The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-01
ST. AaEs cayscA. on sio.xLya HEIGHTS.

christianity IL Cloals--sermon by Bishop Cun-
Minis, OF Kentucky.
Rev. DR.. Cummins Assistant Bishop OF Kentucky,
preached in The Protestant Episcopal Church OF
ST. Aun on Brooklyn Heights, from Mathew XII,
e-"And blessed is he whatsoever shall not be
offended me.n After referring to the circumstances
attending the utterance Of this language the speaker
said that this Is day of offences In the CHRISTIAN
Church. Men stood aloof from Christianity because
of these, and asked are there Christians indeed ?
The history OF the Church OF Christ was record Of
shame ana reproach, OF feuds and dlssension, OF
war and b!oodshed that might well be biottea
out There was not crime known to humanity
that had not been perpetrated by men protesting
Christianity, ana rum and desc alton had acconlpa-
MED the banner OF the Prince of Peace. Cnrlstian
ministers had preached crusades; Christian
churches had instituted dungeons, torture and
the stake, and monsters OF iniQuiiy had
appeared In the highest seats OF the
Church. Is this ChristianltyY ASKED the nineteenth
century; If go better taat 1t had never existed,
NON @ Men naa USED
Us they would anything else to CLOAK their own am
bition ana further their selfish ends, and these
alone had caused The offences charged TO Christianity
Christianity was not divine now could IL
have lived 50 long Had 1t been human 1t would
have persisted long ago, but instead It was SILL
marching on to the conquest OF the world and the
elevation OF mankind. When he was asked II Chris
tianily was failure and If the nineteenth cen
fury was not to produce new Christ he would point
TO what Christianity had done--to its benedceut
influences, the spread oil ght and peace, ana TO all
that makes Our lad better ana noD!er ihan the
lands on which the Indian Ocean beats.
Another cause OF oiie3cc TO the world was the
endless controversies among religious scots. The
world pointed to the unceasing dlsscnslons OF the
very disciples Of Christ, ana said when the Church
united upon the true way then they would come
into IL. IL gigantic deluson to expect all men
to think alike. There was the same oliierence III
minds i'll the endless variety Of forest leaves ana
II there any truth at all In Christianity had not
these differences OF opinions been permitted by
Him who purchased 1t with his own precious blood,
the Head Of the Church, the Son OF the living God
lie believed that all VINO Were really CHRISTIANS or
whatever church or sect they might be- belonged to
the one great Church oil God, known only to Him.
But the Church was not so DIVIDED rs men thought
Professionalism was united In all great principles, and
however Christians might be separated into sects
smaller points, on The cardinal element OF laiti
they were u unit ana one In Christ, one In God
and one IN Ills great and mighty Churca
Another offence the Inconsistency III Tie lives
and conduct OF Christian men and women o. tn. day.
What was the Christianity OF those who kneit one
day at the communion table ana on the next polluted
their hands with bribery, Attended balls and ire
the want OF il. Because hy pocrites walked III TIE
ways OF religion Christianity should not be con-
dcmned nor should sinners stand alooi because
Christians were not better. All were sinners. All
20 to the communion table as such, and all expect
to die such, but II was not all hypocrisy There
was not Ia the congregation who could
not point to some Christian man or woman
whom lie had known as a true and faithful Chris
tan; aud how many minds go back to some form
now sleeping In the churchyard, whose cody lie
had Itself been shining evidence OF the truth
and holiness OF Christianity. It was no excuse Tor
sinners that the Church was faulty. unhoy men
who were In II made II 81; ana instead OF standing
aloof and pointing to the offences OF Christianity
we should by purity Of life strive 10 elevate the
make IL more like unto HIM who said, BLESSED Is
he whatsoever SHAH not be ofended III me.n