The New York Herald Newspaper, April 2, 1877, Page 8

EASTER. —_-—_—_ An Unusually Brilliant Celebration of the Festival’ Yesterday. CHURCH DECORATIONS. Profuse Floral Offerings and Grand Musical Services. LESSONS OF THE RESURRECTION. Crowded Churches and Fashionable Cougrega- tions Despite the Weather, Easter morning dawned in uncertaioty, and the gloomy threat of rain was fulfilled during the alter- noon. The grand festival, however, overcame what on an ordinary Sabbath might have suggested an ex. cuse for non-attendance at church, and the houses of worship in tho metropolis were filled to overflowing with the detout. Many a hope born in vanity was dissipated—for milliners are not meteorologists—and thousands of lovely dresses await tho suulight of the coming Sunday, If the weather was unfavorable to the usual Easter display of finery the day was not ‘wanting in those elements which go to make a festi- val. Within the churches all was poctry and beauty, Music and flowers lent their charms and (ragrance to signalize the glory of the feast. Perhaps nover ba- fore was Easter Sunday more generally observed in New York. Thousands were attracted to the churches by the promise of grand music and maguificent floral displays, and many who went out of mero curiosity lett with holy thoughts and gladdened hearts, ‘The city’s fanes were brillant, and tho transition from sackcloth and ashes, though unmarked by the usual display of spring finery, was gratifying to all In many of the uptown churches, where worshippers defy the waywardness of Jupiter Pluvius and travel in couches, the display of elegant attires was quite attractive. The musical programmes of the churches wero grand, and tho day was celebrated as became tts dignity and significance. Fifth avenue presented au animated scene just before the hour of morning wor- ship, An endless line of couches rattled merrily over the stony roadway, hurrying bejewelled freights of lovely holiness to fashionable shrines, Shortly after eleven o'clock, when tho sup for a short interval struggled through the clouds and smiled approvingly upon the city, the avenue scemed deserted, gavo where here and there a glittering group of coaches and shining steods marked the entrance to a church. The dampened flag stones reflected the bright sunlight for a little while, and then, when tho holy dames and gallants sailicd forth, clouds intervened and brightness died away. The afternoon was dreary, and when night came on the rain was falling in iitful showers, and Easter Day closed on many a disappointed hope of _ conquest aga display, Witha prayer for tue hearts that ache and a hope for bright weather next Sunday all charitable Christians closed the Easter devotions, PLYMOUTH CHURCH. THE GOSPEL STORY OF THE RESURRECTION AND ITS MEANING—SERMON BY REY. HENRY WAEBD BEECHER. ‘vhe first worsh!ppers who entered Piymouth Church yesterday morning shortly after nine o'clock found tho gir impregnated with the subtle perfume exbaled by yellow jessamines und white roses, which, with ferns, passion flowers, calla lilies and orchids, filled two large Daskets—one on oither side of the platiorm., Mr, Beecher’s congregation, however, expect to see those baskets overy Sunday just as contidently as they ex- pect to sce the pastor ascend tho platiorm and sit down on his hat and greatcoat, so that there was noth- Ing unusual in tho display of yesterday. Neither was {here any extended musical programme prepared in honor of the day. At the opening Warren’s Easter cautata, “The Singing of the Birds,’’ was sung very finely by Miss Etta Camp, soprano, and Miss Emma Cranch, contralto, and wwe choir in the chorus, andthis was the only extraordinary feature of the service. TUE SERMON, Mr. Beecher in his sermon dealt with tho subject of the dawning resurrection trom tho Interior stand. point, or from the standpoint of the Apostie’s expe- rience, and with relation to the dawn of a correspond- ing experience in the hearts of Christians in our time, Herelerred to the manner in which the story of the greut drama as we have it camo together, Thero were five differeut accounts, and uot one of them could be made to fit into another accurately, The uar- rative of the New Testament was not to ve taken from the standpoint of fact. No statement bad been mauve by the Saviour Himself, nor gathered from His iipy, by tue disciples, of His own thought and personal view, Under arrest, upon the cross or in the sepuichre. ‘Tho Standpoiut from which everything bau been taken was the elfect produced upon the minds of tho aposiles und spectators of puenomensa which are Yut obscurely recorded, If divine truth in history wax ww be the record of the development Of certain states of mind, so that the only thing Jor which revelation 18 given is that the presentation of truth lying outside the path of ordinary Knowledge sbould be intact and sate, then incidental mistakes of details Were of no cousequence. Mr. Beecher re- Counted the incidents in which the Saviour was con- cerned from the day He arrived in Jerusalem upul the resurrection, Speaking oO: the hyste with which the two spusties proceeded to the sephulero wien they were imtormed that Christ was risen, Mr. Boecher ro- murked that Jobu could not 1orbear to record tat be ‘beat Peter in that sucred race, Jf Joun were taken to mean love, and Veter zeal, the incident furnished an Mstance of the fact that love will beat zeal in any lair Trace. INTERNAL BVIDENCK OF THE TRUTH OF THE NARRATIVE, lu the minuteness of the barrative—whicn men- toned even that tue napkin whien had bound Christ's head was found roiled up in vie corner of the sepul- chre—Mr, Beecher saw evidence Which aestroyed the | theory of those who beheve that the Gospel is a myth; tbat a slight germ of trath had been originally taken up by superstitious men aud added to us time went by Until ituttained 114 present size, The various appear ances of the Saviour after the resurrection—to two to St. Tuomas, and alter. —were rehearsed by the holy women, to the elev ward tu the assemola preacher, who pointed out the jact that there was an | Utter absence of grand dramatic cilect such as would have appeared 1n the history vad wbeen fcutious, alr. Beecher then called attention w the slowness with Which teucning comes to conviction in the soui, It took weeks aud weeks after the Saviour’s @eath to vouvince the disciples ct she tacts whicu tey uld have known avd believed trom His touching. So to-day we were taught the truths ot Christ, and yet ‘Went on without feviing their Jorce, poruaps lor a life. fume, until some great sorrow cawe’ and made us toel backward ulong the truths thas we have known 80 Jong; bat which then, for the lurst time, take lie to us und bring bome the most precious convicuion that come to the humun soul, “Jesus Christ ioves me,” Faith 10 the living Cariet wos the child of sorrow. Yue knowledge of Christ, Mr. Beecher said, was to each man an individual and pecuuar experience. It could not be arrived at by ratiocination; it grew up in men. And now, said Mr. Beecher in conclusion, on this morning, when every one comes to celebrate the coming forth from death to lie of our Lord in the hiss forieal evolution—the day on which His form came | fortu—on this day is there avy other presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ more worthy of your thought then tois:—How sball the Lord rive out of the sepul- cnre of my soul and be to me a living Saviour, not to my eye lor to my ear, but to my spirit a living Suviour? How shall 1 have a risen Christy Your eighteen-hundred-ycar olu Christ won't uo; your Carist | iu Jorusal m won't do; your Curst of tne buvks aud your Christ of the Bibio won't do, These are all seed corn; but seed corn is not harvest. There must bo to you a personal Christ. There must ve to you a Christ that shall bo to you individually and in deed, 4 nese, but strength, mm bondage or liberty, ut abroad, the ‘‘ehiel ainong ten thousand and altogether lovely.” CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES. THE RESURRECTION—SERMON BY KEV. GEORGE H, HEPWORTH. ‘An immense throng assembled at the Church of the Disciples yosterday morning. The florat decorations were profuse and beautitul, and the whole circie of tho platform was one mass of fragrant bioesoms, In the contre of the platform was a largoarch nearly six feet in height of white pinks with the words, “Ring the belis of heaven,” in violets around It. The arch was surmounted by a white dovo, and from the centre hung s vell composed of White pinks and tea roses, with the clapper of violets, From this piece on etthor Bide Lo the steps were crosses and pyramids, crowns, 1a, bouquets and Mowers in pots. Over the organ ‘Was a solid bed of green with @ large bunch of calla Milles in the centre. ‘The services were peculiarly mteresting. Six infants ‘Were baptized and over filty persons joined the eburch, Me. Thateher oud Mies Arabella Rout sa | fore the sermon, and a malo quartet sang after the sermon, ia the room back of the organ. Mr. Hepworth selected his text trom Matt, xxvill, 7-—“Go quickly and tell bis disciples that he is risen from the dead.’