The New York Herald Newspaper, December 1, 1873, Page 8

8 ADVENT SERMONS, Tweed and Others Criticised from the Palpits Congress Advised to Oust Back- Pay Grabbers and Credit Mobilier Champions. LYBIO HALL Ne Thanks to God, but to Ourselves— Utopianism no Chimera=The Panic, the Ring Frauds and Tweed in the Penitentiary—The Threatened War with Spain—Sermon by the Rev. O. B. Frothingham. Mr. Frothingham preached at Lyric Hall yester- day morning to+a very large congregation on the subject of “Causes of Congratulation.” The ‘frst Thanksgiving, he began, took place in New England about 250 years ago, The small band of Pilgrims, wishing to regale them- gelves, sent out @ little body of men in search of game, It was successful. They cooked it, eat if and feasted with the Indians, and gave thanks to God. The quaint old Historian tells us that ‘from that day to this there bas been no dearth of food in New England.”" We think of Providence at most times, not when things go well, but when things go ill. Leta single star drop from its place and the heart of civiliza- tion would be shaken, These PILGRIM FATHERS wore always on the outlook for something from God. They were thankful that their little bark should haye been allowed to come safely to the shores of the New World, that they were not pinched up by the winter’s cold, that they could find corn to eat, that their lives and property were @pared and that the wolves and beara did not eat them up. All of this seemed re, mnercy to them. All the Pilgrims were educated in the Ola Testament. jo science was familiarly known to them, consequently they thought of the ever-present Deity, Believing in their own unworthiness, is it surprising that they shouid give thanks and live in an atmosphere of ratitude? Of one thing we are satisiied, that d gives us nothing unless we earnit. God never gave a finished implement, not even to the ‘gavage his rude hatchet, Providence does not even furnish the rawest material Even the ground must be mixed with sand if it ts too rich, and with manure if it is too poor. We speak of the American being an inventive people. They are no more inventive than other people. It is Say the result of the necessities of their posi- tion. ‘They would not do unless driven to it by THE SPUR OF DESTINY. instead of thanksgiving we have mutual con- atulations, not in a spirit of triumph, but in an jumble, earnest spirit, a3 men who have come through immense difficulties with barely saving their lives. We tell of our defeats and gains, and Congratulate each otuer that we bave gained so Much. Thanksgiving comes at about the close of harvest time. The primary cause of thanksgiving ‘was for the bounty of the earth. The time 13 coming when ali people will be sure they shall not starve. The numbers of the poor in modern society are rapidiy diminishing. cess, on hearing how starved the people were, said:—“How unaccountable, when there ts so much to eat! She had never known what it was to want bread. The poor are better fed and clothed now than they ever were before, They are, at least, members of the human family; their whole condition is improved and their self-respect promoted. They are uo longer beasts trodden un- der the heel of power, Listen to THE CRY OF THE POOR in New York and Philadeiphia, Tney ask for work, not for bread. be paupers are now members of society. purpose is noble. We have great cause to con- eae ourselves for the success with which we ight off the worst jorms of disease. The moment A foreign prin- @ great plague comes the people fall on their | Knees and confess their sins, because they know | their own helplessness. Owing to our own know! | edge of the material world and its relation to man, We understand the cavsea of disease. We know where cholera comes trom and how to stop it, if Gisease comes nigh our dwellings, to a great ex- tent we hold our lives in our own hands. We live in Domberah yey a safe world, Heayen has noth- ing to do witnit, This thing which we call THE PANIC is only a form of social disease. Our social science is just begiuniug, ana political economy is in ine rough. li every man were perfectiy honest this thing would happen. In former times people would go down on their knees, but now we know better. It may be possible that the individuals who brought about the disaster were men who had thought and planned with san- guine anticipation. There are pienty of thieves and scoundrels in the world, but ifail men were good these things woald happen. it is @ source of congratulation that it went no | furthers Ido not give thanks to God, but we may safely congratulate each other. Another illustra tion is the disorder occasioned in society by crime. What is it’ It is simply the effort of haif brutal people to get their jiving out of society, There is no reason to believe that THE RING FRAUDS ‘Were committed by men who knew no better. Is it Not a source Of sell-congratulation that we are get- ting control of these elements. We have lately achieved a greattriumph. Here was a knot of men who controlled votes enough of the people to secure all the lucrative offices. They had the pres- tige of power. Judge novie and fearless enough to convict the Chiet offender and disgrace him with a common punishment was @ triumph of public spirit and of humanity. If that wretched an fallen Man who was curried to the Penitentiary on Sat- urday, had been sentenced for one year the vic- tory would Lave been just as complete. We have secured a respect for justice which is worth a great deal more than money is worth to us. peaking of the grounds for congratulation, cana preacher be silent, remembering what occasion there is now for congratulation ou the prospective inti termination of the threatening dificulties tween our government and Spain, growing out of THE VIRGINIUS MASSACRE. That the government has been so discreet isan occasion for profound congratulation. It is not war against stupid, priest-ridden Spain we want, it 18 war with the inhumanity of one of her richest colonies, and the restoration of something like order. ifnot war, an honoraple peace, However much men achieve they are stil servants of the We do not co-operate with eternal laws bat stand with bowed heads in the presence of our Supreme. Maker. BT. STEPHEN'S ROMAN CATHOLIO CHURCH The Jesuit Mission—Rev. Father Tissot, S$. J., on Holy Communion—Consecia- tion of New York to the Sacred Heart— Remarks by Rev. Di. McGlynn. ‘The Jesuit mission, at St. Stephen's, which was Commenced last Sunday, has been, so far, a great success. During the past week the church was Crowded to its fullest capacity at the instructions and sermons given by the good fathers. Yester- day morning an Immense congregation was pre- Sent at the high mass, which was celebrated by Rev. Dr. McGlynn, Rey, Father Tissot preached an inatructive ser- mon on the Holy Communion, He told bis hearers THE INEFFABLE LOVE Of Jesus for poor fatien man, Our Lord, not satis« fled with dwelling on our aitars, has given Himself | to be the f00d of our souls. | F; y drew a vivid picture of the Snalogy tereoea comm munion and our daily food. Communion bears the same relation to our soul that food does to our bodies, Food is the principal support of animal life. Without proper food the body grows weak and feebie, In the same way in the spititual order, if we do without or stint the soul of its food it Lt aclag and, if kept too long without its food, it ies. ts We are @ fallen race and need help from | above. That help is grace. Our Lord earned it for us and, bey He mnight have annexed it to any formula He picased, He selected the Sacraments. In the sacrament of the Blessed Eucharist He is Himself the bearer of His grace, ‘This remedy: is placed within the reach of all. We do not avail ourseives of it, weact LIKE A HUNGRY MAN ‘Who refases food, or a drowning man who turns Away from the hand stretched out to save him, When on the great day the condemned shall plead their weakuess, our Lord can ask them, “Did Inot oe ey Weniior thee peers them My body 'y blood lor the strengt: Jour mane e ngth and nourishment of in auswer to the question, “How often ought we to receive the Holy Communton *” Father Tissot Stated that in the earlier times all Catholics heard mass and received communion every day. The techism of the Council of Trent” says that the ea, like the body, shouid have its ally food. enerally speaking, young people require this @puitual food very oiten. young man, living in S large city like this, cannot preserve the life of soul without frequent communion, If he did he would be A MORAL PHENOMENON, Pa Preacher then stated that the moral world Lard back to what it was before the Christian ers Mad is now: $ popular and that it we . e Well to adopt the practices of the early lurch, especially prayer and the requentation of Guaiged aad satcutea Tere alone Christianity pgearnes Tissot aftton BAvised. wana , and explained toat it was not negessar: the weekly Communicunt t0 goto conresien ety ‘week; that one confession would do for a month's It shows that people wno used to | Their | There was a spell about these men, | and they held the community bound. To find a | | ly Advised weekly commu: | NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1873—WITH SUPPLEMENT. vormmunions uniess, Indeed, tne person fats into mortal sin, After the post communion Rev. Dr. McGlynn read the pastoral letter of Archbishop McCloskey and the bishops of New York, in which the patronal feast of the United States, December 8, is appointed for the consecration of all the pherchee, chapels, religious institutions, &c., in the province, to the Sacred Heart o!f Jesus, He then urged his hearers to hearken to the invitation of the Most Reverend Archbishop and Right Reverend Bishops, and told of the great grees that was knocking for admission to their hearts, He besought them to open their hearts to God's grace, and thus anticipate the eternal dwelling of God in their souls, which Is the chiel happiness of the blessed in heaven. OHUROH OF THE HOLY SAVIOUR. The Second Coming of Our Lord—Sermon by Rev. M. A. Carter. At the usual time the Rev. M. A. Carter preached on the gospel of the day, on the last judgment, being the first Sunday in Advent, He entered into @ long dissertation on the mysteries of this life, and especially into the prosperity and com- forts of the wicked and workers of evil deeds, and the trials and many diMculties that continually be- siege the good during their long career in this life, and which, he said, was @ deep mystery. David himself was surprised at it; he found it too hard for bis contemplation that God should leave the wicked to prosper and his servants to be cast down, reviled and dishonored, and such was the inquiry in every age of the world till the present. If we only take the trouble to examine a little into them we will find them to be destined for such individuals from eternity, and hence the decrees of God must be fulfilled, But they would be pleasures instead of trials if they were borne in the proper spirit; in that meek and patient spirit which our divine Saviour came to establish among his fol- lowers, To those who bear them as they should light and consolation will come from Zion hill. Those only who conform to these ruies and produce the fruits of Christianity and do so firmly and resolutely, will God reward when He comes to judge the world in righteOusness; and to meet hid reward then, ne must now do what the word of Him or the Holy Bible, who will come then m His glory, commands him to do at resent. That is he must take up the law of God and perform his action by it or be up to its standard. He is not to be a mere passive spectator of what he reads in it or hears from the ministers of it. After dwelling lor some time upor our Lord’s coming and the re- ward of the elect, he entered into the discussion of the uncertainty of His coming. Where is the prom- ise of His coming? saith the prophet. It is upon the e of God’s Holy Word, and anyone reading it will find the promise to,be clear and certain; but when He is to come we know not; that 1s known only to Himself, and He did not reveal it to us, and in hot revealing, too, we find His wisdom to be shown forth tous, The world has been anxiously awaiting His coming for over 4,000 years, and His saints have sighed for it. Our Lord will come like a thief in the night, bat it matters not when He comes to the righteous; their night will be changed into a glorious day if they love God for a short time, but it will be a night that will seal the doom of the wicked and ungoaly. Tbe uncertainty of His coming was ever before the holy prophets, and they were ever prepared. The uncertainty of His coming solaced them in all their trials; it was a stimulus to every difficulty. All we have to do is to be prepared for it. It was the intention of God that we all should be {gnorant of the time in which He will come—the aposties and prophets, as well as the reat of mankind. He kept it wrapped up in an eternal mystery, not to be disclosed until He would suddenly come and arouse the dead. “Watch and pray,” he says, ‘for you know not the day nor the hour.” Heuce as His coming is uncertain, we must be always prepared and be ready to meet Him, ‘This state of expectancy is for our good and our merit. Where would the merit be if knowing the time we would be roeny to | meet Him, The early writers in the Church had an idea, through God's inspiratioa, that the Judge would come like a thief in the night, when the world would be wrapped in slumber; and hence that their preparations should be done in | the daylight, a8 no one can work in the dark—that is to say, Lo be in readiness while a short and un- certain lile 18 leit us. Suppose our Lord came | in the midnight to us, would each of you | bein readiness to meet and welcome Him, and would our portion be with the blessed in h en. This 13 a serious question to ask ourselves belore that awful day arrives, What sign is there of His | comiug’ ask the scoffers, because they see no signs. But we know there is an appearance of His | coming ; everything is tending to final destruction. The various sciences prove it to be 80. T believe the same thing myself, too. Rey. world, and spoke apon our Lord's second coming at some length, especially the point as to the uncertainty Of it. CHURCH OF THE PEOPLE Discourses by Several Clergymen at the Inauguration of a New Church, Yesterday afternoon, in Central Hall, was inaug- urated another church in the City of Churches clergymen of Brooklyn and New York being present. Addresses were delivered by Rev. J. Halsted Carroll, D. D.; Rev, Theodore L. Cuyler, D. D.; Rev. E. P. Ingersoll, Rev. ©. FP, | Deems, of the Church of the Strangers, New York; Rev. J. T. Duryea, Rev. J, Hyatt Smith, Rev. J. M. Buckley, D. D., and the Rev. George F. Pentecost, of Boston, On opening the services Rev, Hugh Pentacost said that in opening this hall for religious services