The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-25
Religion, discourse. Yesterday.

heu8tOuS DtscOufsoo XeUeruuys
Tho war in Europe has proven a perfect
boon to the preachers. Yesterday slim con-
gregations listened TO anti-war sermons, in
which Napoleon got decidedly the worst Of the
criticism. Rev. Charles P. Lee was the only
preacher who, by inference, seemed to think
we'll Of the French. Much was said about the
pride and ambition Of princes, and Rev. j. r.
Swift did not hesitate to spread the eagles OF
our glorious institutions and bid them take
fight TO European lands, there to teach les
son of republicanism to benighted and mon
arcby-ridden peoples. Rev. John Love, Jr.,
spoke eloquently about 'quivering muskets'
and bloodthrsty Germans and Frenchmen, but
he thought that the contest In Europe was not
equal TO-, If even moro noisy than, the great
struggle ever waging between the cohorts OF
Satan and the followers Of Christ Even
in Washington the same subject was
discussed from the pulpit DR.. Boynton
thought he could discern the signs Of the
times in the conflict. The object was to arrest,
by means of the military power Of France, the
progress of civil and religious liberty, by
bringing (ArsD Europe and then the rest Of
the world under the sway Of the Catholic
Church. Should this be really so, we trust
that President Grant will at once call an extra
session of Congress and recommend the adop-
ton of measures for defence against Johnny
Crapeau.
But the proverbial disagreements of doctors
seem applicable to preachers While DR..
Boynton was metaphorically shifting Roman
Catholicism in advance by sounding the alarm
| Of another religious war against Professionalism,
Rev. Mr.. Rankin, also in Washington, was
raking the infallible Pope and endeavoring,
fguratively speaking, to crush the Eternal
| City into powder. He believed that the pro-
clamation of the new dogma was the death
blow Of the Papacy. And incidentally refer
ring to the European war, he thon,.snt it
not unlikely that ths ppccpe would be
driven to America, where, let us here
repeat he will be heartily welcomed
at Washington Heights. Meanwhile, it is
certain that at all the Catholic churches the
priests pursued the even tenor of their ways
without any apparent dread of their impend-
ing doom. In one respect at least they did
admirably well. They shortened both SER
vices and sermons, thereby comforting favor
upon perspiring humanity. Not so Bishop
Snow, who prophesed the immediate destruc-
ton of the world in long sermon, delivered
after the prophet and his elders had taken a
little healthy exercise in the work of ejecting
several newspaper reporters from his church.
Here was an exhibition of 'faith and fighting
which DR.. Deems never thought Of when de-
lvering his sermon yesterday sermon, by
the way, in every respect instructive and
interesting. t.The immortality of the Age
Yves severely rebuked by Rev. U. 7. Tracey,
| who oficated at the Church of the Holy
| Trinity in the absence of Rev. Stephen Tying,
Jr. 1t IS a pity the congregation was 80 small,
| for the discourse was a blunt, plain spoken
one, with, unfortunately for humanity, vast
deal more Of truth than fancy in it.
Como proaohers soon, tn forgot H. thu u
cifxion of Christ was pre-ordained; that
arc vamv earth to die for man, and that il
was only after He was crucifed that His mis-
sion was fulfilled. In sermon on sThe
Betrayal of Christ" Rev. Mr.. Macarthur
waxed eloquent in denunciation of Pontus
PLATE. ''Never had man grander oppor-
tunity Of doing grandly," said he; "never did
a man fall as fatally. Never before might JUS
tice have appeared as just; never villainy so
vile. His was a great part to act. 1t might
have been sublime; it was base" Aside
from the impossibility Of his conduct having
been anything else than it was, all this is very
old Its telling now reminds us of the story
of the Irshman who, meeting with an Israelite,
began to beat him for having crucifed the
Saviour. The Israelite suggested that he
was not responsible, as the cruci6xion
had taken place more than eighteen hundred
years previous. cit doesn't make bit of
difference, replied Pat; 81 only heard of it a
! few days ago." Now it seems to us about as
logical to assail that which had to be as to
beat an Israelite for what happened eighteen
hundred years back, unless-but we would be
guilty of injustice If we finished the sentence
| All things considered, the attendance at the
churches yesterday was not bad. Had all the
| places Of worship been empty it is likely that
! pardon would have been accorded the sinners
| for their non-attendance. That many did
attend divine service in this city, Brooklyn,
Jersey City, Washington and elsewhere visited
by our reporters is proof of the power of
faith.
Oar Public Squares.