The New York herald., 1870-03-21
THIRD UyVEaSaLisT CKIRCR.


a Popular Pastor and a Conientcd Comsre-
anfiOn--Amnscments, Public and Private,
Justified by nensom, Religion aud Common
sensc-Eloauent and interesting sermon by
tue Hey. Mr.. Switzcr.
A congregation gifted with that peculiar class OF
blessings which solomon In one Of his spiritual, II
not his wsest moods prayed ror--nOt wealth, nor
yet poverty-asscmoled at the morning service yes
terday at the Third Universast church, Beecker
street. The congregation is peculiar in thus, that II
Is composed OF well-to-do substantial people, but
does not reckon IN Its numbers single millionaire.
The glorious sunshine Of the morning impeled
every one 10 turn out and afforded temptation not
To be resisted OF donning the gayest headgear and
the most tasteful and becoming holiday costume
SO tho unadorned but cheerful and impressive edi-
flee, was filled WITH happy looking and fashion,
ably dressed people.
THE PASTOR,
the Rev. Mr.. Swirzer, is an Idol win his people.
Though young man, not yet twenty three, he has
All the wisdom OF gray hairs anu with 1t the fresh
ness, gracousness ana vvacty OF youthful man
hood. AS teacher he Is eloquent, as pastor zeal
Gus and paterna. His discourses are based upon
Scripture and common sense. Tifey are Logical and
ornate and have the air and Imagery when only
thoughtful, well read and enlightened man OF the
world can give to theological EXPOSITION.
THE C0SGREGATIoN
seems model one earnest ana cheerful In CHRISTIAN
and natural duty and altogether devoid or cant and
fanaticism. Among the leading worshippers there
were Mr.. ana Mrs. Norman Stratsoi, and Miss n. d.
Trsphagen, AR. Warren Harriett Mrs. Taylor. Miss
A. Oakley, Mrs Van Ryper, Miss Ripley Miss WI
hams. Mr.. Van Cise Miss Oaell Mrs. 4cNey tnc Miss
McAdam, &c.
AFTER THE sFRvIcEs
which were OF Ihe strictly ScrpLnral simple ana
extemporary character peculiar 10 the unlyersaist
cnurcne5 the pastor announced that the net pro-
seeds or the laie aiies' lar, ned in order delray
the debt upon the churcn, announced To 81 00l and
Then read the usual weekly semi eccesastical no
iices known 10 church goers a. tile ''Gews OF the
| week.
THE SERMON, By rHE REV. MR.. swrrzER,
was on St Paul 10 the Thessaonlans, ", lo.Quench
not the sprit.n lie explained the relations
m winch the Church mt dinercnS periods slood ia re-
I gard 10 pne world and the position she TOOK up IN
store should not be upon theories principles and
opinions advanced on thSs subject In ages long since
refnote, di NOT belong 20 our tifnc. lhey ongar 10
be roverenced for che good thai was In Iem Just as
family association anu iliIa tenderness throw halo
| round deceased rrandmother's speGiacies. viewed
| critically or efnotionaIy they were but
FIELD or CURlosiTIEs,
delightful rum, interesting regiousiy and histor.
/ cally, but not guide for us IN modern llie Men
! have been always IN partial darkness. They have
| looked at God through glasses varolsly colorel.
| st. Paul himself acknowledged thar he saw God
1 .'daikly." Christ alone was able 10 bear the iu
eifugence OF the light. OF Gods truth. In tue dark
| ages men used dark glasses, whicn assorted and
clouded the truth. Hence their piety was supersu-
tious aud their practice grotesque. For these roa
/ sons reading church history was like walking
| through gr0ttO in which the stalactites varied in
| size and splendor according TO the naAlral laws
which regulated their growth. The present was =
| vast improvement upon the past, and the future
would oatshlne the present. All The people At tunes
| felt
The FEELING was natural. 1t was an impulse OF the
spirit. The spirit spoken OF IN the text was not the
/ Third Person OF the Godnead FOR he could not Dc
quencned. It meant the natural spirit which AMI
mates US physically and mentally. IL Is this spirit
winch lmpels us to eat drink aud sleep ana perform
i OF
| duty 10 obey. And he held 1t no less
our duty to yield TO the same spilI. when It sng.
gcsted the genial excitement OF a theatre or tie
| delicious fascinations or the opera. Tue 0pinions
| OF John Knox. George Fox or Jonathan Edwards
| upon this subject counted lor nothing. These men
viewed scandalOusly immoral ana uemoraIzed so
cety, and evelied tneir denunclations at IL and its
developments. But his view was thar 1t was as much
| duty togo anl see Booths Hamlet or Jetlerson's
Rip van Wlnkle, or 10 come and listen 10 the thrill
ing inelodyof Paiepa- Rosa as 1t was TO perform
any other natural duty. Certain schools OF thought
| hal made "a distinction between members and non.
| members OF the Church. WnaS the 1atter might do
| on the principle that
THE TIEsD GIyErn TnE MORE FRIENDLY CoUS-
SELL"
| the former, it held could not do. In that PHI
losophy he was no believer. Inurch membership
| diu nor affect the question:. Tradition saond be
| wholly laid aside. as no two ages agreed
| was however, that the physical appetite
the religious instinct and tho crayins ior
amusement were ali cnlaDat,Ons Of the spirit
Those who resisted tins latter craving suerca rr
IL, as those who won't eat must suffers The results
| 60 spch were weak frames nervous ITS despondcnt
views or life, sour. hard tcmper5 and general tea
dency 10 misantnropy. He deprecated IN the strong
est terms excess either In the quality or quantity
| amusement. Overuse and dlsuSe alike
| forms OF abuse and to both was metcd out their
natural ami inevitable penalties. The preacher
drew delightful picture OF the joyou5uess OF
heart, elasticity Of spirit and eyenness oi temper
walcl generally follow
MIND WELL REGULATED
aud kept strong IN tunelul equilibrium bT using
without abusing, the means OF relaxation, puolic
and private, at our disposal and concluded with
earnest exprtaCon TO his TO take heed
their amnsements were always worthy Of the chii-
dren OF God.
The choral performance was not strlkngly I'm.
pressive, though there among the preit, cnor-
listers several sweet ANA cultivated voices.