The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-05-20

Singular Sermon Mt the Rose street @ uaIxs r
Meeting, last Sunday.
There was quite large number of that highly
respectable portion of our fellow citizens, called
Quakers, assembled at the Rose street Meetins
House last Sunday; besides also, very large mum
Der of male strangers who did not appear to belong
to the society," but who filled that side of the gallery
apportioned off for men whilst the parallel side sci
apart for females entirely empty. AT the same
time both the male and female side galleries had a
curious appearance, they having long pieces
OF board nailed across them apparently with view
OF preventing rude and unmannery strangers from
going to that part of the house in order that they
might get full view of and rudely at the faces
OF the very pretty Quaker girls in the body of the
church.
Staid and steady and quiet and motionIess. as
the worthy members OF the Society of Friends are
uniformly known TO be, particularly in all that re-
lates to religious worship there evidently con-
siderable sensation and some little excitement on
foot on this occasion. The immediate cause of
all this seemed TO be the anticipation of sermon
from curious preacher named George F. White.
and that he would in that sermon denounce as
emissaries of the devil all the temperance lecturers,
the Anti-Slavery Societies, their agents, their lee
urers, and officers, all the preachers of other demo-
limitations, and all the religious book agents, &c
And sure enough the result showed that they had
anticipated rightly. For he did denounce them all
IN no very measured terms
The body of the meeting house quite full
of the very Elite of the Society of Friends. The
long row Of seats appropriated for the male and
female elders filled with very respect
able and grave, though by no means handsome
looking quakers. The same may be said of the
seats Immediately behind, appropriated. to the ac
credited preachers OF the Society. The long row of
seats at the back of ALL appropriated believe, to
the great star preachers from the country, was en-
tlrely vacant. Among the audience were Abraham
Bell, the great shipping merchant, Cornelius w.
Lawrence, with two very beautiful daughters
Captain Coleman of the Astor House, and several
distinguished and leading Friends all ofthem dress
ed In most costly broad cloth, and in the height of
tashion-that is, Quaker fashion. On the female
side of the house, probably there never was such
bevy of beauties gathered together before any
where-such perfect blaze of loveliness-unless
indeed, it be on the occasion of yearly meeting in
London For it is notorious that the young quaker
girls of New York, and the Rose street meeting in
particular, taken in body, are superior in shape,
even elegance, to those of any other religious sect
IN the city. They were dressed, it is true-a ma
jorty of henl-in the ''severe and formal cut
Of the fashion OF their society," but they looked still
more lovely if possible, from the very simplicity Ct
their dress; and great number had modified and
twisted the style and cut their frocks, and added
little lace ornament here, and little something else
there, and pushed their improvements, aud resem
l. Al. l.. i. L.
and yet not be taken to task for violating the
Quaker rules of dress, whilst, for costliness and
richness of material, nothing could exceed the SUI
perb quality of their silks and sans.
Mr.. George F. White, the great and eloquent star,
who was to preach upon this occasion, is or was,
we believe, flour merchant in this city. A few
yearsaso, in consequence of failure in business
pccuniary embarrassmentso something of that kind
he was, according tohe rules of the Society 'put 10
the wall, we think the term runs, or read out
He also, we believe, addressed several communica-
tons to the Free Enquirer and particularly assaiei
Sunday Schools, or the mode in which they were
conducted, and which he denounced as calculat
to subvert the purity and morals of the young fc
male teachers. He also denounced aboltionists
and all other religious preachers, as ''hireling
''hireling lecturers" "hreng editors"
servants ofthe devil, "emissaries of SATAN" sshy-
pocritcs" s'blasphemers," looming up out of the
bottomess pitt &c. &c. And, now that the ami
versaries were in full operation, he again came
forth to denounce them. He is very tall, and not
a badly made man, uncommonly well-dressed
but with rather homely features, and a very
unpleasant style of voice, harsh and cracked Still
he is looked upon by the Hickstes as a very able
man, their great star preacher and quite the head Ct
the church i'm this city. His style of preaching
is not good-he lacks powers Of condensation is
very rambling and discursive, and makes use of u
most unnecessary number of words. For instance
he spoke for hour last Sunday Rose street,
whereas an able would have really said all that
he said, in fourth the time, and produced a
greater effect; and as he does not seem to know
how to condense, will do that for him, and give
only the strong points Of his speech.
He commenced his sermon by stating that he was
fully convinced of the truth of what John said that
mystery the fruitful mother of all denominations
that she ever had BEEN and ever would be so
see that the Almighty had laid down certain prin-
cples in order to bring him to a close approxima-
ton with his own nature, and that he would turn
his back on all religions that were shaded in the
least degree by that mother OF abominations-mys-
terry He went on
So rational in religion, that far from man being
required do anything contrary his thar
Il the sav alton Of his soul depended it. would be i'm
possible for him to do Man required sacri
ice tine major to the minor
Is necessary 60 into the great labor Of removing
he of rubbish which the hreling preachers of the
and former generation have thrown this bless
ID TRUTH Is necessary go in and show the absurdiy
IF what they call the Trinity
Are there not those in this city who believe not the
wor But who have been sitting in darkness under the
ministry Of the corrupt hre,ing preachers Of the present
lay, and who believe that direct revelation from God
nan, and inspiration has ceased? There And you
hun these hirelng preachers and shun all their idola
temples of worship which neither less
han the temples the arch enemy of the human race
Shun these doarous temples you would the open den
If famishcd lions.
Turn from the darkness of the mystery of denominations
md her the leprous hreng preachers of the
Law Is absurdt the doctrines Of the Trinity they
ire called. Is it necessary then to dcvclope the pro-
positions laid down, show the absury and wicked