he deemed it imperative that there should be a place of religious instruction in the heart of Brooklyn, peculiarly adapted to the needs of the mass of Ped To produce such a place was his purpose. ne seats should be ABSOLUTELY FREE to all, and there should be no pecuniary obliga- tions. What is given most be given freely. The house would be used as long as God permitted tor the purposes Of a union meeting jor Christian workers, and in the evening for religious services, He hoped to be able to organize a church in which the Bible shall be the only rule of faith, and eacn man’s conscience his only guide. I am aware, sala he, of objections which’ are and will be raised against , and I deem it necessary to make one statement. i believe in creeds, but only as being pee helps, and no Man baa any right to force us creed on another, Therefore, while I hold my belief strictly, I would give every man the same liberty unreservedly. Any man who attempts to live a Christian life, no mat- ter what his creed, 18 my brother, and one house is large enough for both of us, This church is not meant to be antagonistic; only supplementary. It attempts to do a work that is bot done, Dr. Deems, of the Church of the Strangers, then rose and sald:—I have not been invited here to make an address, but to telia story—tne story of the Church of the Strangers. When men make pians God generally smashes them to pieces, The Church of the Strangers was not planned, but came about in @ very simpié manner. 1 came to New York to earn my living. I had a wife and four children, and nothing else. 1 preached wnen- ever 1 was Invited. one day I was invited to preach in Jersey City, and I did preach as 1 always do with all my Toate, as if Texpected that to be my Jasteermon. When Lhad done, a lady came to me and talked about y preaching, and sald, “leave journalism and go to preaching; go to preaching in a garret, IN A OBLLAR OR—A TUB. “Only begin. Idid\so. I hired aroom, advertised it In the HERALD that Dr. Deems of South Carolina, would preach there on Sunday morning. There were just 16 persons present, counting my wife, myself and my four children. The next Sunday there were over 80, and the next 77. At the close of the services, | stated that the meetings would cease, when along, lank man in the con- gregation asked me ifit was want of money that stopped me. Isaid it was. He sala, “Let us take a collection,” and they dia, and the room was hired for another month. We struggled op, and atlast] made @ proclamation, asking all who wished to become members to present tuemselves, Thirty-five persons were enrolled. We went on, Starving almost, but still hoping. Ob! brother Pentacost, this is @ happy day for you. No brothers welcomed me—not one, Now we have taken in 465 people, and every camp stool is filled. At last, one day God put it in the heart of the last man in New York f would have thought of to give me Mr. Booth’s old church, and it 18 packed and crowded now. The saving of sinners is the work of the Church. We a NEVER HAVE TIME FOR POLITICS. We are preparing for a kingdom that shall stand When ail else is swept away, Alter several other addresses, George F. Pénta cost rose and said:—There is a@ providence in this Tay’ Gment. Mr. Deems has truly sald that noth- Ky which man planned came to much, My brother is here simply because he is denied a place in the denomination to which ne belongs, for the same Treason that I was morally compellea to leave my Puiptt, because of the liberality of my views. Now, when a ian cannot preach the Gospel as he would wish he must preach as he can, and this is the whole explanation of this movement. There was a time when icllowstip was practically denied to the Apostie Paul by the brethren of Jerusalem. He went there and underwent some kina of exam: ination, and he declared that when they saw the grace of God that was in him they gave to him the right hand of fellowship, The reason we have not had unity is because we have taken the REVELATION OUT OF GOD's WANDS, and tried to force it ourselves. Take any creea and bind a man’s conscience to it, and you do violence to the spirit of Ged. 1 have a creed, and I believe in it; bat I say that no man under heaven must tell me what to believe. Lam judged by no one but God, When Jesus came down to the rt of Lazarns, Martha came out and talked with him, and Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth shall live, though he dead.” And he sald:—"Dost thou believe, artha ? “yea, Lord, I believe She answered, that rrhon art ne ga that was to come.” Be- r 4 ving that af y Yo dogirine, “t'am ives to sia in & Suurdh tl Goa eo. | out in the anguisl Mr. Carter en- | 224 cry 0 guish of the! | tered into some detail avout the cosmogony of the | under the ministry of Rev. Hugh O. Pentacost. The | meeting was fully atvenaed, many of the principal | or the people put me out. If Iam thrust out, fam only thrust out of one of the sects. THEY OANNOT THRUST ME OUT of the Church of Christ. ‘the terms of membership here are no broader nor narrower than they are ih the invisible body of Chris: 8T. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, Sermon by Archbishop McCloskey—The Mystery of the Incarnation and How to Obtain Salvation Through Christ— The New Cathedral, There was a very large congregation present at the high mass services yesterday at St. Patrick's Cathedral. The sermon was delivered by Arch- bishop McCloskey. He first read the pastoral lel- ter signed by the several bishops relating to the consecration of the archdiocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the 8th inst. The subject of tho sermon was the ‘Mystery of the Incarnation.” He said that the sacrifice dally offered up on the altar was nothing more nor less than the perpetual and constant manifestation on earthof THE INEFFABLE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION OF THE LORD, because there truly and really His divine nature and humanity are present—present to receive the homage of our adoring love and affection—presont to recelve our prayers, ay even present to become united with our souls—to become our bond of strength, our source of life and our source of eter- nal salvation. As that humanity is inseparable from His divinity, in honoring the sacred heart of Jesus we honored God himself; the honor we showed to that sacred heart was indicated in the sacrifice offered up on the altar. ‘thas in cherish- ing this act of devotion, and as it grew stronger in the hearts of the people day by day, Catholics gave evidence of a true love of God—a manifestation of love especially to be fostered at the present time— in the time of Advent. No better preparation could be made for a proper reception of the body and blood of Christ in the sacrament on Christmas day than AN EARNEST AND PURE DEVOTION TO THE 3AORED HEART, The right reverend preacher then, in a most eloquent manner, spoke of the blessings that God would shower down upon those who were faithful to his Commandments, whose lives were such os to give joy instead of pain to the heart of that Saviour who had died on a cross, that sinners might be saved. The time of Advent, he remarked, not only recalled to mind the COMMER the Saviour aa he had come in Bethlehem, but direoted our tyoughts to that second Advent when He would comeout as a little infant, with arms extended to us, inviting us to come nearer to Him, but when Ho would come wita great ~~ and majesty to judge the world, The Church, he