The New York herald., 1870-05-30
CEuRCH or THE MESS lsE.

Brilliant Discourse True Independence
OF Character BY Rev. George IL. JIepwortIr.
A very large, and as 1t always is, refined ana in.
tellectua congregation, assembled yesterday morn
Ing at the Church Of the Messiah, corner of PARK
avenue and Thirty fourth street. Again. as always is
the case, the music was unusually line Beginning
with an organ voluntary lmpromptu by L.
Howe, Jr the skilled organist there was then sung
Bonuna Est, an anthem for full choir composed
by MIR. Howe, with solos by etch Of the singers-srs
Flicker soprano; Miss Rushoy, alto; Mr.. Whiting,
tenor; and Mr.. Shat.ck, bass-a most exquisite
anthem, and most exqusitely sung Next IN The
order OF music 'Rest in the Lord,' q duet from
Spohr's Last Judgment, Sung by Mrs Flicker and Mr.
Whiting, AMI after this congregational hymn IN
the clear ringing melody OF the ney toned voices OF
Tie trong Oh lervid earnest singers, certainly the
gfandest, II not the finest OF all. As Tor
THE SERMON,
uscOurseS Mr.. HepwCrtl the PASTOR has preached
to his present congregation. The subject was True
Independence OF Character and more than once in
the course Of its ulterance he hearts OF his
audience thrill with the pusating force of mis- eo
give any adequate idea Of itagorce and brllliancy
HIS text was taken from lsafah, lxv., 5-"Stand by
thyselfn He began by saying that he had seen the
again under the influences OF freedom, and what q
difference When driven by the asn how listless,
careless, wretchcd they Werc You would know
that they did not own themselves even II you did
not hear the ratng of their chains by ter lack OF
ton was issued 1t seemed as though they hal been
thrilled by an Immense galyanic battery. They
appeared 10 stand up III larger physical proportions
their acres produced twice as mnch because they
labored with an ambitious Impulse, ana their rela-
ali at once altered for the better He said that we
all Of US more Or less liviDg under servitude.
Even in the midst OF the most enlightened society
slavery is TO be found. 1t does not have an IRON
cham clankng as 1t steps, but 1t is bound in other
ways so completely that the best part Of the man
woman Is undeveloped. He only is freeman
who lives godIy life. he alone Is free who ccn-
trols and rules his own soul. The mser WHO
OF every comfort that he may add another shining
bit to his already large enough pile, Is as
man on a Southern plantation. Tne man who Is
already conquered by the appette lor drink, who
has misused his body that hc needs, thinks he
crOuching aud base slave of tyrinnous MASTER
Tne woman who regardless Of her own good taste
fashion neither knows nor tastes the delights OF
freedom. What we need TO make our lives COM
pete Is that kind Of independence which enables
the soul to dare to be It's best self and nothing es
In America we follow our leader as much as the
more ignorant populations o. Europe do Napoleon
ihinS for herself and did not always echo the
whims of the Emperor. HIS nephew, before he
called for the
VOTE or TIE rLEBIsoITUM
manufact1reda a public opinion. lie lald trap for
the people and they all fell into II. Lake 1ocs OF
sheep who all jump over tnelence instead Of going
uuder il, which much eisHr, simply because
their ambitious leader Jumped over it, so people are,
is fashionable, good men and women-lnen and wo-
meu who are able. TO think for themseives-ro to
that church. So long as the Episcopal Church Is The
fashionable church t viii succeed, Irrespective of its
merits; one-laf the world viii go because The other
half goes. The men who go may know very little
Of its theology, perhaps may dii1er rom it, SIN they
go. When the Unitarian Church becomes the fash
ionable church, good neighbors will forget that
they have misrepresented US, and said hatd things
OF u.s. and VIII buy and rent pews by the score. But
ali Tits wrong. lie had no patience with q
fashionable audience. He would That ali men were
more Independents.
CHRISTIANITY Is INDEPENDENCE,
and when you get religion you Will nave your own
thoughts, and you Will dare to live UP 10 them ana
speak them without fear reserve. Jesus could
not be brbed or threatened out OF his great pur-
pose. Pharisees and Sadducees tried to gan HIM
over to their party, but He stood by Himself, free
man OF God and SO the example oil the human race
What privilege it Is TO iee sure that you In the
right when you diner from your friends, and how
noble 1t Is to take your stand calmly and firmly,
sure that in the end you VIII win. Young man, You
can be that hero when you say, not ''no as though
you were half afraid OF the little word, but Non as
though it were the only word In the English
language.
Succeeding the sermon was chanted the Lords
Prayer-a low, soft chant, the sublime whisperings
OF the SOULS longlngs uttered in this Incompatible
prayer-and then congregational hymn was sung
when benedlction closed the exercises.