rev. Dr. D. Henry Miller Pastor—Addresses and Prayers by Several Clergymen, At the afternoon services yesterday, in Plymouth Baptist church, West Fifty-first street, a grand dis- play was made by celebrating the public recog- nition of the Rev. Dr. D, Henry Miller as pastor of the church, The Rev. Doctor has been heretofore well known among religious circles in Trenton, N. J., but more recently in Lowell, Mass., from whence he has came to take charge of the above mentioned church, His installation yesterday was honored by several well known clergymen of the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and other Reformed churches. The order of exercises was opened at haltpast two o'clock P. M,, and did not terminate ‘until five o'clock P. M. The following programme was observed:—The invocation prayer was first fhe by the Rev. Frederick Evans, and was {ol- jowed by the singing of the hymn, “POUR OUT THY SPIRIT FROM ON ftGn."? This was sung ina very appreciative manner by a fuli choir of tenor, alto and soprano voices, after which came the reading of the Scriptures, by tne Rey. J. P. Browner, followed by a prayer from the Rev. RS Mearthur, of Twenty-third street church, The choir them sung the hymn, We bid thee welcome in the name Of Jesus, our exalted head, after the conclusion of which the sermon of the day was delivered by the Rev. Dr. J. D. Fulton, of Brooklyn, The Rev. Doctor chose his text from Revelations, viz.:—And He set before thee an open door.” He then divided the subject of his Giscourse into three parts, Damely:—Who la it Ce the door? Who enters the door? and by er is it kept open? His sermon was ful of spicy suggestions and interes! narratives but Wearisomely long. After the conclusion of the sermon the v. Dr, F. Andersen re- cited in @ pathetic manner the prayer of installation, and addresses of welcome were afterwards made by the Rev, ©. Rhodes, Rev, M. Rosator and Rey. Mr. Juthron, which were followed a an address from the Kev. Kk. Halsey Knap pre- jous to tendering the right hana of fellowship. Then came the final address to the church or co ation from the Rey. Dr. F, Armatage, ip which he condensed the duties of the people to their pastor and gave them some wholesome words asto what kind of sermons and teaching they should listen to, warning them in the meantime never to grow “dyspeptic” if they could possibly avoid it. The Rev. Dr. Dowling, who presigen lurin, i entire services, finally ordered the sing- of the last hymn, , “YE MESSENGERS OF CHRIST,’ which was concluded by the singing of the Doxo- logy. Before pronouncing the benediction, which ‘was lastly given by the Rev. Dr. Miller, pastor of the church, the latter’ reverend clergyman announced that the twenty-f/th anniversary of Dr, Armatage’s churen would take place next Sunday afternoon in hia churea. The services were tien closed by benediction and the crowded congregation wit! drew, evidently pleased with the Sabbatn alter- noon they bad spent. 8T. PATRIOK’S CATHEDRAL, Father Kearney on Duty to Our Neigh- bor—Forgivenesgs of Tresp: Neces= sary to Obtain Pardon of Sins—The ‘World’s Contumely Compared with the Happiness of Sxlvation. The usual large and devout congregation at- tended high mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral yester- day forenoon. Rev. Father Salter was the cele- brant. After the singing of the first Gospel Rev. Father Kearney ascended the pulpit and preached from Matthew, xviii., 23-35, The text gives the parable of the King having forgiven the debts due to him by his servants. One of the latter went out and, meeting @ fellow-servant, demanded payment of 100 pence, and, not receiving the money, throttled him and handed him over to the torturers. In whatever part of the Gospel we read, Father Kearney said, we are impressed by the love and mercy God shows to those who offend Him, The King in the parable is God, as the servants are sinners, They come to Him acknowledging the debts due by praying for forgiveness. If we are only sincere in our suppli- cations for mercy. God is moved to pardon, Not only have we in the Gospel the distinctive and ais- tinguishing mark of the power of Christ, His mercy and love, but we have also the precept of being bound to forgive our neighbors who may offend or injure us. God’s clemency is stretched over all sinners, and this should give us strength and courage. He told His apostles to follow His teachings, which inculcate the duty of bearing no malice or ill will towards one another. To make a stronger and greater impression on our ininds and hearts Christ in His agony, outraged by those for whom He was suffering, besought on the cross His Father to forgive them, because they were igno- rant of what they were doing. We should be cheered on by the lesson contained in the Gospel oi the day, for by it we are assured that God's mercy is always poured out on sinners, But there is auother point in the text that ought to S1RIKE TERROR INTO OUR HEARTS, The King grants forgiveness to his servants, but we find one of them going out among his fellows showing ho mercy or