The New York herald., 1869-03-08
THE MIDNIGHT MISSION.
sermon by Rev. DIR. MORGAN.

sermon Dy Kew UFs M0f83us
The Rev. DR.. Morgan delivered q sermon last night
in Trinity chapel, In Twenty fifth street. to congre
cation which filed that beautiful edidce, and which
was said to have been one OF the most powerful
efforts OF that justly celebrated divine. The reverend
gentleman selected his texts from the sixth chapter
OF Micah and ninth verse; 'The Lords voice clieth
unto the city, and the man OF wisdom shall see
thy name and the 127th psam, first verse; Except
the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that
build 1t; except the Lord keep the city,
the watchman iwaketh but In vain" The
words mature ana providencen are used every
day in such connection as to exclude God from the
practical affairs OF men, and this use is the origin
Of false doctrines which lead to error fatalsm and
despair We nnd no semblance to the word "provi-
dence" taken In its common acceptatlon In the
Scriptures. The word Is found but once In the
Scriptures and then ~ the twentyiourth chapter Of
tullus compliments Felix, saying, "Seeing that BY
thee we enjoy great quietness and that
usOu Sy INV S
words are SO uttered a. to recognise God In each
event, then we can adopt them into the Christian
tative Of the living God In Christ Jesus. The texts
connect God with the creation and with the soul.
as By sSe ct at M o. i
noticed, and the hairs Of our head numbered. When
God crieth unto the city, Il Is not In the voice heard
by tempest, and sometimes by the soft and gentle
voice. Mans voice heard in the city is too gene
il in the corners Of the Streets on change, in the
halls Of justice and wherever man assemblies, and
you VIII find It laden with blasphemy, hypocricy
the city. Let not be understood to say tnat pub
lie principle is wholly dead. There is large reserve
not believe there is city In the world where more
tian charity can be found than here, and am proud
to be called denizen Of this great city. Neverthe-
less It Is also city OF exceeding wickedness and the
good are in . fearfuIly appalling minority. The
0 q the IocS 6Ss there The %uss &c
peace and quiet on the Sabbath day. justice
In legislation, and forbids lying and the other aDom
relaxes every divine obligation. and setting Chris
tanity to one sde inaugurates an era OF hcentious
ness and % ooscenity and oDscares the IN human agen.
undoubtedly true that the faith Of those In authority
not based upon the promises that the Lord shall De
seem TO be that the Lord can be discharged and
the city government carried on without His agency.
After referring TO the manner IN which the city Is
governed and the condition OF the islands, 'the
ceptaces for paupers and criminals" ne says that
in the city there 400 lawyers, 1900 doctors
ana co more 70 Be snded snd only MY % missions and
238 churches. Religion langushes. Our fnstru-
ments are inadequate and insufficient for the work
moral forces There are nom $1,000 to 10000 chill
dren now running the streets OF this city without
moral restraint ana growing up 10 lead life OF
crime. The theatres-with one Or two exceptions
are the most prolific sources Of evi and should be ex
posed and checked The theatre ~ It Ii at present
conducted, Is . school for vice and de-
bauchery, and the vestfbule OF destruction.
The restraints OF decency maintained have been
broken through ana everything decent set aside.
One or two artitts were excepted from the sweeping
denunciation. The remainder should be driven
from us as . curse and contamination not TO be
borne. The attitude OF Christ before the world Is
one Of sympathy and IL lesson for us to learn to
provide for and minister to those who i've In the de-
solate and waste places that wealth and taste have
deserted. Men wanted to 60 out into the Streets
alleys, cellars aud chambers Of want ana woe, 10
know those whom they find there, TO call them by
name, TO listen to their heart histories and 10
stand between them and utter misery. they
must make themselves felt as friends, guides. com
forters. An earnest appeal was made for the sup
port OF the Midnight Mission and II was apparently
literally responded TO. From the annual report Of
the Mission II appears that at the beginning of the
year inst closed there were remaining IN the house
II; during the year there have been received l22,
make l38 who have (some but for q lew days, some
for several montns) found refuge, instruction. moral
and religious training In the Mission. or this number
there have been sent TO kindred institutions Al: re-
stored TO their friends, ~; placed In respectable
situations, ~; returned TO life OF sin, 3l remain
ing In the house, IL.