The New York herald., 1870-02-14
CHURCH or THE MESSIAH.

The Usual Large and brilliant Attendance
Sermon on Regeneration by Rev. Georgp
III. Hep%orth.
At the Church Of the Messiah, corner o, Thirty
fourth street and Park avenue there was yesterday
morning the usual large, fashionable and highly In
telligcnt congregation. The keeny cutting frosty
air making cosy dining rooms with their costly
burning fires. extra comfortable and lingering over
the morning coffee and morning papers An approx
tiOn to the
q Lengthcned sweetness
Long drawn out
OF Milton. did not prompt the usual large attendance
Talk as people will, religion, rather It's external
manifestations, Is to great degree habit. Persons
accustomed TO going to church not likely stay
at home. They must mix In their life element relI.
gious observances, as sugar Is mixed III coffee to
make 1t paatabe. regular churchg feels III at
case II Sunday comes and he does not hear his
preacher at his church and hear his church music
by his CHOIR and meet his accustomed church asso-
ciates. There Is good deal OF slander upon lady
churchgoers IN asserting that they 90 to show their
new bonnets and fine dresses to other ladies' and to
what other ladies wear. They 60 mainly
from habit. or course the cloquence OF
the minister has . strongly allurn2 influence with
many, the degree OF cultivation shown In the
c5oir music, and so cnance TO see ana be seen an
gossip. Habit, ministerial fascination the sweet
divinity OF music fashion, wordliness these siusly
Church OF the Messiah at the services yesterday
morning. Cold though the air was, there was spark.
lng brighiness Ia the clear crystal sunshine and
rich fuIs, the heavy velvets aud pushes,
were the brightest and gayesJ OF coIors Along the
rows OF softly cushioned pews shown In richest and
varied display very Kaleidoscope hue The LADIES'
were dressed IN the most perfected style OF church
toilet. IL is singular fact, however, that wMie the
female portion OF the congregation are beaming
win smiles, or what Is very near II, the men look
peculiarly stern and severe.
IN Ul n nl IN MI LAT MI vnA
most dclciously by Mr.. Edward Howe, Jr.. The or
ganist. opened the services. succeeding this was
sung by the chdlr that beautiful hymn OF Mozart,
glowing with impassoned music "Nearer, My God,
to Thee,'' which was followed by the response full
OF such music, sung as here by CHOIR Sec
ond to none in me city, is indescribable Soul and
thoughts mounted upwards with each rising strain.
Reading Scriptures, q prayer and congregational
hymn and then came the sermon by the Rev. George
II. Hepwortn, the pastor. lie took as his text John
Ill., 6:-"Born or the splrit.' The subject was re-
generation, subject upon which thousands Of SER
Mons mons mad been written and preached HIS
was osa n0' daring Srgsa Res 1ase se
gether logical, he yet, by succession OF
unanswerabe arguments enforced the most direct
logical sequences. tic showed what this birth is
and what are Its fruits-a strong good earnest man.
hood; high and holy life His picture OF the hur-
muscle and nervous force to accumulate wealth was
grandly eloquent. He tod his millionaire hsreners
that tney could not carry their bond accounts to
heaven. The religion OF the consciousness Of ooinx
right and having God as It's base and hope, he
uT9Su aS tue only religion worth DdVnx. Upon the
subject Of deathped repentance he particularly
eloquent. This repentance was only raft to get
over the turbid river connecting mortal ana immOr-
tai existence. Such repentanceS amounted TO but
little. HIS dissection OF the subject OF election was
complete In conclusion he pOr trayed the Joy OF q re.
generated lie. The vast congregation listened to the
c.Ose with the most earnest and undivided attention
Speaking from notes, lie gives his language wider
range and higher fll2nt or beauty tnan he c0nld
II his sermons were written The Importance or
the theme and occasion rOuses every power and
nerve OF his mind. No abbreviated reports or MS
sermon can do him JUSTICE do justice the rich
eXubefance or his fancy. His eoquence Is ervid,
enlightened, vigorous, permeatlng anu imperial.
His looks tones and gestures give q power TO his
sermons that no printed words can adequately give.
Its views like silver shine,
Or AZ the cluster hue
OF pearls tina. grace some sultan's diadem.
Few OF our pulpit orators nave more pleasingiy
prepossesslng physique. lie IS yet young man.
with Diack hair and black side whiskers, but his
careful culture in the Boston schools il shown IN
every word, tone and action his popularity has
rapidly increased In the short time he has been the
pastor OF tDts church.