forbearance. He demands payment of a smali debt and gives the debtor up to tne torturers, Here we see that the sinner went, having gone to his God, who bounteously grants his prayer, bat the sinner is not willing to grant the smallest favor to his fellow creature. This, it may be said, applies to ail of us. Are we not those who owe 10,000 talents and demand a reckoning for a few pence? There aro few in this world, the preacher remarked, who can declare that they are free from dislike or hatred of their neighbors, It is hardly possible that men mixing in the world and meeting rebuffs and insults day after day can avoid harboring feelings of anger towards those who treat them with contumely, ‘These feelings are enkindled in the heart, in which we Know that pride is nourished, and ta which it wells up continually. But it is better tuat the world should laugh at and scorn us than We should fall into sin and, LIKE THE FALLEN ANGELS, lose an inheritance in heaven, Father Kearney explained the various causes that lead to dislike and uncharitableness towards our neighbors. Rivalry in business, joss of the world’s goods by the wrong doing o! others, defamation of cuaracter and jealousy of the success of our acquaintances increase until we come to hate our fellow beings, Hate is allowed under these circumstances to spring and grow up in the heart. We pray to God to forgive ug our trespasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us, How can we, then, dare kneel and ask for God’s pardon when we withhold it trom our iellow beings? How can we approach God’s aitar and receive Him, who is all forgiveness, into our souls, which are biurred and stained by the grievous sim of hater Let us to-day look into and examine our hearts, God is both anxious and willing to forgive on the one condition—that Is, that we forgive our neighbors who may have done us wrong. What isthe loss of worldly goods, which are perishable, in comparison with fortetting the favor of the Aimighty’ The child loves its toy and its loss causes it heavy grief. The loss of its father’s possessions occasion it very little sorrow. Man takes to heart the misfortunes aud disap- pointmente of life, but he does not, something like the cuild, consider how terrible it 1s to LOSE HIS SOUL HEREAFTER. It is better that the world should deride us, wound our teelings and mock at our woes, than that the devils should rejoice over our torments in nell, The taunts of the heartless and wicked are nothing when compared to the sufferings of the damned and being shut out forever from the king- dom of heaven. tus lorgive our enemies, This is neccssary to salvation, and Christ has set us the example. \ Banish from our hearts all malice and hatred and God will certainly pardon our manifold transgressions. We must forgive 1{ we nope for forgiveness, We should dismiss price and, bow- ing humbly and sincerely before God, our prayers wil be heard. Pride makes the heart hard and obdurate, Let us go without delay to our neigh- bor, if we harbor towards him feelings of anger or hatred by reason of his having injured us in repu- tation or woridly goods, freely forgive him, and we may then rest satisfied that our Heavenly Father will not fail to forgive us our sins, This is the lesson the Gospel of the day teaches, ALANSON METHODIST EPISCOPAL OHUROH Answers to Those Who Denounced tho Evangelical Alliance=The Herald in the Pulpit=Peter Not a Bigger Man Than Any Other Believer—Tie Mean- ing of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. A large congregation assembled last evening at the Alanson Methodist Episcopal church to hear the pastor, the Rev. O. E. Harris, preach on ‘Christ or Peter, or Protestantism and Romanism.” On the two previous Sundays the reverend gentleman had been inveighing in no measured cerms against theatres and dancing, and it was evi- dent that something spicy might be expected from him last evewing. There was not an inch of spaee available within the walls of the edifice, Accordingly a double tier of ladies and hoary- headed elders were accommodated on the plat- form, and formed an agreeable background for the preacher, Ih the course of the service the Rev. Mr. Harris made @ fervent extemporary prayer that “the good work now going on in Europe in the revolt o¢ the Old Catholic against Rome might continue to progress, aud might extend speedily to the United States. He then read a passage from the Second Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, in which Paul puts himself on an equality with Peter, Peter suffered rebuke at the hands of Paul, and Barabbas was scared away by his dissimulation, Peter allowed him- self to be blamed by Paul and claimed no supertor- ity. Indeed he was not the first apostle, as he was introduced to Christ by Andrew, his brother. At this point @ collection was taken up, in the course of which the Rey. Mr, Harris observed, “I hear the sound of many pennies. Now I beg to remind you that WE HAVE NOT YET RETURNED TO SPECIE PAYMENTS.” Commencing his sermon he took for his text Matthew, xiv., 13, and following verses. He