said, in i upon our minds the bellef in this judgment, di so to induce us to consider that the Saviour came among us, not only to redeem us from sin but to reclaim us from the error of our ways—from our evil tendencies, What greater mystery was there than thts of the Incarnation ? And yet, when we think of it, how often did tne thought occur to us why 80 powerful a God per- mitted evil in the world atall t How often did we not wonder that God should tolerate so many enemies to live and blaspheme His holy name— enemies who trampled ae the rights of His Church; who denied even his very existence? We see every day, le said, THE WICKED GOING ALONG, WITM HEADS ERECT, gaining and recetving the adulation and respect, and almost the worship, of their better men, while the good were put down—set aside—treated with scoru and reproach. Yet, for all this seeming injustice, God was a just God. We have the divine word as our pledge that a day will come when He will confront the nations, and when, His mercy exhausted, He and they shail stand face to face. Then, indeed, when the good and the bad are there will He vindicate His word. Then will be made clear what had been mysteries here below, and to the good will He say, “Come, ye blessed, into the kingdom of God, which was prepared for you. persecuted and despised. You have not enjoyed the goods and honors of the world, but have been trodden under foot and treated with contumety. But here you shall enjoy honors that will never pass away, pleasures that have no ending, joys that are eterual.” And to His enemies will come those awlul words, “Depart irom Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire. Lomered you My revelation and you received it not. Heaven was offered to you and you pre‘erred the world. You have had THE GOODS OF THE WORLD | and have revelled in all its enjoyments forgetful of the duty you owed to your Creator, and you havo received your reward in the other world, and now depart trom me into everlasting punishment." Then wil they look upon those whom wey. had despised ir souls :—Ob | foolish we! Behold how they are numbered among the children of God and placed among His saints,'"’ The thought of this judgment, he said, ougnt to encourge us to do good; besides another reflection, he sala, suggested another act of devotion which Was, indeed, an act not only of charity but of faith, He then referred to the collection to be taken np for the new cathedral, ‘The fact of the peopie, he remarked, giving of their means to erect this magnificent temple evidenced their faith in the incarnate. It was to bea church were the God incarnation would be; because Christ is ever with us onthe altar and in the tabernacle. He said that it was but proper that all the congregations in all the dioceses, not only in the archdiocose, but throughout the entire Country, should assist in haying erected this house of 1d in this metro- politan city. THE BANDING TOGETHER OF CATHOLICS for this purpose wonid be a blessing to God. On every side of us in this great city we beheld every day grand buildings arising, some of them, ne mizht say, erected to the worship of man himself— to subserve his own comforts, National buildtigs of magnificent proportions were being erected, and yet, if they glorified men and human instita- | tions, how much grander was the idea of nen 0 to erect a temple dedicated to the honor, not man, but to the worship of God. The right reverend preacher then closed by ex- horting the congregation and Catholics generally to make their offerings generously and cordially towards the erection ofthe cathedral. By doing so God would bless them, and, when the building shall have arisen, he said, in all its grandour, the hearts of ali would be rejoiced with 9 gladness blessed of heaven, and blessings thricefold would come upon them and their children through gener- ations and generations to come, CHUROH OF THE DISOIPLES, This World a Droam and the Other a Reality—How to Live in One for the Other—sermon by the Rev. George H, Hepworth, Mr, Hepworth announced no subject for his ser- mon yesterday morning, but his text was;—“And thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Aman, when he 1s in @ thoughtful mooa, seems to himself to be a very insignificant thing, As a single unit of a vast aggregate he sinks tnto nothingness, As one dwindles, to himsolf, God be- comes enlarged, increases His boundaries. There is a King of the universe, and He has madeall that we can see. He is the law, for His wish is law. One would think, to look on some men, however, that they were the owners of tho planet on which they live. Man, to be sure, when measured with the man of a thousand years ago, or with the bar- barian of to-day, 18a giant. There is little wonder that he speaks of himself as but little lower than the angeis, But, on the other hand, as he reflects on the omnisclence, omnipresence and omnipo- tence of God, he must fall prostrate before that religion which reveals the Almighty and contess that he is nothing. God’s love to him must call for @ return; yet, strange to gay, men are so interested "in this world that they half the time forget the one to come, This world is @ dream, the other is a reality, but it would seem that the contrary were true, angel, led by curtosity, should poise himaelf above our worid, Would he not be surprised to see that to most men this world is a ee to eas HARD vant and the one to come a dim, shadowy possinility, Now, the business of the thoughtful is Lotnay. th how he shall have his own way, but to study’ the design of the Almighty and to carry out that de- sign with all his might. Who can doubt that there is a definite plan in God's mind, and that we are units ofa great aggregate? Now then, if God dreamed a dream it is not jor us to contra- vene it, Let us remember that we have no abiding place here, but above, that we are not rebels to the Lord, but His soldiers, God never makes @ mistake, Others judge me from their own imperfect nature ; not so with Him, He sees things just as they are; never, never with hate, but always with a desire only to see | good, As we can look into @ watch and see the movements of each spring and wheel, 80 God can look into us ana see our gig 4 thought and motive. | What is God's object? Itis that we should grad- uate out of this primary school of our existence to the life beyond the stars, Not @ whit can we exalt God, but He can exalt us. His only desire is that we should use our schooibooka and opportunities. But how strange it is that we misinterpret Hisjpurpose! You might as well close your blinds, bandage your eyes and swear that there is no light. And yet we do get at cross Purposes with God. Did you ever try to teacha dog? Well, the poor animal understands your punishment just as much at first as some men do Teligion, It 18 cold and seems to have nothing but the relation between the taskmaster and the slave, That ts no relationship to God, He is a teacher, one who instructs gladly and without money or rice, That is rel Religion tells you how to nd happiness, aad that is all. You cannot compre- hend its import and significance unless you stand in the same reigtion to God a8 your child to you. bad Strange it {a that this world should throw Religion ant tue bible are to dispel Un gl nle are to dispel this glamour. e consideration of our thoughtlessnens ie won: err ‘hat God should be 80 ready to accept us, } @ deserve from God nothi we may receive rom Him everything. Did