* We commemorate to-day, said Mr. Hepworth, the grandest fact of time or eternity. It is @ miracle from which, ax from a fountain, flows the world’s hopes and anticipations. It is the corner stone of our faith, the consolation of our sorrow, the silent Unger that points heavenwurd from every grave. ‘THE KESURRKCTION A FACT. The fuct of the resurrection ts beyond all critical doubt; as a verity of history it stands proven beyond peradventure, The sharpest criticism cannot under. mine it; the largest aud boldest scholarship cannot dispiace it, Infidelity itself leaves this crown on the tuir brow of Religion, Let us examine the tacts of this caso and seo how clear and fectly defined they are, ure told that upon tue death of Jesus the chief priests and Phar: sees, whose Work of batred had becn acoomplisaed, bad a conlerence with Pilate on the subject of th own security. They said to him, **Sir, we have called the fact that this Jesus sald to his disciples that even if we should destroy his body he would re- cover it again in three days, “We come to you that all needed precautions may be taken; that we, the God ordaibed teachers of the people, may not be brought ito ridicule,” Pilate co-operated with the Pharisees and gave.them carte Lianche to do anything Which, in their judgement, seemed Lest adapted to secure the end. We muy be well assured that they were not buckward in thelr demands. They knew evorything was at stake. If by chance tho body of Christ “suould be stolen from the grave, they would be brought ito contempt, They were actuated by the selfishness and by the invincible hatred whieh characterized the whole sect. I'he stone was rolled against the mouth of the sepulchre und sealed and three of the Roman guard were detailed tor special service, and that their orders were strict we can have no doubt, hey had no interest in the resurrection, they only bud Fegard to the Javor of the Pharisees, ‘They could not be bribed by the apostios, who were only poor, insignificant and defeated men, Every pos- sible precaution was taken, and yet, so the story goes on to rolate, on the morniug of the third day the Ro- man soldiers were struck to tho earth oy a power they could not resist and the angel ol the Lord came down trom heaven, and with his own hand broke the seal und rolled the stone away. Jesus arose (rom the couch of death and went forth to the accomplishment of the little part of this glorious work which remained, If the story endo: hero, brethren, we might possiuly ex- press some doubt, but it does not. Let us put tn other facts a8 prool that Jesus did wise, Mary, during tho night which preceded the resurrection, was preparing the spices for His embalming; sho rememoered what the Lord had said, yet the fact of His death was so firmly Impressed on her mina tbat she never once dreamed of the possibility of a resurroction, and when just betore sunrise she went to the tomb, she saw tho stone was rolled uway; the Lord was not there, and she was struck dumv with amazement and horror, She bad como with a bundle of spices. tn her arms -lor bis embalmment, On a certain occasion tho disciples were gathered in up upper chamber, conferring ou the past and future, Thoyswere astonished wod bewildered and paralyzed ; they did not know what to do or which way to turn; the doors were closed between thein and the Jowish world; the doors between thom and Hebrew hatred were barred, and yet, in spite of closed doors, doubly burred and bolted, thoy beurd unwonted-tootsteps, and jooking around ty said “lt isthe Lord,” and he stretched forth his hands In benediction and satd, ‘Peace I leave with you,’? and, after « conference, hallowed, inspired and sanctified, ho disappeared us iysteriousiy as be came. I might go on in this strain indefinitely, continued Mr, Hepworth, Ihave by no means exhausted the evidence of the resurrection, but I think [ have said enough to convince you that the resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as an undoubted truth, the one won- drous fact in the existence of tue human race to whicn no other tact 18 paralicl—a fact crowned with a promise, that if we purtake of His suflerinys we shalt ulso partake of His giory. ‘The immortal lite, or the life beyond the grave, 18 tho best part of the soul's careor, We ought never to entertain the shadow of « doubt concerning it; we ought to incorporate it into our natures in such fashion as shull inake 1t one of the divinest impulses in our actions, O the privilege of Deing certuin that this is not theend! O the grau tude that filis that heart which knows tuere is a mor- row when the sun of to-day sets! O tne sound of thankggiving that ought to rige from ail the millions of earth, because Jesus hath left the door ajar to let the sunlight of God’s presence pour through and fill with radiance our miserable lite! 8T. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, PONTIFICAL HIGH MASS AND BENEDICTION— MUSIC, FLOWERS AND LIGHI—DISCOURSE BY REY. FATHER KEARNY ON THE FESTIVAL OF EASTER. Cardinal McCloskey colevrated a Pontifical high mass ‘at hall-past ton o’clock yesterday morning at St. Pat- rick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Tho large edifice was crowded to its fullest capacity, Tho services wero peculiarly impressive, the presence of the Cardinal adding additional interest to tho occasion. In com- memoration of the Easter festival, at which time the faithful pay special! homage to the great mystery of the resurrection of Christ, the Cathedral alturs and sanctuary were appropriately decorated, Over the high altar, behind tho life-size @igure of the dying Saviour, was flung a magnificent silk cunopy of car- dinal red. Surmounting this was arrayed the word “Alleluia” in glittering gas jets. A choice bouquet of flowers was laid on the top of tho repository of the Blessed Sacrament, while large vases of flowers stood on cither side of tho main altar, A great number of candles, arranged artistically upon and over the three altars, shed a flood of light within the sanctuary. Promptly at half-past ten o’clock the procession filed from the vestry. Some forty acolytes in whie and red surplices carried candles, the Cardinal's bat and crosier, a large golden cross and the incense lamp. The Cardinal was dressed in full canonicals, and appeared to be in mucn better health than when he last officiuted at the Cathedral, Inside the sanctuary, as- sisting at the service, were Very Rev. Father Quinn, V. G; Rev. Father Kearny, pastor of tho Cathe- drat; Rey. Father Farley, Secretary to the Cardioal; Rev. Fathers Kane, Hogan and others. The Curdina’ chanted the solemn mass in a clear and steady voice, THE DISCOURSE. Attho end of the first gospel Rev, Father Kearny denvyered a short and eloquent discourse appropriate tothe day. He tovk as bis text part of St. Mathew Xvi, 1-6, commencing, “And when tie Sabbath was past Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Salome, vrought sweet spices that evening that they might anowt Jesus, And very early im the morning, the first day of tho week, they came to the sepulchre, the sun being now risen.’ Tho reverend preacher called dtention to the services of the Church, sad as they were, dering the past few days, On Fri- day the Saviour had been dyiwy on the hillside, bat to-day He had arisen from the tomb, casting off tho habiliments of death. He had severed the bonds which God alone could untoose, In such solema moments of the triumph of Christ we might recall how He had come to us years belore; we might contemplate what He had suifered tor us during tuirty years, and we should sink on our knees and thank ‘Hin for the inestimable blessings thus bestowed, Wo had hatened to the voice of His vane and indivisible Courch, like the voico of the angels in heaven, All this time we knew that 1®Wwas the voice of God to which we were listen- ing. Bat bow was this great truth established? Had wo not hoard Him bid the storm tobe sul? Did we not see Him raise the dead to lite? [t was on the morn- ing of Easter, bowever, that He gave us the most in- controvertible proots that He t# the Incarnate Word of God in His triumph over death, Laster was emblematic of the promise of our own resurrection from the corruptions of the grave, even as Christ Himself had risen to dic no more MASONIC 'FEMPLE, THE POWER OF IMMORTAL HOPE—SERMON BY THE REY. O, B. FROTHINGHAM, The Rev. 0. 3. Frothingham announced as the sub- ject of his discourse yesterday morning at Masonic Temple the “Powor of Immortal Hope.” Christendom, he said, devotes the Easter Day to the commemoration of the resurrection of its Christ from | the dead; not to thoughts of th» immortality of the soul, that is a very different matter, Betiet in the | natural immortality of the soul would render the Chris tian's faith in the resurrection of his Christ unneces- sary. Ik woud be simply an Sliastration of a general jaw insteat of being an exception to the natural law possible Jrom the fact that Christ was pot a natural man, not a descendant from Adam, but a supernatural siviess being, Christendom contines ite promise of | resurrection to Christians, who, being joined to Christ by faith, share bis holmess and along with it his im- mortality. Over the rest the grave is still victorious, | They remain in the land of gloom forever, According to @ duct be- 1 some they are anbihilaved. According to others they are grievously tormented, Thedoctrine of the immortality of the soul is not countenanced by Christianity, That Veliet is of Greek-Vlutoaic origin, and has from the first been hostile to the Christian taith, Believers in the soul's nataral immortality are believers in the soul’s essential integrity, in its power Lo rise superior to death, The doctrine of numan depravity 1s abhor. rent to them, According to their persuasion death is & process of transition, and felicity 13 the ultimate goul of alt rational beings, The Imnortal hope is exceedingly dear to mankind, Materialism, however beautiful in some of its aspects, is dreadiul, because it threatens immortality, The in- quiry I raise this moraing 13 Uhis;—To what does this veliof owe its power? What is the secret of its fus- ciation? What, to use a commercial pbrase, 1s its value? Wholly apart irom the reason: bienoss of the belief is tue question of its «moral and intel: jal importance, o viously it 1s due in a great moasu craving for solace in afliietion. In 5 vo the hearv’s wns of severe personal aiflivtion this belief t# natural to all save the very fow. Thus the hope is kept perennial, ‘The in- fluence of allliction insures its abiquity. The tren. ness of afliicuon i¢ a guarantee of its vividness, If (he time should ever come when premature death is a rare experiwace, whea all cuildreu tivo to bocome men NEW YORK | great suounng. and women, when life accomplishes its full sum of years and death at last comes gently at the natural close of an ample existence, thig form of the longing for immortality will disuppear, ‘he belief in immor- tulity 18 of great importance as an educator of uilec- tion, There is nove too inuch affection in the world, ‘The world we live in 18 contrac! and therefore we who live iu it do not call mto exercise the breadth of our faculties, Our humanity takes its tone froin our conception of the human; as that conception widens the humanity becomes rich and ten- dei as that shrinks the humanity sbrivks, But the popuiar faiih in immortality has probably a firmer bold on the conscience than it has even on the heart, It is indeed the buiwark of conscience with the multitude of mankind. Justice is regarded as the chief of all the attributes of God. The demand tor justice, for ubsoiute, poetic justice, is imperative, But this universal aod absolute faith ia the divine justice re- coives a severe shock when contronted with the aspect of the world, ‘here, to the ordinary vision, in place of the rule, justice is the exception. Things every- where look out of joint. Knaves ride in carriages, honest wen tramp on foot, ‘The convict that justice is not done in this world is nearly as universal us the persuasion that it ought to be done. WHAT THK OLEAR-KYED BEE, ‘'yhe clear-eyed seers look bepeath the surface, and, discovering the tnilnite resources of being and tbe tn- exhaustible issues contemplated by the laws of com- pensation, ask tor no supplement of hereafter to complete a work that 1s dniwbed here, The faith in God 18 Lo them assurance enough; convinced that Ho exists they cannot question that He exists every moment and that because He exists all is well. It 18 easy to make eport of these utopias, but the men and women whe have the hard Jot in Ife du not appreciato the jest, They want something more and something else—not necessarily pleasures that have been denied them or delight# they have never known. Let it come, The faith in the hereafter, not as ollering vul- gur or superiicial compensation for the present, but as aifording # new occasion aud impulse to development, is of immensé valuc to mankind, It can hardly be denied that it keeps patient, constant “and loyal many a spirit in) Whom deprivation would beget hopelessness, and hopelessness woud deepen inty desperation. It is a preservative against rebullion and suieide, against bitterness and ferocity, against nervelessness and imbecility, It assisis the human to maintain its superiority over the bestial, ‘Tuai the hope should be tinged with extravagance is patural, Lt is not enough that the well doer should be couvinced of the divine justice, he must epjoy an ocular demoustration of 1, The vision of a day of judgment hovers imotiy before tho mind’s eyo of tho believer, Such an expectation, besides being to tho Father Pelletier acted as deacon, and Mr. Drummond was the master of ceremonies. Father Prendergast preached the Easter sermon. The reverend preacher dwelt impressively on the great lessons of Christ's Yesurrection. He insisted that to imitate the Saviour men must bory the corrupt passions that are the ip- beritance of all mortais. [i we would rise with Christ iv glory we wust die with him in anguish, but it was better to lose all earthiy things tor the soul’s sake than to permit one’s self to be curried off by the vain delights of the world. Atter a briof but compreben- review of the chief thoughts inspired by o consideration of the occasion tor Easter rejoicings Futher Prendorgast closed an cilect: sermon, ‘The musical services Wero on ap elaborate scale and made the mass unusuaily Jong. The choir consisted ot Misses Teresa and Mary Werneke, soprano and con- tralto; Signor Tamaro, tenor; Messrs, Dupau and Stanton, bassos; a jarge chorus, with a quartet of bruss instrumeuts and tympani Belore tho com- mencement of the inass’ tue grand march of tho priests, from Mendelssobn’s ‘*Athalie,”” was rendered, commencing as the priests and acolytes, in their rich ‘Peein ents ented from the sucriaty. ‘The mass given was Dr. Borgo’s “Grand Missa de Pascha No, 1. ‘This masa commenced with the *Kyrie,’? reudered With organ, bruss instruments, tympani and bells, ‘Yhen jollowed a very brilliant and effective *Gloria”’ The “Luudamus To’? was finely arranged as aw duet for soprano and alto, The ‘Gratias Agimus,”’ a tenor solo, was admirably sung by Signor Sumaro, ‘The “Credo” enlisted the services alternately of bass and soprano, bass and tenor, and Lass and alto, “Et in Unuw Dominum,” a soprano solo, was inely sung by Miss Teresa Werneke. The ‘Genitum non Factum’”’ was given by the male quartet without ac- companiment. jade tenor solo was the “Cruci- fixus’’ The “Cujus Weg’ was an organ solo with chorus accompanin “Et i Spiritum Sanctum’? was a baritone solo, and the“Huc Dies,” by Lambillotte, was rendered by the chorus, Alter the muss the orgun und brass Instruments played the overture to “Lu Muette di Portici,” by Auber, The masa was nob fine ished until alter hali-past one o’clock, having com- mencod at hail-past ten, At tour o’Block in the after. noon was cowmenced the Kuster oratorio, ‘be Res- urrection,” by Pére Lambillotte, which algo attracted a very largo attendance of worshippers, TRINITY CHURCH. ELABORATE FLORAL DECORATIONS AND BARE SELECTIONS OF SACRED MUSIO—¥FOUR SER- VICES DURING THE DAY, last degree unreasonuble, weakous the force of tho plea for justice that conscience urges, ‘The real power of the immortal hope hes tn tho prospect opencd by the longer allowance ‘ot time for the fuil olaboration of the moral law, It makes a now horizon line, allows a new a ‘The great charm of this dream of conscieuce is its humanity. ‘The promise, of this hereafter ts to tho poor and the unprivileged. Iv is a dream of good tor those who have known only evil, of huppiners tor the unbappy. Conscience anucipates an opportunity tor the millions of nuineloss ones who bave sever bad a chance either to be loved or bated, to be honored or despised. A man like Theodore Parker might be con- tent with one fue, Who would ask anything more tor him? He bad bia great opportunity and greatly did he improve it. USKPULNESS OF THE HOPK OF IMMORTALITY, That the apparent inequality of this world’s arrange- ments 18 a Valid argument Jor a future fifo cannot with guod reasoa be maintained, The demand that each human creature gbould come to maturity, when tu other departments of nature not one im ten’ thousand does so, seeins plaasibie, But that each mdividual should cherish the bope of it 1s certainly a great thing. For this, alter all, 13 the highest practical function of tue beiict m immortality to exalt, magnily, glority the nature of mun, to Keep alive and vivid the impression that ian is weally aud potentially a grout being, Low- ever sinall a creature he actually may be. = =Man would be better if we better thought of him. The beliet that a tuture lile awaits bim helps to make him appear Jess abject asa creature. Lt is objocted that the belivt in immortality rather weakens than stimulates, rather dissipates than condenses, rather flatters than in spires, Lt is true in a vast multitude of instan but it probably is not true on the whole. No great idea or principle docs uccomplisb all that might be ox- pected of it, Doubtless people think they need the immortal hope more than tucy really do; but the loss of it would be felt more severely than somo would have us beheve. L cannot ieel with Theodore Parker that this Infe* would be desolated i the next were dis- credited. 1" BROOKLYN TABERNACLE, THE REY. T. DE WITT TALMAGE'S EASTER SERMON. At the Brooklyn Tabernacle yesterday morning tho services were more than usually interesting. Tho preacher’s platform was literally covered with flowers, and on the organ pipes were suspended 4 eories of Jetters in white tuberoses, forming the words, **He ls Rigen.’? ‘The music on the organ, by Mr. George W. Morgan, consisted principally of the following selec- tionstrom Handel’s oratorio of the “Messiah: — glory of the Lord.” » your hewus, O ye xates!"? my Kodeemer liveth.” Choras—"Worthy is the Lamb that was slam.” Fuyue—“Blessing nnd honor, power and glory to Him who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever,” Mr. Talmage took his text trom John, xx., 6 and 7— “Then cometh Simon Peter tollowing him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, andthe napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrappod together im a place by itself.” The Greek and Roman Catholic churches, said Mr, Talmage, were in long controversy as to the right day on which to celebrate tho resurrection of Curigt, so that while the Romanists were fusting the Greeks were rejoicing, but at a great council, held in 825, it was unanimously decided that Easter should be kept and celebrated on the Sabbath following the first new moon alter the spring equinox; sv that the whole Christian world to-day, Protestant and Roman Catholic, keeps Easter all round the world, This morning our souls show an appreciation of the fact that Christ is rison from the dead. *He is rigen.’? “He 1s risen.’ Mr, Talmage emphasized these last words by turning to tno floral inscription on the organ and pointing out cach word as it was pronounced, He then contin- ued: — ‘The first lesson that I get from this Easter Sabvath is that truth and riguteou 33 Cun’t be successiuily buried, Let Truth, the daughter ot God, be seized, kindle round her feet the fires of Sauthiield or let ber head drop trom under the axe of the guillotine; buiid her into the grave with ail the bolts of earth, thea roll against that sepuichre all the bowlders of the sea; some day early the earth will throb. the ground wall crack open and Truth, the daughter of Gou, will come fort. ‘Truth crushed to earth will ri in; ‘Une eternal yours of God are hers. Aguin, this Easter Sabbath teaches me Christ's per- fect deliberation and composure. There was plenty of excitement around the tomb, but Christ wax composed. How do 1 know uu? Why, when one gets up in a fright he casts bis garments on either side, but my text shows that Curist, atter He rose, ook the shroud and folded it up carefully aud laid win one place and the cloth that was about his head in another, perfectly calm and composed. Aguin, this Kuster Sabbath teaches me that we aro not compelled to worsinp a dead Christ, We don’t kneel to-day on the cold slab of a cemetery, but wo look up into the fuce of aliving Jesus. Thut’s the truth of this Easter morning. He lives, He lives to pardou my sins, to carry my burdens, to wipe away iny tears. Ob, come all you peuple with iroubles; you don’t bring them to the grave, bat to the bosom of the living Christ. Ob, weep no more; the Lord has risou, He lives again! ‘Agi tits Easter Sabbath teaches us that the grave has been completely broken up for all God's cuildren. Christ went up ouvot the grave, That's what makes this Kaster Sabvath sv glorious, There’s a great, lndeous monster Who has walked over this world as u conqueror. He rode on a black horse across the fields of Sedan and Austeriitz. All the cities of the world are couing dowa under his long continued assault, His name 18 Death, His music ts the ery of desolated homes; bis chalice 18 & aman gkull; bis pleusure- spring fountains are the tears of a world, On, 1 bate him, 1 bate him with a pertect hatred, He has taken so Many of our loved vows away, But the old monster shall come down. ‘This Kastor inorning dcelares it. Lean now hear the thawp of Paui’s heel fs it comes down on the neck of tue conqueror, “0 Death! where 3s thy sting? O Gravo! where is thy victory ¥” THN GREAT KASTRE DAY. ‘That great Easter Duy which will come to us all, and which (his Easter Day predgures, will be ushered in wiih a great sound, with the blust of trumpets, with a Iv will be @ very penetrating sound, it will not ve mistaken for thunder or the peals of earthly