The New York Herald Newspaper, January 12, 1874, Page 5

NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 1874.-TRIPLE SHEET. CUBBATH MINISTRAT-ONS, Expositions of Christian Truth by the Clergy of the City and Neighborhood. Bishop Cummins on the Unity of the Church. FROTHINGHAM ON THE WELK OF PRAYER, Beecher on the Lordship of Christ. Bermous by Talmage, Dr. Wild, Rev, Henry Powers, Dr. Harris, Dr. Hall and Dr. Ohapin, A Union Communion Service Extraordin- ary in Brooklyn. FIFTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHUROH, Dr. Hall Upon the Dangers of Secondary Tempiation—The Demons Who Return and Conquer—The Parable Illustrated by History—Life a stubborn Fight— The Subtieties of Demoniacal Visita- ton. The Fifth avenue Presbyterian church was crowded as usual yesterday morning by a devout and fashionable congregation. Not on!y were the pews filled, but the aisle chairs also, and many were standing up. It was a vast congregation nd as attentive as it was devout. Aiter the winging of two hymns by the united congregation @o choir being employed here) and a short prayer the reverénd Doctor ascended the puipit and preached one of his effective and .pungent dis- -eourses, Dr, Hall, it is well known, is one of the Most eloquent churchmen in the city, But he possesses more than simple eloquence, He has the gift of convincing by “the most homelike and truthful similes, which touch the heart even more than they appeal to the head, and which Yeave more than a mere momentary impression. He uses concise but beautiful language, and his felicity of expression {s most remarkable, It is not wonderful that with all this Dr. Hallis one of the most popular ministers in the city. Dr. Hall’s subject yesterday morning was the @anger of demons returning to take pos- session of their old tenement after they had been exorcised, He pictured the increased dangers of manifold temptations, and went into history for ilinstrations. The Jews had always been a turbulent people, and they were punished sufficiently during the Babylonian captivity. They returned, and commencing well, at the time of Christ were in a frightful state of degen- eracy. They were torn by contending factions and leaders. There were the Pharisees claiming ali the goodness o1 the land, the Sadducees claiming ali the culture. Then another sect of pontical wire- oe were endeavoring to bolster up the house of lerod, making a comproinise between Judaism and heathenism, and taking any means to accomplish theirend, Wuat did all this result in? Tne de- struction of the nation; not to come back as alter the captivity, but to wauder for thousands of years over the face of the carth, Was not their last State worse than the first? And this has its appii- cation to human history. Look at the earliest days of Christianity, when heathenism owned the Roman Empire and the aposties of the pew re- ligion overran the world. ‘The nations did not embrace the faith nor reiorm until the Emperor Constantine became an avowed Christian and Christianity became a political power. Then was set up @ Christian hierarchy against a politicul one. Priests became weaithy, and it was no more @ secular interest to belong fo the old faith. Men Were baptized by thousands who hardly knew what the new imperial religion was. The first doctrines of the Church were ruthlessly sacrificed to make way for sacerdotalism, and sacramental- tam sprung up. Heresy was rile everywhere. Spirituauty died out, and all was in a most melan- oly state of decay When Mahometanism sprung up. Here you see the illustration, Une demou was driven out, but he came back and brought with him other demons more wicked than he. Take another example in the Reformation, At first all things went well. But very soon liberty. degenerated, and the result was tne revolutionary cated or the last century, The freedom ougnt to have been ased, but it was abused. It became the worst type of exaggerated iree- dom. Here the demon again brought back other demons with him, and the lust state was worse than the first, When we conquered our Mdependence here the demon oj despotism was exorcised, But instead ol allowing truth and love and Christ to take possession of the national life we have swept and garnisned our abode tor the demons to come back. Mormonism and Spirivwual- ism and other isms which are of sin exist in our midst. Even Commun#w seeks to shrine and find @ resting place in this vigorous nation, Let us unite to combat against these things. If we do Dot our last positi¢n will be worse than the first. We have just got rid of a great national evil. Some peopie, it 18 true, dilfer as to the propriety of the means we took to do it, but itis gone forever, Bat how rouch trick- ery and corruption in high places is leit; how little honesty and true integrity are tuere! If the poor blacks are freed we shouid do something to prevent their going to evil. Indeed all will go to wrong, end our last condition will be worse than our first unless we take the lesson out of history. The principle 18 t.e same when appliea to the ind. . Viaual, Take a drunkard reformed from all his vices, Interest may have reformed him. The man is turning over a new leaf. Is he necessarily @good man? The restiess demon that had posses- Bion is gone, but he comes back with other demons and reinvests the house, The man may no more be a crunkard, but he is worldly, Pharasatcal, de- ceitful, making a show of outward morality, and the last condition ts worse tian the first. He was doing what everybody recognized as being wroug. Now he is accomplisuing his schemes and thriving withunt God, and his last condition 1s worse than é first; tor he is now Unassailadie. God comes ith His darts and arrows, but does not pierce him, He is not going ou in the way of iniquity, and he hopes all have forgotten his previous lve, But this is no true repentance. He 33 unassailable py the Lord God. He is 60 conscious of his goodness that he takes no lesson to himsei!, Publicans and harlots will go to the kingdom before him, He has the opportunities, but it were better not to have known the way of righteuusness than, knowing it, go against it. I warn you against tnis delusion and snare. Living without Ged you die without God, for in the grave to which we hasten the doom of all remains, and ‘we are in everlasting silence and gloom, Tne only salvation is in Jesus Christ, Cease to do evil— thatis good. Do well—that is better. Don’t be wic¢ked—tnatis good. Do the acts of righteousness— that is better. arn to love God andone an- other, Jesus the goal, and those who enter heaven must go in by that gate. A man must not be negatively good—he must ve positiveiy so. He has been delivered out of the kingdom of Satan, Dythe must be translated into the kingdom of Goa. The old man and the new man combat to- ether and Rerpetoal victory will be gained »: jesus Christ for those who go unscathed tnrsigh the test of tribulation. Itis only through the Lord Jesus that we can ever Obtain a real aad perman- ent victory. SEVENTEENTA STREET BAPTISTa CHUROH. The Blessings of Revivals—Sermon hy Rev. William Harr! Rev. William Harris, D, D,, of London, Engiand, preached last night in the Seventeenth street Baptist church, near Sixthavenue. He said this was a good opportunity for him vo speak, and he would take for his text the sixth verse of the Eighty-sixtn Psalm—“Wult thou not revive us again’? Why should