The New York Herald Newspaper, September 27, 1875, Page 8

SUNDAY SERMONS. Paving the Way for the Great Revival. ONE THEME IN SEVERAL PULPITS. Demand for Less Dogma and More Toleration. THE CLAIMS OF LIBERALISM. Autagonizing Methodist Scepticism Aboht the Methodist: Miracle, CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES. ‘THe CORNER STONES OF OUR FAITH—THE Seasons WHY WE SHOULD BELIEVE THE wIBLE, Again yesterday morning the unpleasant weather Prevented the usual large attendance at the Church of the Diso'pies, though there was a considerable increase em that of the previous sabbath, Mr. Hepworth preached s very carnest discourse, taking for his Yext Isaiah xlv., 21:—*Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the king of Jacob.’’ There are two facts in connee- tion with this somewhat remarkable text to which I desire to draw your attention briefly. First, the im- plied tendency to unbelief on the part of the children of Israel. It seems one of the strangest problems con- nected with human history that those who knew the most of God and were privileged to have physical manifestation of His being should have constantly doubted His existence, and constantly left Him to worship IDOLS, WOOD AND STONE. They could look up and see the pillar of fire guiding their footsteps; they heard the voice coming from the clouds above Mount Sinai; prophets taught them con- cerning the interposition of God in their lives; yet so strong was this unbelief that time and again they were threatened with disinheritance, and more than once they roused the wrath of Jehovah by their persistent unbelief in His existence. Second, the entire willing- ness of God to subject His words and acts to the inspec- tion of a carefuland honest criticism. There isa feeling in the community amounting to superstition sometimes that religion is simply and only an emotional matter; that it is exaggerating the heart to the exclusion of the head; but, although religion has its seat in the affections, it is not to be understood that logic has no place in a religious er spiritual lif, Ht is true in religion as in the world of science that what will not bear the test of honest, placid, truth-loving search- ing is not from God, and comman sense is a good standard by which to measure our views Itis my desire to begin a course of sermons to you on some of the CORNER STONES OF OUR FAITH, and although religion affects the emotions ultimately, it must yet have a strong granite foundation on which to stand It is not a superstition, it is not a tradition, it fs not a legend, it is not a spasm—it is an earnest con- viction, first, which ultimates in earnest action, and he ‘whose life ‘s strong has behind that life a mighty con- sciousness concerning truth. In order to feel, not for a moment, but for a lifetime, one must think; and the whole superstructure of Christianity is based on inexor- able logig and on historical facts which may be sub- Jected to any test and come OUT OF THE FIRE LIKE PURIFIED GOLD. It seems, then, that our religion is not like a sand bar, that shifts out aud in with every outgoing and in- coming tide, but rather a mighty headland that puts far out to sea and presents an invulnerable front to the storms of ages. It has occurred to me to say also that this course I contemplate ‘will be adapted to the present times for various reasons. First, we are awaiting the appearanee of those two marvellous evangelists who have swept a continent like awhirlwind, A revival acts upon certain presump- tions; its end is not by the use of logic to convince men of christianity; revivals never touch theology, they have no logic in them; they begin with the presump- tion that people are already aware of certain facts, but have deflected through temptations, or over-prosperity, from adue consideration of them, and when Moody comes, if he does come, he will probably not open his lips on a single theological question. He will presume that you believe in God, that you believe in the Biblo and the church, in immortality and the judgment of Justice and mercy combined in the hereafter, and pre- suming all that, he will appeal to your better nature, to your manhood and your womanhood, and beseech you with unparalleled power and eloquence to make your- self doubly conscious of what you already know. “Once more, it seems this is a fitting time for such a course, because science for some reason or other stands ina somewhat HOSTILE ATTITUDE TOWARD REVELATION. You know I havea greal reverence forthe attainments of science; I bow in great reverence to the conclu- sions at which science arrives; I deny its positions with | great care and only after mature deliberation; neither am I one of those who would bid you beware of a proper use of your intellectual faculties. 1 am aware God mado the brain as well as the heart, but we are not to take ‘all the loud assertions of science for truths. For ins- tance, when science tells us there is no such thing a3 authoritative law given by God, I ask, Who are you to make such an assertion? I can count the names of several men, grand, evory one, farsighted and careful in their investigations, they look to the stars and their eyes wee SOMETHING OF THE EVERLASTING FUTURE, Igive them all they claim, but I assert this, that you and Ihave as Tight to make an assertion as they. In these 1, ears scholarship has rendered Ie yerdich. Tam to make up my estimate of that book and its authority by the size of the men and the grandeur of thought. I tell you that the scale of infidel. | ity kicks the beam, and the brains of the whole world to-day, whether secular or Christian, would be a hanared to one on the side of my kind of trath— the truth that is being preached throughout the land to- day. The third reason is that the young especially stand in need of it, There is agreat lack of moral education in our generation. I take back no word I have uttered ©n this subject before, On the contrary, I am ready to | emphasize all I have said, Que of the great faults con- Bected with our family education lies here—that we teach our boys to be smart and not true; that we teach our girls to be her sigge but we do not with sufficient care train their souls, @ talk about business and busi- hess success more than we talk about moral ana Chris- tian character; we converse more about money than we do about prayer. Undoubtedly that is a fact, ana all seed sown must produce fruit. appear in OCR AUTUMN ChoP TO-MORROW. ‘The indifference toward church im the boy of fifteen exhibits itself in the man of forty in coldness of heart ‘and want of proparation for the great event of life, which fe death. I plead for more carelul training of the young in religious matters. In the last generation the churches were filled with catechisms; children were taught rea- @ons tor things; theology was # part of the education, Now it is left out aud we never give children reasons, and, while a boy is urged to be good, the greatest rea- sons why he should be good are not given hum, 1 this in my own case, and therefore have the bewer right to speak about it. Now, then, let me approach the subject, which I ean only do briefly. 1 do want—giving a great deal of caro and study to the subject—to pat before you one of the strong points of our Christianity and some of the | ‘ong reasons why we believe in the Bible and count it controlling element in our lives. Brethren, 1 believe that we have received a revelation from God. words are not rhetorical, they are a simple statement of a fact, and we cannot too greatly emphusize the im- portance of that fact. Itis a literal truth that we have received commandments from God himself, and that those commandments are the rule of our spiritual life and the criterion by which we are to measure every deed and thought You ask why I believe this. I can only answer in an introductory fashion this morning. In the first place, I believe it because of the dignity and majesty of the book which claims to be the Word Of God; second, I believe it because of the dignity and Majesty of the object which that book has in view; third, because of the unselfish character of , THE CENTRAL FIGURE IN THAT BOOK, fand we can only accord that He who died Was more than man; that in stature He touched the robe of the Godhead. 