gold, culture or power ever permanently satisfy any ’ The heart ta the thing after all. These outward hothing unless beneath the Purple’ of Ane ing there is @ kingly heart, Goa’s smile shines around You have suffered for My sake, and were | | macbiner; If an | us like a halo, Even at the | ready to stretch out His hi CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH. “Some Advice to Congress” —Stirring Dis- course by the Rev. Henry Powers. A large and very intelligent congregation gath- ered at the Church of the Messiah, Park avenue and Thirty-fourth street, last evening, to hear the pastor, Rev. Henry Powers, give “Some Advice to Congress." The introductory service was of the most interesting character, and the choir, which is recognized as ove of the best in the city, never appeared to greater advantage. The preacher was tn the best of spirits, aud was listened to through- out in a manner that must have been extremely gratiiying. In boginning his discourse Mr. Powers remarked that he did not suppose that his voice would be heard at Washington and heeded there. His rea- gon for giving this adyice was that ours is “a government of the people, for the people and by the people,” and that, therefore, what the people desire and say their servants at Washington should transact. He took this occasion for speak- ing, bocause Congress was to assemble on the morrow, in the midst of — complications at home and abroad, and at a moment when the public consolence had been quickened by the greatness of the commercial disasters, the strin- gency of the money market, the successful issue of THE RING PROSECUTIONS and the danger of foreign war. The preacher de- clared the situation to be critical, if not to the life Of the nation, then certainly to the party in power, and also as regards the best interests of the coun- try in the Immediate future. ‘The first item in Mr. Powers’ budget of advico was that Congress should address itself tmmedi- tely, and in & proper spirit of generous patriot- ism, to the matter of its own reorganization. It must purge itself of corruption and all suspicion of it; must surrender its back pay, give back seats to thoge who were connected with the Crédit Mobt- lier frauds and clear its two halls of all schemes of public plunder. The people have demanded 20 much 2s the condition of their renewed confidence, and will be satisfled with nothing short, Also the business of the session must be entrusted in committee to faithful and competent men; not to those simply who have worked for the party; not to those who are most subservient to the powers that be, but to men of tried ability. of long and honorable experience in public affairs and of proved Dereeriey in the con- duct of the public business. Let tue ban be REMOVED FROM CHARLES SUMNER; let the first man in the Senate be placed again at the head of the Committee on Foreign Relations, and let no mean party jealousy stand in the way of tho honor of the nation and the will of the people, ‘chen, in entering next upon the business of the session, let Congress ajtend immediately to the settlement of this Cuban matter. What the ad- ministration has done already is, perhaps, well done; but there must be guarantees for the 1uture and this horrible war must be stopped. Having thd right now to intervene, let us insist that Cuba shall be governed in the interests of humanity and good neighbornood; if not by Spain then by its own people or by us. We do not want her to- day, but we shall want her by and by. Therefore let us say to the WHOLE. WORLD, “HANDS OFF!" and we will take her when we must, ‘The financial question was tuen urged upon the attention of Congress as ofnext tmportance, What the country wants isa currency that is in harmony with the circulating medium of the world. There- fore there must be resumption of specie payment as soon as possible, and all that can be done by legislation to this end should be quickly done. The preacher thought tuat this was a question of morals aa well as of material values, for nothing could be worse than the way in which the people have been debauched by an irredeemabie paper currency, Last of allthe reform of the civil service was commended to the attention of our Congressmen. ‘The habit which the average politician has of PLAYING FAST AND LOOSE with this subject was condemned; the doctrine thay “to the victors belong the spoils’ was de- nounced; and the consequences of that doctrine ag aeen in the South, in tue dipiomatic service and the effect on the Supreme Court, were pointed out Mr. Powers said in conclusion, that he had omitted all questions pertaining to the revenue and taxation, the pa | to be pursued concerning education, the cure of the Indians aud the control of the ratiroads and telegraphs, his purpose being simply to discuss those matters which have a direct moral bearing, and must be attended to immediately, He pointed out the advantages whiol We have, a3 @ nation, over the other coun- tries oj the world; predicted a glorious future for the Union, aud exhorted his hearers all to work "tor tt, on the ground that it depends on ourselves, our integrity, fidelity and intelligence how far satisfactory this future shall be. SEVENTEENTH STREET METHODIST EPIS COPAL CHURCH “The Lesson of the Recent Convictions in Our Courts.” The Rey. W. H. Boole preached last evening in the Seventeenth street Methodist Episcopal church from the text, Job xxxvi, 17—“But Thou hast fulfilled the Judgment of the wicked.” He began his sermon by stating that this world is not ruled by chance, and no man’s destiny is decided by.a single throw of the dice, There ts an unalter- able law, inflexible in its demands, irresistible in its resulta, which governs everything. This law obtains in the physical and the moral world, whether men acknowledge it or not, and it hoids in the moral sphere just as irresistibly as it does when it regulates the circling of the planets. In the New Testament we find the same law that was in force in the Garden of Eden in these words :—‘‘Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap,’’ Ifa man scatter a handiul of rye ina field be cannot expect wheat to sprout; and if he sow thistles be need not be surprised to see his ground overrun with vile weeds. There is the same law with regard to sowing and reap- ing in moral things Actions and charac- ter are the seed; consequences and destiny the harvest. No result comes by chance ln 4 man’s lve. Every man is an orbit around whion circum. stances revolve. But no one 1s compelled to actin @ certain line; that would be the movement of machinery, A man 1s led by his gesire, and it is for g of evi. When ‘the bullet crashes through @ heart we say the fired the shot is @ murderer; ® murderer long fore Tee ee about two years ago kliled his friend, the feud coming from their mutual passion for a common woman, was a murderer beiore he raised his pistol to take aim. He was a murderer when he left his home to cross the threshold of that woman, whose house was above the portals of hell. When a man lila the cup of bis iniquity, when bis breath is like the taint of @ pestilence, God starts the that will bring the man to punishment, He strack down that man, who, in ail the arro- gamce of his power, sueeringly sald, “What are you goin jo about it?’ Even then God was casting His nets about him; for God has said, “Though hand join in ‘hand the wicked shall not go unpunished,’ Goa” waita and abides His time. He until men have giutted themselves with tho fruit of their iniquity and then He strikes. He @pplies the sickle of His wrath when the evil has rown up into @ harvest. The nistory of this na- jon @p exhibition of Divine Providence. We have been greatly favored of heaven, and yet in the last 1ew years we have demonstrated that we did not deserve such biessings, Let us glean a few facta, leaving the nation and coming to the city of New York, the firat city of the Continent. Its his- tory for two or three years back is appalling; it has been @ stage, on which havo been enacted dreadiul tragedies, Murders, commercial failures, deiaications and like crimes m up the dreary list, We have seen the rise, and happily the over- throw, of that clique of ofMctals kuown as the “ring,” who banded together to plunder the city, Political offices were bought and sold. It was next to an im ibility to secure the conviction of a rich crim: A sense Of terror fell upon the city. It was not sale to ride after 10P. M, in the Third avenue cars. But thanks be to God tho darkest hour 1s just before day, and in the recent action of our courts is seen the hand of the Almighty, Let us review a few of the cases of crime that have made New York notorious, Take for instanoe that of the young n who killed his father to avenge a real or fancied wrong done to his mother, That youthiul murderer was an assassin at heart. No sudden impulse brought about the deed, There must have been a long period of mental preparation before a lad of such tender age could commit such a crime. Ho had no fear of God in bis heart, and honored not his father and mother, In his sen- tence Lrecognize the voice of God, saying, “The time has come.” The speaker then reviewed the case of Fisk and Stokes, drawing the same conclu- sion of Divine interference. In speakiny of the Tweed sentence, he sad tha had no time to dwell upon the he life of this Intamous plunderer, He was the moan- est thief ever found pecking away at the treasury of any city, The great surprise is that for 60 many years an intelligent community should allow municipal power to be wielded by such men, jod permitted tt as @ punish- ment for indifference. At one time there was no politician #0 powerful as Tweed. But Goa interfered and brought his career to a close. Due credit must be giver to the press for their efforts in bringing this about. But, his island home, ing the stripes and bars, Does it not teach the lesson that we should not hasten to he rich, and that we should not be allared from virtue by the example of the wicked, COLLEGIATE CHUROH. Supernatural Chr: ity Not Yet Out- grown—Sermon By President Noah Porter, of Yale College, President Noah Porter, ot Yale College, deliverea Jast night the first of the special course of sermons in the Collegiate church, Fifth avenue and Forty- 2 cighth street, His subject was ‘Supernatural Ohristianity Not Yet Outgrown."’ The audience was very large, and the vast, noble edifice was it moment God stanas j completely muea. rrestdent Porter took os text from the First Epistle of St. John, v., 5. There were some people who said the personal Christ must give Way to the imaginary Christ for the future. They sald that faith in miracles would soon pass away. They, however, as true Christians, contended that in the past as inthe future, tne moral power of Christianity lay in the faith in Christ as a supernat- ural and historic person, The evidence had become More and more convincing that Christianity was not outgrown, and that it had even become more and more manifest in the progress of culture and in- tellect. Man must be conscious of the knowledge of his necessities, of his duties to over- come the struggles of this life, But this was not enough, Man also wanted inspiration. He himself belleved in a Divine Per- son, who lured bim on to love and to achieve what was good and noble in the world. This was what the apostie meant to say and this was what the preacher meant to demons . ‘The progress of science and art had not m: Christianity super- fluous. Despite all the progress of modern times life was the same bitter conflict, fraught with pas- sionate disappointments, Liie was substantially the same and the world was still lull of tempta- tions, Temptations and passions were lurkin; everywhere, The blandishments of literature an all this wonderful witchery of science only en- hanced the necessity of Christianity, The jealousies of literature were none the less mean and despicable because the language was exquisite and refined, and the strifes of science Were as noisy and undignified as the brawl: tn a fishmarket. Sorrow still lived, The certainty of death and its darkest horrors were not diminished because life was more joyful than before, and they had surrounded themselves with comforts of which people in former times had had no idea, What meant the almost abject faith of 80 many scientists in the power of one mighty des- ot? What did it all mean but that men even ere must obey and believe in a person? What meant the irantic cry of 80 many writers who de- nied the existence of God, for heroes and for hero worship? They all acknowledged that it was ocessary to acknowle @ person whom they must look up to and admire. There wus but one person in all the universe that must be wiser than the wisest men—the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and then He must stoop to a sacrifice, such asthe world never saw beiore, in order to save mankind, He, their King, was tempted just as they were. When aman learned the need of this pone Christ oy some individu: erience then e must fully appreciate the significance of the words of the preacher, No man and no genera- tion could outgrow tho need of Christiauity unless they could outgrow the necessities and problems and conflicts of life. was not won- derful that those who denicd the ex- Istence of Christ were driven Wg logic to deny the very fundamental truths of Christi- anity. Some of the most bitter atiacks on Chris- tianity were made in the guise of developments in natural history and metaphysics, The faithless- ness of affection, of the generosity of self-denial must give way to the last word of me ener: Christ must vanish out of history at the bidding of the last hero of natural history, And this would include the downfall of society, the destruction of life and Tees It history and criticism were to be used in this manner, it would be probabic that this very agency would be instrumental in Gestroying the treasures of history and criticism. Such @ nemesis would not appear improbable to- any intelligent student. §T, ANDREW'S CHUROH, HARLEM. Opening Services at the New St. An- drew’s Church Yesterday—Remarks by Bishop Potter. About a year ago the community was grieved to hear of the destruction of St, Andrew’s church by fire. For many years it had stood upon the corner of 127th street and Fourth avenue, In the grounds around it slumbered two generations of its people, @@d the lofty trees on either side almost obacurea the church from view. Last winter the little church was burned to the ground, ‘The congregation learned the news with mingled sorrow and delight—sorrow because they had veneration for the oid house and its associations; delight becanse the catas- trophe ‘afforded them an opportunity to build a more substantial edifice, Only time enough to have the plans drawn intervened between the burning and beginning of the new church. It was decided to build the church further down the