minstreisy. Silliions of spirits shall come from heaven, and they wilt ery, ‘*O Grave, give us buck our bodie: All the great of the eurti, all the urmies, victor and Vanquished; the infant of a day us Well a the octogenarian. And now the air 1s durk- ened with the traguents of bodies coming together from all quarters of the earth, Every oue t hav’s born biind God will ktudle an eye for him. Amid ail the nauons of the Christian dend that are resurrected not one blind eye, not one paisied foot, not ono dumb tongue, not one deaf ear! You ask me if I havo any idea what kind of « form wo will get on that Kuster = moruing? Yes, 1 have, In the first placo 1+ will be glorious, Why, the finest jorm that ony seo im all the earth is # mere skeleton Compared with what we will have ou that day, ST. FRANCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH. IMPRESSIVE EASTER SERVICES---RICH FLORAL DECORATIONS AND SPLENDID MUSIC. The Easter services at St. Francis Xavier's Roman Catholic Church im West Sixteonth street, yesterday, were conducied on a grand sale, and were atiended by an overflowing congregation, The high altar was brill- | jantly lighted with clusters and arches of gas jets ele- gantly arranged, and crowned by a veautitul cross of lights that glittered like a brilliant mass of gems, There were some beautiful flowers, too, tastetally ar- ranged on the main and side altars, And in tho cen- tre, opposite and beneath tho tabernacle, which was hung with rich gold-laid tapestry, was placed a bod of white buds with the name of “Jesus? in carnations. The celebrant of the mass was Pavher Hydon, President of tho Jesuit Order; Famed as Trinity Church has long been for rare Easter mualc, 11 was not to be wondered at that it was yesterday the centre of attraction, The interlor of the edifice was made attractive by an unusually great pro- fusion of flowers, Surrounding the columus dividing tho ckaucel from the body of the church were clustered the choicest and rarest of tropical and foreign plants and flowers covering tho columns for about twenty feet, Surmounting the baptismal font was a cone of rare flowera, urtistically arranged, resting upon which was a crown in white, purple and blue flowers, and a cross of red roses, Over the altar were two very pretty clusters of flowers of various hues, THE MUSIC. The music was under the direction of Mr. A, H, Messiter, organist and musical director, and tho full orchestra was conducted by Mr, Houry Carter, as- sociate organist. The solos were by Masters Coombe, Kemble and Jones, sopram; Master Ward and Mr. ‘Ans, Smedley, alti; Megsrs. M. B. Farr and Cnaries A. McPherson, tenort; Mr. Henry Price, baritone, und Mr. F, H. Dankingon, basso. Tho selections included Bach's toccato in F, on the organ, by Mr. Carter; thy processional, hymn 99; Haydn’s rise. Our Passover; Schubert's loria Tibi,” from Hayda}; “Nicene Creed,” by 5 bert, and olfertory anthem, by J. P. Morgan, Fbulharmonic Orcaestrai Society was represouted by thirty-lve instruments th the orgun gallery, It 16 neediess to say tual all the selections were reudered tu a bighiy artistic manner, aud lovers of sacred music enjoyed a rare entertainment, YOUR S&RVICES. The day was observed by four services, At six A. MM. the service of holy communion was held; at halt-pust seven # brief service 1m the German language, that was attended by about ope thousand persons, at nine there Was morning prayers; at Mr, Aylitfe per- formed a number of appropriate Easter seloctions on the chimes and then came tho usual Easter services and a short discourse by Rov. Morgan Dix, the rector, who Was aasisted in the services by “Dr. Ogilvie and Rev. Messrs, Hickson and Kobinson, The ceremonies were concluded by ® musical service in the evening. ‘The editice was thronged vo tts utmost capacity and hundreds were compelled to leave disuppointed aud worship clsewhere, Si, STEPHEN'S CHURCH, SPLENDID DECORATIONS AND CEREMONIES— THE SANCTUARY ILLUMINATED—AN IMMENSE CONGREGATION—SERMON BY THE REY. DR. M'GLYNN. $1. Stephen’s Church, East Twenty-cighth street, was splendidly decorated for the Easter celebration. The entire surroundings of the church showed that ample preparations bad been made for the festival, ‘The altars were ablaze with lighted tapers and gas jets, and flowers were prolusely scattered upon them and around the sanctuary. Tho contrast between tho ap- pearance of the sanctuary yesterday and for the pust week was very noticcable, as, instead of tho purple coverings concealing the ornaments and pictures and statuary which then everywhcro met tho eye there was now tho fullest ornamentation to be seen, and all the familiar paint- tugs and statues appeared to view like old fricnds of the congregation. High up over tho princle pal altar, ond invisibly suspended from the dome abovo the sauctuary, hung a large illuminated cros: whose brilliaucy could not fail to attract the attention of the visitor on entering and announce that the fes- tival of tho day was one of great joy. The ceremonies of the solemn high mass were performed fully accord- ing to the ritual, and these, in connection with the splendor of the altars and the incidental decorations Jor the festival, made the service a most brilliant spectacle, As 18 usual on special feast days, there was a congregation in attendance that filled every pew and crowded the side aisies for sginding room, A GORGEOUS SIGHT. When scen from the eutrance doors on Twonty- eighth street the sanctuary presented a magaiticeut sigbt. ‘The illuminated cross it up the features of the groups of the large pamting ot the crucifixion, which forms the background of the sanctuary. At the base of the inission cross u cluster of lowers was laid, and in front of the beautiful picture of the sacred heart several tapers were burulug and bouquets of flowers arranged. The Virgin’s altar Was chasticy decorated, sume of the choicest flowers being placed around it, and on the altar table a lamp was burning. The priests olficiating at the bigh mas# were roved in vest- ments ol the very richest sort, the attendant boys, about fifty in number, wearing white cussocks and sur- plices, All this, with a church tilled to. its utmost capacity by a congregation atuired in the highest tasb- jon, with the organ pealing forth its poweriul music or ihe violins breathing some devotioual tender pus- sage, presented the Kaster service in the most 1mpos- ing Inanner, THE MUSIC, ‘The music of the mass was Mercadante’s in E£ flat, The soloisis were Mite, Avoa Ro-etti, Mile, Mumer, Mr. Carl Bernard, Mr, Jacobsohn and Mr, Higant For the chorus there wore twenty voices, and the or- chesira numbered eighteen, Before the mass com- menced the overture to “Oberon,’’ by Carl Maria you ‘and a processional inarch by Weingarten were played, At the gospel,a “Ven! Creator,” by Rossi, was sung by Mr, Bernard, and at the oflertory a “Hie Dics,”? by Dantortb, was the selection. THX SERMON. The celebrant of the high mass was the pastor, Rev. Dr. McGlynn, the deazon being Kev, Fatner McCready, the sub-deacon Rev, Father McCawey and tho master of ceremouies Key, Mather Colton. During the servico Rev. Dr, Curran und other priests occupied soats within the sanctuary. Tue sermon was preached by the Rev, Dr. McGiynn, Who did not occupy xs mach time in his discourse as he usually does; vor did he ascend the pulpit, but addressed the congregation trom Lo altar, stil clothed in the vestments of the mass, ale began’ by reading the goxpel of the day, from Mark, iv Which 1s narrated the arrival of the:-two women at the tomb and the response they inet with—that Jesus was risen, He then went on to speax ot the recent sorrowing of the Church over the Passion of the Redcemer aud of tho cructiixion itself, and connected this with the rejoicing uf the Euster fes- tival, After dwelling on the manitold reasons there were for joy on this feast, the day on which was com- memorated the proving of His aiviaity by Christ Himsell, he spoke of the uoisou