The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-17

AcuBhOu1 ExCTcH1cS xeSgoFuAys #saf
There is wonderful amount Of Christianity
in clear. bright, balmy Sunday. A deep
blue sky, unobscurcd by vexing clouds, and .
golden sun with Just sufficient warmth in him
to temper the October wind, both contain .
sermon quite as effective as, II not more than.
the most eloquent discourse delivered from
the pulpit. For when the day IL beautiful Il
imparts . placidity and tenderness to all souls
not utterly calIous, drawing them nearer to
God and consequently TO Christ. Thus 1t is
that the Creator, through nature, gives .
helping hand to our religious teachers, who
are too frequently sad bunglers. The serene
beauty Of yesterday contributed greatly to the
Christian devotions Of the city. With the sun
beams smiling on the following leaves OF
autumn it would have been difficult for metro
politan mortals to remain at home and lose the
opportunity Of walk or ride on fine Octo-
Der morning to their several places Of worship.
We were, therefore, not surprised to learn
that the streets were crowded and the churches
thronged with good Christians and repentant
sinners. OF course Fashion was not absent
she never Is on such day. But whether one
gets to heaven in the latest fall costume or in
old-fashioned attire really makes no difference
in the long run II there be not too much atten-
ton paid to the dress while one Is on the road.
1t requires but few words to say that the SER
vices at the different churches were, as usual,
conducted according to the forms Of worship
Of the several denominations. The glory Of
the Omnipotent was sung by some congrega-
lions without recourse to artistic rendering,
though none the less effective and welcome;
while with others brilliant sopranos and SPLEEN
did tenors chanted the hymns of praise in we'll
trained choirs, saving the ordinary attendants
the trouble Of exercising their vocal organs.
The sermons were numerous and good At
the Church Of the Strangers DR.. Deems
preached on Paul and Festus, and as
sured his hearers that the madness
Of Christianity was preferable to the
sanity of scepticism. Rev. Mr.. Hepworth,
at the Church of the Messiah, piously arraigned
corrupt politicians in a discourse which treated
largely Of the power Of conscience. At the
Greene street Methodist church Rev. Mr..
Sanford spoke words Of comfort and cheer TO
''old disciples" while at the New England
Congressional church Rev. Merrill Richardson
endeavored to make Christianity easy by
explaining the short and simple method of
finding Gois truth. Mr.. rockingham, at
Lyric Hall, was somewhat verbose and a
trifle tiresome in dissertation on the Cross !;
not so Rev. Charles B. Smyth, at the Ameri-
can Free Church, who was very earnest and
eloquent in his work of pointing out the path
to salvation. At the United Presbyterian
church, on Jane street, Rev. Mr.. Mathews
expounded the Scriptures, while at the French
Protestant Church Of the Holy Spirit, Rev. A.
Verren discoursed on "telling the truth with
charity" ,utars a
In Brooklyn Brother Bcecher preached on
the startling subject Of hell and damnation,
but as the Plymouth Church apostle is I'M
familiar with other than celestial and humorous
things his sermon cannot be recorded q
success. At St. Paurs Episcopal church DR..
Fox was eloquent and convincing, and at the
Roman Catholic church of St. Charles Bor-
romeo Father Freel drew touching picture
of Mary, the mother Of God. In all other
churches in this city, Washington, New Jersey
and other places reported, as well as in Brook
Ign, the attendance was large and the sermons
good.
Too MUCH OF A Coon THING The de-