1 believe in it again because of the good it has done "in ages past and because of the good it is doing in the present, and because of the good it is destined to do in the lapse of time to come, when all the that shine like lights in our literary firma- ment shall have gone down. There have been preachers and orators im every 42° since the crows was lifted on the sandy top of Calvary. Where are they now? Gone, every one. Thore have been men whose good deods were written on the bearts of nations, their re- membranee is atterly obliterated by the B xmORR OF TKK, ta ‘ There are few tifat & century, and fewer the: who stand yng ‘ge hag ao we pore a oid adland, ® it} jose shores all round it io been washed seu and replaced by every outgoing and incoming tide. pe pg headland—tow strong apd noble a promontory, to all appearance eternal. Bo far as our Judgment |s concerned we have a right to ‘say that that book will last as long as tle earth lasts, for men have never yet understood ite scope. Js America absoluiely Christian? Do we live up to Any neglect to-day will | These | at shall lift themselves Le | the great stretches his wondering vision when he reaches the summit believe before this worid is burat up LIKE 4 SCHOLL, there wil! stand upon this green planet of ours an WEAL RACE 80 far progressed that they may be able to 5 aS Say concerning some old Worn out custom, “We und stand it fully. we have appropriated it in our lives, and are ready {or transfiguration,”’ but so far as you and I are concerned there is no danger; we stand in the at- titude of upward longing. BROOKLYN TABERNACLE, ON WAITING FOR MOODY AND SANKEY—SERMON BY REV. 1, DE WITT TALMAGE. The Brooklyn Tabernacle was crowded to its utmost capacity yesterday morning by an audience eager to hear the Rev. Mr. Talmage express himseif upon the work of Mesars. Moody and Sankey. After making a few remarks to bis congregation the reverend gentle- man took his text from Acts, iL, 1 and 2:—“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord ia one place.” And so should all men be now. We are all created by one God, and all must serve one God if we would be saved. The Christ that died for one died for all, and we should all be in accord one with another in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The world (said the minister) has been waiting a long time for Moody and Sankey, and, thank God, they havo come at last, These men are wanted, and it takes such men to redeem souls Look at the great work they have accomplished im Europe. They went there almost unknown; but, by a firm faith in God and true belief in the power of prayer, they have accomplished more than any two men the world ever produced have accomplished. It seems almost miraculous when one ponders on the great good these God-loving, Godéfearing men have done—the number of souls they have saved, and the number to whom they have shown the right path. Their good work, however, does not stop here. It 18 not siuply the number that are now true professors of Christ's religion, but it is the number that, through their past efforts and the efforts they will yet make, with the blessing of God upon their work, that will be redeemed from their wickedness and find the way to that eternal rest that Christ bas promised to all who be- lieve in Him and seek His father’s mansion in His name, I[t was a beautiful promise that Jesus had made to men—that when He knocked if they would open the door to Him that He wouid come in and sup with them, ‘aud that if they would trust Him He wouid surely save them. He has said that in father’s house are many mansions, and Moody an Sankey have surely pointed out the way for all sinners to fiud the door to those mansions. Their work is the direct interposi- tion of God. He sent them to do the good work they have done, and the good work they will yet do. ‘The world bas waited long time for Moody und Sankey; but thank God they have at last come, aud with their coming they have brought salvation to ‘millions of sin- ners whu have lived in darkness. They have opened the eyes of thousands across the deep blue sea to the fact that agreat God ruled the World aud all it contained, and that He would hold us responsibie for the deeds done im the flesh. Moody and Sankey have preached Christ crucitied and they have preached it with such torce that the world {feels the influence and power of their efforts and the power of that great God in whom they trust and upon whom they rely for strength to carry out their mission. That mission will not end with Moody and Sankey — while _ the world lasts. Aa in the course of nature all men must die, so Moody and Sankey must return to dust; but their words will live while lite lasts, and their influence will not only be feit by the participators in their great revival but by the children and the grand- children and the great grandchildren of the parti- cipators im those glorious movements for the saving of human souls, ‘The words of Moody and Sankey are the oriflamme of Christ’s gospel in this country, and under that banner no sinner shail fall fighting. Trust in God and follow in the steps of the good men who have gone before. No man can afford to risk his soul; risk every- thing, but preserve that, Take not even’ a chance in the risking of those precious souls that God gave us to the end that we would some day return them to Him, He expects us to return them, and when He saw how ‘weak we were He gave His only begotten Son up to death, that through a firm faith and reliance in His precious tall into the hands of the living God, and let us see to it that when we are called into His awful presence we can say, “Lord, the work thou gavest me to do I have tried jaithfully to do.” PLIMPTON HALL. PROFESSOR LOUTREL ON TOLERATION OF RE- LIGIOUS REVIVALS, At Plimpton Hall, yesterday morning, a sermon on “Religious Toleration’” was delivered by Professor Loutrel, who chose for his text Acts v., 48, 30 “lf this council or this work be of men it will come to nought; but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”’ The occasion of this utterance was cer- tainly very remarkable. The Apostles, by that power which Jesus had given them, were working miracles in every place. AS was natural, from such marvellous occurrences, the people were greatly stirred, and, as was legally natural, those in power were not disposed to have their influence with the people interfered with, and so resorted to every means, fair and otherwise, to put them down. The tremendous power of God had been manifested beyond cavil or gainsaying. The people, impressed by these things, brought their sick into the streets, that at least the shadow of Peter pass- ing by might overshadow some of them. In the midst of | agreat city, in its most conspicuous part, were trans- actions going on at which the world might well stand aghast—life departing and life coming, sick reviving, diseases vanishing and the whole course of nature dis- turbed and interrupted. Far off in the neighboring country, into its cities and villages, the news flies, and the people are hastening in groups and in anxiety lest they should miss the opportunity. The country is | stirred up round about, the feeble and despairing are lifted up with hope, commotion and excitement are | over the roads and in the streets, and the leaders of | opinion and the governing classes are mad with jealousy and bate. Why should they tolerate the supernatural ? | They did not believe that the spirit goeth to God who | gave it. They were without God and without