The New York herald., 1870-11-21

Tho Sermons Of Yesterday. -
It must be painfully apparent to those who
read the reports of sermons published in the
HERALD every Monday morning how barren
Of original ideas the great majority Of our
preachers are. We read substantially the
same sermons every week; not delivered BY
the same minister, we admit, but by some
other one who seems to have made an agree
ment with his reverend contemporary to swap
discourses. When vs. bear in mind that there
are not less than three hundred and eighty
Christian churches in this city it will be seen
that by well regulated system Of exchanges
no preacher need prepare more than one and
one-ffth part OF q sermon yearly. II we give
to each sermon the fourth part Of an idea, and
they are seldom burdened with more, we shall
have total of not exceeding ninety-one well
defined ideas on the important question of the
future existence.
Fortunately for humanity, as we believe,
the getting to heaven does not depend alto
gether upon sermons. II the preachers be
poor, the choirs at least are good. Yesterday,
for instance, the sermons were distinguished
by plentiful lack Of originality; but the orgaa.
and the choir were excellent.
Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds,
AT which tine univ ersai host up sent
A shout that tore hell's oncaye and, beyond,
Frgntcd tae reign VI Chaos aud Of Night. /,
We therefore have strong hopes that, in
spite of the intellectual poverty of the preach
ers, many souls were yesterday saved by the
music. Mr.. Hcpworth was eloquent on the old
~ tba itu Of
person possessing which he illustrated with
very familiar argument. Rev. S. p. Swift spoke
well upon the gentleness of the Life Of Christ,
another oft-argued subject DR.. Dix dis
coursed on The relations between the rich and
poor in style that must have made some Of
his wealthy flock examine their souls. At the
American Free Charch Rev. Charles B. Smyth
contrasted the Church of Christ and the syna,-
60 ues Of Satan, 10 the decided detriment OF
the latter A very small congregation listened
to Rev. Mr.. Tracys answer to the question,
''Who Was Jesus Christ?" His sermon was
not quite as effective as it might have been
had the passage of the street cars not pre-
vented attentive listening. Under cover OF the
noise some you1y, unsoIIy couples employed
their time ia Iove-making, thus giving force
to the old couplet which says:-
Wherever God erects house OF prayer
Tie Devil always Duilds chapel there,
And UWlll be luund upon eXalnati0n
The latter has the largest congregation.
Perhaps it would be unjust to apply the last
two lines to the case referred to, but certainly
the Fourth Avenue Railroad has much to an
swer for, if they be applicable. Rev. Mr..
Krotel explained the duty of Christians to
God and to the government Rev. Merrill
Richardson discoursed on the design of preach
ing, and enlightened his congregation on the
difference between original sins and sins not
original, while Rev. R. NJ. Stratton stirred up
his flock to sense Of their du. y to the heather
in foreign lands. At Lyric Hall Mr.. Frothiag-
ham further developed the fact that his mind
is still perturbcd on the subject of religion.
In Brooklyn Brother Beecher preached on
Christian service and watching for souls, and
in the evening the Tabernacle was used for q
pious concert. DR.. Newman, at Washington,
delivered an interesting sermon on the
nature and benefits of faith to mankind. At
all the other churches, in this city, Brooklyn,
Washing ston, Jersey City and elsewhere re-
ported, the sermons were Of the same
order. But few Of them contained any
thing new. Their delivery, however, was
good, and that, perhaps, is thu best we can
say of them.