The New York Herald Newspaper, May 22, 1876, Page 11

-SRNONG OF THE DY The Redemption of Sinners by the Saviour, COMMUNING WITH GOD. The Immutability of All Moral Laws. THE FUNCTIONS -OF PRAYER. “What Became of a Public Official After Accepting an Invitation,” Advantages of Liberal Christianity Over Orthodoxy and Catholicism. CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES. CHRIST OUR SUBSTITUTE—SERMON BY MR. HEPWORTH. Mr. Hepworth preached a very earnest sermon yesterday morning to his usual large congregation, from the text, Gallatians, i1., 13—‘‘Christ bath redeemed us from the curse of the Iaw, being made acurse for us”? I showed you last Savbath that no sin ean enter heaven; that since you and I have committed gin some radical change must take place in us or be effected in our behalf before we can have any assurance of @od’s opproval’or avy hope of crossing the threshold of eternal life. This 1s the doctrine of tho Bible. The Bible 18 the oné book of the world which tells us plainly our disease, and then with equal plainness prescribes tho remedy. Ifyou anal were to stand at the bar of God what would we answer to tnis question—"What have you done whereby you may expect cyer- lasting’ life?’ You have known what the law of God was; have you ever . honestly endeavored to obey it? You have known that God’s law and your best welfare wore equivalent, ono to the other. Haye youaccordud with that law? Have you ever earnestly and persistently sought after heaven? Or, on the other hand, have you willully and with u care- Tessness that is inexcusable, followed your own im- pulses, your own pussions and ambitions, your own caprices, and been governed by selilshness and seif- tecking? Who 1s there in all this great congregation who can honestly say even this:—‘I bave tried; 1 uave done my best; I have exertea myself to my ul- most, and I stand here at the bar of justice, having. achieved everything that could be achteved by a human soul out of the materials which wore given into my hunds?”? Not ove ot us. Then if we are to be saved, brethren, how 1s it to be accomplished? If 1 ask the Man of science he cannot tell mo ; 1t is a perfectly blind seacepe to him; there is nethivg in nature that even ints at the process by which | may become pure, If 1 he philosopher ho will tell me it 1s beyond the feach of his logic; he cannot forecast the future £ fail back on the iact that the way im which | am to be Bavod must be revealed. Since man cannot discover it God must uncover it or I shall never know anything about it I turn to this blessed book, and 1 find the +8 and the truth concernmg the whole matter. 1 jwover that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, a spot- ~ less’ character, dies the dcath of a murderer, und what relerence has it to you and me? I turn to the twen- Leth chapter of Matthew and tind (nese words:—*-The §on of Man came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give his life a ransom for many.’? - Jesus gives bis hie as a ransom; that means, ‘1 um ip 1 tivity, and he who holds Me captive will not let Me g0 ireo without a price; that price is beyond My means; I bave no power to acquire it. But here is wstranger to Me, who yet loves Me.» He has come into the world to pay My ransom, that I may be tree and enjoy the most perfect liberty of the moat perfect day.” 1 turn once more to the second chap- tet, of Timothy, and I find these words:—‘for there is one God and one mediutor between Goda and man, the'man Jesus .Uhrist, who gave himself ‘a ran- fgom for all.” 1 might turn to a hundred passages and Bil would convey precisely the same idea. It is plain tbat: there js in the Scripturos a ciose connection tween the sinner’s soul and the man Jesus on the cross ~ of Calvary. 1 want to find out what that relationship is, That,l.am in captiyity I know; that 1 need a ran- “som Tam sure; but how can Christ be my ransom ? : If Lcan only bo assured He ts, we will all unite in one grand. chorus and sing the glories of the Lamb. Let me look at it. You meet me with a curious question :— ‘According to the experience of life, how can there be how can anybody suffer for me??? man ca you say; ‘itis not reasonable.” Is that so? So Jar from beingan EXORPTIONAL CASK . in human experience, it 1s exceptional when a matter ts not vicarious, We meet with vicarious suflerings every day, and wo are not surprised at them; but when Christ comes in that. capacity we are surprised and to accept it, A man works tor forty years end accumulates a million and dies, aud bis son, who has never labored, 1s worth a million. Why? On account of bis father’s vicarious labor, Again, a man falls into drunken habits. While he ts pursuing his evil courses chiluren ere begotten unto him. Tbe man dies, The children have a disease. Whose is it? Tho father’s. The children are suffering vicariously. -They do not de- serve it, It 1s a strange anomaly in hutnan life. Would that [ could see through it- more plainly, but I cannot. Iam only dealing with facts, and the fact there is that the children are suffering for the tather. nce more you come to me and say, ‘Mr. Hepworth, lam poor; I want a piace in the government.” 1 say to you, “You have done very wrong, and yet I think Lean trust you; you may go to the man’ who holds these offices and you will get nothing; but I go and say, t want 2 favor, and nsk it foe myself, and what I do with 1t is anotner matter.’ The office is given tome Vo be disposed of as I p rn and I turn to you and say, “Unworthy as you al i! for my sake you shall have the office.” But suppose just beiore you receive the office I learn that you are vicious still; you cannot bave the office; but if 1 am astured that you are peni- tent then dol give you the office snd turn my back upon you?’ Not at all; you and I are responsible for that office, and we enter into a compact with each other, and I say, “If you receive this office you must come to me for advice, and must follow it to the letter; you must do nothing but what 1 can hold myself re- ‘sponsible for.” I havo covered the whole thing; it is a perfectly simple matter. Christ, it secms w me, does precisely the same thing, and yet He cat do it for those who are outside of His kingdom. In order to enter intothe kingdom you must 7 into certain relations with Christ, and you are responsible to God through Christ. We go to Christ; then Christ and we go to God. Thear another objection, that no man can saffer for another. Is that true? God’s isa moral government, and no government can be sustained unless the law is executed, and the law is PISOBRDIENCE 18 DRATH. That is terrible. You are under sentence of death now. ‘What can you do? What is God’s object in punishing ? And if the object of punishment can be accomplished to another way (ban by my suffering, is it not perfectly legitimate? What ts the object of punishment? Threefold, First, to express the ab! nce of God toward. sin; second, for the stability of His govern: ment, ‘which cannot be lax and firm at the same time; bhird, for the reformation of the individual punished, That shows the love of God and the wisdom of God also. You and J as sinners are excluded from heaven; that Is our punishment, God could not yield the pen- alty of sin without an equivalent, andin the cross of vary 1s the equivalent jor every sin that was ever committed or ever will be. One thing more. That cross is of no avail to you until you enter into covenant felations with Christ, The moment you enter into relationswith Christ and say, “Thy law shall be my law and Thy way my way,” that moment Jesus pledges himself to for your salvation. But you who are outside, don’t you seo your danger? You have no one to blame but yourselves. By simply bape, Fb nerd with tho body of God you recelvo nis life and blood into your life, Oh, setigicn, what is it? It is simply securing future and making tho present glorious. Rotigion