The New York herald., 1869-02-01
reality and vitality OF their religion and enjoy the
right TO hope for salvation
Tas FREE CHURCH OF OUR lOsD.

tN '"N@ S'e"~'. - ~" ~s"S'
Third Anniversary sf she Founding Of tho
Pnrish--sermon by Bishop Somfhgate.
The congregation Of the Protestant Episcopal Free
Church OF Our Lord celebrated the third anniversary
OF the establishment Of the pariSh yesterday. The
church Is located ON the second door OF the brick
building on the southwest corner OF Eighth avenue
and Tnirtyse street. The no,r has been thrown
INTO one long room and plainly FINISHED for divine
service. without ornamentaton or display. the con-
gregation being poor and still indebt even for what
little they were able to obtain in the shape Of
accommodations for religious exercises. Rev.
Mr.. Stewart is the present rec'or, and he orici-
ated at the service last evening. After the pre-
scribed order Of service for evening the Right
Reverend Or. Southgate, lately missionary bishop
OF Constantinopie, now attached 20 the rectory Of
Zion church. on Madison avenue, preached the SER
mon. He said he would remind them Of the maxim,
or rather precept, which holds g0o for religious az
for secular matters--despise not The day OF small
things. Three wears ago he addressed half as many
people In room half as large on the corner Of
Thrty-fOurth street and Eighth avenue, where
young brother OF the ministry. thtn . deacon and
still employed in secular business y Obtain his sup
port started religious services, and now fhev hau
regularly organized cOngrc ration lad established
parish and q rect0rate. For the purposes Of the
church and or religion this was animportant neigh
ert,ons' thew should sncceed,in o6taining portion
OF the land belonging to the Bind Asylum, be.
tween the Eighth and Ninth avenues. and
SIX blocks from the Church or the Holy Apostles on
Ninth avenue and Twenty eighth street; near them,
to the north, in Forysecond street Is the Church OF
81. Matthias; further on. the Anthon Memorial
church, on Forty-eighth street, and little more
northward the Church Of st. Timothy, thus
studding the west side Of this part Of the city
with holses OF Cod Their growth Is thus marked
out from small beginnings, and they should
work on. for IN the kingdom H Christ, as ~
liflfy-
prevails. The right reverend speaker then re-
1erred to MS teXt:"lt tthe Church, Is Ike grain
Of mustard seed."--S Luke, Kill, 49, He described
OF low inn; the humble life or Joseph and Nary the
growth Of the child IN obscurify; his baptism when
yet unknown, though thirty years Of age: his begin
nlng to preach AMI to work miracles: his few con-
vers, and those only among the poor and ignorant;
his calling around him the twelve Apostles, men
without learning. RON the humbest walks or life.
Thirtythree years after his birth the rst results Of
his abOrs on earth began 10 appear: hR doctrines
spread. but were received with rdcule and opposed
by the philosophy Of the age; yet after three hun
dred years they found their way into the palace OF
the C@sars and conquered the empire, after passing
changed the face OF society and altered the world In
arts. sciences and merchandise, and now the Church
of Christ, starting with such humble beginnings Is
the mlghtiest power known on earth. The
reverend gentleman then passed TO another picture,
describing the growth OF man. the contests within
demons and the bcnignant angels, with the victory
In doubt right and wrong being interDlingled; but
with time, through youth, manhood and Old age,
through baptism confirmation and teachings and
good works 0f life IN the path Of Christ
the souls are finally garnered III the bosom
Of the Lord. Thus all the works OF true greatness
have humble beginning and grow slowly to matu-
rty. There is spirit abroad opposed to this law--a
spirit OF progress that will not wait for the develop
ment OF the seed, but pants for unnatural changes
by forced means This spirit is dangerous In its ten
dencies and thoroughly in6del In its consequences.
1t IL the reckless rush OF human impetuosity, and
the speakers voice might as soon attempt TO turn
back the waters or the Niagara to try to stop this
spirit in its wild rush. But there Is place where
relief Is found from the ceaseess din aud endless
roar of the rush Of the world and that IL in the
Church Of Christ. II is the only refuge from the tur
mol and perpetual uproai Of the age. into the
ness.