hope in by no force could they accomplish their object, THE POWER OF Gop was too strong for them, The High Court is sum- moned, and the men who wrought all this disturbance are brought before it, ‘‘Did we not command you not to preach in His name?” was the question put to them, | “and now look what you have done. You have filled all Jerusalem with your abominable doctrine.” The answer came as swift and searching as itis grand and | sublim | The God of our fathers raiseth up Jesus whom ye slew | and hanged on a tree, Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repent- ance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His Dlood the world might be saved. It is a fearful thing to | | the world. They sought to restrain these men, but | | pucation m the spirit, the Divine Spirit, but instead of these being made a cause for backsliding they should be a means whereby their chastening influence would have good effect. We all needed purification of the spirit, an awakening to the real purpose of life, a lifting ‘up of our souls to Christ, There was too much forgetfulness of the inefla- ble love which Christ had manifested for us, and just in | proporven as we had been wandering away in the | road road which is not to heaven, so did we need some | strong, powerful summons to return, a command so truthiul and earnest that it would be foolish not to obey it. Religious revivals might aceomplish this great end, and here was their obj for anything that made men think of their eternal salvation wus good and worthy of adoption, There were woo many dogmas in the churches. Each church had a set of tenets of its own, necessary for membership and fol- lowship, but the churches rise above mere dogmas. The old party lines were fast breaking down everywhere, and in the churches there should be no exception, ‘The signs of the times were presenting new iniluences, from which would come, if not thwarted, a new religious life, full of a revivified sanctity, bearing the outward marks of a sincerity to be unquestioned, and being au inaication from its simple genuineness that there was harmony between the soul and its Maker, Church dogmas were almost insolent, and could not last in their perpetual wranglings. They were sure to have to give way to the restored faith in Christ and totrue Christian thought and deed in the every day life. Quarrels about methods should cease, for, yn ad the end was reached, the meaue did not 80 much signify. In concluding, the preacher complained about the expenditure of such vast sums of money in erecting eburches, when there were so many thousands of Christian families in our midst suffering from want, THE METHODIST MIRACLE. PRAYER FORCE AND MODERN MIRACLES—REV. 8. H. PLATT'S REPLY TO His CRITICS. Yesterday morning the Rev. S. H. Platt, pastor of De Kalb Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, preached in Warren Street church, Brooklyn, in exchange with Dr. John Parker, and took occasion indirectly to reply to the strictures of his brother Buckley, in the Metho- dist ministers’ meeting, last Monday, Mr. Platt is the subject of what is facetiously called the ‘Ocean Grove miracle.” A lameness of twenty-five years was there cured last July by the imposition of a lady's hands and prayer. The cure has been heralded far and wide, and has elicited a great deat of adverse criticism, the most severe of which has come from his ministerial breth- Ten in the Methodist Church, Without referring espe- cially to any of these, however, yesterday Mr. Platt based avery thorough argument in favor of such miracles for cures on Matthew, xxi., 21, 22, and Matthew, xxiv., 24. The first texts give assurance of answers in all things to believing prayer, and the second cautions against deception by false Christs and false prophets. His theme was ‘‘Prayer force and modern miracles,’’ and he put forth this proposition as a leading one—is there in the world a prayer force or causality which produces certain results which would not have existed but for its exercise? There is such a force in nature in untold places, The experiences of the Christian begin in this prayer force, and no man is saved until he prays; and he would not be saved did he not pray. The Christian world is fullofthis prayer force, It is en- joined in the Bible. God forbid that I should cease to pray tor you. Pray without ceasing. It is regarded as an inestimable privilege to pray. “If ye, then, being evil, &c.”? It is represented in the Scriptures as a thing of power. ‘“Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will 1 do,” &. “The fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Scriptural history is full of EXAMPLES OP ITS POWER, as in the case of Moses standing between the living and the dead; of Elijah, who closed heaven for three years and a half and opened it again by prayer; of Abra_ ham, who procured exemption for Sodom if ten right- eous persons could be found there, If, then, we believe the Scriptures, there is a prayer force——a causality which produces results which would not exist but for ite ex- ercise. The second proposition was, Are the condi- f its action within the control of men? If grace r men, if the Christian life is within them, this force must be within their reach. These conditions are threefold :—First—Those that pertain to man’s state and efforts, namely—faith, obedience and righteous- ness. If I regard iuiquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my prayer. Perseverance, too. This is illus- trated in the case of the friend who went to borrow three loaves of bread at night, and still more strongly in the woman who interceded for the cure of her child. Second—God’s sovereign will is the next condition. “I, even Iam he that blotteth out thine iniquity and for- giveth thy sin. I kill and J make alive,” &c. Third. The third consists in the previous two in co-operative action. This implies the revelation of God’s will, which, in the case of spiritual blessings, is made beforehand. In the case of temporal blessings a revelation must be made specifically tor that, or to ‘isk according to His will.” This is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he heareth us,” &c. But we cannot know what temporal blessings it may be His will to bestow on us except He in some way intimate that will to us. The Scriptures lay down this principle, that we are to pray in the spirit, praying always with all prayer and sup- And when thus praying tue Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit imaketh intercession for us according to the will of God, And He that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit. The doctrine taught here clearly is that when the Spirit thus helps prayer it is according to the will of God to answer such prayer. It is a revel tion of His sovereignty in that regard, and therefo! ioay be relied upon with absolute assurance, the third inquiry is, What are the legitimate results of the ACTIVITY OF THIR PRAYER PORCE? ‘The answer is, Help within the bounds of need and of | promise. This iucludes:—First, all spiritual blessings; second, mental enlightenment. