The New York herald., 1870-03-07
CHURCH 0F THE DIVINE PATERNITY.

The Goddess Of Fashion and the Word Of
God-HOw the Congregation Looked Yes
tcrday-G ossip i'm the Church and Extra
Mural.
Shadows, and not sunshine, fell heavily around
the portals Of the Church Of the Divine Paternity
yesterday morning. A leaden, heavy sky hung over
Fifth avenue as well as the Five Points and other
minor places, ike q funeral pail and gave strong
indication that the elements above our visual hor-
z0n somewhere were In dispute among themselves
whether tney should let us have snow or rain Th IS
state Of affairs threw q decided damper on
all fashionable church-goers, and on Dr.
Chapm's congregation among the rest. But while
the church was not as well patronlzed as on pre-
vious occasions yet the Goddess OF Fashion asserted
her full prerogatve, and regned inside the sacred
ediice much supreme mistress OF the situation as
II the genial rays OF the sun were In full blast Pune
tually at eleven O'Clock DR.. Chaplin bowls up to his
church in his splendid carriage drawn by an ele-
giant pair OF fublooded bays driven by q coach
man in expensive livery. Evidently the reverend
doctor, while preaching strenuousy against all out.
ward pomp, display and ceremony in religious ser.
vices, is not opposed to little OF it IN worldly
sense. He hurriedy ambes lowing to his
Eneumatism) into the church. and Is soon seated
behind the reading desk. Before him, spread out
Ike gorgeous panorama IS sea Of fashion, The
toilets Of the ladies' are gorgeous they are ex
penslve Some MINUTES eiapse before the opening OF
The exercises Al Interim the youthful members OF
the congregation indulge in low, soft whisperings
which are doubtless meant to MI up time. and nave
some relation to matters concerning the church and
the general welfare OF the poor human race. The
congregation indulge in no preliminary prayers.
They enter the church with firm and elastic steps
take their seats In staid and formal manner and
wait for DR.. Cnapin TO do the praying. While
he is thus engaged the congregation sit still
anything or tnat sort. II he makes u good point
or two In his prayer some OF the congregation, who
seen to put their neads together ana whisper, no
doubt in criticism OF what the Doctor has Just got
On But now ne mas finished the prayer, ana alter
the singing OF hymn In exquisite style he opens
the book and gives out his text from the fourth
chapter and thlrtysecond verse OF Luke as follows
For HIS word was with power.n This assertion Lhe
preacher sad had Immediate reference TO the preach
ing OF Jesus at Capernaum, to which place ne had
gone after the prosecutions OF his own t0wnsmen at
Nazareth. Wherever he went The multitude throneed
around Him, In many instances, undoubtedly,
moved by curiosity and wonder at His miracles, but
also, it seemed TO listen to His teachings and we
were told that the common people were astonished
at His doctrine, for He talked as one having author
y All this showed that there was some peculiarity
some special force In the words and teachings or
Jesus. In His uterances there was divine strength
and efficacy, and drew the Thoughts OF the people
spontaneously towards MIN. Immediately after the
passage In which we found the text we were told
That there appeared In the synagogue man pos
sessed by an uncean spirit, which Jesus cast out,
and the people exclaimed, "What q word Is this!
for with authority and power He commanderh
the unclean spirits and they como out.n Now,
although we were not. like this listening multitude
OF old, IN the presence OF Jesus, Notwithstanding we
could realize certain elements OF his teaching winch
carried win them power such as no other teacher
was ever possessed or; 80 that the very Of
his power stood before us to-day with all the fresh
ness and beauty which characterized 1t when lie
present on earth among that multitude. These
words of the texG SO simple and so adapted to the
wants OF the human heart, were suited 10 the appre-
hension OF the common mind, ana yet were deep
and pregnant with spiritual truth ana revelation.
There were words which ploughed human evIls and
doubts into burrows OF CONVICTION and which lifted
men up from the snackles OF their mean
ness into life and holiness. These words
were like an artesian WE'LL You descended into
them, and you could never get deep enough. They
were pure and simple, yet deep They had In them
something that the child apprehended, and yet
something tnat flowed underneath the profoundest
thought. The more you examined 1t the deeper,
and deeper and deeper 1t became until 1t became
exhaustlble The preacher then went on at greater
length to elaborate his subject and apply 1t TO his
congregation and the whole human race, closing
with an eloquent Deroratlon, As we have
heretofore gwen the names OF many OF
the leading members OF this congregation 1t
may not De out OF place here to give The names or
those who watch and guard the interests Of The
church with efficiency ana zeal. The deacons are
Messrs George w. Patt, Archibald A. Peterson,
owen HutchisOn, j. g. BRINK; b. ID. I. Marshall,
CLERK and treasurer. The trustees Messrs George
w. Platt, George q. Lake, William Banks, d. d. 4.
Marshall, William Montross, u. +. Romaine, JACOB
Weeks, James Gushing, Jr., and q. l.. Stickney.
After the services the sacrament OF the Lords
Supper was administered TO those who wished 10
MARI ka