The New York herald., 1871-02-20
SERVICES AT THE METROPOLITAN METHODIST
CHURCR.

An Immense Congregation TO Heur DR..
Newman-An Impressive Discourse tho
Consequences of Sin and the Doctrine of
Compensation.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1871.
There was an immense congregation at the Metro
polJan Methodist Episcopal church this morning to
hear the Rev. DR.. Newman. The city is filed with
strangers who have come to attend the carnival,
and many OF them were determined to avail them
selves OF such favorable opportunity OF listening
to the distinguished divine and popular pastor
of the Metropolitan. Crowds OF people
Congregated near the church at an early
hour. When the doors were opened II was
impossible for the ushers to find for all the
strangers. Some Of tho pewholders gave up their
seats to visitors and some when they arrived found
their pews already occupied Vice President Colfax
gave his seat to lady, and Mrs. Newman rmme-
dately made room In the pastors pew for the polite
Vice President. All the aisles were filed and also
the steps leading to the pulpit platform. Many peo
pie were compelled to go away, being unable TO lind
even standing room. DR.. Newman was equal to the
occasion. he delivered powerful sermon on the
consequences OF SIM to which the congregation lis
tened with wrapt attention. He took his text from
Luke kill, and 5:-
There present at that that told Him
Of the Gaesns %nOse blood Plate had mingled with their
that these Gaieans sinners Gal!eans
% s or
S % all
Jnrusalen? tell you nay; but except ye repent ye shall
The facts which make up the compliments of
human life are more difficult Of soluLion than the
doctrines Of Christianity. These facts take hold on
tnas appeal TO the cold intellect. The matters OF
every day life are greater mysteries than the
s the two natures or Of ne Msa
the Almighty can permit sufferlng IN inno-
cent children, the defamation or good mans
hn
the evil AT the same time, are mysteries whicn chaI
lenge our faith The text records two caami ties
one, the numbering OF certain Ganleans, and the
other the death OF eighteen persons oy the falling OF
the Tower Of Sloan. The purpose OF the sermon
to deduce therefrsm the doctrines thereby taught
Dr. ,hs Newman ssn vno% gayo p,,r rapid sketch
edge the authority Of the Romans. and referred
to the possible reasons the people might have had
In detailing to Christ this massacre or his country
men. Jesus replies to their question by citing a
similar calamity, when eighteen impotent persons
who waiting for the angel to trouble the
OF the pool Of soam were killed by the falling Of a
tower, and asks they were to be considered
greater sinners than Others dwelling In Jerusalem
dd not deny and what he did deny. First he did not
deny that mankind suffer as sinners; that suffering
is the penal consequence OF transgresson. This Is
THE CHARACTER OF GOD,
who cannot be unjust to a worm a man or an angel
There Is but one sacred history where sln-
less being suffered. That person was Christ. Nor
does Christ deny That signal punishment may come
upon notorious Offenders Of the law. This were to
deny the events Of history The Hood swept over
the Earth because every imagination OF mans heart
was evil The men OF Sodom were destroyed because
OF their sin. The Roman sword was unsheathed
against Jerusalem because OF her iniquity. Christ
does not deny that these Galileans ana men OF 81
loan were sinners But what does he teacnS He
teaches, first that special misortunes ara no proof
OF SPECIAL guilt.
1T Is A PREVALENT SUPERSTITION
That evil comes to the evll-that great calamities
are Judgments sent from God. Yonder memorial
window has the picture OF the il-fated steamer Pre-
sident that sailed March H. 1s41 that carried one
| OF the purest spirits that humanity can boast
Was 1t because George Goodman was guilty
| that he went TO the bottom Of the great deep9