The New York herald., 1869-09-13
YoRkyIlLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Great COlliery Accidcnt-Serm0n by Rev.
John McNaughton.
The widespread sympathy felt for the widows ana
orphans and aiicied families Of the victims Of the
late terrible calamity at the Avondae coal mine
was shown In the large congregation assembled last
evening at the YOrkville Presbyterian church. in
Eigbty-slxth street, to listen to a sermon by Rev.
Nr. McNaughtOn, the pastor.
After the usual preliminary exercises of reading
The Scriptures, prayer and singing, the reverend
speaker announced as the basis of discourse the
text Luke Kill, 2-"And Jesus answering said
unto them, suppose ye that these Galileans
they suffered such thingsrn These words
were spoken by Christ as rebuke to the
sen-righteous who congratulated themselves on
being spared caamitles Detailing Others They were
also Intended 10 show that the escape from calamity
was often greater calamity than anything else. In
result OF a breach OF some law. The community
was now universally excited upon the subject OF the
1t was gratifying TO know that the first reports
n TO the extent OF the loss OF life was greatly
sggcrsted. The number OF the dead, which undoubt-
edy embraced all the victims, was now set down at
one hundred and eight. This number almost sud
denly 30 TO speak, had been snatched from vigorous
iiie. In n,,a moment onnn they had been buried
men had, without warning, been summoned
sad1 srcken hearts, hao foWsd anu Se
He dd not deem it necessary to go into the details OF
the disaster. The elaborate accounts IN the daily
and hypothesis connected with 1t. Reasoning from
the basis OF the text this calamity must be regarded
al the result OF the breach OF some law Of Gods
government The victims might be the scapeRoas
OF others-the sufferers from the sins Of others. IL
had been said that by the outlay OF $4,000 another
shaft might have been sunk, afOrding necessary
ventilation to the mine and safety to the miners
The great calamity in the coal mine at Newcastle in
ISe2, by which 2O4 lives were lost proceeded from
the want Of second shaft. Stephenson, the great
engineer, called attention to the fact, and had the
bOldneas to place the responsibility where It be-
l0nged. II the same lack Of caution
could be shown In the present instance he hoped
tine authors might be discovered and punished. 1t
WAS time, he urged that the cupidity Of men and
their grasptng greed for gam should be punished as
they deserve. Goo had taken the punishment IN this
case In His own hands fearful rebuke had been
given to mans wrongdolng There was no better
principle in Gods government than this. The dsas-
Ter Avondale showed the vindicatOn OF this prln-
-Cple. 1t had ever been thus since the dawn OF
creation; 1t would be thus while creation lasted.
Passing from this branch OF the subject he pro-
nounced q glowing eulogium upon the brave men
who rlsked their lives after the calamity became
known in the attempt to rescue their buried COM
panions. He insisted that the brave hardy fellows
who went down that burning shalt into that char.
mel house OF the unburied dead showed a
greater herOiSn than ever was shown on the
battle field. 1t was this CLEAN Of Brightness this
brightness OF humanity, tins exhibition Of unselnsh
ness OF selfsacrifce, that cast nobility over the
gloomy disaster. Another thing that greatly served
10 tighten the disaster OF ts dires features the
universal sympathy exhibited for the families OF the
unfortunate victims. There were tonight ninety
widows and 100 orphans In Avondaie made such BY
this terrible disaster. Everywhere sympathy wal
felt for them and assistance cheerfully given them
As the Lord had given to them ALL 80 he hoped theJ
would contribute Of their abundance to help ale
vtate the wants OF these widows and orphans.
Alter the sermon which was most attentivell
listened to, o collection taken up, and singing
prayer anu benedictOn closed the exercises