The New York herald., 1870-04-04
CHURCH OF The MESSIAH.


Tho Successor of st. Peter--sermon by Rev.
DIR. George IL. Hcpworth.
Last evenings lncement weather and the self.
satisfying excuse IL Afforded for absence from tenn
PIES OF Christian worship did not prevent the assem-
plage OF crowded congregation at the Church Of
the Messiah corner OF Park avenue and Thrtyfoursh
street. TO hear by the eloquent and popular pastor the
continuation OF his matchmaking dlscourses
against the power oil the Pope and growing influence
and supremacy oil the Roman Catholic faith. His
subject was 'rhe Successor OF st. Peern and II Ia
needless to state that he treated 1t with his cqsfQ
mary power Of inviucibe logic. and gave It the
glowing vitality Of his Impressive aud mpa ssoned
Oratory.
THE USUAL PREDATORY EXERCISES
OF prayer, reading the Scriptures and singing the
last, in addition to congregational hymns, emorac
ing some beautiful set pieces BY the choir, sung in
magnificent style BY the choir, concluded, the
reverend speaker announced as his text
Matthew VII, 2o-"By their fruits ye shall
know them." After enunciating the general
principle included IN tue text, he spoke
science, literature ana even In the matter OF family
descent Andlng to the latter pride, he character.
country In this connection showed how the llt.
tleness Of money was lost
when heS ae Ss 81
hood they were truly noble. Making transition
from this topic he spoke OF the numoer Of churches
nowadays claiming " be descended from the
apostolic ages Among them, ne Claimed stood
prominent the Roman Catholic Church. rns Churcn
was crystaiized despotisin. Rome shielded Itself
behind Its armies. 1t never had been anything else
but uncomfortable ambition. IL seeks power and
length on this branch Of his tcpic he showed now
different 1t was IN this country Here any one could
go to any church he pleased But the Roman Caiho-
Nc church. since getting footing here, had become
CONSOLIDATED DEsP0rIsM.
II sought political power and 1t would have It,
right to attempt the usurpatlon Of the power sought
to be exercised by the Catholic Church. ms
as ne es Sva as to 81
TACT. Through this assumption OF power
II insisted mat It could consgn to hell
whom IL pleased, and save only those agreeing with
1t IN faith. Aiudng to tue "relics'a piece OF the
table upon which Christ took His last supper, the
nails OF the cross. piece OF the wooi OF the cross
and the like-ne urged tnaG they introduced to
adect the emotional nature. Ihe church mcsmerzed
tts viCtlms and wnen the latter woke up
THEIR FIRST UrrEKANCE WAS HUMBUG.
Showing tthe absurd ridculousness OF TINS relic
business, which he oid by an amusing and effective
comparison oil d dog Oh the scent, ne SAID he did
not believe that the American priesthood men
OF education and refinement OF the Kcnun Catholic
In tracing back the line of events clalmed
to be traceable back 20 ST. Peter. THESE relics
any monastery or cathedral convent iu the world
hat ever mad anything 10 do wth the cross of Jesus
Chrisi. The climax OF all this humbugRery, ne as.
serted was the alleged lnialliDility OF the Pope.
Tnc plain fact OF the case was tnaC Pope pius TX.
Infaillble unless Napoleon Ill permitted IL.
This church had not an apostolic origin. Tue Chris
tian Church sald, LET men De iree." The CatnOiic
Church used the 1nqusition. There was blood and
there were
siGHs AND GRoANs THROUGH IT'S HISTORY.
This Church sells induEences Tor dollars and GEN.
Drawing an eloquenl contrast between the humble
Saviour OF manxnd, riding on an ASS, and the Pope
with his nagnilcent retinue, ri0lng On one Today
and showing the difference between the feet OF tho
weary, worn, travelling disciples which Jesus
Christ washed ami the feet OF Cardinals winch tue
Pope wash, wnicn leet had been previously washed
Tor the OCCASION, nc pictured with inastersy power
Of description The effect OF sucn nonsense and i'm.
position IN begettng in1deity among the masses Of
the European country. From all this ne de-
duced that the present Pope was not
tye true successor OF ST. Peter. Pope
Gregory was an impOster-no manhood III
him. AS those VINO took musketS III the last wal
and fought battles and won our splendid VIC.
tories were true descendants OF the Puritans, SO
loflier standard were tile descendants OF the apos
toic age. TINS was the true Church. he cared not
wnat might DC Its name
ORTHODOX OR HETERODox
Presbyterian, Congregational, Methodist, Baptis,
or Ep5c0pallan. rhe PrOtestan5 Cuurcn approved
OF education, freedom OF thought and speech, free
aom OF worship prayer. The Catholic Church Is
common schoOis, Is opposed 10 anytlng and
everything tending 10 human enlightenment and
eievatlOn The true church winch sought to make neI
more manly and women more wOinaaly was The
true Churcn. II had Christ tOr Ns head IL was tie
true su ccessor OF st. Peter.
The sermon, which lasted considerably over m
hour, was listened TO with the closest attention
Chaunting the Lords Prayer, q cOugrcgatona
hymn and benedlctlon terminated the exercises.