The New York Herald Newspaper, March 23, 1874, Page 4

4 THE LGHT OF THE WORLD. Christianity Expounded by Eminent Divines. PORTEQUS ON THE NEW PENTECOST, ! Sixth avenues, was well filled at tne yesterday morning services. The pulpit was occupied by the pastor, Rev. R. S. MacArthur, Tne subject was “Christians God’s Temples,” ana his text L Corinthians, L, 16—“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God.” St, Paul, in comparing Christians to temples, he said, instituted a comparison which most vividly portrayed the character o/ the Chria- tian ‘or firmness, strength and durability. CHURCH OF THE MEssiaH.—The Rev. W. G. R. Mellen, of Staten Island, preached in the Church of the Messiah, Park avenue and Tuirty- fourth street, yesterday morning, 10 # con- 7 gregation fair in numbers, taking for his Beecher and Universal | text 1, rimotny, i., 1—“According to the glorious Salvation. Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.” The preacher, after an elogent in+ troduction, reviewed the various phases of Chris- tianity in the world, with full reterence to the lib- eral and narrow-minded opinions that exist. Dedication of a New Catholic Church at Tremont. Sr. Joun’s CHarei, VARICK STREET.—This church has latterly been brought prominently be- w | fore the public, on account of its being the head- Carnom.—The attendance was not | o,rcers of the St. John’s Guild, which charity is the creation ot one of its clergy. The sermon yes- terday was preached by the Rev. Dr. Weston, from Peaims, Xiti., 5—“Why art thou cast down, O my | soul; why art thou 80 disquieted within me?” The subject was well discussed throughout, showing | that the reverend doctor has lost none of his old time vigor of mind by his tate severe illness, ALL SOULS’ very large at All Souls’ church yesterday morning, Mr. Thayer, of Boston, occupied the pulpit, in the absence of Dr. Belows. His text was—“Put your | trust in God rather than in princes,”’ CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER.—The Rey. Edward Jessup’s church was attended by a large congrega- tion, Mr. Jessup delivered an able discourse, tak- ing for bis text Matthew x., 32—Whosoever, therefore, sail contess me before men, him will 1 confess also before my fatner which is in heaven.” MISSION BUILDING IN SEVENTH AVENUE.—The Rey. George D, Matthews, who was lately the pas- tor of the Jayne street Reformed Presbyterian church, which he left a couple of weeks ago in Consequenge of a disagreement with some of the congregation and the Presbytery, on account of his alleged leaning to Presbyterianism, preached yes- terday at Mission Buiiding in Seventh avenue, near Eighteenth street, to a congregation of sev- eral hundred peopie. The subject chosen in the morning was ‘“Christ’s Selt-Denial,” which he treated with marked ability. CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION.—This church, sit- uated on Fourteenth street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues, was largely fillea yesterday morning. The text chosen by the preacher, the Rev. C. Wiel, of France, was “God in Love,” and the subject was treated in a laudable, broad church jashion. The sermon was one of unusual ability. Sanps SrReET METHODIST CHURCH.—There was @ large attendance yesterday morning at the Sands street Methodist church, The pastor, Rev, G. Delamater, preached an effective temperance | sermon, \aking his text irom Habakkuk, i1., 15— “Woe anto him that giveth his neignbor drink, that puttest tne bottle to him and makest him drunken also.” LAFAYETTE AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.— Dr. Cuyler’s church was well atieuded, as usual, yesterday morning. Tne singing was very One. Dr. Cuyler chose his text from Thessalonians, it., 4 Not a8 pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” This is always the test question with us, Are you living for self or for God? The WASHINGTON STREET Meruopist CuvRca.—The | Datural tendency of the heart sets away from | God; man’s heart is fully set to do evil, and the Washington street cuurch had a fair attendance | yesterday moruing Gospel is not attractive until God leads us to look A large collection for the | superannuaied c.ergy was taken up. Mr. Searles | 02 it in the right light. How shall we please God? By asking God’s pardon for what is past and the chose his text from Matthew, xiil., 33—“The king- dom of heaven is L.ke uato leaven, which a woman | help ol His upholding hand for she future. took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened.” ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH.—The second week of the retreat at St. Stephen’s church was broucht to @ close yesterday. At the high mass in the mornu- ing the sermon was preached by Father McGlynn, Who dwelt upon the necessity of the people attend- ing the retreat, as this was the accepted time, and the opportunity should not be lost to embrace sal- vation. A fine musical mass was rendered by Pro- tessor Dantorth and his superior quartet choir, This weck the exercises will be for both men and Women, sermons being preached in the morning, at half-past nine o'clock, by Father Fitzpatrick, and in the evening, at hall-past seven o’ciock, by SoorH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.—The Rev. J. Clement, French pastor of Westminster Presby- terian churen, Lourt street, Brooklyn, preached to | alarge congregation, yesterday morning, on the subject of “Liberty” irom a text taken from the eighth chapter of St. John’s Gospel, the thirty-sec- ond verse—‘‘Aud ye shall know tue truth, and the truth shail make you free.” WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.—The pulpit | of this church was occupied yesterday morning by | the Rev. Albert J. Lyman, pastor of the South | Congregational ciiurch, who preached a sermon on the relation of Christ and man, using as his text the words “But Christ is all and in all,” selected | from the end of tae eleventh verse, in the third | chapter of Paul’s epistie to the Colossians, THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.—In this church, corner of Twenty-eighth street and Broadway, the Rev. Mr. Dawson took for his text the seventh chapter of Joshua, having reierence to the conquest of Jericho, where Achan concealed the gold and sil- ver found there. The principal point in the reverend gentieman’s discourse was the subject of Quricular coniession, with which he, of course, disagreed. St. PETER’s RoMAN CaTHOLIC CHURCH.—At the high mass, celebrated in this church yes- terday, a numerous congregation was in attend- ance. Rev. Father Corley officiated. The mass sung was Generail’s in E minor (“Kyrie and “Gloria”), with the “Sanctus” dnd “Agnus Dei,” from Mozart’s No, 7. A sermon on the gospei of the aay (John viil., 46-59) was preached by Rey, M. J. O'Farrell, tue pastor of the parish. THE CHURCH OF THE ARNATION.—The Church of the Incarnation, on Madison avenue, was crowded yesterday moruing by a brilliant audi- ence. Dr. Montgomery selected his text trom the first chapter of the Epistle to the Thessalonians, third and fourth verses, from which he enlarged upon the subject of personal holiness—not a mere outward holiness, but a holiness of heart, founded upon the religion of Jesus Christ. THE REFORMED CHUKCH.