The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-27

The Good shepherd and His wandering
sheep = Effective md Touching Discourse
OF Rev. Mr.. Mclean.
In despite of the tropical heat that scorched
our city in the morning hours OF yesterday,
there was most varied array Of religious SER
vices in all our leading churches, as readers
Of the HERALD will perceive by the many col
umns of reported sermons that we publish lnis
morning. Some of the latter were brilliant;
others argumentative; others tonchingly pa
thetic, and others, again, peculiarly enec'v'
for their appropriateness to the time ana ene
occasion. But. upon careful inspection, we
find singular combination Of all these quail
ties in the brief but powerful appeal OF the
Rev Mr.. Mclean, who oficiated at the conciu-
sion of high mass in st. Patrick's Cathedral
and discoursed upon the beautifully express
sive parable Of ''the lost sheep" which Tue
good pastor went forth to seek, and when he
had found it, returned rejoicing with the
rescued one ii bis loving arms
! In this day, when shafhs ana make believes
80 constantly usurp the foreground anu noSy
! pretensior thrusts itself forward In all things'
to the exclusion of quiet, unassuming ner",
it is hard at first to make certain c'a'e u
mankind credit that
DAVIS not reckone a religious bird
Because lie keeps acawlng IRON seepie.
Moreover, thousands Of our young people,
beholding how much fashion has to do SO fre-
! quently with the display that makes the house
Of God more like gay reunion for mutual
amusement than place for contrlte thought
aud humble worship, are straJing far away
! from the fold into the wilderness Of doubt and
| unbelief Look at the conventicle or our day
| as it is so often seen -
| Here some are thlnkin' on their sins
An some rpO Their caes;
| Ane curses feet that fyled his shins,
| Anither signs an prays;
| On this hand sits chosen swatch =,
WI screw'd-up, gracc-proud faces;
| on that a set o. chaps at watch,
| Tbraug winkin' on the lasses.
But in the Cathedral yesterday there was
none Of this The solemn ceremonial the
"dim, religious light the pulsng organ
music thrilling a silence of intense devotion
with those unutterable melodies of the great
masters that awe aud subdue the heart of man
in the presence Of his God, ity prepared the
audience for the tender and caressing voice Of
their pastor, typfying the loving kindness and
the joy of the Good Shepherd going forth over
the desert Of this world to gather IN His stray
lambs to the sheltering fold.
Not word Of mere sectarian reproach; no
feeling less than the great, good end in views
no triHing play of words; no bid or trick OF
diction for Aippant applause; no CLEAN Of any
thing, in fine, but the light of the pure pastoral
mission should ever be allowed to lower the
calm, sweet dignity of pulpit ministration.
Herein the Rev. Mr.. Mclean was eminent
among the many able divines who fought
the good fight yesterday. The blessed
Saviour's boundless mercy and love for an
erring race; the glory Of Calvary shining
undimmed and eternal to guide the storm
tossed mariner to land and home; the Father
waiting there to clasp His returning prodigal;
the rest that follows to the just when the
trials of earth have been patiently borne and
it's duties faithfully discharged-such were the
themes that rose with the chant of the choir
and the voice Of the preacher until they
spread beyond the fretted aisles and sculptured
architraves, and went forth with the thought
full worshipper to brighten even the summer
cir to sweeten the bread of poverty, to
strengthen the hand of toll and be an ever
present blessing in the hearts that they had
touched and cheered.