they seek a revival? Whar Were the benefits of revivais? What would be the consequences of revivals? The man who wrote this psalm was looking for salvation, but nad left no name with which they might bless him. His memory aud character lived in this psalin, “Thou hast forgiven thy people; thou hast forgiven their sins,” Some people thought this was a new sentiment; but they could already find it tn the Bible, long before Wesley or Luther, God nad indicated to them that He lived in them turough His operations upon their heart, The psalm seemed to say, “Lord, make a periect and complete change tn us; let us not be like our forefathers, but make an end of sin.” He, the author, asked, “Wilt thou not revive us again, so that ‘WE MIGHT REJOICE IN THEE 2"? Would it not be in their day that Zion’s glorious kingdom would be established ? He had heard the promise of Gov to their forefathers to lead them to walvation, and would not God at last fulfil His promise now? At their prayers were NOt SUswWored at the prea. } Apd so the question comes back to us, “W ent ft was not pecause they dia not speak sah oor. Dut because they did not wait ior the Divine answer, He would like to know if they gave Goc time to speak. The author of the psalm said, “I will walt to hear thee speak,” but could they say that of their own eS oy ence of the past? 4he reverend preacher cited the case of a man who prayed for rain atter adrought, He kept Jooking tor it all night and day and his prayer was granted in the end. Another man said he con- sidered his prayer @ promissory note from God, aud he only executed the press laid down by the psalmist. Sometimes the best of them, when rising 1rom their knees, did not know what they had just been praying about, Some time ago he visited a family and he prayed that his visit might PROVE A BLESSING TO THEM, One day, when one of the ladies rose from her knees, she said to bim:—“God bas granted your prayer, and made uo visit @ blessing; for my prayer is still fixed in my mind, and [ am sure that God will hear me sooner or later.” He said he might go on in this delineation of the psalmist’s character as pictured in this psalm, and quoted the greater part of it. How true were the lines of the psalm alluding to the extraordinary attributes Which met in the person of Jesus Christ! And what was a revival? People might make a great Many mistakes about it. It was not a conversion of souls which was life irom death—a new lie, Revivals were resnscitations in- vigorating, Not 2 the jaith fo the Lord. Suppose they went into a partially lighted with lamps, Instead of light Mere was a miserable darkness, Pour in fresh oil, trim the wick, and what a change! What word would de- scribe it? A revival. The reverend preacher also gave another instance—a woman who had falated away and been revived by the use of restoratives, }. This woman could afterwards proceed on her way. Why? Because she was revived. Was not te Church a garden of God, and what would become of the flowers if they were not watered and re- vived? The feebiest could revive his strength and his faith by a revival. God in His Word sustained revivals, which were giving. new life and the stature of perfect men to God's old children. who were the revivalists? Men were not the revivalists, The only revivalist he knew of was God, the same beam which first brought light into chaos, God was not circum- seribed as men: were, Some men certainly were employed to rouse the sleeping consciences of sin- ners; but the difference was not 89 much in the preachers, in bis opinion, asin the hearers. The reverend preacher then described a Sunday prayer meeting at an early hour vi the morning. Every- body sang the hymns as though they would strike heaven by their voices. and there was a greedy desire to drink in the words of the preacher, What was the result? God was honored in this worship, @ blessing came, aad the occasion proved to be a true revival. REFORMED EPIS0OPAL CHURCH. The Unity of the Church—Sermon by Bishop Cummins. Steinway Hall was fairly attended yesterday, on the occasion of the second appearance of Bishop Cummins as an Episcopal reformer, After the ser- vices, which were similar to those periormed last Sunday, the reverend gentleman preached a length- ened sermon, taking the following text:—“That they all may be one, as their Father is one; that they also may be one in us, that the world may be eve Thou bast sent Me’’—John xvii,, 21. He said that the mogt miraculous prayer offered by the Re- deemer was in the Garden of Gethsemane, wnen He asked His Father in heaven that there might be unity on earth, Had that prayer been an- swered? THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS replied in the negative. The world was full of lamentation that 1t was not answered. Had a prayer of the Saviour’s ever been denied? No; that prayer had been answered from the hour it was offered in the highest and sublimest sense. What was the Church of Christ? Who composed it? Was it essence of mind or polity? Had it spir- itual light? Upon the answer to these questions de- pended oar belief in the fulfilment of THE REDEEMER’S PRAYER in Gethsemane, According to one theory the Church was governed by divinely established laws. Apostolic succession is claimed, and its prelates and bishops aiso claim to receive the Holy Ghost, He dwelt at length on the practices of the Roman, Latin and Anglican churches, and wondered that the nineteenth century had stood such a theory so long. He contended that the Saviour had never stated how the Church should be governed. He defied any man to find any authority ior the form or POLITY THE CHURCH of Christ was to rest in. The Church of Christ was His mystical body. The Church of Christ was the househo.d of God—his living temple—and all true Christians were living stones, built on the corner stonc—Curist Himself, No man was in the Church uuless he was saved. Its members were the living branches ot the living vine, which was Cnrist. The Roman Church was not the sait of the earth, while the Greek Church was an incubus in the Kast; and how could the Anglican Church succeed when its bishops contessed the impossibility of agreeing on certain matters? There was but one Church. it was THE FAILURE TO DISCRIMINATE between the mystical Church and the orgapiza- tions called churches that led to the endless con- fusion, The law was unity. This was one of the thoughts of God. There was but one Church, al- though taere were many so-called churches, In its spiritual, mystic conception the Church, is es- sentially one. ‘The soul with the unity of Christ is one, This was the prayer o/ Jesus and it had been answered, From the hour when it was offered every human heart that embraced Him nad become one With every other heart that embraced Him, This unity could not be destroyed. Controversies could not break it. There was but one body, one Charch, one baptism ol the Holy Ghost—not bap- tism of Water, One nature, one life, one hope, one song, . ON® HEAVEN Ar LAST. He contended that there was no vicar of Christ on earth, There might be differences on some points, but there was but one Church. There had been CONTROVERSIES BETWREN PETER AND PAUL, but controversies did not destroy the unity of the Church. There was but one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one Charch of Christ. the way to decide the question whether they belénged to the Church was