The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-26
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. JAMES.
Sermon by Bishop Potter and Dedication
Rarvlre.

Sermon by Bishop Potter and Dedication
Service.
The congregation OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church OF ST. James, who have for some sixty years
worshipped In the old frame edince situated ut
Hamilton square on Sixty-ninth street. yesterday,
for the first time, attended service at their newly
erected church on Seventy-second street, near
Lexington avenue. The new building Is hand
some little structure OF blue stone, ornamented
with Jersey and Cleveland sandstone. The style
ID the Gothic peculiar to the sixteenth century.
The furniture Is OF chestnut, gracefully inter-
laid with walnut. Sixty thousand dollars have
ALREADY been expended on the edlnce, ana Wnen
the decorations are complete the building VIII Dc
an ornament to the LOCALITY and in keeping with
the style OF the numerous mansions now in course
Of erection 10 this neighDOrh0ou.
Rev. Mr. Smith, the pastor made Few remarks
complimentary to the architect and the contractors
who butt the edifce ana congratulated his congre-
CATION on the success OF their jealous eXerti0ns
he said That IN less than six months from the laying
OF the foundation stone the church ID thrown open
for divine service.
Bishop Potter who delivered the sermon OF the
day. took his text from Hebrews l., 6-"When lie
brnReth IN the first beg0tten into the world he saith
and let all the angels OF God worship Him" HIS
discourse turned the festival celebrated the world
over on this day, which brings Joy to every heart
and ray Of light to many o saddened eye. lie said
the one great mistake that most people make on TINS
earth ~ 10 Ignore the fact that every feature In which
man Is an actor has an invisible as well as visible
result. We see the clld die, the little tongue thai
ptdttlcu lueTTHy grow uuIlp anu Noiu uhu
ClaInmy, but we do not see the kind mlnlsterlng
spirits OF heaven embrace the soul Of the little de-
parted one ana bear II to the Divine bosom amidhe
accamations OF heavenly cholrs. We celebrate
to-day great mystery, in which the eternal GOD
appears on the stage, sustaining the principal
part. Our lntellects are put to the test,
our faith Is put to the test Turn your face to Beth
lehem, the human eye Will see poor Outcast family,
dcspised and trodden down by the gay and hardened
world, refused the shelter or roof and compelled
to betake themselves to a stable and To associate
with the beasts. The Divine Word was born here
dependent on charity for the mean rags IN winch
dis tender body was swathed exposed 10 the biting
December breeze and warmed only by the breath or
the oxen. The wealthy ana powerful had spurned
Him IRON their doors. lie aid not importune them
to receive Him. but displayed Himself to the poor
shepperds, whose hearts were open TO receive his
gifts and whose souls yearned to adore the infant
God. We see in THIS one OF the most marked traits
IN the divine nature-tenderness and sympathy with
the poor, an anxiety to implant His divine affec
lions into the iororn and 10saken hearts that have
nothing to hope for ana nothing In this world TO
love. His whole life was repetition OF this same
doctrine. He says Blessed are the poor IN spirit
These words OF encouragement should bring JOY
and cheerfulness into the thousand desoate homes
IN our city, where day men, women and children
will spend their Christmas IN utter squalor and pow
erty, enjoying few If any OF the worlds goods and
bearing more than their share Of Its expressions