The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-19
Tho Sermons Yesterday.

The Sermons Yesterday.
The coming of The twenty fifth anniversary
of the Pontificate of Pope Plus impaired
activity to the Catholics yesterday, which,
in some mysterious way, extended to all
religious bodies. True enough the attendance
at the churches was not very large, many
people apparently holding it questionable to
attend divine service In the city between the
first day of June and the first day of October
Those who are strangers to fashion and did
attend listened to some very good sermons,
among the most noticeable of which were
Father Preston's discourse on the life and
reign of the Pope, and Father McNamee's on
the unity of the Catholic Church-two excellent
sermons. Astounding in interest and instruction.
Rev. Mr.. Hepworth preached some sound
doctrines on the weakness Of many
men in yielding to the current of
popular opinion, surrendering ideas and
principles, because the many opposed
them and even feeling ashamed of their
religion when they enter q society which holds
different theological views. This is fact
much to be deplored, but there is another side
Of the question. At best the maintenance Of
ones opinions in the face of popular opposi-
ton is a thankless business. Men who do
this are generally denounced as obstinate,
contumacous individuals and they get more
blows than praises for their adherence to
principle. After they are dead and gone pos
terity discovers their virtues and lauds their
heroism, but posthumous honors benefit the
honored very little and the prospect of it
is cold comfort to a man hunted down for
his opinions. Besides, martyrdom is not
in fashion. Our modern Galileos would cheer
fully recant their theory Of the movement Of
the world rather than suffer torture, and they
would not even remark, in parenthesis, ''but
it still moves"-which, by the way, Calico
never made. Of course, the pliability of the
human mind must be deplored, and we agree
with Mr.. Hepworth in deploring it. At the
same time we desire to show that man will
be damned if he does and damned if he don't"
resist popular pressure upon his convictions.
Professor Haskell, of Illinois, told the story
of Elijah's prosecutions and trials, and used it
as an illustration of what man can accomplish
if he place faith in God; Rev. Mr.. Bachman
discoursed on the descent of the Holy Ghost
upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost;
Rev. Mr.. Hall was eloquent in his descrip-
ton of sanctfed and unsanctifed affection
and true repentance and Rev. Mr.. Armitage
preached on the subject of st Paul and the
riches of Christ. Mr.. Beecher assured his
congregation that any road is good enough
that leads to heaven-an assurance
liberal enough but hardly orthodox. If we
understand Mr. Beecher's idea of the unity
of man it is that men agree to disagree and
that everybody may be right in disagreeing.
There is something really comforting in this,
but it is open to difficulties. II the path
which is naturally" one mans path to
heaven is believed by another man to be the
path to the internal regions, the latter will
pursue directly opposite road, and how these
two men travelling away from each other
will ever meet in the celestial abode is
problem the solution Of which we shall not
attempt. It has been said that all roads lead
to Rome, but we have never heard that all
roads lead to heaven. If they did hell would
be comfortingly isolated.
As will be seen in the foregoing the ser
mons of yesterday were on interesting topics,
and we recommend them to general perusal.
In this city, Brooklyn, Washington and Jersey
City the ''outpouring of spiritual comfort"
was amply sufficient to incline the hearts Of
all to peace aud piety.