by the inquiry, what were they doing for Christ—what were they to Christ? The rev- erend gentleman concluded his discourse by ex- horting the Soy ts ce to show by their good deeds that they belonged to the true Church, which ‘was the best test to decide the question. He then announced that, finding it impossible to obtain a hall wherein to hold the services both morning and evening, It was determined to hold the second ser- vice at Lyric Hall, A collection having been taken up, the singing of the “Rock of Ages’’ brought the proceedings to a close. CHUROH OF THE MESSIAH, The Grace of Contentment—What I¢ Is, and Why It Should Be Cultivated— Sermon by the Rev. Henry Powers. At the Church of the Messiah, corner of Thirty- fourth street and Park avenue, the pastor, Rev. Henry Powers, preached yesterday morning, se- lecting as his text the eleventh verse of the fourth chapter of Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians :—“Not that I speak tn respect of want; for 1 have learned, in whatsoever state J am, therewith to be content.” He said this was @ remarkable declaration, con- sidering by whom and under what circumstances it was made. It was uttered by Paul, the apostle of liberty and progress, whose life had been one con- tinued struggle, who was old, sick and de-" serted. ‘Though entitled to the contidence and respect of his iellow man, as he says of himself, “Of the Jews five times received I 40 stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was 1 stoned, thrice I “Suffered shipwreck, @ night and a day I have veen in the deep. In journeyings often—in weariness and paintulness, in watchings oiten, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and naked- ness,’ In despite of all ne could say, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I, am therewith to be content.” He could not have said this at any other time, Certainly not before he was converted and when be was breathing out threatenings and @laughter towards the saints; not when he be- sought the Lord to remove the thorn irom his side, Whatever that uught have been; not when he Was smitten on the mouth befor hedrim, causing him to cry out, thee, thou waited wall”? No. He be content through that DISCIPLINE OF SOUL resniting trom the struggle between the outward @ud spiritual man, a content which is never an original git, but 18 the attainment of @ lifetime of eifort. ‘the speaker then proceeded to show now very few, »o matter What the condition of life, possess contentment, drawing the conclusion that “Man never is, but always to be, blest,” and then inquired, “What is this grace of content” It ts hot the result of satisfaction with the condition aud outward circumstances of life, for, as is our dutyy we are constantly striving to 1nprove these, Health is better than sickness, wealtn than pov- erty, and ag the tastes, the beneficent impulses of our nature are og 80 are the means of gratify. ing them, Jn that civilization which prompts 0s to effort for the improvement of our situation are we vettér than the benighted African, who sits down in his squalid misery. He argued against the idea of happiness being found in the fewness of our wants, and added satisfaction with our situation is not to know of the opportunities for achievement. He showed by the aa of Paul how the esti- mate of self declines a8 the sight is enlarged. In sight of God’s glory the prophet exclaimed, “Woe is me; ama man of unclean fips.’? Nothing can indicate how CAPABLE OF ACHIEVEMENT we are except the obligation to become perfect, To omit further effort would be to retrograde, at ks bad learned to ; comes without prayer. the soul's content ’” It 18 that condtuon which causes us to acquiesce tn our present state, all things considered, It is a starting point for a new and better career. It 18 to acquiesce in God's gov- ernment, assured that he doeth all things well,’ Thus established, @ man, whether in poverty or Wealth, presses on, ready to receive more if God Shall give it him, maybe not in tnis world, but assured of his ultimate reward, It is a sign of true nobility of soul to indulge th no vain aspirations, to wait when patience 1s necessary, to work when Work 18 neediul, nothing daunted by iailure, He then considered the REASONS FOR THE CULTIVATION of thia grace :—First, as it is in the nature of man, and second, as contentment ts a condition of use- fulness, The grambler is In the wuy of any cause, ‘The proper course is to take your position on that line and fight it out there, if it takes haifa dozen summers, Again, there is a surplus of good rather than of evil in the world, This does not Seem 80, because evil is the most noticeable; it culminates the quickest, The best productions of the earth are those that mature the latest, ‘The mistake is in regarding our mistortunes rather than our biessings, and in anticipating troubles, We cannot tell of the morrow, aud so are in- structed to take no thought thereof, Lastly, if we would be content we should consider how independent of all the circumstances the greatest blessings are. They are not peculiar to any rauk or sphere, . There are many occupants of a miserable garret in this city who are blessed because of the love which exists there. Mercy, goodness and grace may be common to all; they come as the direct gift of God. ‘rhe best things of MMe are in the reach of the hamblest, The tempta- tuons and triais of life are equalized, and no one would be found willing to exchange his for those of another if he realized what they were. In what-. ever state we are let us, as did St. Paul, work in the spirit of usefulness, conscious that a useful employment ts the forerunner of a cheerful heart. He contrasted those having within them the spirit of God with others not so blessed, and ex- horted hishearers to remember that what a man is and does and not what he gains enables him to possess his soul in content, LYRIC HALL Dritt, Purport and Fruits of the Week of Prayer—Practical and Theoretical Praying-Sermon by the Rev. 0. B. Frothingham. Mr. Frothingham, in pursuance of his general pian of selecting the most modern event of excit- ing interest as the subject of his discourse, preached yesterday morning on “The Week of Prayer.” The basis of this discourse was the text, “Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and ye shall ud; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” My theme this morning, he began, has been suggested by the chief religious event of the year thus far—the Week of Prayer, Thishas been an institution for many years. It is remarkable what @ class of people have engaged in this, They are people of culture and education, They do not merely pray with their lips but with their money, hands, minds and hearts. For what do they pray? For no external gilt; not for wealth, fame or power; but for that grace o! the Spirit which they think comes down from above, The believers in this ancient creed, having done all they can, drop on their knecs and ask for the last gift which the Saviour has promised. Criticise it a8 we will, still there is something pathetic in the vision of these people leaving the places of busi- ness and devoting a week lor BESIKGING THE GATES OF HEAVEN, Forget the superstition, and there is something sublime in the institution. Some people contend that itis better to pray to an idol fora good thing than to pray for nothing good at all, Jobn Ruskin says, “You