street, instead of on the old site. To do this It was necessary to remove several of the graves and vaults, which was done, and excavations for a foundation immediately began, From this time for- ward the work was pushed without intermission or cessation, and in a manner, as was seen yester- day, worthy of the object. The exterior of the churenh is not at ali imposing, nor its general out- line pleasing. The interlor—the essential part— has been done to perfection, What looks clumsy and awkward on the outside of the building Is ex- plained on entering. The space and nave look very smali—an effect produced by the peculiar plan of the church, 1t seems tohave been the Idea of the architect to produce this effect, and, if such be the case, he bas succeeded admirably. The acoustic arrangements have also received the teention of — the prouivect, for the lowest utterance from the altar is audi- ble at the cute’ e back of the church. It ts impossible to here give a detailed description of the edifice; suffice that in its inter- nal arrangement it is equal to any church of its gize in the city, The inaugural or oat services yesterday were very imposing. Bishop Potter was present, and after the Rev. Mr. Draper, pastor, read the lessons, his reverence delivered the ser- mon. Previous to the Bishop's remarks Mr. Draper stated tet the workmen who had been employed on the building were present to join with the congre- gation in giving thanks for the completion of the chureb, Iu bis remarks tho pishop commended the con- + ation ior the zealous manner in which they ad prosecuted the work of building the new church, One short year ago, said he, you were virtually left without a house to worship in, and now you are beneath the roof of an edifice which you yourzelves have raised and which Is in all ways more beautiful and imposing than the one con- sumed last year. After other congratulations and instructive words the Bishop closed his remarks, and the services came to an end, % PLYMOUTH OHUROCH, BROOKLYN. Mr. Beecher on Ecclesiastical Organiza- tions—Judaism and its Practices Pre- vailing in Modern Christianity—Reli. gion in Harmony with Natare and Not Opposed to [t~Dangers from Hicrarch- ism, Mr. Beecher preached yesterday morning a sér- mon having reference to the progress of Uhristian- ity a8 affected by ecclesiastical organizations. He selected for his text the seventoenth verse of the fifth chapter of Matthew—“Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; 1 am not come to destroy, but to full.” He said:—The Jews give an idea of God’s laws of the most narrow and contracted kind; in fact, it was not the law ofthe universe or the race, but had been based ani found its tilest expression in the law of Moses, Whatever more there was they were ignorant of, and whatever was pro} the were suspicious of. Chri se easete from that He came to define the law, to fill it out to a fulness, and that this was not destruction, It was augmentation, that it was to be glorified and it was to establish it. We know that the Jews so interpreted the Old Testament Scriptures as to make themselves an exposition of divine favor for their tand, and miracuious pre- dominance for their law and universal spread. It ig worth while considering whether or not Chris- tans have not fallen into the same mistake; whether they have not run their theologies into almost the same narrow groove, and whether they have not put the Church where the Jews put Pales- tine, Are we not supposing that the progress of the Divine kingdom ts a universal spread and ex- Pretorece the visible Church, and i+ present an aterpretation of the Divine truth or something separate from the great curse of nature? This error is twofold. In giving to the Church, just as had a z Hinotier oid the principles which ere taught for another object, ; maxing it to be y Another design; A STRUGGLE FOR FORM, or an exposition of force; making It to be not per- manent, and not absolutely instrumental of the character shown and designed, but to making it, to all intents and purposes, a giortous design and consummation—not the tnvisibie sum of the whole moral power of the world, and the education of mankind, but the objective organism, fillin organized apace, another general faith of the world, absorbing ali power into ttaelf, So we have the impression of the Christian people in their relation to-day presenting an extra- ordinary visible organization and the Interpreta- tions of Christian trath, which had been handed down from period to period. Tho excessive organ- ization of the Romish Church has taught the World to look upon the Church as really and Uter- ally an empire, organized and devised. Although by the philosophy of the Protestant Church it ts re- oe to have a ilving Head, it remains among the ine Church, a8 an empire, in the imagina- THE COMMON PEOPLE, The effect of all this was to make religion to be something uot comprehended within the bounds of nd that the religious development of the Nigel and inter. he tendenoy of nature, age Was something special in jected into the course of nature, all this kage | was to raise ao opposition nature, 80 as to destroy and degrade tl. The a tles, alter jaboring for 40 or 560 years, Baw very I done. The fact was that Christianity was not signed to spread by miracle or by divine interfers ene Every man’s improvement 1s @ history of trials and progress, The restrictions of the king- dom of Christ are loving and sweet. The noblest Bn of aman's nature is the religious nature, r. Beecher then traced at length the history and effect upon Christianity of ecclestasticel organiza. tions, the object of which organizations has be to bring men into control and for the develop. ment of thelr moral nature, aud closed by show- ing that the trae development of Vhristtan life was @ Working in harmony with the great laws of na. ture pret govern man in his ee ress through the world, and that this wad the burdea of the teach. ing of Christ, TWEED'S PRISON HOME, The Great Culprit’s First Sunday on Blackwell’s Island. He Is Sick and Suffering—Cell No. 84, Bet~ ond Tier’—He Eats Prison Fare and Sleops on a Canvas Cot—No In- dulgence— Will He Live? Wiliam Marcy Tweed, ox-Supervisor and ex- State Senator, & man whose wealth is said to be several millions, and who had up to two years ago possessed more political influence and pgtronage than were ever before held by one main this metropolis, had been just 24 hours in Penitentiary convict garb when a Hxnatp reporter yesterday afternoon stepped upon Blackwell's Island to learn how the fallen mau endured his changed mode of existence, Tt wasa matter not easy of accomplishment to Obtain access to the prison isle yesterday, bué when the reporter had procured the neoessary authority and landed from a small boat, a tempo- rary oficer, attached to one of the-institutions, volunteered to conduct him to the residence of the Warden, Mr. J. S. Liscomb. On the way to the Wardeb’s house, over the neat walks and past the grim, gray, loopholed walls of the Penitentiary, which was already closed for the day, the oficer said :— “I suppose you have come to learn something about Mr. Tweed. [hear the old man 1s sick to- day—they Say it's inflammation of the bowels and that he'll very likely go to hospital, I guess it goos pretty hard with him." At this time, walking along by the prison wall, the sounds of voices, singing sacred songs, were very distinct, issuing from the windows of tho central part of the