The New York herald., 1870-06-13
ST. slEPHEs,s CHURCH..
The Mission OF the Apostles and tho Fouudn.
siOn Oi the Church--aermon by the kev.
Father Griffin. rtm

The Mission Of the Apostles and tho Foundn.
zion Of the Charch--sernion by the Eev.
Father Griffin.
crowded assemblage congreg ted in this beantl-
full temple at the morning service yesterday. The
appearance OF the interior was grand and impress
sive, and the ceremonies were throughour
marked by the usual characteristic solomnity.
Scarcely available seat was left uno occupied
while the vicinity OF the principal entrance
was thronged TO excess. The display or fashion was
not at all ostentatious; there was nevertheless
modest yet picturesque array. Bright aud cheer.
ful was the weather the attendance did not seem
to be increased for, storm sunshine ST. Stephens
Is ever crowded to the doors. The Rev. Father Henry
ofciated celeOrant, attended, BY host Of acoytes
and assistants At the termination OF the first gos-
pei the Rev. Father Giifin preached q heightened
and argumentative sermon. taking his text from the
Gospel OF the day-nanely, the twentieth chapter OF
OF st. Matthew, from the eighteenth 10 the twenn-
eth verse. During the Introductory portion OF the
discourse the reverend gentleman lucdiy explained
tile
COMMISSION GIVEN BY CHRIST
to Apostles. All power was given to him in heav
and EARTH and lie sent his Apostles to teach all
nations thus establishing body which was to live
forever. According TO the promises in the same
Gospel he was to be with them for all time and they
were to extent their teachings from the
limited circles Of Judea to the nations
OF the earth. Though ne seemed to
Jews, as was learned from the fact that lie told Hrs
apostles not TO go into the ways OF the Gent.es or
enter into the land OF the Samaritans. The Jews re-
jected His teachings. and then lie established His
Church for all people, including those outside the
Jewish nation. subsequently the party was
It's infancy, and in It's infancy it required
only such things as belong % tho infant
stale, and clatmei only such powers ana privileges
as were appropriated to the narrow circle In which
they rested. The reverend gentleman then went On
to show that as the Church grew so also did its
powers grow. 1t developed all the germ that had
been planted by the Lord IN the natural way.
Though IL now seemed to be different Church roIn
that which appeared IN the Goslel. yet 1t was
THE SAME CHURCH,
just as man grown was the same person as the IN.
fant The child claimed only the things belonging
TO child, claiming others as he developed INTO ir1
manhood. So also the Churcn had It's nancy,
It's growth, It's maturity, and. all this time
lie would be with IT, that lie would direct and guide
IT IN all truth and that \ would never cease TO be
the CHURCH, AND, though Controversies mi mt arise
in IL they were always when conducted by her true
children, concerning matters open to controversy.
Though there might be
APPARENT ptFFERENcEs.
yet those differences were about non-essentials
When outsiders were asked BY anybody, even in hot
pointed 10 the Church, stating that they believed
~ what she. taught, that they held what she
preach anythinp else. Those controversies about
ssentias began from the time of the
apostles tneinseivcSi Tor 10 WAS seen that Paul
wtlstood Peter, ana that Paul aud BafnaDas
disagreed and parted from each other and YET that
Peter and Paul had the same laith. and tnal Barna-
bas had the same as both, Sail protesting
the same doctrine OF Christ, and that fruil,
the time OF the apostles TO the present
day aud to the end or al time Controversies
as to non essentials might arie, ana that
when once decided by the Church the parties to
them would always submit TO them In Silence and
accept tie decisions as iInal
TUE MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS
were, as usual, excellent. One o. Generai's masses
was spendidy performed. A beautiful nlerpreta-
ton OF Vent creator was performed on the narp by
Mr. Toulmin with much tenderness ana brilliant
execution.