The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-03
NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATION.

New Light Of the Gospel-Thc New York
Beecher--Rev. Merrill Richardson, of New
England.
II terseness OF expression, v0lubility Of language
richness OF ideas and elegance OF action make the
orator. then New York may pride itself that at last
IL has preacher who will not only equal but excel
even the Brooklyn Beecher. This remarkable indi-
vidual is nobody else than Mr.. Merrill Richardson,
of Worcester, Mass who win on next Sun
day be installed the regularly settled minister Of
the New England Congregational church. on the cor
ner OF Forty-seventh street and Madison avenue.
Yesterday he delivered his first sermon in this city
before his congregation, which assembled for that
purpose at the chapel OF Rutgers College, Fifth
avenue, near FOrty-second street. The little chapel
was overcrowded and had 1t been three times as
large it would nave been filed for the reputation of
the eoGuence oil Mr.. Richardson had preceded
him 10 such an extent that the largest religious
edifce in the city would not have been roomy
enough to contain all eager TO hear him.
His sermon yesterday was unique in its kind. The
subject oil it was 1.-THE Duty OF the Ministry"
and he took for his text the last OF the first
.'Not for that We have dominion over your iaith
but are helpers OF your 1oy for by faith we stand"
The apostle Paul, said the reverend speaker, an
nounced this not only for himself but In behalf OF
all the Apostles and all the teachers OF the faith
forever after. He meant that Chlist'S mlnl3ry was
TO help ana cheer the world. Heretofore the people
were under tutors and governors, but under
tne Christian system he VINO would be great
must he the servant OF all. Such, as the Christian
ministry, was not to he found or Old either among
the Jews or Gent1es, for it Is ministry commanded
TO teach to persuade, to commend the truth OF God
10 the conscicnces of men, and not To compel ODE
dence. Hence Christian service was u Tree service
q help to mans mind and intellect. And, therefore
the Gospel ministry was one OF help and JOY, and not
OF common.
Religion was a matter innate in the human heart
Thousands Of years before Christ came the know
ledge OF God was among men: but as q sort OF
authority. Only after The teachings of Christ,
which made religion natural TO man. the knowledge
and search OF God ana OF Christ's truth became q
matter or reason and free IN investigations. The rev.
erend gentleman spoke at length and most eo.
quenty the necessity OF having ''class of men,
specifically set apart for the study OF religious truth
and Tor being enabled to ilnpart u to others. Even
when Moses was called to lead his people there were
already men who had been specially educated for
the ministry. though the religion OF those days was
not the religion OF The true God Rev. Mr.. Richard
son further enlarged upon the historical fact that
while in apti-Cnrisian times religion was more or
less tilng OF outward ceremonies and sacrifices, 1t
was the Saviour who, 10y his simple teachings, made
~ tne business OF ine neaIt anu MIND.
Being such 1t was necessary that the minis
se s moo over s aoes ike n.y. ny pope
who since his inIallibiity has lost every thing; nor
like the priests in Mexico, the people OF which
country would be thousand times better of were
they still pagans as they were before the conquest
Bnt the religion when the ministry OF Christ must
teach is OF reason and SCIENCE Of investigation
and seli-nquiry. Only when man has the lndcpend-
ence of mInd TO doubt ana to try, then he becomes
very doubts. led back 20 the very OF Chris
! tianty, which truth. The reverend gentleman
spoke further the duty or the Christian ministry
| tnat they
SHOULD BE TEACHERS,
see that their friends lead Christian Lille, be helpers
In everything, interpreters OF prOvdenria events.
promoters or Ill social reforms ana advocate every
| thing necessary for the prosperity and moral adj
| yancement OF the people. And the minister who
! did not do that was n dumb dog.
NEW ENGLAND
the great centre OF American intellectual life;
all that WAS good, great, active In America came
from those few little States the rocky soil or New
England. These have fasnlOned fle common school
system: nom these came our society ana laws,
and il this new congregation would only look TO II
tney might become the nucleus OF q similar power
for New York aud the Middle States.