is a tong Of victory, a shout of glory. Religion ts love to frum who will do everything for us, friendship toward Him who has proven Himselt your best friend. There is forgiveness to be had this morning, there is ght shining in the darkness. The star shows us the way to where Jeaus lies in Bethlehem. He is the way, the truth, the light, 8ST, STEPHEN'S CHURCH. COMMUNING WITH GOD—WHAT PRAYER I8 AND HOW WE SHOULD PRAY—SERMON BY THE REV. FATHER COSTIGAN. At Stephen’s church yesterday morning the high mass was celebrated by the Rov, Dr. Curran. After the first gospel the Rev. Father Costigan announced that today, to-morrow and Wednesday would be the Rogation days for the spring quarter of the year; days on which the Church especially prescribed the recita tion of the Litany of the Saints and the offering up of prayer generally, He also announced that Thursday next would bo the Feast of the Ascension and, there- fore, a holiday of obligation, and that on Saturday ‘next, at four o'clock in tho afternoon, the May festival of St, Stephen’s Sunday school would be held. This festival will consist of a procession of the children, dressed in holiday attire, each one carrying a bouquet ‘of flowors, to be presented at the conclusion of the ex- ercises for the decoration of the Virgin's altar, Father Costigan took bis text from the gospel of the day, Jobn, rvi., 23-80—‘Amen, amen, I say to you if you ask the Father anything in my name he will give you,” This text is taken from the last discourse of our Saviour to His diserples before the Passion. If the lite of Chriat all through may be styled a life of love this part especially illustrates to us how unbounded and how enduring was His solicitude for salvation. |, c0 apenas _ protector. ngs, they relied on Hit for assistunce in every necessity, But now He was about to leave them, and, foreseeing diff- culties with which they would be beset, He eucourages them to contide in Him,evon when gone from them. This was ® wonderiul manifestation of the Sa- viour’s mission, That the Son of Ged should have vouchsated to bind Himself, as it were, by a con- tract with His creatures, might seem astonishing, but it ts more astoundi@g that there are Christians who, through a perverse indifference to the most iinportant of all their imterests, refuse to accept the simple and easy conditions on which such a claim upon God can be founded, wad Christ Says to un:—“Ask and you shall receive, that your 507, may be full,’’ clearly indicating that the fuldiment of His promise was contingent upon an humble acknowledgment of man’s self-insufficiency and petition jor aid, In this exposition of the soul’s need this suppliance of the creature to the Creator, prayer mainly consists. The very meaning of prayer indicates its importanceand necessity. Prayer implies ‘an intimate intercourse with Almignty God, acknowl- edging Him as the source of all saving graces, our need of His constant protection, and the hope we have of final perseverance. It is the link between God and our- selves, Weare WEAX AND FALKEN, and, 08 St. Panl says, “Not of ourselves enfficient to think anything as of ourseives, bat our sufficiency is from God.” Not even the smallest advance toward the happiness of immortality can the creature make, as Cariss bimeelf declares, “except the Father draw him.’? In this state of helpless debility what can we expect if not renovated by the grace of God? We must knock at the door ef mercy it we wish it to be opened, «It is the precept of the Lord, and that is sufficient. Whether we see tite reasonableness of the duty or not it ought to be enough to insure our practice of it that it 18 commanded. God bas made it one of the most essential means of our salvation, and as such He has pinced it within tho reach ofall. Prayer is simply an clevatton of the soul to God, thanking Him, praising Him or begging His Diessing. And as God regards not uttered words but the heart it tollows-that while we can feel that we bave wauts we can pray, But in order that prayer may be efiicacious We must “prepare onrselves, anid be not as one that tempteth the Lord.” if God 10 His benignity would hide away our unworthiness while Ho heaps blessings upon us He will not do so assuredly without our approaching Him as. befits’ tho suppliant—not proud as the Pharisee, but humble as the penitent pud- tican; not doubting or inconstant, but with the don- fidence and perseveranco of the woman spoken of in the Gospel whose reiterated prayer Christ answerea thus:—"Oh, woman, great is thy faith; be it done to theo as thou wilt,’” TRINITY CHURCH. THE IMMUTADILITY OF MORAL LAWS—SERMON BY REY. MORGAN DIX, D. D. ‘The service at this church was conducted yesterday morning by Rev. Morgan Dix, D. D., whe also preachea the sermon, The text was taken from St Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, vi., 7—'Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” The reverend preacher opened his discourse by say- ing that science shows us that the iaws which work through the untverse are uniform ard constant in their action, Age succeeds age without witnessing any va- riation in them, unless for a time and some specia; reason they be suspended by tho Higher Will which or- damed them. We count on them, for we know that we dopend for our very existence upon them, MORAL LAWS DUMUTABLE, And yet we seem: to lose sight of the fact that the moral laws by which the universe 1s governed are, both in their course and working, equally immutable with the physical laws of the univerge, That :mmutability is equally as certain in the realm of right and wrong, virtue and vice, good and evil, as in the lower sphere of matter, and they act and react upon the conscience and moral nature just as absolutely us the laws under which ‘wo exist. ‘To one of these, indeed the most important of these laws, the text selected pointe, “Whatseever Q man soweth that shall he aleo reap.” The words themselves are Sgurative, but they refer toa subject connected with the resurrection of man, that 18, the rising again ip the next tite of the good or evil deeds done by him in the body, The question is ove which comes under the spiritual laws ordained of God, and is not 80 much one of men in the mass as ol each mau in- dividually, of his tite, what he has done, what not done; of the whole series of acts which go'to make up tho Christian life, This is the sowing und reaping in questiun, of which the apostle further says, :‘Be nos deceived, God is not mocked.” The mockery here pointed out consists in believing that there 1s = =BO- proportion or connection —_ between the life and the life to com that the moral laws of the universe ure not just as inflexib: as the physical ones. For it would be tantamount hat God is unjust; that the author of the the physical order has ordained none to rule the order. The law of sowing Teaping thus rests upon the most solid foundatio! common sense of mankind, which no one can deny without showing an utter ignorance of the attributes of God himeell. pit A GRxAT AND’ BLESSED THOUGHT. Although to those whore tie does not squaro with the Gospel this certamty, and this thought are dread- ful; still, to those who coniorm to its precepts the thought 13 agreat ana blessed one, To the balk of tien it seems patural to live just as they are living. Accidental circumstances are made to bear the blame of our shortcomings. . Wo are all conscious of what are not, in so lar as tht moral law is concerned, and yet none of us will shoulder the fault. In- grained babits are ploaded as a reason for not chan, ing, and yet we are all the time’ sowing th which later is to produce the harvest, There are some who drift with the wind of every circumstance, The wreck consequent upon this, if rightly measured, Is a palling; and yet the moral law ol retribution is simply what has cused it. The preacher then sketched the siender measure of what, with ourabilities and oppor- tunities, we might hope to achieve, even with the bost will, Fortunately we were not to be rewarded by tho rale of abstract perfection, but by what we could do ind have done. He combated the notion that this was applied simply to almsgiving, hrtdige ey it covered the whole ground of Guman action. stances are not rare of insignificant things and few men having changed the face of the world, The preacher then adverted to the shortness and uncertainty of the time allotted as tor sowing, and closed a Incid and uncompromising dis- Piped by a practical application of the text to his carers. MASONIC TEMPLE. PROFESSOR CHADWICK ON THE FUNCTIONS OF PRAYER, .Yesterday mornirg Professor Chadwick preached to Dr. Frothingham’s regular hearers on ‘Prayer, Its Functions and EMcacy.’’ Prayer, ho said, is some. thing of which people form very crroncous ideas Tosome it means cimply the act of petitioning the Deity for some good, and such peoplo always test its efficacy by the heed that seems to be given their re- quests, God, they think, will stoop to readjust the order of things, and at their solicitation will avert evils likely to impend from the irrevocable laws of the uni- verse. This idea of the Deity’s interference in miortal affairs has been preached and written about for ages, and it scems to havo become a necessity with most theologians to bring to the fore some particular in. ance of prayer being answered to support very gen- eral deductions of their own. Some scientists have lately thought fit to publicly decry the power of prayer, and, to controvort their statements, agreat number of examples of its efficacy have been pointed out, Some are stories of maladies cured by the invoca- tion of Heaven’s ald; othors arc the sudden termination of plagues, pestilence and war. But is i not jnst as likely that these evils would have come to an end of themseives had not the Deity been calied upon to make them cease’ In fact, the mental association of the favor we asked for, when granted, with the power from which it was asked, is likely to bring Into action the imagination and bdegetea conviction of supernatural jeucy in effects which afe qaite in tho ordinary run of events, THE RVFECT OF IMAGINATION, Scrofula or king’s evil was said to find a remedy in the touch of the royal signet, maladies and ills m- numerable wero believed to havo been cured by the presence of saintly relics, and no doutt many wonder- ful things wero effected apparently by both. The virtual cause of these cures, however, lay in the imagination. Nowad: the imagination 1s not responsible for so man: formeriy, There is & place in Germany where prayer is constantly said tor the restoration to health of the invalids living there, and many remarkable cures are reported But as the air is singularly fresh and wholesome in that quarter, and asthe patients are given frec access to it and no medicines are used, it is likely that another caase than prayer i be found for the frequent recovery of strength, rayer i# sometimes eflicacious because men overhear it as readily os God hears ‘t. In Boston there is a bospital for consumptives supported by prayer, and yet the contribut; oxox Sen around it are very xuggestive of a moro material moans of exist- Ww a city perishes in flames, when a ar distressed with a famine, there doubt, earnest prayers uttered tor as- in given, but most generally the news of the disaster to sympathy begins to work in It is then the God supplicants answer. be overlooked mortal affairs, neighboring towns an the great brotherhood of men. within us hears and gives thi er of overhearing must when God is spoken of as interfori: and perbaps it may explain som: tly very won- dertul occurrences, There have been volumes and volumes written upon this sabject, and thousunds of instances have been furnished of prayers being an- swered. Bat how many bovks could be publi: how many occasions mentioned when prayers were not answered! There isa ready way of meeting this by saying that they were not sincere; but, depend opon it, men bowed dowa with misfortune are not at all hypocritical when asking a favor, and if sincerity would insuro the bo a shipwreck. There is pot space for an interfering God in our affairs. in ali the wniveree ‘rhreh le eocopled by the Axed Sabie, Granting ‘of prayers there never would he fact 1s thal _ NEW YORK HERALD, of the Deity. If there wore no other functions than that of interference prayer wouid be uveless, But there are others. When spirituai grace is sought, when maa petitions for a broader churity, a purer mind, a virtu- jor tn the asking takes it to ‘cometh from mao exaite bim,”’ Ay tual grace one jifte bimself up |, Without the actual interference of the asks, Such a prayer bas a potent energy ; it communicates itselt. The preacher remem- dered having beard prayers which sensibly affected him, which drove all that was gross away. and litted bim up te the appreciation of-spirt ideals, But did the blessing come from the inv.sible God or the visible man? The answer is apparent. What then is real prayer? It is now the’ prayer of petition, it 1 the prayer of adoration, the prayer of thavkfulness, It does not find 8 flaw in the Creator's work and ask Him to rectify it. It looks upon the beauty acd order of the universe, the eternal harmonies of nuture, and for them and all the good which man enjoys it retarns gratitude and reverence, This the prayer which finds in the Deity all perfection, ond humbly acknowledges and ‘appre- eiates 11. This is tue prayer which requires no utver- ance of the tongue to express, but which is offered up by every man who raises his eyes to heaven, contem- yates the wonders he beholds around him and lets is heart beat in sympathy with the universal har- monies, BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC. “WHAT DECAME OF A PUBLIC OFFICIAL AFTER ACCEPTING AN INVITATION’—SERMON BY FREDERICK BELL, THE SINGING PREACHER. A congregation of about 1,500 people assembled at the Brooklyn Academy of Music yesterday forenoon, where services were held by the singing preacher, Rev. Frederick Bell, who discoursed upon the suggestive title—‘‘What Became of a Public Official Alter Accept- ing an Invitation."” The text chosen was Matthew, ix., 9—“And as Josus passed forth from thence he saw a man named Matthew, sittmg at the receipt of custom: and be saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed nim.” The speaker said that we find in reading over the life of Christ, as given by the evadgelist, that our Saviour was never out of tho way of usefulness, Go where Ho would He always found tit exercise for His divine graco and ccmpassion among men. He cured the leper—a disease which was so abborent tn its nature that those who were afMlicted with it were banished from socicty. No man had over cured leprosy before Christ saw ft.in ‘Hs love and mercy to heal the afflicted. ‘The Centurion fle healed of the palsy. The mother-in-law of Peter He cured of a terrible fever. He drove the evil spirits out of two men who were possessed. It isan awful thing to be without the pale of taith in Carist—it is a apecios of madness which people do not fully realize ull they have oxperienced a change of heart. These two devils who were driven out of the men got into the swine and THE SWINE COULDN'T STAND IT, Sor the*hogs ran down a stccp hill aud committed sutcide, It is not, then, to be wondered that men can- not stand evil spirits, It 1s the duty of every Christian, then, to take those who are seeking for the saving grace of salvation and lead them to Christ. We can’t of ourselves cure them of the leprosy of ; He alone can do it. He bas said, “Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee.’ And the sick man arose, cured not only of gin, but of his physical ailments,’ When & man is converted it makes no difference what bis previous life. may have been, if he has the grace of the Saviour you wiil know it, It is true that there are many professing Christians who say that they are in doubt us to whether they will really be saved. There are gtave doubts to be entertamed for the salvation of such a person. They must know they will be saved if they are truly repentant and converted. How can you have been dead and brougnt to life and not knowit? It 18 impossible. Itis not necessary fora man to hang his conversion aud religion on his arm and parade, [ always watch out for that sort of aman. By our ac- tions the people will know it 1 we are Christians, When Jesus saw Matthew, who was a public official, sitting at the Custom House, He said to bm, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed Him, Matthew was acollector of taxes and custom jor tho Romans, and the duty was considered dishonorable by the Jews. He had the handling qt large sums of mouey, and the office was one of many temptations, “Even th modern times,’’ said the speaker, ‘many a true and God-tear- in, man has gone into oflice and bas lett it in disgrace because of his dishonesty and backsitding under the influence of stroug temptation. But | don’t pretend to say that good men should not go into offic, I do say ‘that we must have God-icaring men, and we will have GOD-FRARING MEN RULIXG OUR CITIKS im every part of this country.” Matshow, when thus sammooced, was rich and prosperous. The prosperity which some men enjoy is often a great mystery to others. A good man may say, “I keep a store, where I sell a dollar's worth for every doliar I receive. There ia. a man who Is in business opposite me who swears and blasphomes and cheats and neglects to honor the Sabbath day, and yot he prospers well, whilel can Bcurcely m: ends meet.” It is often 80 that while the Christian snffers from affliction and persecution the wicked seem to flourish “like a green bay tree."? But the summer will come to the children of God, who, thongh y do not succeed in the eyes of the world, are guarded by God as the apple of His eye. Don’t mind the apparent. prosperity of the wicked. We should ask ourselves js our occupation tu righteous one, of does it work injury tu society, You bave no rightto allow your business to take up the whole of your time. Many of you come to church to got into a better state of mind to do your business, that when you return hotne you may fx your accounts, refreshed “by the novelty of relaxation enjoyed in church. No time to attend to things eternal, A child once informed her mother that papa would not go to heaven with them. “Why, my child, do yor iy sor” inquired her mamma. “Because, AB the reply, * can’t leave the étore to gotohoaven, At our own prayer meetings, said the preacher, we have about 400 persons, 875 of whom are Women. So at thor mectings everywhere, | suppo: Now, where are the men? You may ask your wile al your minister to pray for you. But you have got to plead tor your own salvation. Every tab must stand on its own bottom is an axiom true in this work. To take away the observance of the Sabbath from the ser- vice of the Almighty ts base ingratitude to Him. Then don't allow your work to interfere with your duty to God When Christ addressed the tax collector, Matthew, saying * Folluw me,” He did not tantalize him by saying, ‘You hava been doing wong.” There is beautiful and practical obedience in the prompt and ready way in which Mat- thew received the summons of the Saviour, for “he arose and followed Hin You, too, aro summoned by the Gospel to follow Him, Though growing rich in Lis business, Matthew hesitated not a moment, bat made the sucrifice and abandoned his occupation to serve God and work bis own salvation. All Chris- Haus must testif, Christ 'n some way or other. Mr. Bell then sung the hymn, “Saviour, Saviour, hear my humble prayer,” the coogregation joining in the chorus, le concluded his discourse by an appeal to follow the example of St. Matthew and seck the way of salvation without delay, that the centennial year might be marked as one of awakening among sinners to the realization of the true object in life, CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH. ADVANTAGES OF LIBERAL CHRISTIANITY OVER ORTHODOXY AND CATHOLICISM—SERMON BY REV. DR. ALGER. bs There was an unusually large congregation at the Church of the Messiah at the services yesterday morn- ing, very many being attracted, no doubt, by the ar nouncement that the pastor would preach a discourse presenting the Unitarian views in contrast with tho orthodox and Catholic creeds. Standing as the Unitar- jan Church does, ho began, as the representative of a system of moral and religious faith widely different from that gonerally professed in the community, it was natural that the question shonld be asked, on what grounds and with what motives they sought to supplant the established ecclesiasticisin of Christendom, and re- piace it with another style of belief and devotion; or, in other words, what points of superiority did they claim as justification in repudiating orthodoxy and Roman- ism and embracing LABERAL CHRISTIANITY ? The first great privilege enjoyod by the liberal Chris- tian Is perfect individual freedom to seek the truth and follow it as revealed to his own reason and conscience. The ruling sects of tho church do not allow this liberty to their members, They have aset of dogmas em- bodied in their creeds which they pledged to maintain, Their chief aim is the support and spread of those doctrines. They saffer no deviation of faith from these fixed formulas on pain of expulsion. Doubt is looked upon asdiabotic, free inquiry as heresy, The creeds of the Catholic Charch and the leading Protestant sects are not carnest ¢ forts to get at the truth. They are recoptacios of the traditions in- crusted with prejudice and passion by which the sub- missive multitudes are governed; they are the political constitutions by which the sects rule, The lenders administer by them, and: the followers do not daro to question them. Th pirit is a spirit of fear, Afraid of God, the Bible, the devil, hell, the day ot judgment, their creed and tho jeadors of their sect tee, dare not boldly exercise their own intelligence, ot accept the results to which untram- meled reason would logically conduct them, The liveral Christian ts spared ali this. Our creed imposes no tyrannical traditions, no sectarian dogmas, but pro~ claims the spirit of trath and love, the right of private Judagmentand the duty of fidelity to personal convic- tion, This treedom from (ear and hy puci Jrom zealous ecclesiastical espionage, shackied liberty of individual thought and feeling, 1s one of the most glorious results of human progress, A PROFOUND #PITITUAL LUXURY, There is no priest to bully our conscience, no galling dictatorship of church leaders, We claim for our tatth bee a and unity m piace of the discord and con- tradiction characteristic of the current theology. Ac: tho ls cording to the orthodox and Catholic soem world = is occupied the hostiie camps God and — Satan, on the — contrar; consider evil rather as friction in the mochan- ism of good than as an indpendent and an- tagonistic mechanism of itself, Another advartage which wo claim tor liberal Christianity ovor traditional theology ts its beauti{ul and noble generosity of spirit; while its enlightened comprehensivencss of principio and method are marked by a harmony and grandeur fully abreast with the farthest reaches of the human soul, while the dogmas of the Calvinists and papal sys- MONDAY, MAY 22. ‘1876.