The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-12-02


Lecture ON the Restoration OF the Jews by
the Rev. DR.. sprague, I'm the Reformed
Dutch Church, Washington Square.
The Rev. DR.. Sprsgue OF Albany delivered
lecture at the Reformed Dutch Church, in Wash
ngton Square, last evening, agreeably to the an
nouncement 10 that effect, choosing for his subject
The history and condition OF the Jews. The
lecture was delivered in aid Of the American
Society for the ameloration OF the condition OF
the Jews.
The edihce in which the discourse was delivered
Is rather different from the simple structure IN
which the lectures of the Reformed Dutch Church
are generally promulgated. 1t is one OF the most
magnificent OF the uptown churches, and one OF
those costly edifces that has involved The society
who built IT, IN unpleasant pecuniary embarrass-
menis 1t is OF pure Gothic construction and built
Of hammered granite-the interior is extremely
lofty, and the style OF architecture is carried out
in all the minutia, with the exception Of the scroll
work about the caps of the columns, which seem
to be sort Of composite order. There are two
galleries upon each side the fronts of which are of
oak, and an imitation of that sturdy aad admired
wood the pews are all elegant and aristocratic
as is possible for pews to be, and the furniture
of them is complete-the cushions are as soft
as il stuffed with elder down, and the very
buttons upon the doors signify that they hold
the door upon fashion and wealth at worship.
The pulpit Is very elegant; upon the right -
magnificent gothic chair, and directly in front
stand intended probably Tor the baptismal bowl
The church possesses an organ OF great power and
beautiful tone, and the gentleman who presldes at
II appears TO be fully aware OF the facts and OF his
power TO discourse most eloquent music with It's
aid, with the assistance OF a choir OF no very
great pretension.
The announcement last night drew together
mil Of
the deplorabe state of the grouud and the threat
ening appearance of the clouds, and the auditory
was pretty well besprlDkled with female elegdntes,
attracted by their desire 10 hear the Kev. Doctor,
who.has acquired considerable standing in Alba
n.y. as an eloquent divine. How they were salts
fed, they can best answer
DR.. SPRAGUE is a man OF about forty-lve years
Of age, about The medium height, and rather stout
ly built. His head is large and well formed, but
his features are rather COARSE he has black eyes and
black hair, and his somewhat pale lace was rem
dered still paler by the contrast OF his black gown
and the brilliant gas lights upon each side OF him.
His style oil delivery Is free, but there IS no great
force about it., and nothing that would strike
stranger that the speaker was anything more than
man of ordinary abilities orator; and In fact
nothing in the lecture OF last evening would induce
one 10 give him credit for the abilities he does in
reality possess, as he confined himself almost ex-
cuslvely to the history OF the Jews as detailed IN
the Scriptures, and deduced inierences from their
history tending to show the tulfment OF the va.
rous prophecies the eventual restoration of the
scattered sons of Abraham to the city OF their
fathers.
He chose for his text, the lOsd Psalm, 7h verse;
HE made knopn his nays unto Noses and his acts unto
the children Of Israel"
The Rev. Gentleman commenced by stating that the
subject Of which his discourse treated teemed with the
greatest interest that enough could be said and writ
ten fill many volumesthat consequently he could
aude to but few facts in the history OF the scattered
tribes Of Israeli in the time that he had allotted himself
but limited that he might have opportunity III course
Of lectures Of entering fully INTO the history Of the
illustrate the striking attributes OF Godhis vast power
and to establish this, he alluded TO the calling upon
who was himself it was supposed in his childhood-io
make him the founder Of nation of Christians anu
that he might begin at the very heart and in the very
midst Of the evil placed him N city in the very centre
Of idolatry They particularly favored race
scriptures given them tor their government and
Violations made them enable them 10 pursue the doc
OF Christi nty and finally the Messiah sent
His son chosen from the tribe of Abraham 1t was
not for man 10 enquire the Of a this He then
illustrate the power and the inscrutabie ways
Of The Omnpotent and cited scrpural history to show
the wonderful deliveries from Egypt and Baby lon the
various and punishmens he had inflicted upon
them their dobs dence and the miracles that he had
WORKED Tht these miracles. said DR. s., does not
admit OF doubt,as was impossible for them to be cuun-
tereited and in the very days Of the Miracles even Pha
raoh was compile 10 acknowledged He then alluded
snces hat the jews had undsigone, establishing the
goodness Of the Almighty, and argued that would be
more equally displayed by the triumph OF the CHRISTIAN
religion when the scattered tribes shall be collected from
and near in their ands and must suppose this
be the ultimate eDi when them scattered
throughout the land Chri and Pagan lands wander
ing atone not mixing with any other race Think OF the
myrads OF Abrahams, coming back in triumph un-
der a conversion to the Christian faith-the faith
OF The Messiah, whom their fathers crucfed.-
The sncman continued by showing that the grand de-
sire % God is the final triumph OF christianity through
chosen people end inseousiy argued that the very
dispersion Of the Jews tended make numberles
TO christianity by the introduction of their scrip
throughout the world Space will not permit us 10
give anything than very brief sketch Of Dr..
Spragues wr tten lecture. In winding up he alluded 10
attempts that have been made at various times TO ame
orae the condition Of the Jews and to Illustrate the ends
Of the Omnipoent by end avoring to restore them to J
rusaem, and characterized them misguided. 1t was
eyinced that it only the duty of christians to
orate their condition in their scattered state He besoke
Tor the unhappy pity and veneration.
In conclusion he said he would hold up the condition
and fate Of the Jews to beloved country
this republic of freedom which would eventually Re
vsrtaken unless repent Of our SINS
After the lecture, collection was taken up in aid Of
the American Society for the Ameoration OF the Condi
OF the Jews, and considerable amount OF silver
collected; after which prayer was made by the Rev.
Pastor, hymn sung ond grace soid and ali deper ed,
very much edited and others disappointed because
they had been led to expect lecture Of rather less
Ccrn turalc harar tor