may measure your progress but in thing—in the increase of your faculty of Wonder, in your respect, jor nature.” Measure your progress by your sense of something infinitely worthier. ‘Jesus knows what things ye have need of;” but does he say that Jesus gives belore ye ask jor it? The pa- tience of Godin waiting for these prayers is more touching than His love, The great elemental boon Iron is, in some respects, one of the greatest gilts bestowed upon men, It was hidden away in the ground for centuries, and man had no intimation that tne great boon was within reach. Take the question of coal, Geolo- gists will tell you how long ago it was that coal was found, This buried sun, this midnight sun was deep down in the earth, and it was not prayer that brought it out. Men froze in caverns belore they dag, and then their salvation came frourbelow and not from above. Take the question of steam, Aspiring individuals, witn hungry hearts, were On the track of that benefit, but they were refused. It was not till these heroes had passed away that the great pressing need of civili- zation demanded a boon and it was given. How few have had answers to their prayers, The senti- ment of brotherhood! what a boun would that not be. How coulda living father look down frem above upon his children and fail to drop down that boon of love tor one another ? THERE 18 NO GI-T WITHOUT PRAYER. Most of our praying is.done to our fellow men, as most of our giving is to our fellow men. We Pray to our fellows with words, and there is no prayer until tt is spoken. ‘The beggar pleads when he comes to your door, It you wish your friend's friendship you ask for it. The lover goes about with a heart full of love and passion, but the object does not respond till it is: spoken of and love asked in return. If you want a thing say so. In this process of prayer all over the world meu pray to one another. The articulate prayer must always be backed by the tmarticulate prayer. The beggar must prove that he needs alms, or he may be taken for an imposter. Would ‘ou ask for love with your sy and not with your art? The heart must ask first, and then the lips repeat. How idle it is to pray to the elements with an articulate voice! How foolish itis to pray with articulate voice to the rain that it may. water your lands The elements have no ears, The men of Massachusetts 25 years ago wished to communicate with the West; but between them andthe West there was a high mountain chain. Did they assemble on either side of the cnain, pray and sing psalms’ If they had done so, they would have been fools, and they were not fools. Their prayers took the form of machinery. Twenty- five years ago they began at each end, and they worked, praying with money and patience. They bored tnto the solid stone and opened a tun- nel through the mountain. The railroad through jt will testily to the efficacy of their prayers, aud the grain that comes back upon the cars will tes- tify to the way tn which the prayers were answered. How do men pray for bread? Com- merce, trafic and finance is but AN ENDLESS AND COMPLICATED PRAYER. How do men pray for knowledge? Science is your prayer for knowledge. AH the intellectual devices you bg 8 to find what underlies things is their prayer. ‘hese wonderful cathedrals, churches and music—ali these things are reachings out of the soul of man grasping alter peace, rest and quiet for his soul, There is mot tmuch articulate prayer. The number of people that pray at all is very small. Very tew people pray once in ten years; others do not pray once in a lifetime, and Some not so often as that. I pray for everything noble, You must be noble. If there is anything that men should pray for it is to be delivered from evil. Most people wish much more earnestly lor a better brand of chssipeane than” that they may be temperate. in Rip Van Winkle, the wife, who has been caused such end- less misery at the intemperance of her husband, in the last scene offers him a glass, which he takes. One man has prayed against intemper- ance—John B. Gough—tor 30 years. Alter dragging himself up trom the depttis of misery he has devoted himself to reclaiming others irom drink, ‘That man has saved thousands, Only those who can pray with their lives agaist an evil like this will ever make an impresston, THE POLITICIAN’S PRAYER isfor plunder, the dandy’s for finer cloth, the epicure’s for choicer fogd. How feeble is the prayer for goodness. If you pray without caring and without conscience there is no form of answer, lt is nota question as to whether prayer is an- ‘ered or not. Of course prayer is answered if tt is worth answering. SERMONS FOR THE PEOPLE, Dr. Chapin’s Sermon on the Two Debt- ore and the Wontan Who was For- given Much. The Universalist clergymen of New York and vicinity now hold public religious services in the Hall of the Cooper Institute every Sunday after- noon. Yesterday the Rev, E. H. Chapin and the Rev. E. ©, Sweetser officiated. Rev. Mr. | Sweetser opened the services with prayer, and Rev, E, H. Chapin delivered the sermon. His text was taken from Luke xlvit., 7—‘Therefore [ say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are for- given, for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven the same loveth little.” Be said the inci- dent connected with the text forms one of ‘he most impressive scenes in the life of our Saviour, It is filled with the truth of the Gospel; but its very fulness, as it vere, impedes expression, We can readily understand the experience of Gregory the Great—“When I consider this occurrence,” says he, “I am more inclined to weep over it than to preach on it.” Of one tuing we may be certain, iny cear friends, that we coufi not hurt its meaning by preaching on it Lee aud again, Therefore, with the view of leading to some profitable result, let me at the present time retrace the narrative, and endeavour to draw out a jew of id sugges tions, Jesus had accepted the invitation of one Simon, a PI see, and while being received at his table was approached by a woman of the city, concerning whom it ts curiously said that “she was a sinner ;” in other words, there can be but little doubt that she was a woman of in- famous character, although there appears to be no certain ground for the supposition that she was Mary Magdalen, However, “she was @ sinner,” and she me to Jesus with an alabaster box of déintment, and stood at His feet, behind him, bodies | and began ‘to wash His ieet with teara, and did wing them with the hairs of her head and kissed, His feet and anointed them with the ointment. To our Saviour’s host, the scrupulous sinner, this was a matter of great surprise and perplexity, He i to im- self, “This man, if He were a _ prophet, would) have known who and what man- ner of woman this is that toucheth Him,” and if Jesus did know what kind of a woman she Was it Was still ‘more surprising that He should permit her to touch Him, for the conception of the Pharisee that the very contact was one of ceremonia! defiiement, and therefore one that @ pure and holy being would shrink from. But to rebuke all such Pharisaic ideas of goodness our Saviour, responding to Simon’s thought, addressed to him the beautiful peas of the two debtors, and, having got trom 18 lips the debtor to woom much was forgiven, Jesus proceeded to apply tue decision to the case before him, Simon, who telt but slight conscious. ness of sin, had