The New York herald., 1871-03-06
Church seraoas Y..ssra.y.


Church Sermons Yesterday.
Sinners had all the attractions Of q nne
spring day yesterday to lead them to
church and to salvation. Consequently we
announce this morning the fact that ell the
places OF worship visited by our reporters
were crowded by orring humanity, who
prayed, devoutly, we trust and who listened
attentively TO the sermons. In very enter
tanning discourse descriptive Of the several
kinds Of sin Dr.. Chaplin made the somewhat
curious assertion that ''people who say the
most about sin usually possess the most. /"
Doubtless the reverend gentleman made
mental qualification in favor Of clergy
men. Dr. Merrill Richardson also preached
on the subject of sin, using the atonement Of
Christ in illustration of his argument. In
urging the necessity for atonement he related
how Dr. Johnson once stood in the rain three
days and nights to atone for sin he had COM
mitted at the funeral Of his father. OF the
efficacy of this kind of modification we have
some doubt 1t may do very we'll to have
ones errors soaked out Of him by
a summer shower; but in the pres
smallpox, the drenchiug might kill the sinner
with tho sin. The fact il that all such mani
festations Of repentance are the result of q
mistaken idea Of the goodness and mercy Of
God. 1t is not necessary for us to get wet or
to expiate our sins in any other eccentric man.
ner to obtain forgiveness. Penance in the
form of shower OF rain would never be done
by many of our sinners. Dresses, bonnets,
coats and hats are too expensive.
In sermon In aid of the fund for the relief
of disabled clergymen and their families DR..
Hall marred his argument: by an unchristian-
like attack on the theatrical profession, de-
claring that s'the representatives of the stage
were (are) to be found among the swindlers
and blackguards Of the community. y
Mr.. Hall Is evidently anxious for
the kind of martyrdom suffered by
the thrice pious Sabine. Rev. Mr..
rockingham delivered one Of his character
istic sermons. He advocated what we may
term a Darwinian theory of religion. What
ever belief was best calculated to bring the
soul nearest to moral perfection was the proper
one to hold. II infidelity or atheism could
bring il, we must not shrink from becoming
suoh. And after this declaration the reverend
gentleman proceeded to pitoh into oil reli-
gious sects generally. DR.. Ormiston preached
on the Christians race for everlasting life,
and DR.. Ridgeway on personal and pro-
pesty conservation to the Lord. AT the Brook
Ign tabernacle Brother Beecher enlightened his
congregation on the subject Of "The Author
and Finisher Of Our Faith" previous to
which, however, several knockers at the
door Of righteousness were admitted to
the beattude of Plymouth church. thence
to march forward to Paradise, singing hymns
OF joy and laughing at Brother Beecher's
clerical jokes Rev. Mr.. Meredith (alsu
in Brooklyn, described the various kinds OF
emptatiOns which beset man a1d explained
how they could be resisted. In Washington,
Bishop Pinckney, of Maryland, delivered a
sermon, in which he showed-using the story
of the bliud beggar in Jericho-the benefit
arising from faith.
In oil the Catholic churches the attendance
was unusually large and the sermons ad-
mirable. The discourses were on subjects
appropriate to this the most solemn season
known to the Church.