said, “I hold in my hand a copy of the HeraLp newspaper of two weeks ago, containing sermons denunclatory of the Evangelical Alliance by the Rev. Father Lake, the Rey. Mr. Flattery aid the Rev, Dr. McGlynn, of St. Stephen's.” The reverend gentleman here opened the HgRALD and com- menced to read the scathing criticism of pa an rine en &. n “= discussions prevale! yet rotestant in which he pointed out “hat there wa no Protes- tant Church till a few centuries ago; that at the Alliance they were a mer pa the Gatholie ere tacenes ork pete cause power was de! d to her by God. Upon wis, tas ateaan Seed Wott ad haves ure! fore Luther? That reminded him of ‘eis A WITTY ANSWER made to that question by a member of the Eyan- elical Alliance. He answered, “Where was your jace before you washed tt this ae Father Lake said the priest was the only true teacher, because he taught what God had revealed to tho Church, He (Mr. Harris) thought he might dismiss one who made #0 absurd a provosition by saying, LJ ne taught with power, “Thank Fathi ” 2y Father he ao eS an Pape le woul read | (Lond laughter. he devoted very pune) make Dr. McGlynn’s sermon Of his discourse, From that sermon he ve him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and that the Pope was the Vicar of Christ upon earth, and declared infallibly to the faithful the truths re to man ind : wee revealed by God ese propositions the Rev. Mr. Harris contro- Yerted with a considerable display of yehemence. He translated the text from the Greek clause by clause, then from the Latin, and asserted that Pe- ter was called a stone by Chriet because of his glo- rious confession of Christ's divinity on a previous occasion; but that Christ Himself was the rock upon which the Chureh was built. te quoted from the book of Samuel and irom the Psalms, showing that the Almignty was often called @ rock in Scrip- ture. Then why not Christ in this case? Besides, he claimed that as no tadeae want Was Al than any other eile ver. Peler ‘Nimselt had called bellevers stones; so that he put them on an equality with himself, It was, therefore, absurd and blasphemons arrogance to claim for Peter, for the Popedom and for priests that which belonged Jone to Christ, (Loud cries of “Amen!” and a shriek, “Oh! hallelujah!) The idea that the priest—a mere man—could forgive sins was nonsense and arrant blasphemy. In the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelations, there was not one word about any man having the tremen- dous power ot foregoing sin. This was the inalien- able prerogative of God, What did the keys of the kingdom of heaven mean? Did they mean that PETER WAS A DOORKEEPER and held them? No! The kingdom of heaven meant truth, virtue and righteousness, and the keys of the kingdom meant the teaching of the doctrines which led to righteousness; and thi too, was the prataganive, of Christ, the Kock an the great Teacher of youth. LYBIO HALL True Philosophy ot Almsgiving—Paup- erism as a Profession and Plundcring asa Fine Art—Protestantism, Catholic- ism, Darwinism a=d French Revolu- tions—Sermon by Rev. O. B. Frothing- ham. The attendance at Lyric Hall, near Forty-second street, on Sixth avenue, bas been increasing quite rapidly lately, and soon the capacious hall will scarcely contain the large congregations flocking to hear Rey. U. B, Frothingham, one of the most popular preachers of the day. The subject of Mr, Frothingham’s discourse yesterday morning was, “Sympathy and Apathy,” and was based on the text, “Bear ye one another’s burdens,” This is one of the characteristic texts of the New Testa- ment, he began, and we have many others like it, “Owe no man anything but the debt of love,” was what Christ said to the young man who wished to do some good deed by which he might gain Heaven. Christ told him to sell all he had, give to the poor, ana follow him. Job, im his distress, pleaded before God his beneficence to the poor. He was eyes to the blind, feet to the lame and ears to the deaf, He nad made the widow’s heart ring for joy. Alms- giving is a universa\ custom common to all coun- tries and peoples and im all times. A sentiment of this sort prevails in Oriental faiths. This spirit of sympathy with the poor, the miserable, the out- cast—this feeling of compassion for the sufferings of fellow creatures—has an unsel‘dsh and ennobdling effect. No religion has carried sympathy so far as the Christian religion. It has been identical with pity and is the means of obtaining grace. It is told by muititudes of legends. There was a rich man named Peter, who had no feeling of sympathy, no pity; who hated the poor and cared for no one. The mendicants used to amuse themselves by try- ing to provoke him to give something, but with- out success. A beggar was imploring Peter for alms one day when a baker went by with @ basketful of bread; one loaf fell on the ground, but the man did not notice it and went on. Peter picked up the loaf and pelted tt atthe beggar. That night Peter dreamed he was dead. On the one side were the evil spirits, who claimed him on account of his many