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way, &c.; if any man lack wisdom, &c. Third, material favors, comprising protection in danger and deliverance from peril; the name of the Lord isa strong tower, &c.; callon’ me in the day of trouble, &c.; all things whatsoever ye shall ask in | prayer, &c. Fourth, physical healings. The prayer of | Faith shall save the sick, &¢.; pray one for another that ye may be healed, &e. There is no possibility of ex- plaining this passage otherwise than as promising physical healing whenever the prayer of faith 18 offere: for the sick in accordance with the will of God. But we are here met with the objection that the days of miracles are passed. We answer this 18 not a question of opinion, but of fact, ‘There is no intima- tion in the Bibie of the cessation of miracles, Prayer miracles did actually continue in the Church until the | time of Origen in the third century. Wesley “declared | himself restored more than ten times preternaturally, and said that the reason such things are not more com: mon was the heathenism of the Church. Instances of prayer healing may be found in the lives of Garrison, leary Moore, Carvosso and many other Methodist worthies, In some of the-minor denominations prayer healing has been steadily recognized, so that, as a mat- ter of fact, prayer miracles do still exist in the Church, whatsoever may be the opinions of theologians, “We ought to obey God rather than man. | | witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy | | Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey Him.” | | This reply cut into their | BOLD AND RECKLESS | hearts and they determined that death ajone should be | | the result to these men. The preacher here went on | to relate how wiser counsels were made to prevail and the Apostles set at liberty, with the caution not to | speak in the name of Jesus’ However, continued the preacher, as it was the name that had given life to their souls they rejotced that they were counted |. Worthy to suffer for it, and daily in the temple and in | every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. cal seasons of special interest in religious things, and if with some it is effervescent and soor passes awa: yet There have, said the preacher, been periodi- | ‘The fourth inquiry is, Are there in human experiences | any marvels that’ simulate or may be mistaken for these prayer results? The facts of magnetism or mes- merism often seein almost miraculous, Dr. Newton's cure of Miss Christie a few years ago in New York is an instance in point. Spiritualism furnishes wonders that alinost equal in the estimation of its adherents any w Testament. Mr Platt referred to the cures in France by Henri Jacob aud others as illustrations and then asked, fifthly, by what criteriamay we distin- guish between these marvels and THE PRAYER FORCE RESULTS? First, by the distinct and definite consciousness by the patient of his use of the couditions for the develop- ment of the prayer fore It is a maxim of science that in accounting for any phenomena due credit must be given to all the forces engaged in its production. This point was further illustrated by Mr. Platt. Sec- ond, the absence of the necessary conditions for the activity of each or all of the other wonder working forces. In my cage none of the other forces were pres- ent and operative. I had a distinct and definite con- sciousness of employing the prayer force and as distinct and definite watch(ulness against all the other forces, | because I had been for years familiar with their opera- if there should be but one in athousund that repent. | eth, [say with you, “He rejoices more over that one sheep than over ninety and nine that went not astray.” We may all safely pray for A REVIVAL OF GOD'S WoRK in our own hearts and the hearts of others. There is | no danger we shall have too much of it. I would ad- Pvise every man to go honestly on his knees and pray from the depth of bis heart for more and more knowl- edge of God, of Christ, and of His Spirit. We can never be too good—not too full of the spirit and love of God, it has always been a source of consolation to me that the constitution declares that “Congress shall make no Jaw respecting an establishment of religion in prohibit- ing the free exe thereof."” When I see the bitter- ness and bigotry of men and what they would do if they had the power, I thauk God they have not the power. 1 know that men are stroygiing two ways—first, vo try and commit the couutry to something religioushy, and second, under this great liberty and protection to try and subvert the real liberties of the people, I trust in God that neither will succeed. I hope that while there is toleration for all neither will encroach on his neighbor; that all will remember there is decency and courtesy to be observed in religion as well as in private life. We all have a right to differ and no right to be ungentlemanly, abusive or unjust. The trath is to be spoken in love, and no absurdity ta to be mob parent and that Jesus died for us ail. ANTHON MEMORIAL CHURCH. SERMON BY THE REV. BR, HEBER NEWTON ON BEVIVALS. At the Anthon Memorial church, West Forty-eightn street, yesterday morning, the sermon was preached by the rector, the Rey. R. Heber Newton, whose subject was ‘Revivals in Religion.” He incidentally alluded to the invitation given to Mesers. Moody and Sankey to visit this city and then went to show the good effects of revivals in thé love of the Lord. Our faith lay dormant oftentimes and needed to be awakened, that our hearts might go out in fulness to God. Numberless cares in- veriered With the outnouring of the burman affections to | | | | i which will embitter men here and ily prepare th live happily together im hea hereafter. Let us re- | member always that we are the children of one com- tions. The third criteria is attendant spiritual experien- ces which authenticated to thesubject himself carefully the reality of the results, This experience should be | carefully discriminated from mental hallucinations and all the consequences of cures. In my case such expe- os were present Which demoustrated to my own clousness as clearly as the fact of divine commu- nigh the fact that God heard and answered prayer. MASONIC TEMPLE. THE CLAIMS OF LIBERALISM UPON THE ALLE- GIANCE OF MANKIND—SERMON BY REV. 0. B, FROTHINGHAM. The Rev. O. B. Frothjngham preached yesterday morning toa very slim congregation on the claims of liberalism to the allegiance of mankind. ‘The possession of faith is one of the ennobling attri- butes of man. To be without it is to be without imagi- nation or higher instincts, To have sucha feeling and | to allow it to dwindle into nothingness is most repre- hensible in a life like this. Now there is an impression that members of the so-called liberal faith show their loyalty toward it much Jess than those of the orthodox faith, The contrast can be drawn in glaring colors, THR PILLARS OF ORTHODOX STKENUTH, It is common to exclaim that the orthodox outnum- ber the liberals greatly, that the first occupy the largest place in the chart of Christendom. However, en- thusissm {8 not dependent upon numbers. As we have geen in Alexander’s campaign in Persia and in many other wars, how often does a small handful of people vanquish | a great horde! It is said also that wealth ison the side of the orthodox. This is true, Somehow or other con- servatism does get hold of the money, while radicalism | either spends its money or does not get it to spend, Hore is « church, almost world-wide, which says, “Come in, you shall be able to move in the best society.’’ But every church is only weakened by these slip-shod. smirking veovle, If lberaliem makea | How no such appeal to mankind it is all the stronger for being unable to make one. THE SROTARIAN SPIRIT also accounts for this state of things. It seemsas though it is the sectarian spirit that will build two churches where there was only one, that will found newspapers and missions and colleges, Is it desire for the truth that impels these doings? No, it is the desire to advance the prospenty and glory of your sect. This sectarian spirit is made up of some of the ugliest qualities of which human nature is composed. Liberalism offers nothing to peo- ple that would establish their own plattorm. If the liberal has any passion it is for good will, for kindli- ness, for charity. It is unreasonable to suppose that these people will have the same strength of enthusiasm a3 those whose fanaticism is born of their sectarianism: Men will always fight harder and spend more money to put people down than to lift them up. “THe OTHER WORLDLINESS.’