manifested bat little zeal or affection, But the woman, weighed down with the sense of her guilt, nevertheless hoping, trusting, believing in the divine lorgiveness jor herselt, showed the greatness of her living faith and of her faith inspiring love 3 her offerings and her warm andardent tears, “When I say unto thee,” said Jesus, “her sins, which are many, are forgiven, tor she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven the same loveth littie, Thy sins are forgiven, He said ‘to the woman; thy taith has saved thee; go in peace and sin no more,” Somehow the con- viction of @ goodness mere than human must have strock this woman! she perceived in Him @ righteousness not like the rigteousness of tue Scribes and the Pharisees, the impression of an infinite purity that nevertheless was blendea with an infinite compassion as present in Jesus, and so she sought and came to Him, MADISON SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN OHUROH. Dr. Adams .preached yesterday morning to a crowded audience. Previous to the sermon Pro- fessor Hitchcock made an appeai-for funds in be- halfof the Palestine Exploration Society, which will no doubt receive a Iiberal response. This soclety, of which Professor Hitchcock is President, ; Chancellor Crosvy, Secretary; A. 8, Hatch, Treas- urer, and a large number of prominent represen- tatives of various religions and literary circles Members, has undertaken the most important work of its kind which has been projected in the present century. It is engaged in making a thorough scientific exploration and survey of the old countries of Edom, Bashan and Moab—famous in ancient history, but comparatively unknown in modern times. it will require $30,000 annually for at least five years; but the great favor with which the enterprise is regarded by all ciasses of people and the Mberal contributions constantly proffered from al parts of the country preciude al) doubts of its final success. Circulars containing full informa. tion on the subject will be sent to any person de- siring it on application to Rev. O. 8, St. John, the financial secretary, at the office, No, 26 Exchange piace, room 14, MORNING STAR SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSION. One of the largest monthly meetings since the organization of the mission was held yesterday, at half-past two P.M., corner, Seventh avenue and Twenty-sixth street. Colonel Clinton B, Fisk, of St. Louis, and Mr, R. J. Thon addressed the school, and Philip Phillips, so well known to the public both here and abroad, sang several of his beautiful songs. The house was crowded to its utmost cupacity. ‘This scloot is strictly @ mission sciiool, and 1s supported by al) denominations. Quite a jarge coilection was taken hp to aid im carrying on the good work, BROOKLYN CHURCHES, PLYMOUTH CHURCH. The Change of Words In Their Meaning and Application—The Meaning of the Word “Lord” Men’s Inflaence—God the One Fixed Thing. Plymouth church was crowded, a8 usual, yester- day morning. Before the service Mr. Beecher bap- tized several children, Mr. Beecher read a notice that the church would be open every morning this week for the first instalment of the pew rents, and Mr. Weld, the clerk of the Board of Trustees, said in the notice that he hoped he would not be cen- sured for unpoliteness to those coming tn claiming his attention while he was counting money and receipting bills. Mr. Beecher said that any one who could get angry from such @ cause “would be un- reasonable indeed, and, said he, no one has asked me to say anything; but I think I shall make a few remarks here. Considering the circum- stances, I am surprised that there is 80 little friction, You pay so much and get so little, and half the time do not get your seats, Lhear whispers, now and then, of discontent, some grum- bling about the ushers, We try to serve those first who come first; but now and then there is a dis- closure of human nature even among ushers; they have to meet with a great deal of unconverted hue man nature; but I beseech of them to be courteous in the house of God more than in their own pariors. Ishall not get a chance to speak of this for another year, but I notice that one good talk oils the ma- chinery for nearly a year. Mr. Beecher selected his text from the twelfth chapter of First Corinthians, third verse—“Where- fore I give you to understand that no man speak- ing by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed, and that no mancan say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.” Those who haye been called on to notice the progress of change in language will find the tact that not only do words change associations, but change completely about; things odious become very precious, 80 that words are per- petually changing in both ways, begmning oiten With a mission of good and ending in evil and be- giuning In evil and ending in good. For example, when the blood of Christ was spoken of to tue Jew it brought the whole association of worship; and to those to whom it is not now repulsive it is vecause there has been an artificial sense given It, Oll is Spoken Of as precious; now the association 1s not particularly so. Many of the phenomena of nature seem no longer to us as they secmed in olden times, Take the term “lord.” Everywhere the pro- gress of time is changing men’s thoughts in regard to kingly power, and the terms “king”? aud ‘lord’? are losing much of their power The term “lord” is in very little repute now. But there was a time when this word enclosed all that heart and mind couid wish for, There were bad lords, but when men thought o1 lords it was with the generic idea, as representing a roy- alty, a8 something Itited up above other experl- ences. People love to look up, providing they can ud one worthy of admiration, Glorious kings have been those whose people were proud of them. Jt 18 in this vein that the word “lord”? is applied to Jesus; historically and educationally the word has brought down much to us. We don’t say ‘lord’? when applied to Jesus as the disciples did. We speak O: the Lord Jesus Christ all as one word; we ron it all together. He was to the Jews the Anointed One, the hope of Israel, and when it was applied at last to the Lord Jesus no other term could have been found so significant as the anointed. We never anoint except ior medical purposes, but in olden times it was the crowning; and when Jesus was called the Anointed, oh, wuat fragrance, what power there was in it! and when they said Lord Jesus they crowned him with @ crown of an em- pire, “Lord.” ‘It was not the slippery, whirligig word We have made it; it was a wonder-making word whea applied to Jesus, and here we have the significance of the passage—‘‘Whereiore I give you to understand that no man speaking by the SPIRIT OY GOD calleth Jesus accursed, and that no man can+say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost”—as- suming that they say it with the feeliug that | have described, It 18 to the effect upon the soul, the character and conduct o/ lite that we now callyour attention, Personal influence {3 the LAW OF NATURE. God has set each person in the household to be des veloped and educated and carried up by the in- fluence of father and mother, brother and sister ; a cnild is greeted by that influence—everything he does is educed by direct inspiration o1 personai in- fluence. Aiter men erfter into pubiic or business life