of prayer that went up all over the world at this Easter tme in acknowl- edgment of the woodrous love Whicu the Saviour had inantlested for men, and concluded his discourse by inviting the congregation to join, by their assist. anee at the holy sacrifice of the mass, in the versal gluduess over the resurrection. In the atternoon, at jour oelock, Vespers Were sung, at Which « congrega- tion as jargo as Ubat which had attended the high mass was present. SWEDENBORGIAN CHURCH, THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST—SERMON BY REV. CHAUNCEY GILES, In the Swedenborgian Church, Twenty-fifth streot, between Fourth and Lexington avenues, yesterday morning, the pastor, Rev, Chauncey Giles, preached on the resurrection, Ho took bis text from Matthow xxvill., 6—“He is not here; for he is risen as he said,” Tho resurrection, sald the proucher, was a necossary step in the work of human redemption, The death of Christ on the cross was generally regarded as tho cs- sential clement of that great saving work, when in reality 1t was only an incident of it, ‘To save man it ‘was necessary for tho Lord to assamo human nature, for there was no other way of gaining such access to him as was requisite for the achiovement of that end, Now, as there was no perfect human mind, be could only assume an imperiect one and then change it inio a divine nature, a process whieh was called His glorification, The death whieh He suffered was only the death of His hawan nature, Ho was during all bis lifetime going through a process of change of Which that death was only the consutn- mation. As He ud down the organic forms of His material humanity He repiaced th with a divine-ur- ganization, ‘The work of death and resurrection was continually gomg on within Him, and the deata of His material body was only the clearing away of all that HERALD, MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1877.—WITH SUPPLEMENT. remained of earthly substance, But that aeath should not be regarded ax the loss of consciousness or life on His part. Neither should it be supposed that His death implied even a temporary suspension of hie, He lived right on, the same divine beimg He bad ever been, and only the material vei! of the fesb died The re- surrection, therefore, did not meas u recalling of 4 lilo ‘that had been lost the contrary, it meavt # con- Unuai existence, a'standing up and moving ox. When a living form had become dissipated there was no ine stance of it having being recalled to life again. . ST. ANN'S (R. C.) CHURCH. THE JOYOUS SIGNIFICANCE OF EASTER—SER- MON BY REV. FATHER PRESTON. Easter Sunday 1s always a day of special grace and beauty at St, Ann’s Church, Such it was yesterday. The large, brilliant audieuce solemn and attentive throughout; the gorgeous flower-decked altar; the radiant sdbctuary with its huodred gleaming lights, and the chaste image of the Redeemer looking benignly down upon this offering of joy at His resurrection formed a striking and impressive scepe. The church looked, indeed, to use an expression from Father Preston's sermon, like a bride festively arrayed and joyously awaiting the coming of ber Divine bridegroom, The music was of the usual elaborate description, The “Imperial” (third) mass, by Haydn, whoseevery strain solemn beauty and grandeur of esurroction; the olfertory, and the charactor- istic ‘*Laudate” by Abbé Voglor were the best features of the musical part of the celebration which was reo- dered by tho regular choir of tho church. Alter the gospel Father Preston preached o sermon which gave full expression to tho religious significance of the day. He glorified =the resurrection of the Saviour as the greatest mystery of the world’s history, us the conclusive victory over the fleah and over death—a victory which was shared by the whole of Christendom. Christ had been beset and harrassed by the world, which was still His enemy. Ln tnis century more than ever the world was His enemy, and kings ‘and cabinets arrayed themscives against Him and His agointed, Hence this glad day, in which tho gracious Saviour burst the ‘bonds of the tomb to authenticate the faith of Christianity in this immor- tality, Was an additional reproach to the laggard and unfaithful Catholic, who had praise and eloquence on bis Mps, but ouly bypocrisy in bis heart, Tho revorend father illustrated tho weakness und ignominy of the flesh, which waa bound to puss away, Jeuving only a handful of dust, but when the trumpet of the Archangel sounded the body of the just would rise again, purilied und gloritled, and would claim its final biiss(ul unison with the soul at the foot of the Imperial Turone, CHURCH OF ST, VINCENT FERRER, RASTER CEREMONIES AND GRAND HIGH MASS— SERMON BY REV. FATHER HOBAN, The ceremonies yesterday at the Dominican Uhurch of St. Vincent Ferrer, Lexington avenue and Sixty- sixth street, wore very grand and impressive, The high altar was beautifully docorated with natural flow- ers and gracotul draperies, while innumerablo lights burned in and around tho sanctuary, adding « wonder. fuily brilliant effect to the carved and gilded ornaments of the shrine, At tho usual hour, hall-past ten o’clock A. M., a grand tigh mass was colebrated, tho oillciating priests being Father Dominic Lilly, celo- brant; Father Francis Lilly, deacon, aud Father Spen- cer, sub-deacon, Tho choir rendered tho music of Mozart’s “Twelfth Mass’? very eflectively, the princi- pal soprano being Miss Morison Fiset, who was as- sisted §=by a large corps of ladies and gentiemen, Mr, Bond presided at the organ, Atter the gospel was sung Futher Hoban ascended the pulpit and preached on the appropriate subject ot the mystery of the Resurrection. Ho said:—Before con- templating this mystery of the career of our Saviour, let us consider the events that occurred during the few days previous, when the Saviour of men was the subject of all the outrages that could bo heaped on Him by His enemies. We see Him sullering the agonies in the garden and bearing the beart-pangs that are wrung from Him vy the treachery of ono of His chogen twelve, We sce Him Jed belore the Koman Governor ag an impostor, scourged at the pillar by tbe execu- tioners, stumbling under the heavy weight of the cross as He toils up the rugged steep to Calvary. We sec Him raised on bigh on the mstrument of His death, and watch His dying agonies as Hy consummates the work of our redemption, GRACE CHURCH. THE RESURRECTION AND CHRIST'S: DIVINITY— SERMON BY THE REV. DR. POTTER. The morning services yesterday in Grace Church were most impressive and goleinu, Aa tho time for as- sembling the congregation approached the silver chimes rang out their dulcet tones to advise tho faitb- jul that the hour for prayer had arrived, In addition to tho usually large attendance by members of the con- gregation, 200 or 300 people—who were evidently strangers—crowdod tho aisles and passage ways on both sides o! the pews ‘The floral decorations about tho altar, the pulpit and communion table were of tho most appropriate and delicate description, Over the altar wae a large cross, in whie—“St, Joseph’’—lilies, having a Greck cross in carnations fora centre piece, The panels to tho right and left of this were dressed with variegated leaves: and evergrocus, worked ito pleasing devices by deit bands, On the altar steps sweet smelling plants gratified the optic and olfactory senses, the pulpit was draped with evergreen = run- ners; aud 80, too, wero the desk and the oaken chairs near the communion table, On the front pane! of tho pulpit was a shieid of white lilies Dorderod with evergreens and having a carnation Cross in the centre; white tu front of the reader's desk was a circulur trophy made up iu the same way. The Rey. Dr. Potter preached the sermon, taking his text from the Gospel of the day. During the course of bis remarks he said U ‘was no questios that the Episties to tho Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Colos- sians and ‘Thessalonians