The New York herald., 1870-05-23
AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN FREE cRuBeu.

The Rev. Charles B. smyth at Masonic
Hall-His Friends Flock 70 Hini-The
Right Of Private Judsmcnt-An Eloquent
Sermon and Cordial Assurances OF SUP.
port.
The popularity Of the Rev. Charles B. smyrn, the
earnest sympathy in his regard and the general de.
termination to stand by him as a minister OF the
Gospel were yesterday most satisfactorily demon
strated The reverend gentleman amiable and
eloquent, and Jealous as he Is, has been ruthessy
nounded down by Pharisaical inQuisition, but
the result has rather tended to endear him more
strongly to those that appreciate his worth. His
appearance at Masonic Hall yesterday morning was
welcomed by large and respectable congregation
AS previously mentioned the Rev. Mr.. Smyth and
MS numerous friends desirous Of establishing
church In this city upon a
LIBERAL EVANGELICAL BASIS.
sincere and substantial support awaits the
movement which was yesterday inaugurated with
the most favorable prospects, His discourse though
extremely charitable concerning the treat
ment to which he had been subjected, was
clear, vigorous and impressive and failed
not to awaken the interest OF his attentive hearers
who by the way, included a large number OF the
congregation Of which he had been the faithful
pastor. Indeed his expressions were so thoroughly
earnest that but for the occasion the assemblage
would have given vent to their feelings in applause.
L.
Smyth proceeded to preach the sermon, taking his
text from the second chapter of st. Pauls First Eps-
tie to the Corlnthians-"And l, brethren, when
came to you came not with excellency of speech or
wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of
God. For l determined not to know anything
among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucined.
And was with you In weakness and In lear and
much trembling. And my speech ana my preaching
was not with enticing words Of mans wisdom. but
III demonstration Of the spirit and Of power; that
your faith should not stand In the wisdom Of men,
but in the power or God.n He said that nOtwith-
standing all the recent circumstances, with WHICH
his hearers were familiar, he felt happy this Occa
sion. There were now no chains,
NO STRAIT JACKET
TO fasten him down or to keep him back from the
full and free declaration Of what he de emed To be
the teachings OF the Word or God. AT the outset he
would ask to read the following continuation The
reverend gentleman then read the following GER
tifcate:-
Presbyterian Church with the First Fresbyery
Of New York. in good and regular standing and that he
Reformed Presbytey Of New York. this day
ROBERT ARMSTRONG, Clerk.
That certificate gave him hiS standing in that
church, nor was 1t afccted by any OF those circuu
stances which had been reported, and had he been
e N b d
chosen not TO do so in view OF the facts. He pre-
ferred to be in a position in which he could ex-
ercse the rights OF q free man in accordance
with the great doctrine Of the Reiormaton-the
right OF private Judgment. 1t was the right which
Jews; not as to-day, when the prevailing sentiment
among those who regarded themselves as superior
to the rest or mankind was to despise others.
class Of persons who used the language Of the Scrip
ture and contendtng that they alone were right des
wss sma 20 sf me e ahe
present day. There was sitting OF those as supe,
CERTAIN CONTEMPORARIES
which did not comport with the conduct OF men who
felt themselves to be free. The Lord had no sympa-
thy with that state Of things and therefore very ire
quenty acted contrary thereto. He was objected 10
by the Scribes and Pharsees and was charged with
violating some Of the precepts Of Moses, though He
told the world that not one jot little OF that
law but should be fulfilled. But those who found
OF the commandments of God, and when
they perceived Hun violating AMY any Of those
tation they considered IL impossible that lie should
be acting In the spirit OF God, though He himself
assured the world tllaS he was carrying out the law
to tile letter. On one occasion when passing through
a corn field with HIS Apostles, an ear OF corn was
The sabbath had beea violated Another time He
restored man to health and desired him to rise and
carry his bed. He was charged with violating the
Sabbath but He answered them saying that
THE SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MAN
mercy demanded what might seem to be WORK on
that day. The spirit OF the law was as much OBJ
served IN extending mercy and performing that
ments TO the letter The Apostle Paul gave the world
to understanc that the great fundamental
DOCTRINE OF CHRISTIANITY
was the cruCiflxfon Of the Lord Jesus Christ That
was the sum and substance OF the Gospel Every
other matter relating TO Christianity clustered
around that great principle. The passage which he
had read showed the great importance OF Christ
cruclned. After fully explaining this doctrine
showing that 1t was entirely Tree from all sectaran-
Ism and that II was superior to all other instruction
and Of the highest importance to mankind he
quo ed the seventh OF the third chapter of Paul
70 the Philippians--"But what things were gain to
me those | counted loss for Chrst.n II struck at
Ihe foundation OF all sectaranism and sectionallsm.
TNs Apostle Paul had the opportunity TO be secta-
RAN had he been so disposed but from that he
seen led to have been determined to stand upon the
broad platform Of faith In the cruclned Redeemer.
That Areas doc'rlne should commena itself TO the
thay 1t CID commend itself to thems What was 1t
that n,eh OF Intelligence, men Of liberaty, men Of
largo beart.sdness men Of respectaDity and honor
were pantiIA lorY What was It that the multifndes
whlsh crowd this great city were hungerng forY