itis @ matter of fact, and sadly true, that they are more influenced by things than by men; some by zs they shall eat and drink, some by business politica, They are living in alow scale of nature, ‘but Mone of them act on the whole nature of a man, Tuings can only take hold so far and so deep. They can never rouse the whole man. It is not given to things to have such power over men; it 18 Only given to souls to have power over souls; tings stop in the outer court of the soul; nothing has power to inspire the soul but ives throb- bing with enthusiastic nature. [tis given to the living being to exert the highest induence. ‘Take. for,exXample the influence of @ clef. The followers of a Scottish chief would forsake home, furouly and everything to follow their chief, It was not that they would get much glory, but they bad iuspiracion and admiration for their chief, Hero worship has been universal in the world, 4 Human nature wants to look up and admire, Not ct vo heroes that are alive, but we take the eMbaimed ones, We see where great natures are masters in schools. In him of Rugby, who died and leit no foliowers—Arnold inspired more thinking men—the enthusiasm knew no bounds, Arnold is more powerful to-day than when he was alive. Soin art and literature, So in military matsers, “How a great general carries everybody captive I don’t wonder. 1 ‘eel it my- self, If you could bave taken out Washington's moral nature and put it into Napoleon, without dis- turbing his military character, | think I could have only 19 it 80 in respe | given my life a hundred tisnes a day for such aman Q3 that. What a stimuius there is in those things! Nothing touches imagination like imagination, Evidently there is a great power that is not used, We have not gauged this power except in a Imited degree, for now personal power of the highest Kind tends to unify aud harmonize the objects of it, fou take a serf, or an old Scotch servitor, and leave big to imse)! and he wil) degenerate; but let him be called upon to serve nis cnief and his nature lifts ttsell up; the bad goes down and the best comes up. Agreat nature teuds powerlully tw elevate those that are in contact with tr. can see in my own life how | was infuenced. My father dia nor infuence me till lave. The first who did was an bumble women in our family, and —- neXt @ colored servans They seemed w give ie IMPULSES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. As this man jay on his bed, and f am not ashamed to say ft, though tt would uot have done | 20 years ago—I stept in the same rom with him, be would jie and read his Bibie and chuckie and sing. 1 never heard the Bible read us he would read it, F 1am taterested in John Stuart Mill. Iam sorry he was not better than he was. No one ever thought he was an angel, but he had some admurabie traits, He married a woman who so absolutely controlled him that he could say, “I am what 1 am by the grace of my wile.” ‘The ritualistic system has died out, but some are trying to bring it back, and I don’t object. 1 don't object to seeing a man bring down the cradle trom own men he has grandchildren, but to sve iull cradles 13 attempting to get into these cribs an too absurd. . Men love to bring in doctrines and associations because they hold men in thrall. Every man wants to be first, wants to govern, There is but one per- sonal power that is worthy in this world, It is not @ judge’s, nor @ president's; itis nothing less than the Lord Jesus Christ, It is the only power worthy to rule our hearts. ‘The critica! element ol Chris- tianity is tins, thatit takes a man and fears off the outside and takes the heart and lifts it up, and gives you such @ sense of God a8 makes Him a live power in your soul, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is feeling the enthu- siasm of a follower; it is the personal efluence of your soul towards Christ. God is a8 Various as are the heavens, God never repeats Himsel! and yet ts substantially tme same, Ggd, ts our one fixed thing. God changes not in this—that he is holy, powerful. Realize Christ and make Him @ real person, and see what a tremendous power it has. on the soul, You are sons of God, HEIRS TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. ‘ It is the general purpose of the soul to live for God. The oe power of an everiasting God will keep you tuned, He is tne all in all, the beginning and the end. Take Christ and you have taken all. TALMAGE’S NEW TABERNACLE, The Building To Be Dedicated Next Month. The work on Rev. T. De Witt Talmage’s new Taber- nacile, which is being erected on the site of the tormer edifice, Schermerhorn street, near Thira avenue, has so far progressed that the pastor was enabied at the morning service at the Academy yesterday to announce that the new building would be formally dedicated to the service of God on Sunday, February 22, Mr. Talmage congratu- Jated his people upon the prospect of so early an occupancy of their new house of worship, and took occasion to make laudatory mention of the Board of Trustees for their services in bring- ing the work to a speedy and successful conclu- sion, Since the Tabernacle congregation have been worshipping at the Academy of Music they have been joined by many who have connected themselves with the cburch either by projession of their faith or certificates of other churches, A new accession Of 225 members was announced yes- terday. The Academy is not large enough to ac- commodate all who desire to hear the preacner, and every Sunday evening hundreds of people turn away unable to obtain standing room. inthe new ‘tabernacle the accommodations will be largely increased, ‘The building is inteuued to give at Jeast one-half more seating accommocda- tion than the old one, with opportunity for enlarg- ing to the extent of an additional good sized church, It 16 160 feet by 112, and will accommo- date 4,000 persons. The front has a large central gable, with a deeply recessed six-light window (22 leet by 40 feet) above the gallery foor, with a double-storied colonnade on each ‘side, terminat- ing on ends with angular porches about 60 feet Nigh. A covered portico with stone flooring is thereby secured, about 140 feet jong, with door openings equal to an outlet of 75 feet frum ground foor. Eight staircases. communicating with galleries, are 80 coustructed as to be outside and independent of the main building, and 80 as not to confict with the delivery Jrom the lower iloor. . Alter se- curing the best supposed conditions for seeing, hearing, lighting and ventilation the whole matter has been developed architecturally, and built very substantially o1 stone and brick, with no external wood work, excepting the doors, all window tracery, &¢., beimg of stone. The seats and in- ternal finishings are black wainul. Three large ornamental coronas, of about 200 lignts each, form a@ promimentieature in lighting the building. organ of great compass und sweetness has be built to take the place of the “big” one burned with the old Tabernacle. The dedication services will be participated in MM clergymen of all Protestant denominatious in he city. UNION COMMUNION. A Grand Communion Service at Bedtord Avenue Reformed Church—Addresses by Drs, Porter, Holmes, Chapman ands| Hyatt Smith. . Yesterday the week of prayer closed grandly in the Eastern district of Brooklyn, where the Bed- ford avenue Reformed church, St. John's Methodist + Episcopal