—The attendance at the morning service of this church was not very numerous yesterday. The pastor, the Rev. J. Tatiock, officiated. The text irom which the sermon was preached was taken from the sec- ond Epistie of Paul to the Corinthians, tii, 18:— “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image ‘rom glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” METHODIST EriscoraL Caturca.—At this church, situated in First place, Brooklyn, yesterday morn- ing, there was a congregution of moderate dimen- sions. The pastor preached {rom the seventh and eighth verses of the seventh chapter of Matthew— “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shail find; kuock, and it shall be opened unto you; lor every one that asketh receiveth; and he that secketh findeth, and to lim that Knocketh It shall be opened.” St. PAUL’s LUTHERAN CHURCH.—The service in St. Paul’s Lutheran church, situated in Sixth ay»- nue, is conducted in German, by the venerable and learned pastor, F. W. Geissenheimer. The text chosen was iroin St. John, xXviil., 28-30—ailuding to Christ’s passion and His noble conduct beiore His judges. He pointed out what a noble example that of our Saviour was for mankind to lollow, and how unhappy meno were who had no hope of Toal salvation. Sr. Pavi’s Prorestanr Episcopan Cacren.— ‘There was a large congregation at this church during forenoon service yesterday. Prayers were commenced and the lessons of the day read by the Rev. Dr. Mulcahay. The Litany was recited by the Rey. Mr. Male. The Rev. Dr. Haight read the ante- communion service, and afterwards preached to the congregation, taking as his text the words from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians, t., 21— “For to me to live 1s Christ, and to die is gain.” Hanson Piace Barrist Caurcy.—The Rev. Dr. Fulton preachea at the Hanson piace Baptist eburch, Brooklyn, @ very eloquent and eftective sermon, yesterday morning, oa the death of Charies Sumner—a sermon prepared for last Sun- day, but delayed in delivery on account ot his nav- ing to officiate at the junerai of an old friend. Dr. Fulton gave a summary 01 Sumner’s whole life, and said that the lesson of Charles Sumner’s life would be fruitful in all agesto come. His text was Jolin 4, 4% ‘aad Sf. ANDREW’s Koman CarTHoic Cacecn.—This church was yesterday filled by its usual large nom- ber of reverent attendants at High Mass, the Rev. Father Curran, pastor, celebrant. The mass sung ‘was Mozart’s No. 2. The sermon was preached by ey. Father McClancy, of St. Peter's. As the forty hours’ adoration of the Blessed Sacrament com- menced at St, Andrew's on this Sunday, his dis- course consisted of an explanatory and instructive Jecture on the doctrine of the real presence in the Holy Eucharist. Otp Joan Srreet MeErHopist EriscopaL Cuvecn.—A large and appreciative concourse of worshippers assembled at the morning service of this church yesterday in attendance on the minis- tration of the Rev. N. G. Cheney, the pastor. Mr. @heney, using the words, “Let us go on unto per- fection,” in St. Paul’s Epistie to the Hebrews, vi., | 1, a8 the text for his discourse, preache! an in- structive and eloquent sermon on the necessity of | continuous earnest struggle towards the attain- ment of a pure and holy life. Oatvany Barrist CuvRcH.—The Calvary Baptist church tm Twenty-third street. between Hilth and ¢ Father Tissot. ‘ AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.—The MaDIS venerable pastor, Rev. Dr, William Adams, of the Madison avenue Presbyterian church, | preached yesterday morning to a large con- gregation. His subject was “The Transfig- uration of Christ,” as described in the seventeenth chapter of St. Mattnew’s Gospel. This, he sald, was a special epoch in the Ife of Christ. He described it as @ prelude of retulgent glory to the shame and suffering He was soon afterward to un- dergo in expiation of the sins of the worid. It was @ most e.oquent discourse, and commanded | throughout the undivided attention of his large | congregation. | SovuTH REFORMED DutcH CuuRCcH.—There was a large and fashionable congregation at the sex vices yesterday morning at the South Keformed Dutch church, corner Fiith avenue and Twenty-first street. Rev. Dr. E. P. Rodgers, the pastor, preached from the text, Proverbs, xiv., 9—*Fools make a mock of sin.” He enforcea the doctrine that only fools make a mock of sin; that however | elevated one’s station in life might be, however great his eccomplisiments, and however broad and compretensive his learning and keen and subtle his wit, yet if he made a mock of sin he was, in the eyes of God, a fool. After showing the folly of worldly wisdom he pointed out the beauty and glory ot true wisdom. THE EIGHTEENTH STREET METHODIST CHURCH.— | This old temple of worship, established in 1835, had a large congregation yesterday, who listened toa sermon by the Kev. Charies E. Keyes, who tempo- rarily took the piace of the regular pastor, the Rev, Dr. Terry, who was preaciing at New Rocheile, was—“O! If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.” The preacher besought hts hearers never for an instant to forget the shortness of human life, aud to make peace with their Maker while there was a chance to be saved, and to bear the thought in mind that in the midst of lile we are in the midst of death. FIFTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CuuRrcH.—Dr. John Hali preached yesterday morning irom Revela- ons, Xxi. He spoke of the dissimilarity of -ws of many Christians on these predictions and concerning the miliennium. A reign of peace and good will was foretold, wnich some believed had a literal inte ation, While the majority believed it to be a reference to that perfect state to which men will come in the fulness of time. The vi reverend gentleman said that 1t would never prob- ably occur that the lion and the lamb would lie down (ogether, nor that Jerusalem woald be once again the home of the wandering tr.bes of Israel. But the heaven which Christ had spoken of was in store {or those who so made their ligut shine that @ botter hereafter awaited them, St. Pavt's OPAL OuvReu.—Yesterday this beauti/ul little church, situated on Clinton street, corner of Carroll, Brookiyn, was weil filled by the Jashionable residents of the neighborhood. The service here is rencered very solemnly and effect- ively by the fine choir of male voices. There is to be a Confirmation service on the third Sunday in April, and in view of this the Rev. Dr. Drowne preached an admonitory sermon to the young people from the text contained in the twentieth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, tne third and fourth verses—“And he went out about | the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place, and said unto them go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right 1 will give you. And they went their way.” CHURCH OF THE COVENANT.—The Rev. Marvin R. Vincent, pastor of the Church of the Covenant, Park avenue and Thirty-fifth street, preacned toa jarge and fashionabie congregation yesterday morning {rom the text, Matthew viii., 23-27—"And when he Was entered into a ship his diseipies fol- lowed him. And behold there arose a great tempest in tne sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves; but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us; we perish. And he saiti unto them, Why are ye tearful, 0 ye of lite faith? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there Was a great calm. But the men marvelied, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?’ Lyric HALt,.—As the basis of the subject of his | discourse yesterday morning—‘‘The Saint of Hu- manity’—Mr. Frothingham took, what he rarely does, a Bible text, his text being those words of Christ—“Not my will, but thine be done.” After drawing a contrast between the Hebrew, Catholic | and Protestant saints, and indicating the divine | characteristics of saints in general, he presented | Charles Sumner as the saint of humanity. Many, he said, would smile at the idea of calling |bim a saint He had the projoundest | respect for religion, and was @ mem- ver of the first Unitarian church In this country. He stood very strong on two very stead- last feet. He spoke specially of his endurance of physical pain. and after showing bim a hero in thie The text chosen was from Luke and | regard, he claimed for him the title of saint, more especially on account of his long years of zealous labor to secure the abolition of slavery in the United States. PORTEOUS ON PENTECOST. St. John’s Church, Brooklyn—Wherein Lies the Weukmess of Uur Modern Churches—What R = pn nee at eligion Really Con: The handsome edifice of tne parish of St. John’s Methodist Episcopal church, Bedford avenue, Brooklyn, was crowded in every part at the princl- pal service yesterday morning, The distinguished Rev. Dr. George B. Porteous, late or London, Eng- tand, preached upon the occasion, taking for his text:—‘4ireat events are recurrent.”—Acts il, 4. The marvels and miracles of the past are repeated in larger outline and fuller meaning tn the present. An age of moral wonders surpasses one of dra- matic and sensuous display—the spiritual is supe- rior to and explanatory of @ miraculous time—the dispensation of truth is greater than that of facts, for the former 1s at once the sublimation an tulfil- ment of the latter. Tue Pentecost of the first cen- tury, historical and auspicious as it undoubtediy Wwas—tull of marvel and mystery and forcible and fruitful—was parent of pentecosts yet to come upon the Church and the world. The phenomenon was grand; its associations were novel and start- ling, its results manifold, gracious and surprising. But the recurrence of such @ pentecost 1s more frequent and significant than we imagine. The Church seems to-day to be in throes and keen ex- pectancy to give birth to @ pentecost, The con- ditions for its recurrence are gradually maturing, and a survey of the helps and hinderances to its eventual visitation will quicken in us, 1 trust, fer- vent desire to participate in THE “REFRESHING? WHICH IT HERALDS direct irom the “presence of the Lord.” When the day of Pentecost had fully come, afver days of ear- nest and prayerful waiting and watching for the Saviour’s promised gift—the Paraciete—the hearts of that ieeble band of believers were take posses- siou of; the mild, miraculous influence desvendea through the aifection and set on fire the intellect, and then outward symbols appeared in the shape of cloven tongues of fire resting upon their brows. The preaching o! the Gospel then began in earnest. Sts. Peter and Andrew, Sts. James and John, every member Of that select (racernity, with no unseemly haste, nor jarring, nor disputes, nor divisions, nor jealousies, nor heartburnings, but all as one man and mind revealed through many organs, took their places as they were moved by the Divine In- Spirer—some perhaps near Pilate’s judgment hail, others io tue market place or on building sites, or in porches of houses freely granted them—led by the uward Wituess to a special spot. Simple, cirect and magnetic these teachers went forth to preach and teach, ‘Their proclamation was of saivation and refuge and shelter for mankind from evil and death, Without now alluding to the laws .Which underhe the unusual form of mani- festation then made—viz., that of speech in foreign tongues—there is @ lesson in the occurrence well worthy of speciai emphasis. What isit? ‘This:—that those who would under. tuke to preach the Christian Gospel need them- selves, nay, must have as a prerequisite, just such a baptism—that of the Hoiy Ghost and fire. To all who teach others, whether cleric or lay, the les- son is addressed, Are we astonished at the mar- velious draught of fishes brought to land by St. Peter (now fisher uf men), or amazed at the copi- ous outpouring of spiritual gilts on the day of Pen- tecost, as Compared with what are called the small returns of genuime converts in our modern churches ? What, we ask, is the cause of the pre- vuiling paucity—a poverty of religious vitality in the centres of Caristeadom? How does the world answer our question ? Must we learn from it wha: 1t is Which afflicts our piety, our progress, our whole spiritual tone and triumphs ? t the world | answer! [t does not know us better than we Kuow ourselves; but it is well to hear what others think about us, though thoroughly they know us not. Now WHAT DOES THE WORLD SAY of our denominational and general capacity as preachers of truth and messengers of Christ? Does it not call our sermons “paper pellets’’—coid, passionless, commonplace; at best brilliant or ornate displays of rhetoric and scholarship, of mingled manuer and uncertain influence, and in their impression as smoke to gunpowder? The world, too, declares that the Occupants of the modern pulpit are principally “proiessional” men, who wear the iivery of the sect lor pay, and whose zeai and piety are marketable; and, turther, that | the musincerity and iormulity of the puipit are re- | flected im the pews. “Like priest, Itke people.” | Are these accusations true? I jear we cannot | deny their accuracy. It is weil to know what our weakness 1s and wuere it es. But apart from our | personal and associated failings, which largely ac- | count lor tie scanty pature and long delayed ad- | | vent ol Pentecost, there are ifuences at work in tne world witich reuder it more aifficalt than ever jor the Church to come into pentecostal in- spiration and effectiveness—influences outside the Church o: altered conditions oi humanity, | altered conditions of the intellect, altered states of knowledge, which make it impossibie to the | Christian corporations to win over to themselves the souls of men in such sudden, miraculous fasnion as the disciples did on the great day of Pentecost. Our success in the latter half of the nineteenth century must differ from that of the | tirstage. The agencies brought to bear upon the comparatively siinpie hearted times of the apostles | are not adapted to the present times. There was | little of an external character ty agitate the popu- lace or move the current of lifein Jerusaiem. ‘the movements of thought were slow, the pulse of enterprise languid, tue mind, unaccustomed to the artiticial stimulus Of novels and a daily press, | lay open to the mode of attack so torcibly employed. by the apostles on the day of Pentecost, The soldiers of the cross went out like the mailed