sins, and on the other the good spirits pleading his good deeds when there were none to plead. One angel remembered this one good deed of Peter's life, and that one action outweighed all the evil Peter had done. He awoke and became a good man. Tne Catholics have TWO WAYS TO GET INTO HEAVEN. One to be poor and the other to get poor. If you are rich give your money to the poor, and if you are poor get all you can out of the rich. The Catholic Church does its utmost to get money out of us and to gather together all the peopié that are poor, They lave institutions for the aged, for orphans and pauper asylums, to whose support rich men bequeath their estates, Protesiantism believes in the infallibility of the New Testament. It isa religion of thought. The KERNEL OF THE CATHOLIC FAITIL ishard. Protestants are intelligent, Catholics are sentimental, The ifberal faith follows the same example and accepts the New Testament as a written law. The thing called for 1s more. heart, more leeling, more beneticence. Nothing is more evident than, according to this law of veneticence, poverty is increased, Pauperism becomes itself an institution. How is itin New York? In Lon- don pauperism is frightful, The Master says to sell what we have aud give to the poor. We can- not get away from that. We have no choice but toovey. You say it multipties poverty and keeps up pauperism; but we are not responsible. We the duty and the Lord must take care of the conse- quences until He chooses to dispose of the affair. Meu who believe in the redemption of man, who live wisely aud well in this tife, cannot be satisfied with this doctrine. This is only the beginning of the case. It not only muitiplies imbeciies and paupers, but {t takes away the very conscience of the lower classes, It makes them the thieves and plunderers of society. PAUPERISM BECOMES A PROFESSION and poverty atrade. We give our silver to the cripple, but when we turn the corner be recovers his feet. The art of plundering has become so im- proved that it is now one of the finest of arts. So delicate and cunning is the lytng that it cannot be seen through, nis supporting the poor would drag people of wealth, culture and refinement down to the earth. It is hard enough to make money; and what is the use of giving itaway? A thousand people were driven out of Spain and re- mained exiles for three centuries. They comprised the very pith of the human race. Nothing was left but the helpless and worthiess, Under this inisconstrued law of sera any the healthful mea of society are crippled. Then comes Darwin's theory of the development of the species. The race has progressed. The hungry eat up the little ones; the strong oppress the weak; the great crusb the small, This is the law of nature and the ‘way of the universe, What follows? Existence ts @ fight, a struggle. The strong daily increase in strength, the weak grow weaker, the high become more exalted and tne low sink deeper. The strong must remove ail obstacles by force and THE LAWS OF NO. must prevail. If they eannot hold their own the worse forthem. It is the immediate inference from Darwin's theory. No writer of auy dignity or eminence will take that position. Some men will take it literally, shut up their pockets and live apa- thetic lives on principle. [need not say that the pilipsophy is dangerous, that the weak having no elp will conspire. Have we not read of the revo- lutions 'n France, of the uprising of tle peasantr: in Germany ? “The weak will become exasperate: I have seen the poor ragpicker burrowing into barrels of refuse that the wealthy have put along their sidewalks in search of something that will keep @ little child warmer, So in this refuse of humanity, helplessness and want, how many erms of nobleness, talent and genius may be idden. Read over the stories of men who have belonged originally to these classes, born nowhere, cared for by ao one, nursed by no one, picked up finally and put upon the road to wealth and a haps fame, Shall we let all these germs die? ‘These children o' fortune, these BABIES OF PROVIDENCE are often men of genius. Let me take this ques- tion of charity. Is it possible for @ man or woman to be without this element of kindness? Can you think of a min without a hearty A man of this ae- scription, but of enormous wealth, was asked by some ladies to contribute to some charity. He broke ent upon them to be gone. He was a co- jossus of wealth, butno man. A Case Of personal, want was brought to A PHILANTHROPIST ON A GRAND SCALE, but he said he could not concern himself with per- sonal cases, No ‘person can be a person with the cardinal principle of humanity leit out. A person who igoes about like the Pharisees and usually blind, who thinks no one is right but himeeif, is no man, There must be heart to make a man, Ifthis law of sympathy is left out he is exiled from hu- manity. Do not merely give your money to insti- tutions, but come in personal contact with the miserable, By coming in contact with these creatures you learn what it is to be @ man, to have a heart and to able to __ pity. You learn a