New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-03
THE CURSE or WICKED RULERS.
A SERMON BY PROF. MATTIsON.


The Rev. Prof. HIRaN MArTIsoS, of St. johns
Methodist Church devoted his sermon Sunday evening
to an exposition of the relations between Christianity
and morality and Fernando Wood. He said that he
did not ordinarily advert TO candidates for political
preference bat after assaults had been made upon
Christianity bya capddate in order 10 secure the sup
port Of the nde and the vile he could not be silent
lie therefore, after some considerations OF what a
ruler should be, took up the two speeches made by
Fernando Wood during the past week, and reviewed
al the more salient irrelgous aud immoral passages.
lie especially compared the published proclamation
of the Mayor in 1855 in behalf Of temperance and
the better Observance of the sabbath and eonrasted
Il with his late speech So the NOlks Garten. he
commented severely on Woods complaint of the in
reference of the Legislature, by attempting 10 con-
troll the public morality. This monstrous doctrine,
Prof Mattison said surpassed in infamy the
worst ever enounced in the most corrupt
ages Of Pagan antiquity. We stood TO-
day in regard to the sabbath just as the loyal
Isis of South Carolina stood. The Union men in
South Carolina depended on the Federal Govern
ment for protection in their rights; the sabbath
keerers Of the City OF New-York, were Fernando
Wood made its ruler. would depend only on the law
of the State for their security in rs Observance.
Fernando complained u The prosecution Of the war.
He appeared 10 be very careful of Southern blood,
vet the soil OF Virginia daily moisened by North
ern blood from the bullets OF Southern rifles. Prof.
Naitison criticised severely Woods demand that he
should be elected because most paatabe TO the South
This declaration ustiiea everything which could be
said against him as a Secesslonst. IL New-fork
should elect Wood in order to cOncili2te the South
she would cover herself With lasting disgrace. Wood
had IN these speeches misIeprescnled the views of
temperance men. They We're in favor OF regulating
the sale Of liqaor ami Of reducing and regulating the
number of hluor shops. Within block and half
of this church there now nine grog shops, but
that was not enough; If Wood were elected Mayor,
he would endeavor 10 throw open the traffic, ana
make il entirely free. In the next place, W GOD had
eoniOuuded public morals with religion. Ii ne did
NOS know the difference between them, he did not
know enough to he Mayor; il he did, he eOuld not
lie excused for thus wckedly coniounding them.
Wood was opposed 10 all laws against adultery and
fornieation and promised unlimited indulgence if no
were elected. With him as Mayor, doing
what he could TO carry out his pledges
made on Wednesday last, there could not be-
a conviction for the Ciines which he encouraged.
Then be complained thar there was not power to tax
the city; the only little over TWO per cent,
and he was grooming for power 10 tax more. Thank
God for Interference from Albany! For the taxes,
in the end came ont of the people who did the work.
Then there was something III the speech which looked
like desire be free from all restraints Of State
law. IL sounded just lke Dir. Calboun's speechesin
1892. Speaking thus Of the laws IN favor OF temper
ance and chastity. he was 10 full sympathy with
Slavery and against the prosecution OF the war;
With these views he sent out circulas asking us all
to vote for him--had even sent one 10 him, the
preacher. Wood appealed to church members TO
vote for him 10 help HIM overturn the sabbath and
all regulations His election would bea lasting
disgrace. When candidate came out and avowed
such hbhOrent sentiments for intelligent city 10
elect him then would make us the byword of the
world. In deiiance Of all Christian sentiment, he
made these terrible ayowas. There Was never q
Mayor q. cted after such avOwals as those. 10
seemed as IL be lad Lis last dieade last ap-
peal TO the lowest classes in the community. Thee
pledges would 10 carried out if he were elected
God help III il he were. IL Amen l" Never
was anything 20 God-defying as this. If he were
elected we must coon feel the judgments Of God.
We were now suffering from this war for the reason
that we bad bowed the knee 70 Slavery, and those
who had bowed lowest lad suffered most. What
then was the conclusion That the Issue 70 be de-
cidel next Tuesday was the most importInt in the
history ofthis siand since the lndiun bic canoe
on he Hudson. Ii vas the duty OF every man who
bai the least regard for morality social order or
religion To- do all in his power TO prevent TIE eecuon
OF one who had made snch appeals as rerin.nco
W ood. He PROT blsttison) appealed 70 zoe women
70 usc all their influence against nm. we owed III
TO soldiers in the field, owed ~ To oar Sovs
ernment not to 10 an act whieh wonldearry AID ana
comfort 10 the enemy. As Chrisiiiiisi we owen IL
TO our insulted Christianity 10 defeat the man VINO
raised his sacrilegous hand TO strike down the pill
lara of our Christianity. We owed it 10 the can.
G;datc LmeeH, He shouIi he made TO know that
,lsce was God He should lie made 10 go out like
Observation-Disclosures. ri. conduct was AS saciilceions 40
Relhszzars, and he hoped the vote Of next Tuesday
would be the hand writing on the wall to blu.