The New York herald., 1870-05-23
The Churches yesterday.

We suppose few persons will contend that
the Christianity of five centuries ago is that OF
to-day. In the abstract, perhaps, 1t is; In
reality it is not Civilization progressed too
rapidly for the theologians. They first fought
against the reason, which science set into
activity. and were beaten, and some Of them
not only surrendered but have since
been running race with reason
on the question OF religion After
all, the good old days OF our forefathers, which
we read Of, were happy enough, and men and
women were pious, good Christians, if even
they were ignorant. Saints, if they did overdo
the thing little, were still men OF distinction,
whose devotion to God, charitable works and
asceticism surrounded their lives with mys-
terious sanctty. And the angels that ap-
peared in those days were always spiritual
beings with beautiful faces, flowing garments,
naked feet, arms claspcd across the heart-in
fact, real angels standing on clouds. 1t is
mortifying to think how things have changed.
To-day all our saints live in tine houses wear
shining broadclo.h and white chokers, while
our angels have a weakness for JOCKEY Club
and have nothing TO do with clouds except
when they make their fathers ''see stars" in
the shape of dressmakers' bills.
Let US not attempt to ignore the fact.
Christianity has made prodigious strides.
Whether for good or i'll time alone can deter
niue. Preachers who aim at the sensational,
who dare not risk becoming ''played out
IN,
ism, are always ready with Innovations. Oar
ideas of propriety get knocked into
cooked hat; but what if they do, 50
long as Christianity advances? And did
not Christianity take wonderful step yes
terday when Mr. Beeoher announced
from the pulpit that womans meeting was
to be held in Brooklyn next Wednesday,
Now, at this meeting there will be deadly
assault made upon marriage and vigorous
plea entered for more plant divorce laws, and
Mr. Beecher was aware Of these things when
he made the announcement. Here then, was
progress. It was something more than
the BODYBUILDING" of which MIR. Beecher
preached. 1t limited strongly of an
approaching day when professed Chris
tians would build church, and, in im-
the unknown god" Certainly il they persist in
eliminating Him from the Bible, it will not be
long before Ho will be quite unknown to them.
However, it is consoling to think that we can
leave Plymouth Church and refer to Rutgers
Chapel, where Rev. Mr.. Richardson preached on
the immortality of the soul. His text was
taken from the question in Job, 'Tf man
die shall he live again?' On this the preacher
remarked that "a moro interesting inquiry could
not to be made" We should say not, and we
are glad that Mr.. Richardson came to the con-
clusion that the soul is immortal. Mr.. Hep
worsli's discourse on ssFho Bible, and How to
Read 1t, was Of curious interest, being on a
subject less often treated from the pulpit than
it might be. Father McGlynn, at st. Stephen $
Roman Catholic church, preached sermon on
the essentials to salvation, which deserves
particular notice because Of Che liberal views
and broad charitable ideas of the preacher
At the Church of the Strangers Rev.
DR.. Deems discoursed on the Lord s
scavengers, in which he held that when
things are no longer useful to the world they
die and God has them removed. We are not
quite certain what the point Of this sermon
was; but we think it had reference to the
desire of sssome Protestants," who would get
the Roman Catholic Church out of the way.
However, DR.. Deems thinks that this should
not be, as the said Church is alive at the
present moment and will probably live. We
have no doubt that he will receive the graft
tude of ali Catholics for his kindness.
In the other churches in this city, Brooklyn,
Jersey City and Washington the attendance
was large, the music excellent and the sermons
instructive enough. Whether the clergymen
might not have done better is question we
shall not discuss at the present moment. We
suppose they did their best, which is all we
can expect. Pope Plus TX. is reported to
have olce remarked Of an African priest that
he was made in the image Of the Creator if he
even was an ugly likeness. And we hold that
sincerity leads the sinner to heaven, even
though it be surrounded by poor preaching.
Special Advices from Persia-,Ten Millions
of People Ready tor International Coinmu.
Mon.
From Bushire, under date Of April lS, we
have special correspondence which sets fortE
the condition of the ''solidarities' as they exis
to-day in that part of Western Asia. Oal
writer tells us how youth is educated, ant
how manhood lives, prays, trades, robs, il
punished, end makes money generally on tht
! shores Of the Gulf. lis letter makes very
useful economic exposition, and being dated
in Bushire, the principal entrepot OF trade
in Persia, will command very uni
versal attention. The city Of Bushire is
unexceptionally prosperous. Two lines o
steamships run from Bombay up the Gulf