church. Ross street Presbyterian church, the New England Congregatiomai church, and the Baptist and Congregational churches in Lee avenue all communed together in the first named church building. At four P. M. the church was crowded almost to excess. ‘The communion table was spread where the pulpit Stands. Sunday school banners mingled with the Christmas evergreens around the walls and gal- leries of the edifice, and over and at the back of the pulpit were inscribed in evergreen letters the texts which tell of the peace and good will whigh the birth of the Savionr brought to the world. Beneath the pulpit sat minis- ters and deacons from the churches par- ticipating and others. Printed programmes were distributed throughout the congregation. The exercises opened with a hymn sung by the quartet, Dr. Porter, the pastor of the church, then offered the invocation, calling upon God to bless this house with His presence. In the dim vision of our militant service, he prayed, let us see something of that grand day when all shail come from the kingdoms of the world to sit down atthe marriage supper of the Lamb, Make our bodies temples of the Holy Ghost. The invocation closed with the Lord’s Prayer, recited by the vast congregation. The Scripture lessons were read by 9 venerable father in the ministry, ip the absence of Rey. Mr. Lockwood, who had been assigned to this duty. The lessons were taken from Isaiah’s prophecy, which tells of the Messiah being oppressed and al- trom the closing prayer of the Savior for the unity of nis Church, a8 recorded in the ,ospel o! St. Jobn., The congregation then com lustily, the grand old hymn, “Rock of Ages Cleit for Me,” aiter which Dr. Porter read the expository services lor the sacrament, who also prayed again; and, in giving the invitation to parrake of the sacred elements, he remarked that they had but one creed—namely, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and any one who could subscribe to that creed would find it embodied in the Aposties’ Creed, which was printed on the programme, and which the congregation standing repeated in unison. Dr. Porter, continuing his remarks, said that no eye could look on a spectacie Like this without bapidy inspiration for all ume. Never before has such @ table as this been spread on this Continent. Here we see some of THE PREDICTIONS OF OUR SAVIOUR fulfied, We are all onein Christ our Lord. Here we see his banner of love lifted above us, and, as He said bimseif, “4, if be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.’? And here we are to-day in fulfil. ment of His word. God's prophets make little ac- count of our words, but the events move on to their fulfilment. The resurrection was the answer to those who put Christ to death. The overthrow of the Roman Empire was the answer to those who persecuted his followers, the early Christian Church, W. ¢ here in our individual wants, but we are here algo as churches, and we sit here to- getherin heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ard even now the imi and superscription of Christ is on our hearts, We come together and we say by this act that henceforth there shall be no envy between us, but we shall be one against sin and one for our common Lord, The distribution of the bread by Dr. Porter and Rev. J. Hyatt Smith, of tne Lee avenue Baptist , church, then took place., And, though there were a dozen deacons assisting, this act of service took nearly ten minutes, for nearly all of the 2,000 or more people Fidei partook of the elements, Miss Emma Wilkinson the meantime singmg as an anthem solo t! words of the Saviour, “Come unto me * * * and if will give you rest.” ‘The wine was distributed by Dr. Chapman,’ of St. John’s Methodist Episcopal church, and Rey. T. 3. Holmes, ot Lee avenue Congregational church. Dr. Chapman preceded the distribution with a few remarks, in which he satd that in this commemora- tive service we find pardon for sin and love for the the garret; where it has lain for 10 years, proviaing | flcted, yet he opened not his: mouth, &c., and also | nownmg about it to ns we snail siame to ourselves if we let this collection be a mere formality. We ought to fave at least $1,000, and no Curistiandare put five cents in the box alter wWithessing such a seene fsupreime grandeur as this. Don’t iet us, the Doctor said, let down ths occasion. And remember, that inasmuch as ye do it to one of the least of these ye do it unto Christ. While the collection was being taken up the quartet sung, and thereaiter kev. Ms. Holmes, quoting the words of the veuerable Dr. Alexander, of Princeton, said that the sum of our theology is that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sine hers, Notin our catechisms or creeds or church forms do we Ond this summed up. But by faitu IN CHRIST WE ARP ALL ONE. What a strange figure that is! The union of | Christ with God 1s the type of what we shal! be. But what is this union going to do forus? We have had a grand love Jeast, at shall we not get nearer to Christ and work more tor Him, “As thou bast sent me into the world, so have I sent thee into the world,” that is, to Seek and to save the Jost. That ts the spirit we should have. What we want to-day is the spirit of Sel(-dentat in the service of the Lord, to work for His cause. And we want to be united in this work, We can’t afford to quarrel m presence of the evemy. We have reason to thank God to-day for the signs of bar A castrepere, and we reach out our hands to-day to all those who are sighing for the walls of separation to be broken down between Christians. H we cannot do this without violating Church ordinances that men have made, then, in God’s name, we shall do it any way, Now let us-do what we can to help on the good day. Rev. J. Hyatt Smith said his heart was overflow. ing with Jove to God, but he must be careful of his words, He, therefore, read a brief address, This Js the coronation of the week o1 prayer, he said, and Christ is the central jewel to the crown. Mr. Smith referred to the bymns sung, ‘Jesus, Lover of My Soul” and “Rock ot Ages,’ and said he fancied he saw Toplady and Wesley shaking hands in heaven over the unity of the Church here, We have nada union communion, he remarked, here, and they have had one in the skies. These occasions tell of a millennium, and that its light ts breaking and the darkness disappears. Christ's banner is over us all, and every Christian has a right to sit under that banner wherever jt is spread, ‘The services were continued in this church and in St. John’s Methodist church and the Ross street Presbyterian church in the evening, when addresses were also delivered by different ministers and collections taken up for the Indus- trial School. SEVENTH AVENUE METHODIST EPI3C00PAL CHURCH, Sermon by Dr. Wild on the Communists and Practical Honesty. Dr. Wild, of the Methodist Episcopal church, Seventh avenue, Brooklyn, was earnest in his de- nunciation of dishonegty yesterday morning. Bis text was from II. Corinthians, vii! —" Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”” Argaing from the standpoint of spiritual and temporal attain- | ments, the Doctor proceeded to say that no spir- | itual attainments, however perfect in this life, could free us from material obligations, He had but little sympathy in common With those zealots of our aay who, like the Gnostica of old, make thetr religion so ethereal as to be unmaterial; so spiritual as not to be practicabie; so abstract as to be @ mere negation of the present life, with its Positive duties and actual labors. True inspiration not only forbade evi), but com- manded good. We cvuld allow of Quakerism in | quality, but not in quantity. It was well enough for a Quaker to pray in heart and to take the sac- Trament in spirit, but he couid not periorm the actual duties becween man and man by mere feel- ing. It was not enough to feel benevolent te the poor outcast, It would neither clothe nor feed hun, nor reciaim bim, The groundwork aod na ture of Christian duty Was honesty. Many in the world provided dishoaestly for honest things, He needed but reler his hearers to the city across the water—New York—to illustrate his meaning, It was right that the father should maintain the family, but he should not engage in an unnoly cailing to doit. In reverse to them was the class who provided honestly for, aishonest things—tor ruinous habits, extravagant fashions, disallow- able amusements, &c.