The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-18
The Franco-Prussiaa War and InfnIlibility
In the Churches Yesterday.

referred in their sermons to the
Franco Prussian war. OF course, this
was to have been expected. II was really
refreshing to hear them denounce the contest.
Brother Beecher thought there was no moral
principle animating either nation, although he
believed there was naturally strong SYM
pathy for Prussia, which was at the head Of a
democratic and liberal minded people. Rev.
Mr.. Jones, at the Water street dogpit, almost
regretted that France had not obeyed the
divine injunction and, when Prussia smote her
with Prince Leopold on one cheek, turned her
the other (Alsace and Lorraine, no doubt), Rev.
Mr.. Powers, at the Elm place Congregational
church, sincerely hoped that the Christian
nations would interfere and stop the war. which
was one waged without cause. In q word it was
charming to hear these preachers plead elo-
quently for peace. How changed their views
have become since 1859 and 1860! How
Christian! Do we not recall how these same
gentlemen, In both sections Of the country,
preached red hot sermonsp Was there not
skirmish in each sentence, heavy lombard
ment in each paragraph and general engage
ment in each discourse? But then our cause
was holy, and the Southern preachers said
their cause was holy. The idea that the Ger
respective causes evidently did not strike Mr..
Beecher. Rev. Mr.. Smyth, Of the American
Free Church, was the only preacher on this
war topic who deduced from 1t Christian
lesson. And even he dealt more on its gen.
eral than on Its specific features.
After all, these pious arguments against
bloodshed, if even a trife Pecksnifian, serve
good purpose. If we pull out the mote that
is in our brothers eye, the operation ought to
benefit him; though what good it does us poor
creatures, half blinded by the beam that is in
our own eyes, we shall not even venture to sug-
gest. Still, it was somewhat inconsistent after
preaching peace and good will to all in the
morning to pitch into the Pope in the evening,
as was done by Mr.. Powers. This clergyman
predicted that at 10 distant day the sword
would be drawn in this land to establish
absolutism in the Church. In fact he shifted
'blud, ha, ha damned vilyun!" Heaven
forbid that his prediction should ever be real
lied. The most unholy Of all wars
is religious one. Rev. Mr.. Tunison,
at the Hoboken Methodist Church, b.
lieved that the Romish church was
"dead and damned" Rev. John Love,
of the Antioch Baptist church, declared the
dogma of infallibility to be blasphemy. Thus
do some preachers set an example of Christian
love and charity to the world!
The other sermons were on various interest
ing topics. We must refer the reader to our
reports Of them, published elsewhere, for a
knowledge Of their contents. Rev. Mr.. Mayo,
of Cincinnati, preached at the Church of the
Saviour, In Brooklyn, and volunteered the
information that shell is only reform school
for heaven" Five persons assembled at the
Murray Hill Baptist chapel to listen to an
interesting discourse on baptism. The
reverend speaker favored public immersion,
and so doubtless did his congregation, which
had evidently gone to Long Branch and other
watering places where they could be publicly
immersed. The frightfully hot weather kept
all the churches almost empty. Prayers at
church on such a day as yesterday demanded
an exercise Of will few persons are capable of,
and we trust, therefore, that they prayed at
home with due gravity and devotion.