Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-23
DrprcArIoN SERMON. According e

DEDICATION SERMON According TO
previous announcement, the dedication
sermon in the new Union street Metho-
dist church was delivered yesterday
morning by Rev. DIR. Munsey. Although
eleven o'clock was the hour for the
commencement Of the services, such is
the widespread and well-merited reputa-
ton of the talented divine, that by half
past nine o'clock the house was com
fortably filled, and by eleven clock the
press was SO great that many were unable
to procure seats and had to stand through
out the entire service The minister took
his text from the epistle to the Romans,
third chapter, twenty-6rst verse, viz:
But now the righteousness of God with
ont the law is manifested, being wit
messed by the law and prophets" and as
Introductory to his discourse, COVE a
Short sketch of the character of Paul, the
author of the epistle. The sermon
throughout was one of enhancing inter
est, and fully realized the expectations
of those who had not before heard the
preacher, and were attracted thither by
the fame Of his eloquence. By power
of reasoning that at once marked the
master logician, he reviewed the relation
of the moral law to The moral nature Of
God, characterizing the one as a tran
script of the other; asserted the ten COM
mandments were but portion of the laws
of God; depicted the fearfulness of the
curse pronounced upon those who kept
not Gods laws; and then passed to
the descriptive portion of his subject,
and kept his auditors almost spell-bound
as he eloquently passed before their men
talvision the sublime scenes enacted on
Mount Sinai at the giving of the law and
the sufferings of the Redeemer of the
world-his agony in the garden of Geth-
semane--his arrest and the indignities
heaped upon him by the soldiery and
the rabble-and finally the tragedy on
Calvary. The morning was uncomfort-
ably warm, and the constant huttering
of fans annoying to many Of the less for
tunate who occupied places near the
doors, where it was difficult. to hear; yet
such was the interest awakened in the
subject, that regret was manifested on
the faces of all present when the rev.
erend Doctor closed his discourse, which
occupied about one hour and quarter
in its delivery. At the conclusion of the
sermon, Rev C. X. Marshall, of Missis-
sippi, arose and announced himself the
Collector of Internal Revenue in this
district for the government of God. The
announcement took many by surprise,
and was doubtless not understood by
some of the gentlemen present, who
seized their hats and went home 1--WE
suppose to examine the law and discover
HOW lUuCH vi tHtii ihCVlico "do C-ANmPb
from taxation The ecclesiastical col
lector, unlike Uncle Sans collectors,
generously allowed those present to i'm
pose the tax upon their incomes; and
right lavishly was it done, two gentlemen
in the congregation subscribing five hun
bred dollars apiece, and others various
sums from two hundred dollars down.
We did not learn the amount raised, but
presume it was nearly sufficient to COM
plete the edifice, which, in architectural
beauty and finish is destined, we think,
to equal any house of worship in the city.
DR.. Munsey will deliver lecture in
the Union street Methodist church, to-
morrow night, the proceeds of which are
to be applied to the completion of this
edifce. We advise all to secure seats
beforehand, and thus make " assurance
doubly sure" of hearing one of the most
eloquent pulpit orators in the country.