The New York herald., 1870-04-18
The Churche. Yesterday.

where, were yesterday decorated proiusely
with howers, and the ceremonies were OF that
solemnlty and beauty which distinguish the
mons, they were for the most part on the
subject of the resurrection. AS Bishop South
gate expressed it at Zion church yesterday,
Christians were all catholic-at any rate
the preachers were in their language. If not In
their hearts, and the congregations seemed to
unite with the cergymen in giorryins the ris-
ing OF Christ from the dead. 1t was crafty
ing to observe that the "fasity and juggling
OF Rome were not referred to that the ques-
tion OF salvation by means Of immersion was
not agitated; that the Bible in the public
schools was not made the theme for pious
invecdyes, and that even politics was
eschewed. or course there were exceptions.
In country like this, with three hundred and
sxty-fiye religions and only one gravy, it
would indeed be surprising il tlere was on
any Sunday but single subject discoursed
upon in the churches.
There was, perhaps, less Of fashionable dis
play than is usually the case; bat we fear the
moderation in dress was due more to the rain
than to piety. And this same inclement
weather, we regret to record, prevented as
large an attendance at the churches as was
expected. 1t is true that they were comfort
ably filled; but had the day been clear and
bright we have no doubt they would have been
crowded to repletion. But there are Chris
tians and fair weather Christians, and the
latter never 60 to church when it rains. In
fact, it is not unlikely that had the
resurrection Of Christ taken place yesterday,
instead of over eighteen hundred years ago,
these people would have stayed at home rather
than have run the risk OF getting their spring
dresses and coats wet. We have no fault to
find with the attendance, on the Catholic and
Episcopal churches, for these were so full that
many persons could not gain admission. At
the Church of the Messiah and few other
placesOf worship the congregations were also
large, but in the main too many believers in
Christianity were not in their pews. An
explanation for this dereliction is attempted
in the statement that large num-
ber of Protestants visited the Catholic
churches yesterday for the purpose of hearing
the music, thus causing vacancies in the pews
of their own tabernacles. This, if true, only
pliance of religion. IF the explanation be
correct these people believe in the appliance
more than in Christianity ITSELF which may say
much for their artistic taste, but is deplora-
BILE reflection on their theology. Moreover,
since it is music and not God that they wor-
ship, and considering what wretched day
yesterday was, in meteorological sense, they
might have procured the services OF ON Italian
organ-grinder and to his strains paid their
devoticns without getting wetting.
However, on the whole, Easter Sunday was
observed in manner creditable to weak hui
mainly. That preachers and congregations
were impressed by the grandeur Of the event
commemorated was evidenced by the earnest
ness of the one and devOut attention of the
other Mr. Beecher was eloquent and full Of
pathos in his depletion of the resurrection /;
Mr.. Hepworth rejoiced over the fact OF the
future life which the rising of Christ from the
dead made patent to men; Rev. Mr.. Pullman,
Bishop Southgate, DR.. Chaplin and other Pro-
testant divines told anew the wondrous tale of
the Saviour's last appearance upon earth and
explained it's meaning to their hearers. There
could undoubtedly have been little more
originality in the sermons delivered yester-
day. Some picture, for instance, might have
| been drawn of the resurrection OF Christ as
impressed upon the modern mind. Com
parisons might have been made which
would have shown the sinner how ineffably
| grand and beautiful was the event celebrated.
| But until the press shall have completed it's
task of enlghtening the preachers we shall
hear but little original from the pulpit. Until
that is done we need not expect anything
more than we received yesterday-earnest,
| God-loving and God-fearing sermons, which
we believe were effective, insomuch as they
sought to move the hearts of sinners to that
! appreciation of the sacrifice of Christ for
| man which is the first dawn Of sincere re-
| pentance.
ssWHo DAT KNooKIN' AT DE Door ~
New Mexico. And she is fright good look
ing" and she ought to come in. What's heI