horsemen of Cortez against com- batauts with feather helinets and suields of padded cotton, We have to fignt agalost masses Of armed men, intrenched behind a seven- foid wall of iortifications, against men built up in proud Atheism, seasoved in subtle disputation, guarded at every turn in tvetr thought by negative | arguments and unsympathetic bias. Against such an array we have to march, requiring toreneads Of flint ana hearts of ripened patience ior the fight. ‘The } reachers of the first age had not our modern | dificuities and‘disabilities Lo struggie with. Then, | Again, those first Christian warriors had the ad- Vantage of unity. They acted in concert. Sf, ANDREW DID NOT CALL ST. PETER A HERETIC, St. James did not denounce St. Jolin as @ mystic. | When the truth was urged upon Arabian, Mede and Parthian they could not reply, “First agree among yourselves concerning tne essentials of your iaith beiore you press it upon the attention of others? We suger diminution of our powers and influence by jamentable divisions m our our churche We denounce each other for the sligitest divergencies of opinion. One sect thrives and fattens upon the downlail of an- other. The bankruptcy of one denomination is taken advantage of to swell the pretensions ot an- otuer denomination, Scarcely three sects in Christendom cordially love each otuer or have a word of praise or commendation jor each otner's organization, Feariul ecciestasticat mood this and true! Tuis alone, in the absence of deadlier reasons, is cause enough for the slow progress which Christianity makes and jor the rarity of re- Vivals in our churches. But once more, in the first century, and especially at the time ot the meeting of the people on the day of Pentecost, the presence 0) Jesus Was Iresh upon the worid—that | preternatural life had not vecome as yet historical. Living witnesses rose up from every namlet and village where that shining wonder had passed upon its way. Lazarus still lived to testily that he was raised irom the dead. The fg tree still stretched out its blasted limbs that withered at His command because they bore but leaves instead of Iruit. Men, when they met together in “upper rooms”’ or In ‘large assemolies to discuss the charms of the Great Mysterious Per- Sonage, could speak of Him from ‘personal and practical contact with Hiw. One might start for- ward and’ say, “I was dumb; He restored the power of speech to me.” Another might speak out, “I was lame irom my birth; He touchea me and J leaped and ran.” Another could attest, “I was aying; He called me back from the dim border land, With all its strange sounds ringing in my ears, and bade me live.’ Or still another might testify, “1 Was one of 5,000 Lungry people wuom He ied at once, dividing five loaves and three smail fishes into an aboudance tor that multitude.’ And behold yonder nervous man and listen to his testimony, “il was mad for years; evil spirits possessed my mind and memory; 10 man could bind me; I dwelt lonely and bewildered and wandered among the silent tomus; at His rebuke the demons trem led and fled,’ while delv- pred from their power I knelt and wer- shipped at His ble leet,” Then, tov, a Roman soldier might exclaim, “I was one ol the watchers over His tom), lest His disciples should steal away His body. About midnight the whole landscape was lit up with an awtul splen- dor, and a ‘Oo more Majestic than any or the gods came down and shook out lightuings trom his garments, and set on fire the air and rolled away the stone from the mouth of the tomb and Sat upon it as on @ throne, while with my com- rades i fed from the garden in dread alarm!” A | Woman now soeaks, almost in whispe: “That morning we went to the senulchre, very early in the dawn of the day, whe: rising Jrom the fleids, aud we saw two angels there, who told us that He had risen.” And then it is one of the disciples Who tells how, entering through closed doors, He revealed Himself to | His expectant friends. Another relates how He | revealed Himself to the five hundred at once; and another how, going out witn to Bethany while the human nature of His body glowed and kindled as if God were absorbing | ite visible substance into Himself He lifted up His hands in benediction and blessed him, and siowly and majestically ascended out of their astonished sight, Here was something new to preach avout. | The facta were new, the public mind was waiting | In suspense and expectation, and sayin nevir? When Christ waa nresented aa a sniritual Startling Assertions from the Pulpit of the mists were | Him | “What | Saviour afl preparations had been made for the announcement. How isttnow? At so remote a distance trom the of uuracles and external wonders and apostolic advantages of fresh facts 1t would seem impossibie for the Church of to-day to operate as promptly and powerfully on tne minds and manners of the world as the disciples did on that great day of Pentecost, But what does our admission amount to? Does it allow that the | Church ay ey no corresponding elements of vitailty with that of the primitive Church? Must we look upon CHRISTIANITY AS A SPLENDID ALOR PLANT that blooms after a century of pre| exhausted in the proauction gorge flower, withers and dies? No, Christ 1s the stalk trom which flowered out that great miracle ot civilization which we call Christian! It bea still its own peculiar blossoms of a phiiosophy, moral culture, rite and pageant and ceremony, theological speculation and spiritual | experience. We live in an era when the glorious blossom has not yet lost its bloom—is uot dropping its lovely leaves. This is not an autumnal, but & germinal epoch, The golden morning of the Gospel may have passed, but we are approaching the matured midda; fulness, | richness and triumph. Heart of fire, mind of light, soul of zeal, trumpet tongue of elo- quence, kindled with God’s own inspiration, we have tuese stil, aud pentecusts are near at nand! If this ‘age can present no miracie in support of Christianity, the moral experience of thousands upon thousands outweighs ail tue external evidences in the world that religion is a fact of most buman sort, helpful and Godlike. | Nay, more: the evidences that Curistianity is a true | religion are not of a demonstrative external order. They appeal to sentiment and create faith, and thatis more than the mere play of miracies around the senses, Spiritual conviction cannot be produced solely by historical evidence. Reiig- ion consists not tn the knowledge of what God did in times aud lands remote, buc iu the feeling of what He is and does within each of our souls to- day, Religion is personal contact with and per- soual experience of God, and evidence does not impart that, Toe work of Christ and His disciples in the first century was in many respects inierior to His vital power in the worid to-day. This is the age ol “greater things.’’ In the first century He addressed the senses and through them quickened the soul, He wrought cures on the body, thereby dimly shadowing the soui’s cure. The power and function of Christ now embrace the spiritual nature and moral interests of mankind. THIS IS THE AGE OF SPIRITUAL PENTECOSTS, The sublimer action of God over the soul consti- tutes this age a@ higher instrumentality for the work of Christ and His Cnurch, What an array of subjects, of healed uearte and refined souis and renovated minds and converted beings could we not present to you— miracies wrought upon the morally dead and lame und sick and wandering. We have no fear, dear brethren, for the progress, triumph and efficacy of our reiigion, only let us ve certain that we Know what it 1s and how it works. lt is of God, and means lite and peace for every man. Preseated and preached with iteiligence, unction and represenrative jorce it will make itself felt in dead bosoms and quiver in many bruised breasts; it will take voice aud language of supremest adaptation to the state of euch and every soul, and the listening t will hear ita own language spoken. hea Then will the “preaching of the Word” be as tongues of fire, spoken utterance of the supply wich the Gospel provides for every man. Sym- patny with human vature, a perception of its needs and instincts and @ delicate application of Caristianity to humanity’s wants and weakness— this 18 tne glad miracie Oi men hearing, every man, the language of bis own nation and biood! Here | seé one melting at this message and gathering up all his energies of spirit todo in- wurd battle against a thousand cherished imper- fections. And look, bid away from your eyes und mine, there are souls here deeming themselves wrecks of humanity who are receivipg the copious baptism. And mercy visits us in a di- vine voice, cleaving down our dark despair and lits us to @ sweet and certain hope oi urity and perfection. In the sweet privacy of home, in the busy routine of outward enterprise, in the wearying hours of trouble, in the agonizing momenis When the soul was awakened to realize its dreams broken, its highest lie buried, the Saviour is with us in His Paradise, as in blest, memorial days of generations of old. He thrilis one with @ look; touches another, and with that touch takes the weary burden away; comes down and stands between Us and our moral unrest and distrust aud disarms our joes, As He was o! old He is to-day, Pentecost 1s nota bygone wonder, but a present fact. The disciples and early Church had thelr sunrise; we also want aud have ours, They drank in of the dewof the morning, and our sous also are athirst for the same celestial beverage. While the natural earth has her seed ume and harvest, her blossoms and iruits, we may be quite sure that the spiritual experience o: man will not jail and that the Church’s sunction will prove itself equally bounteous in its gilts and iruit- tul in their returns. It may be that we are not in the afternoon of Gospel light; grant. if you will, that we are just now at midnight or midwinter; use any type or figure that you please to expresé the condition of the Church, and Nature wall give you earnest in her beautiful symbolism that we are likely to bave recurrent times of spiritual ‘re- freshing’—that as ber daydawn awaits the night and her spring succeeds the wincer, so wll our moral darkness disappear in auroral spiendor and our spiritual desolation be superseded by pente- costal lie and light and vernal beauty. PLYMOUTH CHURCH. Mr. Beecher on Salvation by Hope—He Criticises the Everlasting Preaching of Eternal Foreordained Damnation. There was no spare room in the Orange street conventicle yesterday morning. ‘Hope’ was the subject of Mr. Beecher’s discourse, and his im- mense auditory sympathized with him in the hopeful aspect, not only of the near, but of the ultimate future. So atone point in his sermon he ‘was greeted by a hearty outburst of applause, not tumuitaous or rowdytsn, but a sharp, decisive ex- pression of approbation, manifested by vigorous clapping of hands and @ mild use of canes and bootheeis upon the carpeted floors. In spite of the possible infraction of Congregational canons it was evident the champion of religious ireedom ‘Was not displeased with the demonstration, which he acknowledged, not with a stage bow, to be sure, but by a witty remark which appeared tv court the attention of the coming National Conterence, which isintended to sit in judgment upon tie regularity of Plymouth discipline, After invoking the Divine blessing upon the deliberations of the | conference in his prayer, and having said in his weekly announcements that it was called to con- sult apon church matiers, but instructed to con- sider the affairs of Plymouth church, which had de- | Clined the invitation of two Brooklyn churches to join in calling it, but beld itselt ready to meet as should be proper any action of the council itself, | Mr. Beecher read as his text Romans, vill. 24 and | 25—“For we are saved by nope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth why | doth he yet hope for? But uf we hope tor that we see not, tien do we witn pa- tience wait for it.’ We are said sometimes in the New Lestament to be saved by Christ ; some- times by faith, and here hope is named as the | means of salvation. ‘his, though expressive of | Variety, is no real variance in the statement, The: | all contain tue same thought—all look with confl- | No other book so carries us | dence to the future, | forward as the New Testament—so directs our minds to the development and periection which it | Promises. Hope carries w.th It to the soul all that | the balmy air and sun of spring carry to plants, ‘The view of the future, beaming with joytul expec- | tation, 1s hope. By hope are we saved. It looks | forward into the suture 01 our minds, not with | gloom and acerbity and fear, but with’ happiness | at the escape trom the limitations and hinurances of our present state. It does not reject the past | and present as a source of knowledge and occa- sion ol duty, but !ooks on the future for our true seasoy Of happivess, It is as the dews of heaven to the flowers in June. We are not born at our full power. We have our elements of weakness, of imperfection and sinfalness, even in those who endeavor to lead Christian lives, as clouds that will at last open and disclose a better condition. I would like to see my Oaks growing taster. As I compare them with | the orest monarch 1 say, “What poor grovelling things ye are.” Buttney grow in hope. [i they are not weli grown | remember when they were gull smaller. | say, “YoU HAVE IT IN YOU TO GROW till you may sneiter men under your shaae.”’ The suiumer 8un Will caress them and the winter blasts toughen them by their rude blows. seein insignificant when I coutrast them with Lng: dish oak abd Austrian pines on the mountain side, or the towering asb. But when a tree is finishe you cannot nurse it. So with men and women, Men’s true nature is to be known by their ending—not their first stages of growth and aevelopment. Hope 18 what men want to lead. them in the way of spiritual So is faith, They are golden cords vind- ing us to the ser Juture, ope sanctifies the present to the uses of the tuture. Hope gives us courage. Years are required to form an avie gen- eral. So @ soluier of God who fights against prin- cipalities and powers of the air needs iong expe- rience, cheered by hope. God meant we should develop siowly, and His spirit is leading us for- ward, Any presentation of the Gospel and man’s destiny which has not a cheertul forelook is a cruel mistake. To make tie way of salvation hard and gloomy 18 contrary to the spirit of God’s Word. No just man teaches the hard tenets of predes- | tined, inevitable, eternal dawnation, cruel as & | Hon’s paw holding a mouse, trom which there is no escape, ana calls that good news. That’s a grim joke. Foreordained to eternal damnation, and heid still responsible as jor actual transgres- sion! 10 say that such a doctrine of releutiess fate is tanght py God's Word! | deities, and Greece and Rome, with avenging furies, | had more human theoiogies than that, You go to aman imprisoned and say, “have good news.” | “What is it? Am I released? Have 1 a new trial?’ “No; you are to be CUT INTO INCH PIECES, and your children are to stand by to rejoice over it.’’ So we were to be the angels in heaven—were | tobe delighted spectators of the torments of the | damned in hell. Monstrous doctrine. The Devil could have preached that. Any presentation of | Ghrwgpanity does pot show it as balmy to Lhe agul My suruos | Egypt, with her grim | NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MARCH 23, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. 48 sunlight to the birds in June fails as a system of theology. The m Which shuts out hope from ‘the so! my on God and His love. D- plause.) Some People will be sadly troubled at ‘that. “How would they have got along with the teachings of Christ, which were often interrupted and broken by ques- tion and ans For myself I do not know why what is an appropriate response demon- stration of approval in one pluce and on one day 18 Dot to be allowed im the assembly of freemen in Christ Jesus. We are brought into liberty, not bondage. 1 like it, but don’t let my liking betray you into any impropriety. There is @ doctrine which teaches that the dim- culties entering upon a Christian lie are almost insurmountable. ir Master bade all to strive to enter tnto the gate with severe earnestness, So would I tf speaking to the thundering, worldly street. But to those who are willing to try I preach hope, as He did, and as Paul does in the text. Good seed may rot, in the ground, the worm may eat the bud, or the blight destroy the fruit. So good sermons may be of no effect. Yet as a rule the proper sowing of seed and-aiter nursing is sure to bring fruit; and equally so in the moral vineyard. The sun of hope is constantly turning to sugar the sour juice of the growing grape. God deals with us as a loving father, not as avenging fare It is a blessed thing to be a iol- lower oi Christ. It accords with right nature to be religious. Conscience is a bad chief justice, liavle to take bribes and be swayed by wiil. Not 30 love. Make love your judge. is in sympathy with God and man. The boy who stole money from Ma's bureau, went slyly to the circus, smoked and drank, 18 subdued at once on being called into his father’s study and hearing nim say:—‘Henry, how could you so betray my confidence in your honor, You have hurt my love, but 1 know you witl not do so again.” Henry says to himsell, “Pool! the old man ’s a hero, “I did not enjoy it & bit. 1 made believe only.” He is held thereafter in the right way by love, his conqueror, Such a Scene explains the seventh and eighth chapters ot Romans. We are saved by hope. Stop patcuing your oid clothes of self Higpetousness, Live by faith in the love of God. Hope here, and at last take your places with spirits made perfect in Heaven. Hope on. Hope till the end. Ye are saved by hope. THE OHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Hepworth— “By Faith the Walls of Jericho Fell Down.” The Rev. George H. Hepworth, pastor of the Church of the Disctples, Madison avenue ana Forty- filth street, preached an eloquent, impressive ser- mon yesterday morning, from the eleventh chapter of Paui’s Epistle to the Hebrews, beginning at the thirtieth verse with the words, “By Jaith the walls of Jericho fell down,” The preacher looked upon this remarkable but consistent Biblical fact as eminently illustrative of Goa’s power, while keeping His covenant with and developing his marvellous Israelitish people, to do things that, in our finite minds, seemed impos- sibilities, Moses had looked trom afar, on the mountain top, down upon the beautiful valleysand vine-clad hills of the promised land, His eyes had seen the sight of the country whose riches and glory it was decreed that he should not enjoy. He ascended to another and even better land, there to receive the reward of long and faithful services in the ways of the Lord. Joshua became the people’s chosen leader. After a while the children of Israel were ordered to arm with spear and sword, shield, battle axe, banner and bow, to march against the heathen. They soon stood round about encompass- ing the walls of Jericho, the key to the Mediter- ranean Sea. But this great city was encompassed about by walls, extremely thick and bigh, so that it was to them, who had neither catapult, cannon hor mortar, impregnable. It seemed as if the blossom of the assailants’ hopes were about to be nipped in the bud by the frost of cruel disappointment, Faith, and that only, was left them. ‘he incomprehensible order to stand still and see the glory of the Lord was obeyed mechanically. For seven days did they patiently cry out unto the God of Israel, and upon the last their prayers were heard. The walls, no one knew how hor could understand wheretore, crumbied and fell belore them, and the barbarians yielded unconditionally the land of Canaan. This teaches us that the ways ol Jehovah are inscrutable. We have no human standard by which His alinghty wiil or power can be ineasured; nor can we Judge ol the eiticacy of a prayer whose words are made heavy as goid by genuine devotion, THE DAYS OF MIRACLES ARK NOT PASSED YET. The Hindoo may 100k upon the turning of water into ice as a miracle, but our better knowledge and wiser experience teach us that 1t is an every- day occurrence, and we do not regard it as a won- der. The preacher believes this muracie of the walls of Jericho, as trom lis heart and soul he be- lieves every chapter of the Vid and New Testa- ments. ‘There are quantities of laws and forces in nature whose very existeyce is unknown to man. It might be suid, WHY MO? EXEUNGE THR MIRACULOUS PROM THE BIBLE This, mdeed, would be taking the cover for use and allowing the leaves to blue-mouid on the shelr; ‘without these principal ingredients the books o/ the Scriptures would have no significance. Errors of translation, mistakes in chronology, things that would require correction, there might be in the Bide; but, with all that, it contains the word to the way, the truth and the light; and wanting its miracnious element that exemplifies the manner in which God has chosen to deal with man it would be valueless, ‘The plagues oi kgypt, the passage o1 the Ked Sea, the pillar of fire, the passave ei the Jordan and the falling of the wails of Jericho, all were miraculous works, but they were necessary to the houor and glory of God, and without a record of taem the Bibie wouid cease to be our piilar of light to guide us in the fear and worship oi the Almighty. Ana now 4 JERICHO STANDS BETWEEN US AND THE PROMISED LAND, AND. The enchanted kingdom of Elysian bliss les be- fore us; its