The New York herald., 1870-09-26
CHURCH, or TsE MESSIAH.

| The Moral Aspects Of Europe-Lecture by she
| Rev. George III. iepworth.
| The congregation OF the Church OF the Messiah
turned out in large force last night to hear the dis
| tlnguished divine Dr. George ii. Hepworth, deliver
the first OF his proposed series OF lectures on the
moral aspects OF Europe. An immense number OF
strangers were also present In the church. After
the usual services the reverend gentleman an
nounceo his text as Matthew XIV, 8-''And ye
shall hear Of wars and rumors OF wars.n
He began by saying that 1t is very bad but very
curious fact that nearly every grand page OF history
is written in blood. Peaceful revolutions very
rare. When nation desires or determines to
change its political or social character II seldom
reaches the new regtnse without treadin2 on thou
sands Of graves.
The terrible war now raging In Europe-a war
that Is likely TO affect the politics and the religion
OF the whole C0ntinenthas called up airesh the old
debate concerning the necessity OF bloodshed among
civilized peoples.
FURIOUS AND BLOODY wAR
seems to be the awful price which every generation
Is compelled TO pay Tor peace. For centuries no
man OF any nationality has lived to be whleheaded
without seeing struggle against foreign do
mestic foe. Every thirty or forty years the people
even In the most enlightened countries find them
selves SO involved m Poiltical complications tnat
seems to be so inevitable that many philosophers
and statesmen defend war, not simply as necessity,
but also as benefit Hobbies tells us that II Is mans
natural condition, ana that ne viii never find his
way out. Nautilus says That 1t IN KIND OF safety
valve; that when people get To be too numerous
the crowds and give more room to those who
are left, but also to remove the superannuated who
mOnopolize the national honor, and make way for
rising talent. DE Quincey looks out from his quiet
retreat and says he cannot see the time in the dis
tant future when war Will or when ought 10
cease. However this may be. certain IT Is that
THE HISTORIC PENDULUM
no sooner touches the quiet realm or peace than
begins 20 swing towards the horrors or war. and it
no sooner reaches the battle 1eld than 10 begins 10
swing back again to peace. Ihe world hardly bures
its heroes before preparing to defend Itself against
But how revolving to our sense of what Is right to
our ideas OF true religion or true progress these
things seem. How Can we help believing that the
time will come when great disputes not be SET
tick by the bay0net and the sword, and when Kings
and rulers VIII be unable to drag or drive Their sub
jects TO hOrrid death? Looked at from the stand
point OF the Christian religion. what fearful pic
ture Europe presents. SPAN and Italy are both III
the very midst OF battle clouds. The homes OF the
Continent which at this moment flied either
with
DREADFUL ANXIETY,
or with a still more dreadful cersaintY, are TO be
counted not simply by the hundred thousand,
though these figures are so great that the mind fails
TO grasp tnem but by the miiliOn-numbers before
which we stand appalled,. Already on the various
battle fields between the Rhine and the Atlantic
more strong, sturdy men, who are fathers husbands
sons and brothers 10 some one who loves them,
have fallen than all the inhaDtants OF our neghbor.
ing city OF Brooklyn, men, women ana children.
One stands aghast at such q fact, Magnificent
territories, whose present state of culture Is tue
result OF the labor OF Two generations, arc laid
waste In few days, so wholly laid waste that it
VIII require many years TO put them back TO where
they were IN midsummer villages and cities that
have grown by slow degrees palaces and chGrches,
the monuments OF peope's skill and peoples
muni!cence, are rlddIed by balls or utterly des
troyed The industry of entire nations is paralyzed
whole peoples are demorazed and their passions
30 nercely excited that they Will not for
least generation.
AND ALL FOB WHAT
Simply that some ones revenue may be increased,
some ones so.called glory may he enhanced, the
geographical distribution OF a Comment may be al
Jered; These are the ENDS aimed at by those who
conduct the war God will compel these kings and
princes to build better than they know. Out OF all
this evil can see that He may bring lasting good.
But these kings who are nghtmg are fighting for
themselves: Why do not the Christian nations Of
Europe interfereY Our laws interfere with auels
aud with street brawls, aud the combatants have
To settle their quarrels III other ways.
WHY Is RUSSIA sILESrS
and why does Austria say nothing9 Above all,
why does Christian, liberty loving. boaslru England
stand complacently by and fold her hands 40 ng as
her prosperity Is not toucheds Ana why does not
America speak her word In q voice Of thunders
should combine and say '.lnoasn" the ar.
mics OF William, stout despOt he IL,
would right about lace and march towards Berlin
The truth Is that Russia too big to care Austria is
too wary TO open her lips America rs 1900 miles OF
and Victoria mas married her daughters to German
the time VIII yet come when nations need not resort
TO arms. Once II was
TUE CHIEF BUSINESS OF A PEOPLE
TO fight. Now II Is The last resort. Again war il
being made 80 revolving, so murderous that nation
hestates long while before undertaking 1t. Mili-
tary genius has made war mere massacre; and
lastly the peoples OF the earth are growing In edu
cation and religion. The horrors Of war are beco-
ing more vivid, and the duties OF man are becoming
more plain. We may hope for the time when the
sword shall be made pruning hook. In the mean
tine we should do what we can TO encourage mat
spirit of true religion which VIII make war morally
impossible.