The New York herald., 1870-02-21
FIFTH kyEAu: passsY TERRAIN CHURCH.

English languages.
FIFTH kysAu; PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
simple Ceremonial and Extemporary Prayer
Shoddy IN His sunday Mood Of NIind-SnObs
and Fiirts--sermon by the Rev. DIR. Hall.
tits dinlcu 70 imagine that the inspired Psalmlsts
prescence conjured up to him gifted vision any OF
the churches in "the avenuen when In q burst OF
sublime religious enthusiasm he wrote "Iow lovely
are Thy tabernacles, oh, Jacob, and tiny tents, OH
fsracl" loneliness there is no doubt-and OF the
highest form Of cxcellence-in the conception OF
iigi0us worship and also In tue realization Of the
idea In prayer though In very varying degrees &C.
cordng TO the peculiar forms Of thought and tneo-
logy prevalent among the priests ana elders VINO
preside But the world has invaded the sanctuary
and carried the citadel by storm. Heaven no
longer looked up 20 as Of old; aud Jacob with y
stone for his pillow and with visions OF angels
cending and descending TO and from the aooaes of
the blessed Is sss entirely unlike the modern idea
OF worship as any two thngs can possibly be.
The eloqnence VI the Rev. DIR. John Hall was eyi.
IDENTIFY the magnetic influence which crowded the
Presby terian church ut the corner OF Nineteenth
street and Fifth avenue yesterday morning. The
service was Of smpe and deyout character, devoid
OF external symbol and ceremonial. The great
Creator was the direct object addressed and prased
and the senses and imagination had nothing where
with TO occupy them in the shape Of religious
pageant or rubrcai pomp; long and earnest extern
porary prayer, alternated with simple, pathetic
HYMNS and anthems, which latter the choir with a
those adjacent to Il.
were not very marked. they were those tsua iiv
worn on Sundays by shoddy-rich, proud and self
satisfied The very opposite OF the prayer OF The
the week, nor do give large aims, would seem to
| casual observer to pretty accurately represent
tnrong. Devout people, OF course, there
\ were tnere, mourning over the ungodiiness
ol men ana tae petvers.y Vi .ne W. woru, anu happy
/ were made righteous and had washed their gar
| ments with the blood oil the Lamb. Tho unoevout
aud worldly well, however, always arrOgate TO Them
selves more attention upon church festivals than
| The humDly wise and godly Hence It was that some
| mpertsnent displays of snobbery come IN for a
large share of notice. Young gentlemen well known
| on the avenue, with Deckties red and utramarno
enough TO satisfy the artistic tatstes OF even osers
| and Jockeys, smoothed their Napolconic nustachcs
| with the ivory ana gold heads OF their BAMBOO
canes, ganclng about yacantly in the Dundrcary
iasnon and evidently performed the difficult task Of
| praying In the haw nav style. Some OF The ladies
mad evidently been a. great pains Ito get themselves
most Mv0ratiy Known Parisian c0smet,ques their
| best Charms. Hence they were looked ~, and the
| which was Isreign showed that It Was particularly
| admired.
The sermon was delivered from the eighth chap
ter OF the Gospel Of 81 John, forty.sixth VERSE;
(Which or you convinceth nIe OF snr And II say
the truth WY DO ye not believe mern DR.. Hall
first drew portrait OF Socrates. As teacher and
philosopher he regarded him as the greatest wnc
preceded Jesus Ghris. HIS method of instruction
was peculiar and characteristlc. lie addressed him
self to all sorts OF persons--to men. women ant
! children-and he instructed them chiefly by ques
them what was justice what mercy and truth, an
conveying during the progress OF has Interrogation
clear and definite ideas on these terms and on IN
| 1rst principles upon which they were based. rhi
was also the Lletbod OF the saviour The Gospt
was 1ull OF questions and many Of them iui oi sug
i ths,Vv lar
men might ponder upon them aud draw from theg
| spiritual sustenance.
import. Why did not the Jews anu Gentlles &C
cept the truth which offered thcmY The jews
Knocked their hopes OF being people first III worldly
wealth und greatness. Then they dld not accept ii
| because their priests were filled with spite and
| malice against the Redeemer. WIN the Genties
and men generally other causes were &C work which
led them TO reject the truth. Sometimes Ine
preachers OF Christianity were ullteraIe and vulgar
| aud badly recommended Christian philosophy to
their hearers. Al other times men not reIgiousl,
| educated, but whose secular education was every.
| thing that could be desired were deluded with the
| faacions 1oea that Christianity lacked tue refine
ment appertaining to the arts, literature and
! because OF ignorance. People well Instructed other
wise tolally misunderstood religion because i
| formed no portion Of their school or collegiate
| course He called their attention 10 Ihe remarkable
| and painful fact that now, when a movement was
IN the public schools 1t was never opened In private
schools, at which children attended AT great cost Il
their parents: and here II that morai contaglon
| which spread quickest III the dark, had spread &c
| widely around. some men looked upon religion as
| full OF restraint KIND Of moral police regulation
and Stunned II upon that account. He was no,
! gong to deny that TO the indOient and worldly
minded religion was not lull OF restraints But they
/ should change their minds ana put on Christian
! spirit, and then they would fnd what peace ana
sweetness there was TO the righteous. Besides lgao-
rance ana indifference another and perhaps more
powerful, enemy religion and religious truth was
love OF sin People VINO did not love sin for It's
sake loved II because Of certain connections habits
| anu destinations and yAiniy fattered themselves
that the time would come when they would abandon
tone Of the oldest andmost backneyed devices OF
| the devil TO delude men. To such the preacher adj
dressed perorati0n full OF force ana feeling impor.
ing them TO return to God and i've, and concluded
an able sermon with tue usual benson.