were written by tue hand, of the Gentiles’ apostie, Paul, They were produced twenty-five yours alter the Kesurrection, of which” they bore testimony. So wheo Paul met men who denied tho fact of tho resur- rection of Christ he confronted them with their iwenty-five yeurs of consent to and acquiescence in tho fact, Tweuty-fve years after the miraculous ovent Paul eays that many men believed in it because they saw it with their own eyos, There could have been no plot among the apostles to create a belief in the resur- rection, because they did uotexpect 1. hese men on account of this “delusion”? suflered and died—ior what? For a stupendous fact. THE CHILDREN’S EASTER. EASTER ANNIVERSARY OF THE ST, THOMAS SUN- DAY SCHOOL, The Easter anniversary of the St, Thomas Sunday school was celebrated yesterday afternoon at the church (Rev. Dr. Morgan’s), corner of Fifth avenue and Fifty-third street, The extensive programme ol exer- cises was carried out with entire success and was cn- Joyod by a vast audience, filling the atslos and passage ways, many ladies in their gay Easter attiros standing during the services, Tho altar and surroundings wero handsomely decorated with towers, the offerings of tho ladies of the church, THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES. ‘The following 1s a list ol the Sunday school classes represented:—Faith, Hope and Charity, Miss 1 Middieton; Littie Gloaners, Mias Graco Lee; the Su Thomas, Miss Fanny Lahy; Bishop Whipple, iiss Watts; Ministering Children, Miss Ella G. Young; Niobrara, Miss Sarah Smith; Little Branches, Miss Estelie Young; the Pathinders, Miss Dexter; Truth Seekers, Miss Whittemore; Christian Phuosophers, R oS. Mains; Star of Bethiehem, Miss E. S. Morgan; ‘Emmanuel, Miss 5.’ V. More ris; Children of Promise, Miss Edith = Wat- son; Little Watchman, Muss Kate Morgan; Earnest Workers, Miss Mary L. Short; Standard Bearers, Miss Mary Dodge; Children of the Cross, Miss Carrie stone; Daughters of Hope, Miss Neihe Bolmer; Toe King’s Own, Miss M. C. Burchell; Helping Hands, William 8, Dancomb; Wiking Workers, Siss Gardner; Young Discipies, KL. Short; Soldiers of the Cross, James Pou, the Rev. Dr. Morgan, Dr, Thurmat stile Sentinels, Mr. Bolmor; Loheriturs of Eternity, Mies Lyin mv of the Fuld (intant class), Mrs, Ruthven and Miss Vose; Young Ladies’ Bible Class, Mrs. T. H. Gilitss; Young Men’s Bible Class, R. B. Dodson, OROER OF SERVICES. ‘The order of services Was Very interesting and the singing was admirable, the Sunday school receiving aid from achoir of boys and a class of young girls with the regular St, Thomas choir, Brief addresses wero delivered by vr. Morgan and Rey. Frederick Courtney, fhe remarks of the lauer were directed principally to the puptls of the Sunday school, Who With their relatives aud trends occupied an extensive area on the floor of the church and i the side balconies, He urged upon his young hearers the necessity of following the example of their Lord and Saviour, and by leading a hte of purity and righteous. ness be prepared to ejoy the inefluble glory of the life to come. Thu pretty silk banners of the ciasses added a charming eilect to the scene, which was altogether of a highly attractive character, TRINITY CHAPEL, Trinity Chapel, Twenty-fourth street, was profusely decorated in honor of the holy day. Aun array of beau. titul exotics nearly surrounded the altur, the contre piece being A large cross, composed of tuberoses, eume- has and Ethiopian hlies—embiems of purity and right- eousness, The floral decorations were the handiwork of the ladies of the chureu and exhibited superior tasto and sktil in their arrangement, The musical exercises were of an unusually clevated tone, as will bo se rom @ glance at the programme, the whole being uuder the forenoon sermon, taking bis text from L Corimthians, XV, 14, 17 aud 18—"And if Christ be bot Figen, then 8 direction of Mr, Gilbert, organist and leader of the chorr:—Seven A, M., Choral Communion; Matins (procesmonal)—Come, Ye Fauhtul;’? Kuster anthem, Psains iniron, “Worthy ix the wink, Handel; Kyrie and Cr Gilbert, 19 A; | hymn, ‘Jesus Christ is Risen To-day ;'? eve! j hymn, “Ail Wortuy Thou, Gloria in Exeelsis; Nune Dimitiis in C; recessioual, “At the Lamb's High: ‘oust; Even Soug; processional, “Como ¥ 100th Hymn; Compitne; processional, Come, Faithiol;” 18th Psalm; Magnificat,’ Gribert, in Aj Nicene Creed in Aj anthem, “‘Wortny is tho lamb” and Hateiujah, Handel; recossional, 100th hymn. The rector, Rev. Dr, Swope, preached the ing vain, and your faith ts also vain,’? “Al Coriat be not raised your faith is vain; ye are yetin your sing.” “Then they algo which are fatlen asleep iu Chrigt are perished,” do voted mainly to the consiueratio resurrectiet of our Loré and the consequences which followed to ali mankind. The afternoon services were devoted to Sunday school exercises, in which the children belong- ing to the chapel participated. CONSCIENCE AND THE BIBLE, The Rev. William Lioyd preached his farewell ser- mop to the congregation of the Washington square Methodist Episcopal Church, in Fourth street, last even- ing. In the morning he commenced his regular min- istry at the Madison avenue Reformed Church on the corner of Fifty-seventh street, and selected as a sub- ject, “Risen from Christ.”” ‘Phe tarewell address delivered last evening attracted a very largo congregation to the Washington square Methodist Episcopal Church and the pastor preached a vory interesting sermon, at the close of which ho said:—My ministry is now closed. 1 go forth from a branch of Christ’s church which will ever be dear to me, But! ao not go out of {he Church, neither do I feet myself to be recreant to my history, my faith or my Lord. For seme time past 1 hav had " but two guides—my conscience ve and the Bible, Should my views of Bible truths be- come such as to force me to out of all creeds, 1 should do so, preferring to stand alone with Christ than in a crowd at sacrifice of principle I have stri to bea true and taithiul minister of God am you I have shrank from no toil. 1 have carried you asa church to the throne of God every day of my sojourn among you. I have given to God and to you the boat of my thoughts, the first fruits of heart aud brain, now close the book, wy work 1s with the Lord and my reward is with him. May God bless you, may the man who stands among you tn the years to com thou- sand-fold more uselu! than apy man of the past. I leave the seed | have sown to grow and ripen, and an- other may thrust in the sickle and reap.”” THE MURDER OF CHRIST, DB. ARMITAGE ON THE JUDICIAL ASPECTS OF THE CRUCIFIXION—PILATE AS A WILEY POLITICIAN. At the Filth Avenue Baptist Church yesterday morning \he Rev, Thomas Armitage, D. D., delivered the last sermon of the sorics upon “The Men of the Great Week,” his subject boing **Christ’s Judicial Mur- der,’? The pastor’s teat was Matthow, xxvil., 25, aud Acts, V., 28. Ina former discourse on these words it was shown, said Dr. Armitage, that Romar as well ag Hebrew Jaw held human life to be sacred. It throw its most sacred and inviolable guards srouond tts own citizens as such. But tho Romanos had orders of cit- izenship—a perfect cluss and a less perfect class, All tho private rights of man belonged to the imperfect class as well as to tho pertect, while the houors o! magistracy might be added to the perfect order only. But jo tho days of Christ the conquests of the Empire had become so enormous that milhons of persons in the subjugated provinces who wero noither citizons nor slaves were yet subjects, made go first as captives, In- asmuch, thon, as thé Jewish nation tad been con- quered by Rome bofore the time of Christ’s birth and Jadea was then held as a tributary of that Power, Ho was boro, ‘not a citizen of Romo, but simply a subject, and, as such, was answerable to the provin- cial law, whatever it might be. Christ was neither a prisoner of war nora captive, He was the subject of a conquered country which was