The New York herald., 1867-02-18
RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
Religion and the Repubiic-The Cath"hs
Church Necessary 10 the Preservation W

and the kepubnc-The ea'"
Church Necessary 10 the Presers"."
the American Union.
The Rev Father decker delivered lecture last e'su'
Ing al ST. Josepns church for benefit Of the caho
Society, "Reigion and the Rep<olic" /"
The lecturer began by showing the intima relations
which had always existed between pol1 aud religious
institutions. He proceeded 70 say tha! il mat
ter Of the most vital Importance that the religious
belief Of people should harmonic With their
political institutions inteed, il was impossible
that any government should be permanent unless II
were supported by religion American institutions
were based on generous confidence in human nature
and ia mans capacity TO govern himself Keeping this
fact prominently in view il must be a question OF ex-
reme interest 10 all loyal citizens which form OF Chris
tanity most in accordance with this fundamental
principle The cardinal doctrines OF Proestan,sm we're
the total depravty Of human nature, justification by
faith, predestlnaton election &c The lecturer then
read numerous extracts from Luther Melanchon Wes-
ley ana osher Protestant dvines 70 prove that these
the peculiar aud essential dogrnas OF Protest.
ant Christianity This was certainly not FORM
OF faith consistent with the principles upon which
our free institutions were based, and slowly, but
surely those doctrines which peculiar 10 Protest.
artism were being eliminated from the minds Of the
American people This was great truththis gradual
revolution of society. Wonderful changes were going
on, and in fifteen years they would be yet more
evident II clear that in country this free
virgin SOIL Professionalism was TO find its eternal grave
The republic would exist and advance the ruins or
Pruestantism Professionalism was in its doctrines hos
tile to the principle which underlay political
fabric But this not all nation could not exist
for any length Of tme could never develop itself TO It's
fullest extent, could never realize its providen-
OF unity hold together the civil elements society
That bond be strong that when there dam
and compel the people to sacrifice their lower material
interests for greater, higher and nobler ones nation
could never become great unless its patriotism became
sacred and was sanctioned by religious motives IL
would not do 10 say that religion could be dispensed
with in this respect that we could find other means
Of binding people together Material interests would
not keep q people uSted; sometimes the interests
Of one section clashed with those Of another,
and this had frequently occurred in our own
tion Of the Bank tariff, and latterly in re-
gard TO the doctrine Of notification It was .
through great struggle that the political future
plain sailing Although NO cr0aker, and mot given
70 prognoscang future events and although his hopes
for country were high he believed 1t probable that
questions might arise which would again divide 1t into
two sections Perhaps that question might be the tariff
the East upon the other then indeed there would be a
greater peril than there had been before Neither
because the people were OF common origin could 1t be
expected that the country would remain united Dur
ing The last thirty years all traces of origin
among us had been wiped out. Such had been the
American. people remaining united because Of
common origin not TO be entertained.
Again, might be said that geographical position
might preserve the Union But our country extended
the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Arctic
to the tropics, and comprised variety of cimes and
variety. OF scenery which tended produce variety Of
character. The men Of one pars Of the country
different from the men Of another and In time division
might result from very slight grounds owing 70 this
was undoubtedly religion. The question was, which
Protestantsm. @ religion that started in its begin.
ming In rebellion TO the authority of the Church.
teach n h.S and Ss o Ssy
II were to deny. Its whole power was
in dsinegraon; in pulling down, not in building up.
pie together Experience had shown that In
try whenever there any question Of DIVISION among
the men most efficient in stirring up strife were the FORE
most ministers OF the most popular denominations of
Protesantism That was the case In the recent war,
and would be the again In the future though Is
and its ministers Professionalism in its doctrines was
hostile TO the principles Of our institutions and in its
70 Us a1s sOd
done so since It's first beginning the very same principles
which formed the basis Of our free government She
w and that he Ia entitled to the exercise Of all hts
natural nghtsthat he morally responsible and
bound 70 Keep the natural law Il frequently said
though unfounded statement could scarcely be
made. The Catholic Church had been the great source
Of constitutional governments they called and
In all ages she had been the friend The oppressed
Was Switzerland for long period before Protestant
Of dsspoism that had ever existed on this earth had
been the despotism Of three centuries Of that
free liberal sovsmms1s ,o over Ireland mere ss was
had been imposed and after they had been Impoverished
to support they had boon deprived Of their land had
starved TO death by famine They had been made gno
rans because the cup Of science had been placed their
lips only infected with the poison Of herssy Who he'd
Church was the only church possible in this couny-
holy religion here in midst perfect our insti
tutons, and appreciate them other religion could
sxhorng bis hearers by every means in their power 70
maintain the purity and ehicency Of the Catholic
Church.
"The TheatFe,'-Sermon at the Lee Avenuo
Baptist Church, Brooklyn, X. ID.
The first Of series Of sermons TO young de-
vered last evening by Rev. J. Hyatt Smith, pastor OF
the Lee church. Brooklyn, T. D., who selected
'The THEATRE the subject Of his discourse There
very large congregation present. the church being
allied TO Its utmost capacity and the reverend gentle
mems remarks listened 70 with attention through
out He took his text from the book Of Proverbs
chapter, 18th and 18th "My SON. walk not thou
in way with them refrain thy foot from their path
Surely in vain the net is spread in the
sight OF any bird" After prcfacng his
discourse with few appropriate remarks the reverend
gentleman announced his intention Of speaking on ssTbs
Theatrc-Ths Virtues and Vices Of the DramAn Has
the drama any virtues says Yea Has any vices
says another Yea He meant 70 speak Of the theatre In
It's general influence society but he would say to
all that he would sndeavor 10 set down .'naught In
malice" The roots Of the drama were buried in the
very lowest strata Of the history Of nations The
nursery was The first theasre-ths nrst place where
nctions were sent forth. Mr. Smith then proceeded 10
narate the history Of tho from i,s origin in
the time Of Thesps century before Christ, down 70
the present day, giving many nteres,ins details Of
the drama Of the earlier ages, and referring
to socrarrs, Euripdes and other classical authors
who assisted In It's advancement BY their great pro-
ductions With the head Of Charles the Firs however,
fell the theatrc-both head and theatre fell
together-and the Puritan having become disguised
with the folies Of king and king craft before them Eng
lands patime taken from her until the Puritan are
passed away, when legislative enactment multiplied
and the lewd court Of Charles the Second succeeded
Then came the drama from France with French ideas
and French morals The literature OF the stage toasted
Of hosts Of great minds, the centre OF whch
Was Shakespeare, surrounded By Sheridan Bull
wer, Knowles and Others There WIS NO
emotion Of the human heart but that found voice
10 Shakespeare; was work Of intellectual minclos
teemng world OF ITSELF Over Cesars body Marx Antony
taught rhetoric and the body OF Jew Porta
brcathed eloquence The stage however, the rverend
gentleman continued, has had ts day Of glory he b.
~r~xs sh~et a Al 49,