The New York herald., 1871-09-11
Tho Sermons Yesterday.

The sermons in our city churches yester-
day, with the exception of that of the Rev.
Mr. Pullman, Of the Church Of Our Saviour,
were free from everything like sensation and
were devoted almost entirely to doctrine.
Notably among the pastors who have returned
to their pulpits and their people is the Rev.
DR.. Thompson, who celebrated his home
coming by discourse on the fulness of the
blessing Of the Gospel of Christ, taking the
words Of st. Paul to the Romans as his text.
With the exception Of the somewhat illogical
deduction that Paul did not want to build on
another mans foundation-a point which,
when put in DR.. Thompson's straightforward
way, means more than the Apostle intended
the discourse was eminently full of the quail
ties which Paul carried with him. DR..
Armitage preached at the Fifth Avenue
Baptist Church on forgiveness Of sins.
At st. Patricks Cathedral the sermon was
by Father McNerny, the subject of his dis
course being the necessity of prepara-
ton for death the Rev. s.. f. Dun
ham preached on the birth OF Christ at
Chris. church, in Fifth avenue, and Father
Hecker discoursed on holy faith at the
Caurch of st. Paul the Apostle, in Fifty ninth
street. Father Hecker's sermon was pecu-
liarly beautiful and interesting. He bewailed
the infidelity Of our time, declaring that all
truth is in harmony and that the Scriptures
are the source of all truth. If men imagine
otherwise, he said, they pursue a science
f.l lod ho lad vuith n
appeal for the gift of faith. The only excep-
ton to the doctrlaal discourses, as we before
remarked, was the sermon of the Rev. Mr..
Pullman, which was full of anathemas against
the persons charged with frauds upon the
city. His discourse was not only a political
sermon, but thorough political speech, cal
culated to bring the Gospel into contempt.
Pulpit cries Of "this is the last time to adjust
our wrongs" cannot do much good and they
must do harm. The public accounts are not
proper subjects for Christian thoughts on
Sunday, and this kind of worldly preaching
does more to encourage the sinful worldliness
Pastor Pullman complains Of than political
debauchery.
The Brooklyn churches, not having Tam
many to discomfort their pastors, were blessed
with sermons like moat of those preached In
this city. The Rev. A. H. Partridge, of the
Bedford avenue Episcopal church, preached
plain doctrlnal sermon on the river of Gods
pleasure, and the Rev. James Beechcr, who
filled the Plymouth pulpit, confined himself to
discourse on confessing Christ. The only
incident of the day was the strong language
of Father Moran, of St. Stephens Roman
Catholic church, in reference to the solemniza-
ton of marriage in his church Of a man
who was already married. In view of the
free-love tendencies of the age the sanctity of
marriage is subject which needs more atten-
ton from the clergy, and Father Moran's prac-
tical way Of meeting the question is worthy of
much commendation. The temple 'Beth
Elohim" was dedicated yesterday with appro-
pirate ceremonies.
In both cities the Sabbath was devoted for
the most part to the teachings of relisioa, and
the HERALD this morning reflects the good
words which We're heard In the churches.