noteven under national law, fer its civil and ecclesi- astical laws were then intuct and operative. As the representative of the Emperor there the Procurator had the power of life and death over a subject under the application of those Jaws which protected a subject im the enjoyment of those rights which were ac- corded to bim by the code of the province in which bo lived, We are thus shut up to this conclusion, that ay the Procurator of uo imperial prov- ince it was the duty of Pilate to know whether or not the Sanbedrim had tne li.e of Jesus 10 jeopardy under the national and proper application of Jewish law, and 1m case of doupt either to order a new trial in which the laws should be properly applied, or to modily tne whole proceeding because of its illegality, Instead of this he did not revpen the case and review it and de- cide aguinst their sentence; and then himself committed a judicial crime of the highest mag- nitude by assisting thom to enforce what he, ag the supreme juuge, bad declared to be utterly Mlogal. Or, to uso the words of tho moat careful and patient student and interpreter of law {a our country, who says, ‘If cannot cull to mind anything in all my researches where such arbitrary power as was exer- cised against Christ was authorized by law, He waa picked up for a supposed offence, if it can be called ap oflence, and the act of arrest was an arbitrary act founded io no law, but ciearly dezpotic.” Hence, aa we claim, the oxccution of Christ was but judical mur- de: CHRIST BRYORE THE ROMAN COURT. Pilate, invested with those powers, was nota moro agent through whom the Jewish Court could snilict ite injustice upon Jesus, but he was the centre of the highe est judicial power, go that the crime, the trial, the finds 4g and the execution all caine under his cognizauce by right of jurisdiction, The Sanbedrim had given its de- cision that He was worthy of death, but they had no power to pass the formal sentence of death upun Him, ‘This court seems to have adjourned tn av uproar early an the morning, When, accordmg to St. Luke, the whole court arose und led Jesus, bound, to Pilate and aeuv- ered Him into bis hands to bo put to death. As nearly as we can ascertain Jesus entered e's ball of judgment about seven tu the morning, when Hie Roman or civil trial commenced, Here such a scene und such a series of events transpired as havo 0 parallel in tbe bistory of the judiciary. A wild ad: ixture of craft, passion, cowardice, meekness, vaci jon and inconsistency 18 found here such as bai er been compounded elsewhere on earth, The sult shows (hat a sadder beart never beat ima man’s bosom than that in Pilate’s when he uscended tho “Judgment seat”? gud the young man of Nazareth sluod before him. ‘The Jewish leaders of the people held a great power over tne proud Rowan, aud vot ouly msisted that be must deal with the case as they ut that bho mcst conirm their own flodings of condemnation, Pilate does not appear to have been ip bis usually passive staty of wind that morning. Possibly he was annuyed to find public business pushed upon bim at that uutimely bour, or he may have been disquieted by the apprehension that the passover day was to be marked by somo act of turbulence whieh would cost a1m and his troops great trouble; or he, perhaps, felt a slight tinge of scorn and reseutment loward the city magnatos and baughty pricats who bad already sent grievous compuuinta against him to Silenus; or, last of all, it 13 possible tual, with the sharpness of the cagie’s eye, ine cm- Ulematic bird of bis own standard, suw by the bearing of the prisoner that he was not an ordinary Jelon. He carrioa no hardened aud brazen front, ne deiiant and guilt bespeaking manners like those ol a common criminal, but was mock, pure, genue and diguifled, qualities which appear in the innocent and not the reprobate, for Pilate bad seen too much of crime avt to reud its hollow, suuken, guilen look. THK JUDICIAL MURDEL Instead of taking their word at full credit and ratity- ing the Undings of the Jows, supreme judicial *Couu- cu” off hand, aud without a hearing to the ineifaviy ineek Victim, whe stood belore him With a rope around his neck, Pilate propused to retry the case, This en- raged them beyoud endurance, Pilate had by thie decision served a notice on them that he could not be ‘& passive Instrument tn their hands by playing the part Of hangman without first ascertaining the guilt of the culprit, even to please the legal aristocracy of the nation, iu their own court they bad accused Jesus of blus- phemy, but at once they saw that their religious quar- rei had po interest for w Koman judge, who ko ab they were leit by ihe couqaest in the free exercise of their religion, and they felt that Pilate weuid not trou- bie Limseif with an alleged ollence ugaid@t the Jewish God, in whom be did not believe, because such que: tons did not pertain to Roman law. ‘Theretore, fore this new court they suddenly abandoned the old accusation and subsiituted for it @ new political charge. They no louger alleged that Ho was guilty of coustractive blasphemy, but that Ho was guilty of consiructive treason, “When Iilate*boldly aud em. phaticatly absvived Him trom the accusation, saying, “1 find no fault in bim,’? it was his duty to have aise charged the prisoner. The acquittal of Jesus made the Jews more flerce, und they charged that Jesus stirred up tho people, “beginning trom Galilee 10 this place, ’? PILATK, THK CRAVTY POLITICIAN, Up to this point Pilate had acied a manly part, but the tumult of the people began to alarm him juat hero, probably fearing an outvreak on the peace of the city und desiring to rd iimsel! of w troublesome case with all responsibility, when he heurd the accused wag a Gaijieau, he begau to play the cratty politician and ceased Irom that moment to be the fair judge Galilee was oulstde Of lis province, Herod, of Gulllee, and VPilawe were not friends, Herod was at the tine at Jerusalem, having come to utteud the passover. Pilate thought that it would be a masier stroke of policy to iree himself of this troublesome prisuner toside, and this clamorous inob vutsiue, a8 woul as to conciliate Herod by sending Jesus to bun on the plea that be had hot proper Jurisdiction 11 the cage, So instead of ree leasing Crist be sent Him to Herod, The later, ator allowing Christ’ to be = maltreated, returned Mim to Pilate, On every principle of common jaw and equity, to say nothing of humanity, Pilato was responsible for ull the mockery, indignity and suilering which Jesus endured at tio hands ot Herod and bis bratal mon ot war, alter being acquitted upon bis own examination, Then Pilavw violated every principle of common law by proparing to scourge an imnoc person. His proposition to release Jesus instead arabbas Caused a wild, satunie passion to seize the mulutude, und the franué thron yelled like tends for the release of Barabvas, who tu been legally convicted of sedition und murder, aud fot the cruciixion of Jesus, The bitter, voisterous de- mand of the mov prevailed. The scowling, hardened Villaio Burabvas went forth to a bloodstained jubilee, while the quiverimg shuuldert of Mury’s som were Jacerated Uli every Herve aud muscle shuddered under the torture of the Roman thong. sull, Pilate sought to release Christ, but the threat at least Of the mov that he was not Casur's friend opened to Pilate a vision of condemnation, degradation and bagisument at the hands of bis gloomy and supsicious master, Silenus, Which silenced ull convictions uf justice, equity aud ba- manty, wud under this impulse, tur the first time in a civilized country, u judge ventured w to reverse his own decision thrve tines rendered with: out bew evidence aud without discovering a flaw or Mistike 1D the proceedings. Jusus fell into the bunds ot Mis jadicil inurderers a view of mateo and hate. The Jews" prayer, “His blood be Upon us and Upon OOF ebildegn,’* has not been woat Longteliow vails, ta a | (OONTINUED ON NINTH PAGR)