The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-08

on "The Prevailing Mania for Suicide.v The order
OF morning service, established for the Episcopal
Church by the General Convention in the Book OF
Common Prayer, was strictly followed, the invoca-
ton all the prayers the any, W the benedict ion
at the close nom the dearly beloved brethren the
scriptures moveth us in sundry placesn &C, to the
Peace Of God Wnlcn passetr. all understanding"
prayer book. The TRANSLATION was originally made
In 1917 revised by Rev. Dr.. Hobart and approved
again revised and APPROX ed by Bishop Onderdonk.
IN 1881, and about thirteen years ago was reransla
ana sanSaSa b 20 ke y 20 e
the Rev. DR.. Verren, and printed In Paris, France
in 1860. Judging frcm the attendance at this church.
Epscopalans IN the city cannot be very numerous;
hence probably, the church building is also used by
another congregation OF the same denomination,
| ing the services are conducted IN the Spanish
| language, under the rectorship OF Rev. DR.. Riley
nounced for his text the fifteenth verse OF the twen
tieth chapter OF Jeremiah-"Cursed be the man who
brought tldings to my father, saying child Is
| born unto thee, making him very gad.n The SER
mon which followed was but general Introductory
| discourse upon the subject chosen, the first OF a
series to be delivered on succeeding Sundays In
which the social and material contributing to
the spread OF the mania for suicide in the land win
be entered into more fully and in detail: The SER
mon Yesterday treated the question In purely
religious aspect. Referring TO the words OF the text
feeling OF despair which results In forgetting the
great goodness OF God to His creatures vouchsafed
In life They describe that state OF mind which pre-
cedes the desire and act OF selfdestructiOn;
where all hope for the future has departed;
where possibly some chimera may have
possessed the SOUL rendering life an imaginary bur-
den; or where poverty, the want OF the necessares
OF life has worked upon the physical and moral
constitution TO produce disc0ntentment with life
altogether. He spoke OF the relativeness OF the
terms rich ana poor; that overweight imagination
often pictures evils greater than they are; that
equality OF fortune never existed; that many pos
sessing nothing give up all hope, all confidence In
God, and feeling, as implied by the words of the
text, are at with their own lives. But one who
enjoys health should be happy for health Is wealth
and great gift from God And every one has the
better friend within himself than in the world, his
soul, and the best friend IN need Is the friend
ship Of God dissatisfied ambition in worldly things
often leads individuals to detest life to despair, to
lose the sweetest instinct Of human l1fe-hope but
were these to turn to the great God with humble
hearts their imaginary excitement would be Gained;
they would receive fresh vigor and strength to battle
with lifes vcissltudes Hope for heaven, to aspire
to the heavenly blessings, was the most powerful,
invlg0rang feeling, indeed the best friend OF the
poor and unfortunate. All men are useful In the
world, and mutual assistance and forbearance Ii
necessary. Turn to Cod and II the motives are
spoke el0quently OF the redemption OF mankind,
bought by the blood Of our Saviour. who maintained
His patience and courage and dependence on His
heavenly Father throughout all suferings; and HIS
example should be borne In mind. DR.. Verren
closed this his Introductory DISCOURSE by announcing
that the second Of the series on the same subject
would be delivered next Sunday.