forbearance and tenderness that was foreign to you betore. It 1s only in this way that human sym- en! cannot be discharged with a $5 bill. There not @ charity that is not open to blunders, We must learn by experience and do the best we know how. THR LAW OF SYMPATHY is that bond which makes all human creatares one. Goet “There are the three worships—the Of that above us, the worship of that around us and the worship of that below us, and the worship of that below us is the be: Bow little we understand it! There is great honor pa to the ontward state, Friendship, social acquaint- ance and business interests are on the seme lane. Humanity is inhumanity beyond these lim- its. Beyond the spirit of caste and party are the vast and close bonds that hold all together as one family, Let us try to live ub to the sentiment of Cicero, who said, “Men are brought into the world for the sake of men, that they may assist each other. Nature demands that every man =". should do good €o every other, just because he ts BROOKLYN CHURCHES. PLYMOUTH CHURCH. Sermon by Mr. Beecher on The Twofolad Nature of Man—The Natural and the Spiritual Man Portrayed—A Scholar and Man of Refinement at a Dance HousemHow Mr. Beecher Whistles Old Tunes and What He Thinks of New Ones. Mr. Beecher preached yesterday morning to the usual overflowing congregation on “The Twofold Nature of Man,” selecting for his text the four- teenth and fifteenth verses of the second chapter of St. Paul's dret epistle to the Corinthians :—“But the natural man recetveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.’ Aiter the intellectual arrogance shown in every age in theology, it 1s not wonderful that persons Out of the Church, and out of what may be called the ordinary occasions of religious life, read words like these not only with distrust, but with disgust. Yor, if interpreted in an outward way, they have the smack of arrogance, and especially this declaration of the Christian man, who assures. us with a great deal of authority that he has more understanding than a man who is not a Chnstian man, and to make the arrogance complete, ne judges everybody but himself, Thus he has in him- self the very QUINTESSENCE OF PAPACY, apparently, in its arrogance. But this ts only be. cause itis interpreted according to the outward church and the outward profession, for I think that there is no truth that is less repugnant to the outward reason of man. If we come to look at Paul's ideas of mental philosophy we shall come to see that it is more and more in harmony with modern ideas. Ihold that the views ofmental econ- omy held to-day are substantially the views that were held by the Apostle. What, then, is the natural rman? The natural man receives not the things of God. Paul held that man was made up of two sep- arate natures. Men are by nature born animals; that af their nature is developed into a higher and a spiritual activity, they come into that by a superhuman influence, Mr. Beecher read, at this point, extracts from the seventh chapter of Romans, and commented there- on. Healso suid that these ideas are shown more in contrast and still more pervinently in the last chapter of the epistle to the Galatians, extracts from which he algo read. It is not, he sald, forms and the arcana of asecret society that put.men into the possession of grace, and give him some- thing which the peopie outside cannot understand, lf toanybody standing outside the Church, it is Sail Coma into the Church you will under- stana things that you never understood betore”? I say to the man who says that, If 18 A Lik! Itisalie! You may become more familiar with sermons and Churches, but you will not under- stand any More than youdo, Aman can under- stand the doctrines of religion whether he be a Christian or not. The existence and agency of God merely does not confine itself to the members ofthe church, A man can understand the doc- trine of election whether he is elected or not. A man can understand the doctrine of divinity whether he believes it or not. The understanding does not depend upon his moral fitness, but upon his intellectual acuteness. The essential power of the Christian, Paul savs, everywhere shows to be in the spirit man. Everywhere Paul teaches us the true idea, “Christin you.” By it the character 1s fashioned; by it the life is reformed. This 1s the power of the Gospel; this is the power the Church was to have had, and which, it is ate one day it will have. The loving power of Christianity. then, ig trained, in the man, to the idea of the powers in Christ, When it is declared that the natural man understandeth not the things of ine Spirit, itis nota statement of any novelty. Itis familiar to ug in everyday life. What does the Indian think of the complex appearance of civiliza- tion as it meets his view, as hv 1s brought on to Riba seit by the Indian agent? To him it isan unintelligible mass, He understands about GETTING DRUNK and about all that pertains to cruelty justas welt as apy other man, but he comprehends little else. ‘Take another example. What does a man addicted to the