? Tho current religion appeals strongly to worldliness and to “other worldliness.” This is # happy phrase which has been imvented to designate the desire for power, fame and happiness in the other world. Consider that the Church has made this dis- tinction between the and the low, the angels and the devils, in the next world for hundreds of years, Is ita wonder that milhons crowd to the church to procure this supreme glory of heaven? There are men and women who believe that if they only make certain professions they will qbtain eternal felicity, and who would not give everything to get a seat among the im: saints? It must be considered, moreover, that these people are also urged to bring others into the same happy circle, to teach the igno- rant, to revive the dead, in fact, in order to secure him salvation. Bat liberalism has no ground in the hereafter; it does not prey Py fear; it has nothing to do with retribution, The fate of to-morrow it leaves to the controller of that to-morrow, It can only say:—*We' if the future should come, let it bring its fate with it.” As to the power of any sect to determine the fate of any human being after the hour of death has struck, the liberal repels such an assumption. The present in: terests, the present relations, are all for which he cares. The soul consists to him of goodness, of sweetness, of charity, and the salvation of the soul consists in its wholesomeness, ‘THE GOSPEL OF CHARACTER. J It is precisely here ubat the liberal religion makes its strongest appeal to mankind for support, To make it manilest that this life is really a worthy, beauteous, profound thing, is an imperative task, and 'this is the task to which liberalism sets itself—to teach men to revere it, to love its beauty; so that they, for the mere Jove of it, will practice the nobiest virtues. It requires the devotion of any people to make this manitest, to reveal the duty of practical holiness in man’s daily re- lations. Liberalism speaks to its own:—‘If you feel deeply the importance of character, fared your shoulders to the wheel und teach this gospel of character until it is fairly established in the hearts of men|”? A PANTHEON OF GODS, To cover the whole earth with sorrow was the policy of the old Church. No ple will rally, it is true, around @ man who says, ‘This 1s not true! but they will rally round the’ inan who says ‘“fhis is true!” Take the doctrine of deity of the Christ, of the de- pravity of man, of future perdition—there was once &@ significance in them which made them appropriate to the times in which they were proclaimed. Why, if we could storm and destroy these old citadels of dog- matism and superstition, we certainly should have a claim upon the allegiance of earnest and truthful men. Liberalism frowns upon the destruction of the ancient gods, for instance, and says:—‘‘Take all the deities of the creation, place them all in a pantheon, do not con- fine yourself to the deities of one especial sect, but let us have all the gods of mankind; let us see how one suggested the other, how the ideas of the divine and the beautiful grew with advancing civilization. ’” GOD AND IMMORTALITY. Think that the word ‘God’? has stood for all that is awful and miserable, and yet lose this word and you Jose all. Liberalism would fain re-read it, would cast ‘the demons all out of it, would fill it with such swect- ness and holiness that even the most enthusiastic materialist would breathe it with reverence. The word “Immortality,’’ that glorious word; how it has been cribbed, confined, clipped, perverted to the uses of particular sects till it has come to be in- terpreted as the very reverse of its real and original meaning. The Spiritualist, the pantheist, the theist, the Catholic and the Protestant ail attach to it different ineanings. Liberalism does not appear with a horoscope of the tuture, It leaves all questions private pain or pleasure out of all regard. It says:—‘*Ihink of your power to leave something to mankind that will be im- mortal, that will be deathless!”’ One word more. In order that I crs emphasize again the advantages of the liberal spirit, I would say that it keeps open all the doors and windows of the truth. It fixes nothing, so that it cannot be moved. Every other church claims to have a monopoly of cer- tain beliefs, and say that there are certain ques- tions which must never be asked, certain doctrines which must never be disturbed. Liberals alone take the ground that the whole domain of thought and faith is tree. At the same time liveralism tries its hand again and again at the solution of the infinite problem ot life in the universe of matter and mind. Itisa great thing to live believing that nothing is unknowabii that we can know everything. Simply to stand in thal attitude is already to stand with the head in the light, Granted there are problems which we shall never solve but should we not do what we can to contribute toward that result? Liberals stand in that position and claim the allegiance of ali men who hope that light may come where now there is darkness; that sweetness, tran- quillity and hope shall reign in the place of fear, super- stition and dogmatism, CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST. SERMON BY REY. D. R. VAN BUSKIRK. A respectable congregation attended the taorning serv- icos yesterday at the Church of the Disciples of Christ, Twenty-eighth street and Broadway. Rev. D, R. Van Buskirk preached. The title of the reverend gentle- man’s discourse was “The Christhood of Jesus, the Foundation of the Church and the Creed of Our Re- ligion.” From this text, Matthew xvi,, 18, the rever- end gentleman proceetied to deliver an eloquent ser- mon. He commenced by remarking that the volumes of nature and revelation were the productions of the same author. Unity of design was not more clearly written in the constitution of the physical universe than the economy of redemption, He treated the Bible practically as a compilation of fragments, The one truth which gave consistency to the whole and in the light of which the unity of design was seen was the Christhood of Jesus, This truth stood related to the other parts of THE PLAN OF SALVATION, a asthe sun did to the solar system. All the other truths of religion clustered around this greater truth, and shone in its light as the minor planets did around the sun, The folly of attempting to displace the sun by one of the satellites of Jupiter would not be aig than the effort to displace this central truth by the feeble dogmas of human philosophy. The reverend gentleman did not propose to discuss the truth of the Bible itself, but wished to analyze the relations of this truth with the other parts of the scheme of redemp- tion, It stood first as the foundation of the Church, The question, did the Saviour refer to himself when he said, “On this rock will I build my Church,” was answered by both Paul and Peter, The former re- marked, “Other foundations can jo man lay than is laid, which is Jesus, the Christ,” and the latter said of Christ, “This is the ‘stone which you builders rejected, but which is become the head of the corner.” God formally laid this foundation when He publicly introduced Christ at His baptism, saying, “This 1s my Beloved Son, in whom I am weil pleased. ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, SERMON BY THE REV. FATHER KANE—WHO ARE THE ELECT? The Cathedral in Mott street was filled yesterday by a congregation made up for the most part of the regular members, the majority of whom, it seems, have at last returned from the country. The musical part of the services, grand as usual, was under the charge of Mr, Schmidt, the organist. The sermon was delivered by the Rey. Father Kane, who took for his text the Gospel of St. Matthew, in which is given the parable of the king, whom tho Saviour likened unto the kingdom of heaven, who “made a marriage for bis son,’’ and who saw among the guests a man who had not on @ wedding gar- ment, and to whom the King said, ‘How camest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment?” and who was bound hand and foot and cast into outer dark- ness for his offence. Father Kane dilated at considera- bie length on the parable, and argued quite eloquently to show that God invited all mankind, without distince tion, to the kingdom of heaven, But, he said, to bo admitted every man was bound to appear ina wedding garment; or, that is to say, with asoul free from the stain of sin. Yet, in looking about usin the worla we saw nothing but indifference on the part of the majority of men, who acted as though they cared very little whether they would ever get to heaven or not, Men went bustling about every day straining their every nerve to gain the plaudits of their fellows, to wih fame and glory and station in life and sacrificed their health to accumulate riches, which they had to leave behind them after death, They were ever ready to UNDERGO SUFFERING AND TRIAL to attain some worldly purpose, but for their soul’s sal- vation they strove not at all, asatule, They plodded along forgetful of the God who gave them boing, who gave up to a cruel death His only begotten son that they might enjoy eternal life. And when we reflected on our past lives how many of ts were there who could look upon days misspent 1D idleness and sin and neglect of our duty to God without @ shudder? Wo were all the while like a man walking In the darkness, not care. fully counting his steps and taking every precaution to avoid the precipices that were on all sides of him, but blindly dashing ahead as if there were no danger to be encountered, no false steps to be guarded against. did’ wo))=Oknow «but = that we were YORK HERALD, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1875—TRIPLE SHEET. among that great majority who were paren’ rdition through their own folly and neg- Teck, skid those who ‘wore not of the elect few who are called and chosen could be divided into two classes by Gi whom who had been showered with His grace, and to je had given light to guide them from the wrong but who, to gratify an evil passion, to serve heir self-interests in some way, have turned a deaf ear to the voice of God and wilfully shutting their eyes to the light of His truth, deliberately took the path that surely, sooner or later, led to RTERNAL PERDITION, who consoled themselves with the belief, as they went their ways from day to day, that a time would come when they would turn back to the right road; who said to themselves that when death would draw near they would repent of their folly and be reconciled to their offended Maker. What an insult to God’s mercy was conduct like this! And how often did it happen that before those guilty of it least expected His coming, and while in the very midst of their sins, the King came, and, finding them with no wedding garmeut on— that is, their souls Blackened by s1n—cast them into the outer darkness forever? Of this class, too, were those who, once they had started out on the wrong path, had not the courage to struggle manfully against their evil inelinations, and who sacrificed their eternity finally by clinging to their worldly interest, hoping to save them- selves to-morrow, but were cut off before the morrow even came, The second class were those who came into the church with the crowd, but forgot to put on a wedding garment—the garment of purity, of sancti ing grace; who neglected, if they had sinned, to have their sins washed away, These two classes would, he said, be probably subjected to greater torments than those who went astray and died in their sins, but who had not had ag much light and grace to guide them, STANTON STREET BAPTIST CHURCH. SERMON BY THE REY. WILLIAM HAYNE LEAVELL ON OUR DUTY TO THE CHURCH. About one hundred persons assembled in the Stanton street Baptist church yesterday morning. The sparse attendance was quite apparent, as the seats in the church were not one-tenth occupied. The sermon ‘was preached by the Rev, William Hayne Leavell, pas- tor of the church, a young gentleman of fine personal appearance and considerable grace of delivery. After reading the ninth chapter of the First Epistle of St, Paul to the Corinthians, the congregation joined in singing paris of two hymns, after which the Rev. Mr. Leavell began his sermon. He prefaced his discourse with a graphic description of a battle, with all its attendant horrors. The battle he symbolized as a con- test between sin and Satan on the ono side and Christ and religion on the other. To whom should the honor of victory belong? That depended upon the speaker and his hearers. On the eve of a great struggle should we forsake our sacred Captain, because difficulties and dangets were in tho way ? The reverend gentleman then branched off into a lengthy discussion as to the necessity which existed for generosity and munificence on the part of Chris- tians in support of their Church. In fact, nearly the entire sermon was deyoted to a consideration of this topic, At one time, he said, in the history of the Baptist Charch it was threatened with dissolution and death. There was danger of its passing into the hands of strangers, unacquainted with old landmarks. Noble men then came to the front and insisted that as long as fey toa a tabernacle church the faith should never die. ‘ere there not noble men who would now come to the front and say, that as long as the; the flag of the old Stanton never’ be furled? God — required all who had brains, heart or money to devote each to the cause of evangelization, to assist the proclamation of the religion of Christ. Dean Swift was once invited to deliver a sermon in his native country. The church ‘was crowded, and he gave out his text as follows:—‘“He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord.” After speaking those words he paused for a while and again repeated them with the addition—“If you are satisfied with the security, down with the dust.” The result of this appeal was an immense amount subscribed that % G to the cause of religion. her anecdotes were related by the reverend gentlo- man in connection with this subject of parsimony and tight-fistedness among Christians, and he concluded his sermon with a strong uppeal to his hearers to come for- ee and contribute liberally to the support of their church, had a dollar treet church §T. THOMAS’ CHURCH. DISCOURSE BY THE REV. DR. MAURY. New York can boast of but few church edifices more commodious and at the same time more complete and superb in all its appointments than is the Church of St. Thomas, at the corner of Fifth avenue and Fifty,third street. Rev. Dr. Morgan, the well-known and eminen divine, is the regular pastor of this parish, but during his absence in Europe, where he has been for some time recruiting his health, the fold is guarded and has its spiritual wants ministered to by Dr. M. Maury. St. Thomas’ church has ever been noted for the ex- cellent quality of the music produced by its choir, un- der the management and leadership of that well known organist, pianist and composer, Mr. George William Warren. The choir consists of a quartet and a chorus of forty male and female voices, with organ and harp accompaniment. This choir is quite as excellent in quality as in quantity, Mr. Warren having taken the ut most care to have it attain A DEGREE OF PERFECTION in the rendition of the various anthems, hymns and solos rarely gained by church choirs nowadays. ‘The personnel of the quartet is made up by Mrs. P. D. Gula- ger, soprano; Miss Lehman, contralto; Mr. Wilkie, tenor, and Mr. Morawski, basso. Mr. A. F. Toulmin, a well known artist, is the harpist. The musical programme of yesterday morning's ser- vice was as follows : Processional hymn—This is the Day of Light.” Te Deum, Benedictus—Anthem in E flat, by G. W. War ren. Introit—"Thy Presence, Lord.” by G. W. Warren. Kyrie, Gloria Tibi, in B flat. Hymn—"O, Day of