Penitentiary. “There's church service going on there,” satd the guide. “The hospital is up there in tho top of the building.” A little further desultory conversation passed and at last the Warden’s house was reached—a neat-granite building some 800 yards from tho north end of the Penitentiary. The reporter was admitted ina few moments and conducted to a altting room, where was seated the gentlemanly Warden anda friend, Apologizing for his intru- sion and stating the object of his visit—to inquire asto Mr. Tweed’s general health and condition, the reporter was asked to be seated, and in reply to his inquiries the Warden said :— “Mr, Tweed is about as well as could be ex- pected under the circumstances, to-day; but ho complains somewhat of a sort of diarrical affec- tion and of a headache. Itis not exactly a cone sequence of his being brought here, as he stated to me that he was subject toit more or less; but £ suppose it has been aggravated by the change.” “Has the prison physician been in attendance on him?’ asked the reporter. “Oh, yes. It is not deemed of a very serious na- ture, though, so far. He was affected in the samo way while in the Tombs, and brought medicine here which his physician bad prescribed. That medicine, of course, was taken from him under tha rules, and the prison physician prescribed top “him,” rejoined the Warden, “Are all prisoners confided to your charge obliged to submit to the full prison regimen’’’ asked the reporter. “For oxample, ts it absolutely Incum. bent that Mr. Tweed shail sleep upon a prison bed and eat the prison rations? Could you permit him to have a feather bed, his own bedclothes and food of is own selection, prepared at his own expense, if he desire it?” “It Is, under the prison rules. Ifitts varied for one it must be varied for all who can afford it. We have a number of prisoners here, members of families possessing means and reputation, but they all conform to the same rules as the poorest convict on the island,’ “Might not Mr. Tweed have his own bed and selected diet upon the recommendation of a phy- sician?” asked the reporter. “He might have, upon the recommendation of a physician—that Is, Oh the advice of our own phys cian—the prison physician,” was the Warden's respons¢. ‘But the assumption is that his health would be in peril where that was requisite, and instead off letting him have those accommodationa in his cell, which is not contemplated by tne rules, he would be transferred to the hospital Hild present illness is not considered of a very serious nature, however, unless tt should grow worse,'? “Have you seen Mr. Tweed to day, Warden?" “Yes, He appeared to be in tolerable spirits, considering his condition. He did not appear to be nearly so ae and troubled as he was on Saturday evening. He was quiet and had vory little to say."” “Has he been out to-day or taken any exercise in the corridor of the prison? Do you allow pris- oners out on Sunday?" “Yes, he has been out. That 1s, he has been out of his cell, passing through the corridors, &c¢."" “Are lis meals served to him in his cell?’ con- tinued the reporter. “Oh, no. All the prisoners eat in the dining room. He takes his meals with the rest. Where there are 30 ed prisoners it 1s impossible as Well a8 imprudent to make distinctions of that ‘Has he attended any religious servicg to-day In rl the prison #7 Inquired the 4 “No, he has not," replied the Warden. “He has got his Bible and a number of other books in his ceil though, and I beieve he has been reading some. His son William also called to see him this morning ana remained with him some time,"’ oes the sentence of a prisoner, condemnin him to confinement here, also imply that he sha! perform what la known as ‘bard labor?’ asked mg reporter, “It does not,’ answered the Warden, T) only implied tn the sentence to a State Ler There is, of course, a certain amount of hard lal erformed here by the prisoners. Indeed, all the labor perforined about the Penitentiary and the gronnas belonging to itis done WF convicts, There re 2 good many employed in the prison alone, Tl 0 all the peck lane the meat and bread are out by thein; they keep he prison ciean, make fires and do all necessar, also. In addition chores, and do the washing ‘o this they make the clothing and do repairs, and outside of the prison there are a number employed in laying oul, grading and re- pairing roads, You may have hoticed, too, that Some distance above here, on the east side of the penne gah oat tac at ee cae That stone ts r O grade an ve the road thoy are also butidin sea-wall there,? ghoss “Then how {8 such labor imposed ff it is not im. Bie in the sentence, Mr. Warden ?"’ asked the re- orter, “It ts imposed by virtue of the prison rules and discipline. Tho people never contemplated that several hundred men should be kept here, dojn absolutely nothing, and being ied and clothed an attended to at the public expense. They do all the necessary work of thia department of the public institutions on the island. The only service bd {performed by the prisoners 1s that of the keep- “Well, then, there are no workshops here in which mechanical trades are@arried ou, as at Sing Sing, are there 1” resumed the reporter. ‘No; nothing of that kind, We have carpenters and blacksmiths and stone masons who do the work required about the prison, I have also had the repairing of shoes worn by the inmates done here, and latterly have had some very good shoes made by them. ‘I think it is very likely that a regular shoo shop will be established, and, I think, considerable work could be turned out from tt," was the Warden's rept and explanatio: “What cell does Mr, Tweed occupy ?"" “He t# in cell No. 34 That 1s on the east side, facing toward Long island, and 1s tn the northern division of the building, on the second tier.’ “What are the dimensions 0! the cells in the Penis tensiary, Mr. Wardpn Ww 7 “Well, as nearly as 1 oe judge,” answered the oMeial, “they are about sbven tect long, ana about four or four and a half feet wide. Their height ts somewhere about alx feet eight inches, or seven ‘hose are decidedly sraall quarters for so large and fat a man as Mr. Tweed,” interpolated the ro- porter. “They are much smaller than tue cells (a the Tombs, are they not ? “Yes, considerably smaller, The cella in tho Tomba are longer, wider and loftier—I think about nine feet long and nearly #1x feetwide,” replied the Warden. “What is the bed and bedding allowance of each prisoner ?”" “Phe bedstead {4 @ small iron framed cot, with & canvas bottom drawn Henly over the frame. No mattress of any kind 1s allowed, chiefly because they afford prisoners opportunities of concealing weapons or implements of escape, and they have sometimes set them on fire. The canvas bottom tt quite springy, however. Then there is @ small Pillow allowed and three good heavy blankets.’’ “And the prisoner may put all the blankets over him or all under himf’! queried the reporter, “That 18 in his own discretion,” replied the Warden, “He 18 not obliged to use them at all if ne does not choose to do so, or he may get all the com- fort out of thom that he can."’ “L certainly do think, Mr. Warden,” resumed the reporter, “that the punishment in Mr. Tweed's case will be one terrible to bear, and, while there 1s probably no one inclined to question the real justice of the finding and punishment of the Court against him, it secms a4 though, In consequeuce GOONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE.