The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-06
Quarter Century Sermon before tho Ameri-
can Tract Society.

can Tract Society.
This sermon was delivered last evening" at the Re-
formed Dutch Church. corner of Fourth street and
Lafayette place.
The ceremonies Of the evening were commenced bv
the performance of appropriate air upon the organ
after which the choir sung part Of the 11th Psalm
commen cling with -
Songs of immortal praise belong
To my Almighty God
70 spread his Sfars nsns nss ssToaa any, tongue
prayer was next offered by Of the reverend
gentlemen who occupied the pulpit
The sermon of the evening delivered by the Rev
Gardiner Spring, who took his text the thirty
verse Of the 18th chapter Of st. Matthew - The
kingdom Of Heaven Is like unto leaven which a wo-
man took and hid in three measures of meal till the
whole leayenedn
The preacher remarked first upon the exclusivencss
which formerly existed among the Jews but which ex
clusiveness in religion done away with by the
PRODUCTION OF Christianity. Men, said he not al
OF exerting lie then proceeded to descant upon the
sympatbes Of men in their practical workings The
source and origin Of the influence Of mind upon mind
Is in nature itself IL T. from the yery ex
itence Of mind itself Why should it, then be thought
incredible said he that the influence of your mind on
mine and then that of another and on until il
extends around the entire globe. No man exercises
Influences invariably bad neither does any nau-
epees universally bad. God has not entrusted this
great power to the bad lie next proceeded to show
the extended influences exerted upon the minds of
men by great minds among which he mentioned
Milton. Cromwell Lord North, Washington The
constituent elements Of the OF human in
hntnees are various: a mans influence is very
but good men, of limited cquirenents freq ucnty
eSertcd an influence more than commensurate with
their talents This truth Is great practical one
The reputation Of Bonapartc, OF Wellington OF the
Archduke Charles. and other great military heroes
WAS the great power exertcd by them in leading their
armies 10 the field. Good Influences will be traceabe
to good opinions. and evil Influences to evil opinions
Opinions seldom lie dormant The moral history of the
is world might be written in the history of the
opinions Of its leaders And Of the enlightened
world There are few men. said the reverend speaker,
who Ike the trouble OF thinking And hence he ar
gucd they were in the habit of adopting the opinions
of tLose ~ho had given expression to their Thoughts
judging Of the influence of men, we should i,,d e
better of them than they deserve said he un-
rss We take into account great variety of circum
stances by which the, are surrounded The power Of
associated IN fiuence the next point which the
spcaker ALLUDED He instanced the family influence,
The influence of schools religious societies and orders
arr other associatioD5 Among religious associations
Of great be ntioncd the Society OF Jesus in
stituted by Loyola There but one religion.
exercised by the Jesuts aud that is the Church of
living Gcd. He then adverted TO the enter
prizes which the Church has eng aged In with Tho last
hall century Some OF the charac Of nu-
,nce erthrst that IL is quiet and unseen Good nu.
sDc' work silently They may be sagscious but they are
never treaclerous Look at the Sandwich Islands-sO
year ago. the brothe of the commercsl world now an
,snlt th.sned p,sti' ieek to- at Ethiopia, and the
silent tsid the preacher but they dcceitful and
teae h, As example OF what change niuence
may work the mind he instapced Robe rpierre Who
wb,n young man. resigned judgeship. because he
could not bring his mind TO pronounce the sentence
Of death upon the convicted criminal; aud yet this
the man who she'd humen blood enough to require
artificial conduit to carry II OF from the streets
Paris There IL influence to be compared with that
Of truth and goodness. But the greatest things arc
not 10 be accomplished by great transactions but by
things done in the right at the right time and in
the right place. The impressions made upon the hu-
mind net TO be sradicated. Eternity will make
what Is good better and what L. bad Great
tponsbiiity Is always attached to human influence The
time will come, said the speaker when men will not
all desire TO be tho known Of great influence
There many who viii then rather be found have
| Possessed limited influence. The American Tract
DR.. Spring. lie spoke with deep FEELING of the CO.
laborsrs in tho work who had. since that time de-
parted nom life The society has often been told that
ih.re those who carefully watched its workings
/ We know II. and are glad of t society which has
in the course Of $500 900 to receive aud dispose
| Of ought to be carefully observed. We have been
! told hlfo. that our enemies watching US. We
know IT, and invite their scrutiny. He next spoke Of
the appropriate work Of the society which is 20 dis
seminate tracts and small volumes throughout the
land. and throughout the world More has been done
n mistake rot said he during the last twenty Ave
y,nrs. towards eleyatipg, enlightenng, aud amslio
rating the condition Of man. than In any like period
tpce the death Of Christ when the twenty I've
sha have passed OF ers will stand here In our
| places. 90 on. beloved be steadfast In the work
" ith short exhortation TO the members Of the
eisiy TO p,rsevere. the speaker closed his address
| prayer was then offered and. In conclusion, the
| congregation sang the 13sih psalm
| With all my Powers Of heart and tongue
| III praise my Maker In MY song