lower forms of pleasure know ol the serene delights posessed by the quiet and refined scholar? Take one of these men, these scholars, and iet him Jook from the curbstuue at one of the dance houses, and let him look down into that hell-hovei. He has not the first idea of what it is! With what amazement he looks atit. Let the bully irom be- low come up and invite him to go down and have @ good time. With what amazement he would survey the man! But the bully would be equally amazed if the scnolar were to invite him to go home with him and have a good time. Take, too, @ man who is tied down to facts, and @ man of imagination, See how one man rains down torrents of facts and how the other vaporizes them into ideas. Men are so possessed with their own nature that it unfits them for comprehending that which is away !rom it. I tnink Beethooven must have thought in music. I don’t think it is possible for me to ‘THINK IN MUSIC, but if any one who has enongh music in thetr son! will listen to that immortal fifth symphony tt will seem to him as though it were one continuous procession. Itdoes so to me. Yet I cam never whistle a new tune without making it a hash of old ones, But as to that, I think that is what new tunes mostly are. (Laughter in the choir.) Then What is this new nature—this higher nature that reigns over the lower? Let us look at what its re- suits are. The first thing that is known of it is that it is a fall and a struggie. A conversion puts a man into an experience that he never had before. Mr. Beecher described with characteristic graphicness and eloquence the supreme moment of the conver- ston of the soul, These rich experiences are [a+ miliar to those who have had much to do with the Curistianizing of THE LOWER CLASSES of mankind. I know of men and women who have had this in far richer abundance than 1 ever had, who were far inferior to me in acquired knowledge and in intellectual force; But in the deep things ofthe Spirit they were far more familiar. Our power is in this. If the Chureh is to be a power, It is in this direction its victories will be achieved. “Let every man think not of himself more highly than he ought to think, but let every man think of himself as God has dwelt in him, in the measure of grace.” Mr. Beecher concluded by reference to tne fact that the attitade of the historical and the scientific objections to Ciristianity in the present day rendered it more and more needful that this indwelling power in the individual Christian should be made more and more manifest. SEVENTH AVENUE METHODIST CHURCH. Dr. Wild on the Free Press, Beecher, Talmage and Colfax. Dr. Wild, of the Seventh avenue Methodist Epis copal church, Brooklyn, delivered one of his prac. tical sermons yesterday morning, selecting his text from Numbers, xxiv., 13:—“If Balak would give me his house fall of si!ver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith that will I speak.” Dr. Wild considered that a free press and a fear. less pulpit were the offsprings of @ maturing liberty, and in these days they were emphatically the guardians of the public weal or the abettors of public woes. Every American could induige in commendable pride in betng heir to such freedom and privileges which arise from these estates, and every loyal citizen should feel a jealous care in maintaining the rights of one and the purity of the other, In a well managed and intelligent press and an unfettered and sincere pulpit we had national stability, governmental prudence, judicial purity, commercial integrity, social sccu- rity, educational immunities and Individual safety, Much of the vigor of the press was wasted ip partisan strife, and the managers, ithe Balaam of old, were tempted by gord, silver and patron to make port thelr utterances and kind thelr criticisms. Jf one was bold enough to deal fairly and speak honestiy he was threatened with law, a cowlide or pistol, and sometimes srowned upon by hia party, Nor was the pulpit free of tempta- tions, Here, too, ps and silver, promises and threats, did unjustifiable service, He had seen in this City of Churches, with its pulpits of renown and of repated eloquence and freedom, some of he strongest occupants fettered, galled or gauged by @ partisan spirit, About a year he looked for and expected a sermon from hg , vote Ht { Plymouth church on Souter” seandal in which Oolfax. and others would be arraigned and ad. judged before the bar of the pulpit. But ked and walted in vain. This ee Ina Be anal sense came not under his (Mr, her's) review, for good reasons, perhaps; but, or bad, he (Mr. Beecher) had criticising such offenders an the ‘abernacie pulpit handled the crime, not Beecher lke, for w the crime was admitted and ae the minister of the i hear a man fully justified, even icked men, whose reputation is heid in the bai co and’ whose character {or reat honesty is jou Aiter exhorting his hearers to independence character, fatelligent resolution, execution fidelity 1 works, the reverend Doctor his remarks with a fefvent wish that oer lens ade aga st temptation, bribery woridly diverslots