The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-09

PxxAcHns in THE SrRExrs.-We perceive that
q movement is on foot among the clergy of the diff
ferent denominations in our midst-exoepting the
Catholics-to agree upon system of preaching in
the streets and thoroug hfarss of this city, web
as on the wharfs and docks, for the spiritual en-
Gghtenment Of the thousands who are not in the
habit Of frequenting places of worship, or who
are too poor to pay for the privilege of sitting on
soft and cushioned seat, and consequently have no
fine broadcloth to exhibit for the admiration or
envy of those around them. This is q very good
movement, and We wish il all success. There Is
very little piety learned in our fashionable upt town
churches. A great deal of the fashionable Piety
of the present day consists in erecting places OF
worship at an expense that is perfectly staggering
10 the belief Nov, the service OF the lever living
God" does not require such outlays. On the con-
trary according to the precepts of Jesus OF Nazar
reth. we will ind, on reflection, that 50 far from
building costly temples or churches, at An expense
of thousands and hundreds Of thousands OF dollars
while the poor, whom we have always with US, are
furnishing for the want Of food, that so far from
serving God we are guilty OF disregard OF the
precepts which were laid down for our guidance by
the Messiah. Some people console themselves with
the idea that, by contributing few thousand dol
lars towards the building of fashionable church,
and the payment of fashionable clergy man who
breaches in the pulpit, apparelled unexception-
able robes, and wearing a neckerchief whose white
ness rivals the driver snow, they contribute to-
wards the ofrehgio. as well as towards the
tension of the kingdom of the Messiah earth But
they deceive themselves They lack OF the cardi
pal essentials OF Chr stianty and their offering is
to God, but to the devil, whom they wish to
cheat of his due by devsting portion of their
gains to the ostensible worship of the Almighty
such lip worship and dollar worship win not do.
Ten thousand dollars invested in the pews of
fashionable church, with the certainty of receiving
ten OF fifteen per cent year for the outlay, viii
not do. 1t is not SO easy a matter to outwit the
devil as some people imagine He is cunning,
shIewd fellow; and while some Of our would DO
piOus people are cOnsolng themselves With the idea
that they are safe from his clutches, becaus, they
confess their sins when conscience oyertakes them
of stormy night, invest large sum Of money in a
fashionable church, and resolve to do better for the
future, the gentleman in black, behind them, puts
bis finger to his nose, and, in the most approved
style of rowdyism, exclaims, "No you don't," as
Recorder Morris said to Sheriff Acker when he
snatched ''those papers" from that funcsionary, a
lew yt ars since We hate cant-we Getess by
pociisy; We despise the worship of God by system
by routine; and we never see Wall street broker
CT politician, in church, crying out amen, that
We don't say to ourselves, ''No you don't" Ia
tru b, our churches, ofa denominations, need refor
nation in this respect. They more for the
shadow than they do for the substancefor the tin
sci Of this world, thar for the certainty Of hap
pineSs held out to them in the next, if they would
but practice wha. they preach. But they will not
90 it, ner would they tolerate others doing so.
Hence the hatred Of the church to all the beneyo-
lent institutions Of the age Hence il is that Masons
and Odd Fellows are denounced from the altar, on
TIE simple and only ground that they usurp the
plovince of the church, as if there was not room
enough for the exercise Of faith, hope and charity,
by both.
We, therefore, apprOve-highly approve-of the
proposed system Of street preaching; bat We hope
that the preachers will do something more than
sbtse and vilify the denominations to which they
do not respectively belong; and not say that
reach beaveE except they go on their track, and
believe precisely as they do There is virtue enough
in any Christian church to save sinners it be ony
rractised