The New York herald., 1868-03-09
Church of the Holy Apostles.

Yesterday at the Church OF the Holy Apostles,
Ninth and Twenty y-eighth street, the rector
Of Trinity church. Rev. Morgan Dix, D. D., ofciated
in the morning The subject selected for the sermon
was the "Importance OF the Ministry" He began by
stating the leading object of the American Church
Union to be to promote law and order In the Episco
pal Church and to extend the knowledge OF her prn
ciples. He then proceeded to consideration OF the
ministry, and showed that besides the gifts and
wanting. As knowledge of military science does
not make man an officer In the army and as
an acquaintance with law does not constitute a
man a judge, so learning and piety, however
great, do not make man minister OF the Gospel
he must have q commission. That commission must
come from God. How does II conner how Is 1t
gven2 There are four theories on this subject-the
Quaker, Congregational Presbyterian and Episcopal.
In each the commission Is held to be from God but
it is supposed according these different theories.
to come from God directly, without human inter-
through the elders Of the Church; from Cod
through the bishops. A man may have no
definite idea at all on the subject OF the
ministry; II so, we may disregard him. for men
without ideas are OF small account but II he pre-
tend to any clear idea, he must hold one Of these
theories; and whichever he holds he must hold ex-
clusivey, unless he consent to remain In Illogical
and nconsequent position; for the four theories are
all irreconciiable with each other. The case Of
society is the same as that OF an individual. The
Episcopal Church holds the Episcopal theory; she
holds exclusively for that Is the only way In which
it can be logically held. Her position on this point Is
proved theoretically and practically rom the prayer
book which asserts the divine origin Of the three
to the Gay and from the
canons, which forbid any one to execute any
function Of the ministry, or , to SicIate du. IN
who has not been ordained by bishop. Still more
marked is the fact that ministers Of nonepiscopal
bodies II they desire to exercise their ministry the
Episcopal Church. are not treated ministers at all
but as laymen and are received as candidates for
ders, and must be ordained deacons first; all which
il inconsistent with the idea that In the eye OF the
Church. they are in holy orders already. The ortna
tion service the same without one word OF alera,
for 10 m n0p nnio nal
divine and for the merest neOphyte OF the seminary,
and cannot mean two different things at once while
who was recognized by the Church as already truly
ordained minister Of the Gospel. Theoretically and
practically the position Of the Episcopal Church Is too
clear to be misunderstood. An attempt has been
made to show that history does not bear out this
view; but such attempts prove no more than that
there have been individuals in the Church whose
course was inconsistent with the standards OF their
religious system To further sustain the position
assumed the reverend gentleman quoted from "Es-
says on ORDERS" by Rev. VIM. Goode, and others,
authorities in the Episcopal Church. The sermon
throughout was learned, logical and eloquent and
was closely followed by his auditors to the close.
Canal Street Presbyterian Church-Scrmon
by Rev. David Mitchell ON Swearing.
Last evening an interesting discourse on swearing
was delivered at the Canal street Presbyterian
church, by Rev. David Mitchell pastor, the reverend
gentleman selecting as the scriptural basis Of his
remarks the seventy fourth verse of the twenty
,
"Then began he to curse and to swear, The
speaker stated reason for directing the attention
OF hts congregation to this particular subject the
very prevalent Indulgence of the vice by large pro-
portion Of the people, and the Nervousness OF the
evil as demanding the serious consideration of min
sters OF the gospel. II was q sin of whose
actual extent he could have no very def
nte idea; for however much persons might
abtuate themselves TO the practice OF using prolane
language, almost all TO some extent guarded
against its exercise In the presence OF clergymen;
and in cases where man happened TO make use of
an oah IN the presence OF ministers he In most cases
offered prompt apology, aS though he had been
guilty OF direct personal insult These facts made
u evident That swearer was himself convinced that
lis words were highly improper. II was conceded
that U was a very prevalent error, therefore; that
masters were In the habit Of swearing a their ser.
wants woikmen at each other; that I'm some cases
ladies' even nduiged IN profanity aud that at pubic
places OF amusement il was also OF frequent
IN proiane expressions were almost end
ess IN eyey language, The habit was,
God, also useless aad very vulgar. II was useless
habit, inasmuch az 1t was not needed 70 express
and feelings which we should entertain. II was an
abuse OF the Creators wise and wonderful gift OF
speech 70 the people. The use OF moderate ana cx-
prcssive language was OF far superior force In
veyg Impressions to other persons than any indul-
gence IN violent immoral or positively profane
epithcs, from the fact that IL commanded respect,
which obscene language could never accomplish.
swearing might silence u man, but 1t never would
convince him, and the only impression conveyed
by an the blasphemer's talk would be that he
was q great svearcr There was, however, in
days gone by, time when swearing was considered
an accomplishment and when oatis were frequently
used IN The presence OF ladies' but II has now come
10 be UNIVERSAL, regarded as low and vulgar In the
extreme II seemed TO he an inevitable law that
when evil thoughts find place within the heart
they should show themselves by the words which
dow from The mouth and the use OF profane oaths
was never indulged III but for the expression OF
some ieclinss Of anger or guli, or vulgar opinion
THIS was iorcihy illusrated in the OF Peter,
where upon The occasion Of his third denial or
whist nus cursing and swearing showed how be vas
possessed Of the most cowardy fear and
sMaycd hy the worst of passions. u
woud be found by experience aud observation
thai the more men loved and vcnerated their Col the
purcr were their lives, the nober their Thought and
Tie lonicr their sentiments ani their langr,ngo viii
be found 70 be the tenor OF their lives and actions