—TRIPLE tems betray a mnzs of superstitions and bigotries wholly constr gl the character of the present age and irre. conriiable with is intelligence, The constituent doc- trines of these schemes were ereated and gained cur. reney in those early times when Kroxsest political and priestly despotism pre when bolief in ail iorms of sorcery and wagic The theological basis of the ecclesiastical religion around us may be outlived ths, Six thousand years ago ® material universe was manuiacturec out of nothing in six days. The first man moulded ont o clay, and the first wonian created from one of lus ribs, were Placed in Eden, They sinned and tell, im their fall carryt i, there whole posterity with them to endioss ruin. ickedness, toil, care, disease, surrow, all the discords and wars of natu bodily death on earth and spiritual death in hell were the result of the eating of a forbidden apple by our first parents, the nalties inflicted by an offende od, But # raciously relented, and, in orter to seve & portion of His creatures, suffered Himsel! to be born as 4 man aud to die on the cross, He will come agn ere long, convoyed by angeis in the clouds of he. overthrow His arch enemy, the devil, raize the remove to a local heaven of bliss all who trust in the blood He shed on Calvary, remand to the evornal tor- tures ot heil all the rest, and thus consummate His original designs. AN this God has revealed in the Bibie, which 's a series of records, forming a pertert unity by peuance, mspired to write nothing but infalli- blo truth in every sentence, Such a system of thoucht ‘was tho natural product of that mythotogical climate — tor a jong time, prevailed in the early world, ¢ SURE RNSULTS OF SCIENCE show that the creation has been a process occupying unknows millious of centuries, that the human raco bas been in existence a handrod myriad feet and that the Bible is « collcetion of disconnected books, the pre- served wrecks of a perished literature, written largely by unknown authors, at unknown dates, and ubound- ing with all sorts of human errors, Our faith presents & worthier idea of Gad, The divinely beautiful and tn- spred man Jesus Christ is the God com- mony worshipped in Christendom, though in Catholle Christendom His worship is being rapidly superseded by the still more winning charm of the worship of the Virgin Mary. In place of this irra- tional superstition we affjrm that the divinest human beings are but partial symboli¢ reprosentatives of God, and cannot be (he absolute God, Think of the Creator of this glorious universe, born as a helpless haman babe, dweiling thirty years on earth and tinally dying npon the cross! This is a most Incredible absurdity. Orthodox teaching shows GOD AS A CAPRICIOUS DESPOT, AGod who gots angry, whose scowl darkens creation, is not God, but a monstrous image of man thrown by the refracting imagination upon the screen of mtivi- tude, “Popular tueologians picsure God as a colossal tyrant, who sits’ up in heaven and scatters tho world’ full of mantraps, and if any litte boys xo a fishing on Sunday or climb into an apple tree He takes delight in drowning them or in making them fall and bresk their legs. Wo do not believe in foregoing tho gay and pleasant things uf life—music, dancing and the drama. Religion docs Dot consist merely in attending chureh and prayer meotings, reading the ible and pious books, and ob- serving a sct round of ritual services, We regard re- ligion as a joy, a peerloss privilege. It isto obey the will of God by observing Bis laws, 8ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL. THE CONDITIONS OF PRAYER-—-SERMON BY REV. FATHER KANE, There was a large attendance at tho Cathedral yos- teraay. At the last mass the Rev. Father Moir was he officiating clergyman. The Rev, Father Kane preached asermon, taking his toxt from sixteenth chapter of the Gospel according to St. Jonn—"‘Amen, amen, I say unto you, if you ask the Fathor anything mmy name Ho will give itto you.” The revercad gentleman called attention to the conditions of prayer. He explained at length the elements ot vocal and: mental prayer. Montal prayer was the ‘union of the soul with God in silent converse. Among the conditions on tho part of the supplicant should be attantion, devotion and humihty, and there should also be contidence,. perseverance and earnestness, Prayer should be continuous, We must ask for spirit- ual blessings. We should not pray tor everything, tor thas was one of the obstacles that prevented qur pray- ers. We must pray for those who are our enemies, and for those who persecute us, following the example of our divine Lord. How often'are we obliged to pray in order not ta commit sin! The reverend preacher gave a lucid explanation of tho doctrine of prayer. Ho exhorted the congregation to pray olten and keep. their minds fixed upon God, in order that their thoughts might be occasionally taken froi this earth, We must — that weare only placed here for a little while, In conclusion the sreverend gentleman pointed out tho necessity and importance of prayer, and submitted that, no matter how wicked the sinner might be, God would always hear his prayer. Let him remember taat the Saviour came down from heaven to aie for sin- ners. The mass selected for the choir was by Ceruti. At the Offertory Mme. Bredet sang “Protdge Mot,” by Priere, with great tenderness and eifect, PLYMOUTH CHURCH. MB, BOWEN'S EXPULSION FORMALLY NOUNCED—THE PASTOR ABSENT. An ahusually large number of strangers attended tho services at Plymouth Church yosterday morniug, at- tracted, donbtless, by the aunoantement inthe papers yesterday ‘that Mr, Henry C. Bowen would be formally aad publicly excommunicated, Many of the members, however, stayed st home, knowing exactly what the ceremony would be, and being aware that Mr, Beecher Would be at Ithaca, where he was engaged to preach morning and evening beforo the students of Cornell aK- University. Assistant Pastor Samuel B. Halliday ‘oc- cupied the platiorm, und offered the oponing yer. At its conclusion ‘Mr, F. M. Edgerton, who hes ail along acted as Moderator at the business meetings, as- cended to the side of Mr. Halliday, and read from a slip of paper the simple statement :— “Atun adjourned business meeting of the church, held in the lecture room Thursday evening, May 18, Mr. Henry C. Bowen, a former member oi this church, was expeiled by a unanimous vote.’ ° Those wh» had comme in seurch of sensation wore wo- fully disappointed, for this brief and business like. an- houncemetst Was received by the congregation in per- lence, and Mr. Edgerton resuming his usual seat xlously expected ceremony was ended and the rouume services went on as usual. Mr. Halliday preached a short and earnest sermon, in which he made a powerlal exbortation to his hearers to lead Christian lives, In the evening Roy, Dr. Wills, of Washington, dele- gate to the Presbyterian General Assembiy, now sitting 1m Brooklyn, preached at tue special invitation of Mr. Beechor, ST. PAUL'S, WILLIAMSBURG. REY, NEWLAND MAYNARD TO THE ¥FORTY- SEVENTH REGIMENT. Pursuant to orders, tho mombers of the Forty- reventh regiment, to the number of /350, assembled at the armory, corner of North Second and Fourth streets, Williamsburg, at sevon o’clock last evening, and, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Wiliiam H. Brownell, marehed in °fuil dress uniform, without arms, to St. Paul’s Protestant Episcopal charch, on the corner of Penn street and Marcy avonue, to listen to the annual sermon by their chaptain, Rev. Newland Maynard. The regiment enterea tho church in good order and took their seats in the body of the church, the officers sitting together in the imme- diate vicinity of the altar. Mr, Maynard thon, after the usual prayers for the evening, addressed the regi- ment as follows :— “Thou art not far from the Kingdom of ‘God,” were the Saviour’s words to one who showed ho had a profonnd and elevating conception of the two great principles of Christianity. It is evident, then, that there is a difference between conscience and Christianity, or rather that one is a higher representation of the other, and that respecting the dictates of the inner monitor of tho mind, we are in better condition to receive the power of the