—like the State, which had @ right to tax, but the dishonesty of its rulers made it necessary to pay the claims of dishonesty by honest measures, Gur neces- sities and honesi wants were moderate, but the requirements and traditions of society are many, eXtravagant and foolish. in relation to the Com- munists Dr. Wild thonght they erred and were piacing the country tn great danger. He was the workingman’s fiend, the champion of his rights, but, though he thought his aim laudable, the means: which he took to attain it were destructible, both to the government and to himself. If capital was continued to be placed against labor the nation would be sunk in degradation and ruin. Let men \ Ke up an honest calling, and there need not be a ferer that could not be alleviated, it was taxa- tion upon sin that made the troubie. RELIGIOUS PROGRESS IN TRENTON. Important Movement by the Young Men—Moral and [uatellectual Improve- ment—The Young Ladics Lending Their Aid. ‘There is nothing more remarkable in the history of the dull, sleepy city of Trenton, N. J., than the extraordinary movement of the Catholic young men during the past year. Not one city in the entire State has done as uruch in the same direc- tion within five years, An organization, entitied thé Young Men’s Catholic Association, was formed, having tor its basis the morai and intellectual improvement of its membel ‘The wonder. fal energy put forward by its promoters was followed by a rapidity of growth without a precedent in jay Catholic organizations, A large number of persons of other religious persuastons became so impressed with the unexpected “re- vival,’ as they term it, that they extended a warm sympathy, and some rendered pecuniary aid. A good library was established and a large reading Toom secured. The hall was formaliy opened on Friday night, when a musical and literary enter- tainment Was given to the large audience that assembied, Mr. Thomas F. Fitzge delivered the opening addsess, in which he sa: that the historic old city of ‘Trenton, and more particularly the Cathone portion of it, have good’ Teason for congratulation that an association } such as this hi taken root in their midst. No society could present more praiseworthy clauns jor public patronage. Every evening in the week access nay be had to the rooms, where food for the mind Would be tound in abundance, and where facilities jor harmless and innocent recreation after the day's toil were judiciously provided, His address was followed by recitations and singing, in which the Messrs. Wilson, A. J. Smith and others rendered their parts admirably. Brief as has been the existence of the association its treasury is in a prosperous condition. A hand- some sum Was realized by the dramatic entertain. ment in Taylor Hall, when the young men of Phiia- deiphta and cisewhere lent their aid, Private sub- scriptions On & Munificent scale are pouring in. In order to encourage the young menin the good work, the Catholic young ladies Of the city are pre- aring & Magnificent silk Nag, to be presented to he association at an early day, The presidents of the leading religious societies in every quarter of the State, are to be invited. Preparations are being made to give the occasion all tue éclat possible. SINGULAR CASUALTY, A Saloon Keeper Burned to Death. Ata late hour on Saturday night John Granam, who kept @ liquor saloon at No. 285 Henry street and lived with bis family in the same house, had occasion to go in the cellar for ascuttie of coal. In descending the stairs the blaze of a lighted can- die which Mr. Graham held in one hand came in contact with his unusually long beard, which almost instantly was in @ blaze, The fire com- municated to the clothing of Mr. Graham, and, notwitustanding he screamed for help, he was jeariully burned all over his body before the fire could be put out. A physician was summoned at once, but could only render temporary reliel, as death ensued early yesterday morning. Deceased Was 45 years of age and a native ol Ireland, Coroner Kessler was notified, RAID ON THE CASINO, Last night, about nine o’clock, Captain Clinchy, Sergeant Cornwell and a section of men in citizens? clothes made a descent on the Casino, corner of Houston and Mott street, and arrested ten giris, ranging from 12 to 18 years of age, and seven youths of about 20, The reason of the raid was that numerous complaints had been made at the police station of the disorderly character of the house, it being used as @ ballroom every Sunday night, and Captain Clinchy determined 10 suppress it. At eight o’clock the captain sent word to the proprietors of the place not to open, or else he would “puli the house.” She, however, returned @ defant answer, and when the polict entered dared them to touch her, threat- sinful, and therelore most gladly do we join in showing that we are crucified to the world, and that the world is crucified to us, But such sea- Sons as this give also a renewed pledge of our love Christ, and are the symbol of OUR UNION WITH THE MASTER and with all His people—the patriarchs and proph- ets and saints—with whom we shall drink wine anew in our Father’s kingdom. The Doctor then Tepeated the usual words at the partaking of this element. During its distribution Miss Wilkinson again sang as a solo the old hymu, “I saw one hanging on a tree,’ to the tune of Naomi. Alter the distribution prayer was otfered by Rev. Dr. bd Dr, Porter thea said that we owe ail to Christ and to His cross, and we will show our love for Him by our doing tor Him, A collection is tobe taken ‘up for the Industrial Home and gol aud though managers have said ening them. wine her vengeauce in case they did, She slept in the Fourteenth precinct station house last night, ‘The girls, who were arrested, are re- spectable and work in iactories. They are from up town, most of them residing in the Twentieth ward. The men are of the genus corner joafer, and took the arrest as a matier of course, RUN OVER AND KILLED, George Parker, a child four years of age, whose parents live at 617 West Forty-fifth street, wae run over on Saturday evening, near bis residence, by ‘@ horse and cart, and almost instantly killed. Joseph Murphy, of 526 West Forty-fifth street, the driver of the horse, was arrested by OMicer Tobin, of the Twenty-second precinct, and detained at Vie station house, Coroner Kessler was called to hold an inovest