Rest.”” | Mendelssohn, ilo ri.” Gre scription rin ori. i," by Gusta, Sung by Mrs. Gul- Offertory—Trio from ager, Mrs: Lehman and Mr, Wilkie, with harp obligato by r. Toulmin. To say this entire programme was interpreted ina masterly manner is but to do justice to tle excellent corps of artists. THE SERMON, The text from which Mr. Maury preached his sermon was selected from Psalm xxxviil., 6—‘I go mourn- ing all the day long.” It will be observed, said the speaker, that these words were taken trom one of the psalins ‘chosen especially for Ash Wednesday. They ‘were employed by a penitent of olden times to describe his repentance, and it is intended by the Church that they shall be used by every penitent fa the present day to describe his repentance. It is therefore in the highest degree important to know whut their exact meaning is, To a certain extent they may, perhaps, be understood literally. Oriental nations have a character far more demonstrative than our own. Their feelings may be compared to the hasnt fountain source of the Jordan at Casurda Philippi. suddenly from the heart of a massive rock, dashing and bounding tumultuously with ungovernable torrent-like violence. To such passionately expressive emotions our own present A STRIKING CONTRAST. They may be likened to the well of Father Jacob hard by the city Sychem, which, as the woman of Samaria explained to our Lord, was “deep” and needed some- thing to draw with, Feeling ever finds among Eastern nations some mode of showing itself. So natural is this and so prone are they to carry it to excess, that we actually fina among the laws of Moses certain sumptuary Jaws for the feel- ings which were intended in the case of mourning to check extravagant display. Rending of the garments was tolerated, The body might be robed in sackcloth, but cutting of the flesh was strictly prohibited. As it was in seasons of grief so% seasons of joy—feeling ever took shape. It was never allowed to be spent alone. A body was always given wherewith it might show itself. And if the parties immediately concerned did not feel themselves able to do justice to an occasion, ae of sorrow or joy, they were persons who made their DAILY BREAD BY PROPESSIONAL LAUGHTER or grief. It may be remembered that the prophet Jeremiah, describing the woe of Jerusalem, ex- claimed:—‘“Consider ye and call for the mourning women, that they may come and send for cunning women that they ma; come. And let them make haste and take up a wail- ing for us, that our eyes may run over with tears and our eyelids push out with waters, No doubt you will also recall the fact that when Jesus reached the house of Jairus, whose dead daughter he afterward restored to life, he'found the minstrels, or MOURNING WOMEN, engaged, as the evangelist graphicaily states, ‘in mak- ing a noise.’ So demonstrative, then, were and are the Orientals that they not only giv ‘ee expression to their feelings when they have any, but they can with entire success make all the sig f having them in an — degree, when they really have none at all Certainly very few persons ought to require being told that David did not mean to state that he had wept whole nights long or roared all the day, and as to the wasting away of his bones, no one certainly for one moment supposes that these words at all imply tuat the Pealmist’s hoalth was suffering the excess ot grief. ‘And if any one still desires a literal explanation of our text and fears that his repentance is not sincere or complete, unless there be some great emotional out- ward sign of inward pain—if he baler d the figure already suggested, he cannot believe that there may be water and us good water in the deep well as in the gush- ing, tumultuous torrent, Or if he thinks a figurative one amiss he will do well to turn fora moment to the account which tells us how David repented when he had been guilty of adultery and murder. We find there no record of any Jengthy or painful mourning. ST. ANN’S CHURCH. SERMON BY THE REV, Fa’ LYNCH, The handsome Catholic church on East Twelfth strcet, of which the Very Rev. Father Preston is pastor, had very interesting musical services yesterday, with an eloquent sermon by the assistant pastor, Rev. Father Lynch. M. Louis Dachauer, the organist, has recently returned from Paris, and has brought back a large number of new masses, chief among which is a grand | work by Ambroise Thomaa director of the Paris Gan. ‘he waters thore burst | servatotre, The mustcal portion of the mass yesterday’ was miscellancous, comprising selectious from varioug composers There was a “Kyrie” by the talented pupid First, there were those who had been invited || of Cherubini, Michael Carafa; a ‘Gloria’ by tho an exquisite duet Qui wilis,” whicy expression by Mile. Cor- Gomien; “Credo” from organist, Bordesi, containing for soprano and contralto; with rare Mile, Mercadante’s four part mass, in which there occurs @ 4% noble solo for bass, given with deep feeling by Mr. Blum; “Veni Creator,” by Hummel, the renowned pi- “Sanctus” and wAgnes Dei,”’ from Weber's Mass in G, and ‘‘Ave Marie,” by M. Dachauer, The last mentioned work is one of exceptional brilliancy and effect, Verdi's vespers formed the musical feature of the afternoon service. This choir ranks among the best that the metropolitan churches can boast of. ‘After the Gospel Rey, Father Lynch ascended tho altar and preached a very eloquent sermon on the est commandment of the law, “Thou shalt love tho- Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul, aud with thy whole mind, and thou shalt love- thy heighbor as thyself.” He explained how the Ten Commandments, delivered to Moses and the people of Israel with such awful solemnity from the summit of Mount Sinai, were epitomized im these Words of our Saviour. The beautiful, figurative service of the Catho- lic Church and the use of material.emb.ems to com- memorate the gooduess of the Creator toward mankind | are perfectly in accord with the commandments of God, not showing any evidence of worship of created things, but using them rather for the groater glory of tho Most High, ‘The preacher dwelt particularly on tho Deautitul virtue of charity inculcated in the precept “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,”” and quoted: extracts from the writings of St. Augustine to show the» surpassing attractiveness of this Christian virtue, TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH. DEDICATION YESTERDAY—SERMON BY BREW DR ELDER—DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING, Yesterday forenoon the dedicatory services of the new edifice of the Tabernacle Baptist church, South Brooklyn, which are to be continued during the woek, were inaugurated in presence of a large congregation.’ After a voluntary by the organist an anthem was ren- dered by the choir, when the pastor, Rev. Thomas Ram_ baut, D. D., LL. D., repeated the Lord’s Prayer, Then: followea the singing of the hymn, “Ail hail the power of Jesus’ name.” After Scriptural reading Rev. A. B, Simmons offered the prayer and “Thine forever! God of Love,” was sung with fine effect by the congregation. The sermon, which was preached by Rey. J. F, Elder, D, D., of Madison avenue, New York, was taken from: Philippians, if., 5-11. , The reverend speaker said thero was no more fitting illustration to be found’in the Serip~ qure than was given us by the apostle in this text, as it: gives the life and story of Jesus Christ. It tells us of! His purpose and glory stretching from eternity to’ eternity. He cails attention first in the form of God, and then speaks of Him as voluntarily relinquishing His glory and taking on Himself the: form of man, and suffering death, “even the death of the cross,” Thus by gradations the Apostle portrays the whole history of the God-man, We are taught by the text that though Christ, who was all-powerful, could have come upon the earth in another form than. that of the poor man, He became a sacrifice for us, He took upon Himself the flesh and all the pain thereof. There was nothing to distinguish Him trom men of tho resent generation, physically speaking, except the no- Bint of His striking presence. He retained the Divine’, aitributes, so that He exercised His power and wrought. miracles as God, under the consciousness of delegated: power from God the Father. He says the Son can do nothing of Himself ‘The Father hath commanded all bird aherpoae Christ took upon Himself the form of a servant, To. do the work of a servant it was not necessary for Him. to become aman. He might have taken the form of an angel There are very iany orders of beings in the: heavenly hierarchy. The speaker never heard that. hymn sung, ‘I want to be an angel,””~without feeling ‘that 1t was a misplaced expression, as angels and men. are very different beings, Christ might have gone into the service of God in any one of these glorious heavenly hosts, but He chose the lower route of service. The angels had kept track of this great mystery of the redemption, and it must have created greut intet these heavenly hosts. The Archangel p Him with the crown and _ sceptre. But no; the Son of God puts it aside, and, moving down the — serrie ranks, He 15 Jost in space. The angels ask whether the Son of God has gone, and it is no wonder, then, that when the good. shepherds approached Bethlehem that the angels winged their way about them and sung, “Glory to God, the highest in Heaven, and peace ana good will to man.’? Being man there was no place ou earth too high for Him. You would have said, Surely He will take His place on the throne of the Cwsurs? Ob, no; not in Rome, but in a cave in that despised part of the vast empire, in Bethlehem, was He born. Not where a rfumed atmosphere prevailed to delight the senses; Bat there where the babe’s breath mingled with the odor of the stable and the infant’s cry with the looing of the cattle the Son of Man began His servant's place in the form of man. But that was not all He lowered himself even to endure death. What must it have been for Him who had no. cause to die? We cannot comprehend the pain, dis- grace, shame and indignity which He thus endured. eath is God’s highest punishment for sin. We read He stood by the grave of Lazarus. Christ ‘groaned. within himself”? He saw in death the enormous power of the Prince of Darkness, and He beheld, too, the sor- rows of the world. He saw the devil hi the power of death in every nation, and Christ louged to grapple with him and gain the power over dedth. came the most ignominious death of that c death to which the worst malefactors were subjected. | That is what Christ has suffered for us. Tien He arose triumphant over death from the tomb to the throne of eternal gloty, where, as God-man, and with all the sympathy of His divine nature, He will judge each one according to his works on the lu:t day. His life also teaches us a lesson of self-sacrifice and the condition of all success. If you want to succeed you must get out of selfand blend sacrifice in domestic, church and business life. We must help one another. In loyalty to God, in obedience, even unto death, rests: the hope of our,eternal reward. THR BUILDING, which is of the Gothic order, fronts on Third corner of Clinton street, and stands on a terrace, being thirty feet baek from the sidewalk. The sireet fronts are constructed of undressed brown stone, ia what is: known as random work; the jambstones, quoins, rose lace, window. buttresses and other dressiugs are of cut stone. The structure, together with the ground, cost $30,000. Of this sum there is due only $7,930 50, according to the report of the Treasurer, Géorge B. Forrester, which wa- read before: the congregation. ‘The ladies have contributed of this amount $3,600. The building is 60x86 feet, and com- rises an audience room 57x70, the entrances in front ing two vestibules, separated bye vestry, 8x24, over which is the organ loft, and in front of which {s the preacher's. desk. On the opposite end is the infants” gallery, with seats adjustable in ascending series, with aiadics’ room. Under the gallery is a librury, a class room and a vestibule, with entrance from Clinton Street, In time a larger edifice will be built, as the trustees have seven lots on the site. ‘The’ present chapel will be used then as a Sunday school. The windows on the sides and oof are of stained glass, the roof of open timber work, with arched ribs, and finished in poly-chromo decoratious of blue, gray and red tints. The Tabernacle Baptists have been. in existence as a congregation for twenty years, and for many years have worshipped in the unpretentious building at the corner of Hicks and Rapel) ea streets, esveniay the edifice, with its bright colois, platform. covered with rare flowers and evergreens, the autumn sun shining in upon the gaily attired devotees, and the sweet songs of many Canary birds, which were in cages located in the infant gallgry, chiming in with the organ and vocal music, all [ent avery pleasing and churming aspect to the place and impressive occasion, THE DIOCESAN CONVENTION. The angual Convention of the Diocese of New York. of the Protestant Episcopal Church will be held in St. John’s chapel, Varick street, next Wednesday, and im- mediately after the close of the morning service a meet- ing of the corporation for the relief of widows and chil- dren of deceased clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State will be held in tho Sunday schoolroom of the church. The Clergyman’s Mutual Insurance League will meet in the vestry of Trinity church the next day to present their annual reports. ‘The standing committees of the Convention will present. reports on the Theological Seminary, the diocesan and episcopal funds and the fund for aged and infirm. Bishop Potter will also present his annual address, giv- ingasketch of the spiritual, material and numericat condition of the diocese, The Bishop has ixsued a cir- cular to tho clergy and laity of the diocese calling at- tention to the iimportance of making prompt payments to the missionary treasury, so that the new ccclesiasti- cal year may be commenced free of debt. He especially calls for such prompt aid in bebalf of the home mis- sion work of the church and of the diocese. ROMAN CATHOLIO ORPHAN ASYLUM. ‘The annual festival in aid of the Roman Catholic Or- phan Asylum will take place at the Academy of Music, on the afternoon and evening of Thursday, October 28. All the managers of the theatres in the city, as well ag the leading artists, have volunteered their services om the occasion. The needs of the orphan asylums are now more numerous, on account of the great number applying for admission. At the present time there are under the care of the Board of Managers in the Fifth * avenue asylum 600 boys, at the Madison ay: nue asylum 660 girls, and at the Prince stroet asylum 250 girls, As the asylums do not receive aid from the vity or State they are compelled tn ask assistance for (lie support of the large number of children {rom the charity of the public. In addition to the above the managers are now building on their farm at Peekskill a large building for boys, to be devoted to the purpose of teaching thein tradeg, useful occupations aud agricul. tural pursuits, "THe building will cost about $60,000, and the managers hope thatthe festival will wssist them to some extent in this large outlay. The building will also assist them Ina measure im relieving the city asylums from constant RAB ha lo dramatic. periormance will be under the immediate direction off / Mr. Augustin Daly, of the Fifth Avenue Theatre, while tho business matters connected therewith will be under the immediate supervision of a committee of the Board of Managers, consisting of Messrs. Nicholson, Moore, McCarthy, Olwell, Brennan, J. O'Donohue, Kavanagh, Higgins, D. O'Donoghue and Jeremiah Quinlan ,