Gospel. That the God of the Creation that im- pianted attributes and instinets should differ /rom tho God of Revglation and Graco would be most paintul, but very far from this isthe wrath. Fear God and keep His commandments aro the express injunctions of Jesus, . Bat observation warns us that a large majority to-day live and conduct their Iives, although Christians by profession, as ifthe moral jaw of Sinai and the rigtd endetment of the older dispensaticn wore re- Jaxed, and that uncompromising obedience was an obsolete necessity, an old fasbioned and worn out ru- bric of righteousness, and tat smstead of govern- ing the will the Christian may conceal his neglects in. thia particular behind the ordi- nances of bis church. Baptismal privileges, cere- monial suavities and other general bat delusive deceits, bear the most glaring and shameful in- istencies and apparent abrogation of the grandest ethical code that the world has yet received. But t foithtul reader of Hoty Writ knows very differently, and the ragged and righteous Janes, jn his stern common sense, says, “Whosoever keepeth the whole law and yetolfendeth in one point is guilty of all’? It ts only neeessaty to examine attentively the charactor and credentials of oxrly converts to feel persuaded that they were men who, lived up to the light t sessed, Cornelius, the ‘soldier disciple,’ wa emmontly conscientions, He feared God, moreover, what many forget is a partol © worship--he Fis alms. Those who embraced the opportunity of being Christians, aud who heid prom- inent positions, were God-fearing men. It is undoubt- odly true that repentance makes us brothers together: that the church of Christ wax to seck and bring into the fold erring men. Repentance was preached from the housetops. But bere is the point, for men to repent who are neglecting th ihments of con- science is sucl solecism jn ethics; for men to em~- braco the traths of the Redeemer who, are viovatiog that whieh the f° the soul, is ry gels’ ot rej amazing a phenomenon is produced, While hypocrisy, that pereiliously saperior to repentance, 18 #0 abhor- nt to God that He publicly said, “Harfots and pros tutes have a more. hopetul pt jeaven.’* Now, tor ayoung man to iH ry to the soul's a0, abd yet hoping thot a at the samo time ‘noping, 1s wild of heart may surprise him, f interest, Sinning, jeat pres an insult to zod. While many. eminently instructed the requirements, are so infatuated with worldly ing with secular ambition that istians, but in keeping the very iar from the kingdom of God. zor an illuminat‘onor the Bethesda of their souls to stirrod—Christian drones ta the hive of God's Ch while coupled with them are dry formaliats, “-fossiis ot ihe faith,” men whe do- ceive themselves and imagine, or rather forget, that God is not mocke make Mistakes, we are not Chris! obedience, and those who shelter their conscience under sacramental citicacies or mugnily their hopes by 110U8 conclusions as to their security are very, from the kingdom of God.” But wo pecially speak of young men, noble hearted, gen- erous and full of “animal spirit and overtowing tnaleidnality, who are waiting ior a chanse of heart. who stifle the vo.ee of conscience and enable Satan to sioal their souls by the argument that young men must be young men, and that last and excitement are not so hemous offences in youth. Wart until you are old and then “get coligion;” and thus itis that worn out craters of what once was fall of vigor aud virility are candidates for reconciliation with God, The curse of the emotional twaddle shat is talked to-day and sometimes preached 18, that duty and obedience are utterly forgotten or shamefully ignored, We may say that this is severe, but the Secondary place and the contemntible influence that religion and duty exert justily the assertion, conceivable screen is = oxetted = to. one man is tniled into thargic confidence by tho verbal reiteration of bis faith; another finds solace and luprieation from the iwstuetic sensibilities of his ossimilating nature and the Ntargical delights of his ceremonies of worship, Nero's notorious mactivity when the Eternal City was in flames suggests a parallel Men want loud and heroic exhibition of their bope of salvation ; quiet and dutiful obedience—the ‘still bath- ing’? of roliziou—gives way to the “surf bath- ing’ of excitement, and very dangerous it is, too, Take the mun who thonght tho myers of Damascus moro worthy than the rivers of dstael—but we know the effect of his conceit, Unmanly and mouthing emotions, feverish excitement, aro confused or substi- tuted for that self-mastery aud obedience that make the difference between a regiment and a rab Let ua then respect admonishments to con- science, and guard it as carctully as the works ofa watch or the mariner his compass, and then the spirit of God will spenk to us as it spoke to faithful and sinners of old. But to bo waiting and at the samo time blunting the conscience is an act almost of moral insanity. For so wonderfal it ts for a bad and debvased mind w feel the power of religion and continue to the end that the very angels rejoice when it occnrt. At the close of the sermon the regiment wore marched to the corner of Lee avenue and Howes strect and dismissed, NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY SERMON BY REY. J. H, LOCKWoob. Yesterday being the twenty-fifth annivorsary of tho organization of tho Society of the New Ragland Congre- gational Charch, in South Ninth street, Williamsburg, the pastor, Rev, J. H. Lockwood, took advantago of the Occasion to recount during bis morning discourse tho history of the church from its start. Tho servico was also inangurative of a series of meetings whieh will extend throuzh the present week, it ts hoped with great results in an increase of spiritual life in the membership. The building was not decorated beyond tho usual floral tokens on tho pulpit, and after the usual opoving exercises the pastor an- nounced , as his text Psalms cxxv., 1, 24—~ “Thoy that trust m the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot bo removed, but abideth forever, As the Mountains arc round about Jerusalom so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth, even for- ever.” The reverend gentleman said:—History is the record of forces and resulta operating on and in mon, of the influences in so. ciety and the eflects arising therefrom, and although it is Impossible to obtain every iact ur ‘incident con- nected therewith an approximate idea may be easily reached, so that we can apply tho lessons of experience to our own course. In church history there are TWO FORCES AT WORK, the divine influence and the human will, and although they ure totally different they aro united in the Church ina special way, This church thas now reached: an epoch in its lustory not to be passed without notice, and it ia a duty to stato briefly the experiences of this eburch during the period of its history—a quarter of a especially as that epoch concludes 1p tho hun- carot this great Republic. The vicissitud of everyday life await tho church in allits career, suc: cess and cisappolatments fullowing cach other 1n reg- ultr succession, Twenty-five years ago Williams- burg had only a village corporation, though it had a population of 40,000; a city charter bad been adopted, but it, did not go into operation until Jan- wary. 1852. Farly in April, 1851, a small number concetved the fdeu of organizing a ‘Congregational churen, though many thought at the time that the twenty-tour churches then existing were enowzh to _ac- commodate the church-going populate. Tho effort was carried — forward, however, tha first meetings taking place at the residence of one of the members on Fourth and South Eighth sireots. May 23, 1861, the organization was fected in Central Hall, corner of Soutt: Firat and Fifth streets, and Rev, ‘Thomas K. Beecher was installed