The New York herald., 1870-06-06
CHURCH OF TnE MESSIAH.

Meeting of the Congregation of the Church of
All Souls With That OF the Church OF The
Observation-Disclosures Discourse by Rev.
George III. HepwOrth on the Rite Of the
Communion.
More than usually interesting were the services
yesterday morning at the Church of the Messiah
corner OF PARK avenue and Thirty fourth street
owing to the temporary closing OF the Church of All
Souls, large numbers OF the congregation Worship
ing at the latter church attended here. Dr. Bellows
also assisted in the ministerial services, and the
two choirs OF the two churches also
united their efforts in the divine art OF
mnsic-that great essential feature of modern
church worship. 1t seemed hardly possible
that the church could have been more
crowded than usual, but 1t must have been So The
efficient and gentemanly sexton, Mr.. Berry and tn
polite corps OF accomplished, fresh looking ushers
ce rtainly used their utmost endeavors IN finding
seats for the extra large assemblage.
THE MUSIC.
Singing the re Deun,, by J. r. Thomas with solos,
by Mrs. Mozart and Mr.. McPhail Of the choir OF Dr.
Bellows church, and by Miss Rushby and Mr.
Whiting, Of the choir OF the Church Of the Messiah
led of the finely executed and select musical exer.
and sweetness. Remember, o Lord" by Himmei,
oy the two choirs, with solo, by Miss Anna Bulk.
voice. II not the gem Of the morning music,
at least indescrbably sweet and impressive, that
grandy touching hymn OF Leach "H0wBeautiful Arc
Thy Dwellings, with solo by Miss Flicker the regular
soprano OF the Church OF the Messiah and who has
voice of rare melody and fine expression The con-
gregatlon next sung, and they threw vgor OF many
voices sweetly attuned into the singing, that beau
tiful hymn, 20, Could Speak the MatehIess
WORTH" and then came
by Rev. George II. Hepworth. His subject was the
a sermon of more vigorous power OF Thought and
utterance and one elicting closer attention and
deeper more heartfelt interest," .r He took his text
OF Me-" He began by saying that there Is no scene
in sacred history more impressive than that in the
midst OF which the words OF the text were spoken.
TO the common observer it was simply the ordinary
feast OF thirteen men, who were well meaning but
mistaken fanatics. They had trusted In each oGher
for three years, at once solemn and eventful. They
were about to part il the predictions OF their leader
were to come true. aud there they sat to eat their
last meal together, and to take counsel concerning
the future To one who was not a common
observer, put prophet 1t was scene in which
were grouped twelve m0narchS and one traitor. At
their head sat not simply the Great Reormer OF the
Hebrew nation, but the
SPIRIT OF THE NEW AGE.
and the Redeemer Of mems souls. BY His side were
men who after they had passed through the fiery or.
DEAL should go forth to the utmost limits Of the earth
and scatter In the tabled story the serpents teeth
that should produce new and mightier race Of
men. One Apostle was to grope his way eastward
and build the temple Of Christianity in the heart of
Asia; another was to preach the Word IN Africa and
so claim for Christ the whole territory between the
Mediterranean and the Southern Ocean; and still
that great Power that held in It's grasp the civilized
world and built q Christian temple in the heart of
pagan Rome Before Christ left the upper chamber
for the cross and Calvary ne gave injunction to
His Disciples to eat and drink in remembrance or
Him. the world has felt that the command or
quest was given not simply to the twelve, but to the
disciples of every age and place, and they have in
stituted this ordinance as part OF our Church SER
vice, as memorial Of Him who spared not Himself,
but died that we might live. 1t is a service OF
gratitude and as some one has beautifully defined
gratitude to be the
tNEMORy OF THE UEARTD
we meet at stated intervals to recall the good which
the Master has done for us ana to remember with
thanksgiving the benefits which we ENJOY the result
OF His suffering and death. It does all good to
steal away from the busy world on this our day of
rest and shutting out the din OF business and the
petty cares Of everyday life, to be alone with our
hearts and to commune with the Father. The mil
, Wnees on ~ tne @ tS aae SUN s iarmer
over the land ring out their invitation the marts
OF business where fortunes and tempers aud wealth
are lost are quiet. We come from our houses accom-
panied by wife and children and In the grateful
shadow Of the temple we count over our blessings
and remember Him to whom we are indebted for all
His only wonder that churches are ever closed
The one thing he envied the Catholic Church, and in
tnisit Is wiser than Protestansm is ITS open doors
meditation. Many heart has been cheered by look.
reminded OF One whose troubles outweighed ours
and VINO found strength to bear all things in Him
who Is never sought ID vain; q & He proceeded s In
various reasons why larger numbers do not observe
this ordinance. In the first place, it has been sur
rounded with an
ATMOSPHERE OF MYSTERY
which does not belong to it, Instead OF being re-
garded as service OF gratitude, IN which we espe-
cially recall the Lord and constant Indebtedness
to Him, it has too often been spoken OF as awful
and solemn miracle, to witness VIII ch only chosen
elected few are admitted, We nearly all Of us
taught this tn our young days, and the prejudice
stronger than our reason. We cannot rid ourselves
OF it. He well remembered the over solemn faces Of
those who, in his boyhood, when he crept up into |
the gallery Of the church TO witness the rite left the
table. But now It was to hima
SERVICE OF LOVE AND GRATITUDE.
All through 1t he found himself saying, "Iow clad
am to be here How good God seems to me to- !
day How happy we all are |" That is the true |
way to look at It. So far from being gloomy rite |
1t symbozes the most cheerful and beautiful truths
Of our religion He wished that there were no such
thing as "close communion" How pleasant 1t |
would be to go back to the fashion OF the earlier
times and invite all who desire to be ChTist-like to
partake OF rnis privilege with us Again, some one
saws .l am not good enough Strange Not good !
enough to make prayer Why, the worse you are |
the more need TO go down on your knees. Not good |
enough TO sat here at this table and remember your