The New York herald., 1870-02-28
ELM PLACE CONGREGATIONAL Church.

"Truc Independence "-The Frivoliti-s, Tx
trnvagance and Errors OF tho Peri0d-Ser-
mon by Rov. Dr. Henry POwcrs.
Brooklyn possesses number OF eloquent minis
ters, gentlemen alike distinguished for moral as
we'll as intellectual CHARACTERISTICS and who NOT only
adorn the profession, but add interest to our
sister city's greatness. Among the prominent
OF these is Rev. Henry Powers, d. D..
who happily combines the most genial social man
with the highest qualities which grace clergy
This divine Is attracting full share of popu-
lar attention He is bold aud Independent In his
views original in his style OF thought and express
sion attracts large audiences his pulpit discourses
and sends men and women away from him better In
many degrees. He is not merely theologian nor
book learned man. but he has turned the pages OF
the great volume OF life young as he h with no care
less hand.
Yesterday morning one OF the largest congrega.
tions Of the winter greeted Dr. Powers In all the
gance OF dress which the season dictates to the
votares Of fashion. Every pew was filed end this
is strictly truthful The subject OF the pastors dis.
course was True Independence l Corinthians,
VIII, 23-"Be not We servants OF men," Tie explained
converts were poor, slaves even, being servants Of
men In the literal sense; yet they could be
the LORDS ireemen" There was @ an @ apparent con
HIS disciples. III any man would be great among
you let him be your mlnisterO The exhOrtatiOnS OF
the text have reference to two different things
vice and seryitude which were admirably illustrated
by the preacher BY the case OF Plate, who, though
chosen to administer Roman Justice was o slave to
popular opinion. and gave over TO death u good
man, 10 be servants Of men" was, IN al cases
OF right and wrong, to take the worlds
Gods. The Christian was one v hose standard was
higher than the worlds. Some OF the ways In
which this servitude alluded to shows itself was In
the customs Of socletythe fashions. dress and ex.
travagance OF the PERIOD Tor Instance. The caprlces
OF fashion seem to be beyond control; taste Is a
thing which win submit to no dictatOn. Extrava-
gance IN dress is apparently admitted, and being
fOstered into passion goes on increasing with
fearful rapidty. The splendOr and magntfcence OF
today becomes comparative poverty tomorrow.
The lnstre OF ten thousand dollars worth Of jewery
Is pallld in the eyes OF ITS pOsSessOr SO soon
as fair rival displays twenty thousand
dollars worth on her person. The two hundred
dollar garment Ia too shabby to wear III brought into
juxtapOstiOn with two thousand dollar dresses
ana so the weary mortal-ne whose excheQuer is ex-
counting room and drudges later a. hts desk, ex-
tends his business more boldly and speculates more
rashly, contracts within closer limits mis- periods Of
relaxation mental culture until at last comes the
dire crasn the final end-bankruptcy OF health or
fortune.
What 10 the reason, can you guess,
That mon poor and women thinner
80 much do they for dinner dress
That nothing's loft to dress the dinner
Or. Powers closed with an earnest exhortation to
Ali that they might "be the Lords freeCien;' that
10 behoOves all 10 remember that "he0yen Is for
those who don't succeed on EARTH"