a#- pastor, Rey. George B. Cheever, Richard 8. Storrs, J, P. Thompson and Henry Ward Beechor taking part. in tho exercises, The conncil which effected the organiza- tion consisted of Plymouth and Pilgrim churches, of Brooklyn and Puritan avd tabernacle of New York. The Sunday school was organized with iwenty-six scholars aud sixteen teachers on the 8th of June, and with a donation from the church of $12 57 obtained in those cheap times a complete outfit, including library, hymn books and lesson cards. History repeats itsel:, and then even in the early days of this charch, when all was sapposed to be enthusiasm, mombera noziectod the means of grace frequently, and some even ultogethe: yet, notwithstanding every drawback, on January 1853; when the hall was destroyed by ire, there were 161 names on the roll of the charch and 107 on that of the Sunday school The church met'then, until this cilifice was erccted, in the Odeon, now ‘Apollo Hail, in Fifth street. Three lots of ground had been purchased in September, 1852; the ‘ground was broken in Do- vember, the corner stone was Inid Janaury 11, 1883, and on Foretathers’ Day, December 20, 1853,’ after Many seasons ot self-sacrifice the chareh was dedi- cated. Rev. Thomas K. Beecher resigned in April, 1854, after three years’ of hard labor which greatly endeared him to his congregation. He was succeeded by H. B. Elhott, who remained one year, The Rey. B. Tomp- king succeeded him October 9, 1859. In the spring of 1865 Rev, Leonard W, Bacon assumed the pastorate until Jane, 1870, when he was tollowed by Itev. J. HW. Brodt, The latter resigning in Juno, 1875, to go to Danville, N.. Y., where hedied Sepiember &. The skwood, suroecded hin ‘The m he Sun- day school, and is interested in @ great amount of out- pxie work, missionary calls, district prayer meetings, tract distribution and Sunday school missions; bat statisties will never give tho far-reaching influences emanating from the char iu all these year Who shall weigh the issues hanging in tho con- Version of asingio soul? But the Lord has been with us and has hela us in the hollow of His hand; and re- lying on Him, inspired by the past, wo can but go for- ward, feeling that if wo get no reward hero below it will crown us in the Church triamphant abovo. A series of mectings will bo kept up during the week. 5 A MISSIONARY TO JAPAN. The Rev. Mr. Ammerman preached his farewell ser- mon in the Bergen Reformed chureh, at Jersey City, yesterday, He will set out in @ few days for Japan, which will be the scene of his fature missionary la- bors, A BEAUTIFUL OEREMONY. CORONATION OF THE BLESSED MOTHER'S STATUE AT ST. MARY'S OF THE IMMACULATE coN- CEPTION. A very beautitul scene was witnessed in Wiliiams- borg yesterday afternoon, in connection with ¢ devotion of St. Mary during tho month of May. Handreds of young Indies and children, olad in white, each bearing lovely flowers in thoir hands, marched in procession from tho convent and school of St, Mary's, on Grand streot, to the church of St Mary's of the Immaculate Conception, on the corner of Leonard and Maujer streets, in order to crown tho statue of the Biéssed Virgin placed beside the high ahar. or J. R. McDonald, during tho servic the children and the congregation, sai of the month of Ma(rjy had its origin eo reached France and afterward spread and for the last haif century has been observed in America, Tho procession and coronation a public acknowledgment of the honor, respect and Veneration—but not adoration—due ihe Imimucuiate Mother of God, tor God only do we adore, But although the month of May devotions may be com- ratively new to the Chorch tae Bieased Virgin as been acknowledged tobe the “Mother of God’? from the time of Christ and the aposties Nestorins in the year 431 denied this privilege to Mary, but his error was condemned by 200 bishops; that decision giving joy to Christenaom, and causing the enaual Processions and curopations In her honor, and on th: day the “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray tor ws sin. ors now and at the hour of oar death, Amen,"’ was aided by the Church to the Angels’ salutation, ‘Hail, Mary.’ Toe ceremony yesterday, atier the procession had Teached the aitar, consisted of music by the choir, Suns day school bymns by the children, the address on tho significance of the service by the ‘tor, Rev. Father J. RB. McDonald, concluding with the coronation. One alter another the far maidens apy hed the aliar, and after reciting a few brief ltacs ited her votive floral offering and resumed her seat, the pastor receiv- ing at the iast a beautiful coronet of choicest flowers trom the youngest girl, which he placed on the brow of the statuo, which concluded the service ami appro priate music by the choir ai and organ, FIRE IN BROOKLYN, Yesterday afternoon # fire broke out im the cooper shop of Mr. John Myers, Nos, 104, 106 and 108 North Eliott place, Brook! and the building was almost totally destroyed. 0 loss on the building is exti- mated at $1, Insured, HOME FOR AGED HEBREWS. THE INAUGURAL RECRPTION AT THE NEW HOME YESTERDAY. Tho directresses of the Home for Aged and In@rm Hebrews gave an inaugural reception yesterday atthe new Home, at the cornes of Eighty-seventh street and avenue A. The reception will be continued to-day from. eleven A: M. until seven ?. M. Tho Second avenue cars to Astoria ferry pass the door The Home is delightfully sittated on the high ground overlooking the Bast River and the Long Island shore, between Biackwell’s and Ward's islands, and is on the western end,of a plot of ground containing seven acres, stretching from av- enue A to the river, The grounds immediately avoat the house are tastefully Ind out with green ana flower- ing plants, vines and shade trees, Broad gravelled walks lead to seats under the trees, where the aged and intirm for whom the Home is intended can get plenty ot pure air and wateh the ever changing seene on tho river and along the shores. The house is a basement and three stories bigh, the third story being covered with a Mencard roof and surmounted by a cupola, = It is built of wood, with hard-finished interior walls, and is admirably adapted to — its present use. The halls aro broad, the ceilings high, the twenty-six rooms for the inmates well ventilated and thoroughly lighted, There ate no dark rooms in the building. The basemont contains @ well appionted kitchen, a large storeroom, ico-house, laundry, dining room, sitting room and the hospital. Hot and cold water and gis ave laid ip every room throughout the house. On the first floor above @ broad hal) passes through (he house, On the suath are large Teception rooms that can ve quickly changed to dormle tories if required, On the north is the sitting roomand ottice of tho directresses. In that’ room ts the saéred seroll with its silver pointer, Religious serviees will be held thero eve aturday, between nine and twelve o'clock. Un the secoud floor above the basement are the rooms used by the old latices. Tnoy are well lure nished and supplied with ull the usual comforts of home. The walls are adorned with cogravings and photographs, flowers were on tho tables vesterday, and the happy {noes of the neatly dressed and healthy Inmates told that the lady managers had indeed given them # home. ‘The upper floor is used as a dormitory for the old men, and is furnished inthe samo com- fortavle manner as those below. Yesterday the build- ing was decorated witb flags and flowers and attracted much attention, On a tablet in one of the corridors on the main floor fs the following inacription:—"Toe Home tor Agod and Infirm Hobrows was opened and dedicated by Mrs, Henry Leo, at No, 216 West Seventeenth street, on t 24th day of May, 1870. The idea of originuting aud founding such an institution belongs to the late Mrs, Houry Leo, who, on laying her plans before tho tol- lowing directretses ot the Ladies’ B'nai Jeshurun