The New York herald., 1870-05-30
Religious Services and Pious Hiiarity Yes

heiisious Services and PiOus Hiiarity yes
terday.
On the whole yesterday was not a success,
from religious point of view. The Quakers
were in town, and it rained. Whether the
presence Of the pious and worthy Friends was
the cause Of inclement weather we shall not
consider. By the vulgar It is believed TO
be, and the intellectual can say nothing In
ridicule of this belief, because, singularly
enough, it always rains when the Quakers
visit the metropolis. We feel little Interest,
however, in this question. No matter who
or what caused it, it certainly did rain yeSter-
day-not heavy, agreeable shower, but
series of sharp drizzles, with humid, sticky
atmosphere, which made one feel like getting
into bath and remaining there. OF course
the churches were slimly attended. This is to
be regretted; but, knowing the weakness OF
human nature, we are not disposed to be
severe upon those who stayed at home. They
will doubtless make amends for their non-per-
formance of religious duties by reading the
full reports of the church services published
in this paper this morning.
When 1t is borne in mind the class OF
persons that attend Grace church it will not
seem surprising that the congregation was
comparatively large, and in this respect an
exception to the other churches. There was
the usual display Of aristocratic countenances,
affecting sort of condescending piety, which
was good to look at. Rev. Mr.. Washburn, In
the absence of the pastor, preached in behalf
of the Seamans Union, and his sermon was
quite interesting. Mr.. Hepworth, at the
Church of the Messiah, was not so happy in
his discourse as he usually is. His subject
was ''True Independence of Character" which
he in measure illustrated in the sermon,
whose character was marked by an independ-
ence of all the rules of unity. Mr.. Hepworth
began with the subject of negro slavery, and
passed successfully the subjects of drunken
ness, fashion, Napoleon l. and Madame de
Staal, Napoleon III. and the pSebiscituna, and
wound up with slight censure of fashionable
religion. So many illustrations tend to con-
fuse. We are, however, happy to report that
at Lyric Hall Mr.. rockingham spoke plainly
and to the point. He advocated ''free re.
ligion," by which she meant the freedom Of
principles" He did not believe in a risen
Christ 'Jesus was an idea, principle,
spiritual power" but nothing material. In fact,
the reverend gentleman was rather inclined to
regret the doctrine that God himself is any
thing more than "an idea, principle" He
merely went step further than Bishop Snow,
who, at the Church of Mount Zion, arrived at
the conclusion that there is no hell and that
the righteous shall not inherit heaven. After
reading these two sermons we were quite pre-
pared for the withering language of the dis
course on the Catholic Church, delivered at
Calvary by Rev. Mr.. Ashton, and were ready
to and do commend and support the platform
of Rev. Mr.. Smyths new Presbyterian church,
which was announced from the pulpit yester-
day and which we publish this morning.
Across the river the lambs in Brother
Beecher's fold had right merry frolic. To
those who must have amusements on Sunday
there is no more popular and pious establish
ment for them to visit than Plymouth church.
Yesterday the performance was admirable.
AS rule the Lord is glorified in standard
comedy at the tabernacle. Yesterday His
power and glory were declared to the world in
broad farce. From the moment the play-we
beg pardon, services-began, to its close,
the audience was convulsed with laughter,
and all on the subject of flowers, light and
Sunday keeping. With this report we appro-
priately close. OF what avail are prayers and
tears, confessions and penance, when the sins
of humanity can be wiped out with with
cism and regenerated mortals can 60 direct to
heaven with grin?