pleasant fleids, smiling valleys, golden topped mountains, murmuring brooks; bright, beautial, pleasant smeiiing fowers; the hum of the bee and the breath of the zephyr, the aroma of sweet smelling plants. the sound of many pleasant voiced birds, the music of ali the muses. O hap- piness eternal, rest celestial, dream of all our aspi- | Tations, sublimely majestic and superbly beautiltul, | do not our thoughts awake and dreams whiie | asleep paint the paradise which tue Lord has prow ised io man, Who is THE HANDIWOKK AND INSTRUMENT OF HIS HANDS! But the commission of sin is that Jericho whieh stands between us and the holy land, A man’s ambitton, business and habits all are obstacles. his penitence, We rejoice at the introduction of the ee. the family, for its innocence and Pasig Al also at the reclaiming and returning of @ lost wanderer or the finding of a lost treasure. So the angels rejoice at nner saved and a soul redeemed, as it is the work of God. The angels rejoiced at the creation of this world and the crea- ton of man in the image of God; also at the birth of Christ in the manger. The beasts wondered, not understanding it. But the angels knew His 7. Soy ga urpose, AN- gels rejol at the fall of an Acorn, lor bey know an oak is planted. As they see decay they rejoice, as they know new life will follow. But the height of tueir acclamation is reached when they see an undying soul converted. A new companion of theirs, in the presence of God forever, in whom fey have a peculiar interest, as it is the work of God. The angels do not properiy know all of God's doings, but rejoice in all they do know, as it is right and just, They see God’s love and power exhibii in man’s redemption, It marks a new step in the triumph of his power, and every converted soul is another gemin his diadem of glory and trium; yh, in which the angels have a living: interest. Man cannot compreliend a soul and its powers ana value a8 an angel can. He knows more of its worth, Its durabiiity and its employments, con- taining as it does a full set of intellectual faculties. We may all have our individual angels, who con- stanily attend us and are deeply interested in us, and will rejoice if we repent, and will teil of it to Gabriel, and all heaven will rejoice with a joy that Js unspeakable and full of glory. While they are transported, in the presence of God continually and exult at the roiling of the sea of life, yet they never forget the very important subject of your redemption. Will you let them manifest such: @n interest in your eternal good and be inditterens. to it yourself? It is insanity for you to treat the subject with carelessness and reject sv important @matter. You cannot be a reasonable being and not take an interest in your own salvation while there is not an indiffevent one in heaven over your Wellare. Don’t negié¢ct so important a matter, in which you are personally interested, and more deeply than the angels by far who have nota d eye if you refuse, or who never fail to rejoice if you repent, SEVENTH AVENUE M3THODIST EPISO2PAL CHUROH, What Dr. Wild Thinks of the Budding- ton-Storrs Council—His Views Upon the Temperance Movewent. Dr. Wild, of the Seventh avenue Methosist church, Brooklyn, preached yesterday morning trom .II, Corinthians, 1ii.,6—"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” ‘The Jewish constitution contained in itself elee ments of self-destruction and clauses o! limitation which forbid it ever becoming universal in appli- cation or continual through all time, except by incorporation. As the alphabet is initiatory to good reading, and is by the reader carried forward, serving @ higher and nobler pur- pose, so Judaism was introductory to Christianity, and in the new dispensation it is made to answer @ more glorious purpose. It was only temporary in design, being chiefy prophetic in character, shadowing forth something more permanent, uat- versal and better. The old dispensation was one of death engraven in stones; the new dispensation 13 one engraven on the fleshiy tables of tle heart, one of liie and mercy. The old gave a knowledge of sin and penalty; the new not only points out the wrong and the punishment, but shows us how to escape both. The work and province of the let~ ter 18 good, but it 1s not equal to the spirit. The former kilieth, but the latter maketh alive. A £00 and wise mao passes through the letter and eps the law and does right because it 18 right and because he loves it, but the man who does it from a sense of fear only loses the charm and pleasure which come froin a loving obedience. The very design of the Scriptures is to lead to Christ, and they who read the same and find Him not fail to be comiorted, like the Jews, with the love of God. Letter re- ligion is something very embarrassing. It is what @ written constitution is to the State, andil we had had no written constitution at first we would have been better off. Look at the Congregational council coming off this week. My heart’s desire is that it may be one excelient in wisdom and mighty In peace, Iam not going to say whether it is right or wrong; but when you cleave io the letter itis im tne way. I will gay this much, If there was a man in my church who wanted tc go out | would get him vut without a trial, 1 never sawachurch trial that amounted to a row of pins, 1 never want any and I never mean to have any. it is the letter crowding the ne, and itisin aliour churesaes—the Epis- copalians, the Baptists and che Methodists are all cleaving too much to the letter and ignoring the spirit. Let us while we know the letter not be contented to rest there, but fasten on to that which is in itself superior and higher. Alter the sermon the Voctor had a little interview with the reporter coucerning the temperance crusade. He Stated that althouch he would be glad to see in- temperance abolished he thought the present method was wholly out of place. So long us the laws o1 the United states sanctioned the selling of liquor it was not the mission oi women to pronibit what belonged to the Legislature to repress, and their movement was only tolerated because they were women. Men attempting such a wariare wvuld be mobbed at once. 81, JOSEPH’S CHURCH, TREMONT, Dedication of a Church—An Imposing Ceremony—Sermon by the Rev. Father Sorge—Address by Vicar General Quin: Yesterday morning the good people of Tremont were early astir, the occasion being the dedication oi the new Church of St. Joseph. The want of a Catholic church tm the vicinity of Tremont had long been a source of much anxiety to Archbishop Mcvioskey, and when he heard that the Rev. Father Stumpé, of Meirose, was about to supply that want, he gladly gave the proposed work hia | blessing, and bade the zealous Father Stumpé “God speed.” The new church, which ts situated at the corner of Mott street and Washington avenue, Tremont, is a very good specimen o/ Gothic architecture. It was designed by Father Stumpé and erected under his supervision at @ cost of $45,000, ‘The stained glass windows, which give the building a medieval and strictly ecclesiastical appearance, were do- | nated by pious friends of the zealous pastor. | The philosopher's Jericho is the delving and dig: | ding tn the A B C of an