Be- nevolent Society, of which she was presiding oflicera> M ts, B,J, Joach! ) Mre. HB. Herta, Mrs, Zion Bernstein, Mrs, L. Phillips, Mrs. 8. Wolif, Mea. Leo Wise, M. saac Jacobs and Mra, Addie Litthaner— received bot alone their approval and support, but Such aid as at once insured the success of the und taking.” On another section of the wall in the m: hall is a gray marbio tablet inserived “The Ho Aged and Iniirm Hebrews of New York. Apri 1576, Mrs. 1’. J. Joachimsen, President; 18, Mra. J. 1, Phillips, Vico President; Mrs. 8S Herrman, Vico Presi- dent pro tem.; Mes, Z, Bernstom, Treasurer, Mea, Bi 8. Welsh, Mrs, M. Whitehead, Mrs, J, Schalle, Mra Stein, Mrs. J, D, Jacobowsky, Directresses,” THE OPENING. At eleven o’clock yesterday morning a large pum. ver of the prominent citizens assembled am the Teception room to witness the formal opening of the Home. Among those present were Mayor Wickham and Comptrolier Green. Mrs, P. 1. Joachimsen, the President, assamed the chair and welcomed those present, Sho said that the interest that the ladies of the Board of Officers had taken with her in p:ocuring this olegant establishment Was such as to perpetuate their names in the memory of the people, The origin and history of the Home were well known to them. By voluntary coatributio they were supporting some sixty old people, and t work is an evidence to the community that ap ins tion = interested = in behull of , charity cam be conducted by. ladies alone, In bebalf © of the institution she thanked {te generous friends for the wid they bad rendered by their lberal contributions, When she first became president of the , Home, tour years ago, it was in debt $300, and sup. ported only fifteen ininates. Now she could say th instead of the narrow house on Thirty-second ati ata rental of $1,600 per year, the diroctresses haj now about sixty inmat gant Home $20,000. She said that she prayed to God that the tne stitution. may be as prosperous in the futuro as tt hag been in the past. Sho closed by asking for the con- tinued co-operation of the ladies to make the Home an institution that would pot only command the rr of the Hebrews, but that of the entire charitable com. munity. (Applause. ) Mrs. 8, Herrman, Vice-Presidont pro tem., then ad. vanced, and presenting Mrs Jouchimsen with a beauti- ful piece of plato, addressed her as tollows:—“The plensing duty has been imposed upon me by my cole leagues and the members of the Visiting Committee to present you with this as a token of the high regard with which you are held by them and also as # tribute for the interest you have taken im the performance of the dutics as our chief in the labor. we ail delight in, I know tbat | express the tcelings of each und every one that has the j iterest of the Hame at heart when I say it is our carnost prayer that you may live Lec F poe to lead us tm the path as you have dove before If our wish is granted this noble institution which you honor as presiding oflicer wilt continue to be notoniy the pride of the members of our community, but an instr tution worthy the respect of all creeds and nationalities, without regard to distinction, Allow me. now to eon- ciude, hoping that you will accept this toxen, and that tt will always be a reminder to you of the esteem in which you are heid by the society and also an a mark of the sisterly affection that we the officer otertain toward you, ? In reply, Mrs, Joachimsen stated that she was ve much astonished and surprised that the ladies shoul have presented her with aay token; thut while she thanked them tor their great compliments she wished to remind them that sbv hat had a resolution entered on the minutes that resolutions or other tokens should not be a source of compliment. ‘That what sho did wag done in behalf of charity without expecting any reward Wwiatever except that which God Alinighty mtends to bestow upon ali theso who are goneroualy di ‘That an oficer of an institution of this king should ro- ceive no pay whatever, and tbat sho would Bate pre- lerred that tho jadies would have appropriated the money fo the behests of charity instead of using it lor apresehtation, She then declared the new Home to be open The ladies then escorted their friends through. out the building and the garden, and then passed to’ the reception ruom, where they were offered refresh- monte. Throughout the day guests were continually arrtvt each eager to compliment the directresses on the briil iant success thev had achieved, A COMMENDABLE CHARITY. ‘Tho Honse of the Holy Family, at No, 136 Second avenue, started in the most unpretentious mapner about seven years ago. .A few good and zealous ladies undertook to gather the degraded and forlorn children ofsome of the worst parts of the city together and provide asomi-weekly school for them. Tnoy died at ten in tho morning,, offered a fow simple prayers, anc then distributed the work which had been previously prepared, and while the hands, all uouged to Inbor, learned to ply tho needle, the untutored minds, that had never heard of God but to blas pheme His name, listened: to the plain truthe of Christianity. Whon the work of marn- ing was completed these -tamished children partook of a substantial meal, often the only real one of tho day for any of them; and those who had enjoyed these benefits hastened to tell their compan- fons, 80 that trom timo to time their numbers tn- creased, and from the child of tender years to the hardened in vice they thronged the rooms of benefactors and begged to be taken care of, A house was finally procured, and on the first a cants for forty-tive beds, all the house would received, For a year the work went on in this estab. lishment and then larger houses were taken, these filled to their utmost capacity, and still icants Degged for admission, until two years. wi the premises at No. 136 Second avenuo wero taken and enlarged #0 28 to accommodate at lenst 100 inmates, The arrangement of this institution ts admirable. Op the first floor are the parlors, reception Foom ani chapel; a spiral xtairway leads to the Jour floors above, where aro the workrooms and dormitories, a fow single bedrooms used as guest chambers for such gris as have found situations and wish to remain in their old home for a night or two when they roturn, to the city, and a recreation room with comfortable tubles and a grand plano. In tho dormitories cach is forone person only, and ran; along the wall are the lavatories where each girl has a neat white basin, a towel, comb and hes for her especial pancl $0 contrived as to be raised by pulleys and, the lavatories are not in use, lowered, leaving tinted walls and cleanly scrubbed floor a foil for tho white covered beds. in the basement as tho kitchen, the pink of neatness; the dining rooma, equally clean; and the laundry, where soap, water and a generous supply of “elbow ” are the only methods employed to whiten tho Besides the sewing and Janndry work for the patrons of the house, the inmates are required to employ a specified time in other bonsehold duties, no paid servants em. any circumstances, as tho to supply families with seamstresses, waitresses and other competent P. t must not be that the mental and spiritual culture of these women and girls is also daily attended to, so that when the time comet for them to try the world again they ato armed at all os for the struggle, while in return old home. advico and encouragement to Yoetr ST. PATRICK'S MUTUAL ALLIANOE, ‘The regular quarterly meeting of the Executive Com- mittee of the St, Patrick’s Mutual Alliance Association, was noid yestorday afternoon at tholr rooms Ne 8st Bowery. There wore present members from Leda Ehaabeth and several other parts of New Jerscy. Qo ‘certatn hansen ih the. bylaws relative. tthe (ennsaction of business of the worn districts of Now York and New bedi ive of iance in better work! meters wars rg ‘awendange of Whe