aggregation of jacts | known as science instead of tue biystan flelds of | eternal knowiedge, The knowledge of astronomy, | for instance, 1s obtained anc acquired by reading, | observation, application, in all the sciences man's word must be taken by the learner | In absence positive proof. Incompre- | hensivie acts must be taken as estab | lished knowledge although not understuod, Once the teacner is acceptable the teachings must also be accepted. I a man begins the study | of mathematics he does it by using Kuclid, ana | that invoives an admission of facts irom superior | knowledge. Let Christianity be taken on the same terms. Tue effects of phrenology on some of | the organ of self-esteem, Suca persons will write | the personal pronoun “i” in letters a foot long, while those of the ‘you’? will be less than an inch. | They will demand a personal demonstration of tie | Lord ior everything He may do. They will want him to explain the wonders of the universe | by @ series of progressional propositions put | But we must remember that what is calied science ‘The thousands 0/ millions of dollars iu bustiess transacted annually in New York represent faith | in man’s word, the contract is sealed. Business could not exist without faith in the truth of what men say. How much more, therefore, should we put faith in tne divine teachings of religion. ooking the other day at @ railroad the preacher in mind of reiigion. THE ENGINE WAS LIKE CHRIST, who has all the fre of divine propulsive motion tn Himseif, The cars were as the different religious sects, each one fitted up more or less commo- diously on the way of life—but without motion and helpless until coupled with the jocomotive, as | Christ with the,Church, Faith in the Church must be coupled with Christ, as tne locomotive wiih the cars; and this connection made wwe human by contact with Christ, through faith, wiil locomotive put the | soul, be FIFTH AVENUB BAPTIST OAUROE. Sermon by Dr. Armitage on Angels and Their Ministrations to Men. A very large and inteiligent congregation lis- | tened with marked attention toa very eloquent | extemporaneous sermon delivered by the pastor, Rev. Thomas Armitage, D, D., who ciiose for his text the tenth verse of the fifteenth chapter of there is joy in the presence of the angeis of God over one sinner that repentet.”? Angels are not, said the Doctor, spectres or | painted images. They are the highest order of created, responsible beings, and exist between cherubim and seraphim. They are m some way, | which we do not fully understana, deeply inter- | ested In man, and rejoice in the repentance of a single soul, We do not love angels, but we admire them, as far as we know of them. They are around and holiness, Nothing can be happy in heaven, | their avode, unless it is pure ana holy, It would | be a place of the greatest torment to in sympathy with the holy beings there. He wouid shrink from the presence o1 angels, who are holy, and who bave an interest in man, in proportion to peoples’ minds are an enormous development of | within easy reach oi their sialiow understandings. — amounts to only a little storehouse of smail tacts. | A merchant says yes or no and | St. Luke's Gospel—‘Likewise I say unto you, | us continually, and we admire them for their purity | @ sinfal, unregenerated man, having nothing | Long before the commencement of tue services, at eleven o’clock A. M., the streets of Tremont | were alive with thousands of devout Catholic Ger- mans, while the children of the ‘“‘Isiand of Saits’? turonged in crowds to do honor to St. Josepa, the patronai saint of the new courch, ‘Tue choir, which was under the direction of Profes- sor P, X. Diller, was compused of Miss Louisa Morri- son, first soprano; Mme. Unger, contralto; Mr. Lesche, tenor; Mr. Schinghardi, basso, and tie St.Ce- cilia Society chorus of forty voices, supported by an orchestra from the Philharmonic Soctety. Mozart's No. 12 was the mass selected for the oc 2, and it is only due to the choir to say that the beautitul music oJ that mass Was given in a bighty credita- bie manner. ‘Tue offertory solo, Wiegand’s “O Saiutaris,” was rendered by Miss Fiset with that high artistic skill which characterizes her execu- tion. Mime. Unger sung the “Dona Novis” with very pleasing effect. At eleven o'clock A, M. the procession of cross bearer, acolytes und Vicar General Quinn formed, As the sun shone jorth in ali his midday glory, lighting up the scene, the sight was truly solemn and imposing. ‘The celebrant having recited the prayer “Ac- tiones nostras” and intoned the “Asperges me,’? the attendant clergy chanted the psalm ‘Miserere '? The procession then marched around the extertor of the new church, the Vicar General sprinkling the upper and lower parts of the walls with holy water and repeating versicle of Psalm filty:—‘ Asperges me hyssop the mundabvor; lavabis me et super nive dealbator:—(Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and | shall be cleansed; me and I shall be made whiter than suow). On the return of the procession the assembled priests chanted the antipton ‘Asperges,” aad the celebrant offered a beautitul prayer, in which he besought God, by the intercession of the blessed Virgin’ and’ ull the saints, to cleanse and purily ané@ preserve iree from all spiritual con- tamination the new chureh erected to His honor. When this prayer was tinished tae procession re- formed and marched two by two down the centre to the high altar. Here the Litany of the Saints was chanted by tne priests, and when they came | to the petition to God to bless the “4 ihe ae rele! and pronounced in clear an Hlngiae' tones chose words: —"Ut hano ecctesian et wor auare ad honorent tuum et nomen Sancti tui Jo~ sephi purgare et benedivere digneris, Te rogainus, | audi nos (that Thou mayest deign to purity and bless this chareh and this altar erected to Thy honor, and in the name of thy saint, Joseph, we | beseech Thee hear us). At conclusion of the litany tne celebrant oifered tp two more prayers, asking God to prosper and bless the work of His ministers. The priests then chanted psalms exix., exx. and cxxi, and preparations were made for the ceiebration of the first mass in the new church, The Rey. Father Clenacon officiated, assisted by Rev. Father Youngvauer as deacon, Father Dire- mier as sub-deacon, After the first gospel the Rev. Father Sorge, 0! Buffalo, delivered a very able sermon in the German language. He spoke of the fidelity of German Catholics to faith and jather- land, and administered some pretty sharp thrusts to Prince Bismarck and his supporters. Father Sorge is a Very eloquent speaker, and his woras scemed to produce a great efect on the Germans present. At the close of the mass Very Rey. W. Quinn, V. G., addressed the vast audience, He said he was delighted to be able to congratulate the people of ‘Tremont on the generosity which they had mani- fested in rearing this monument to tne worship of God, Fatuer Quinn also alluded to the persecu- tion of the Church in Germany, and hoped that the | Germans would prove their stability in the faith as the Irish have done for the last 300 years. He con- | cluded by thanking those vocalists wo had con- | prlbuted 30 much Lo the apblunity of the Dusicy