The New York herald., 1871-09-18

The Town nnd the COuutry-Busness and
Pleasure-A Welcome Home Sermon by
Rev. George ii. Hepworih.
The great reOpenng. so to speak, OF the fall and
winter season began yesterday morning at the
Church OF the Messiah corner Of Park avenue and
Thirty-fourth street. This spacious and beautiful
temple presented yesterday bright and beautiful
spectaclebright in the healthy cherry faces OF its
wonted worshippers returned from their summer
sojourntngs, and beautiful In the oneness OF heart
and sympathy between pastor and people in
their reunion again after their summer separation
1t was a meeting OF joyous welcome all around Mr..
Edward Howe, Jr, the accomplished Organ1st,
played welcoming peal on the organ rs the con.
gregatIOn entered the church. Mr.. Berry, the chief
usher. and all the corps of polite ushers under him
met everybody coming with welcoming smiles.
The choir, still composed OF the same quartet OF
fine singers-Mrs. Flicker, soprano; Miss Barron,
contrato; Mr.. Whiting. tenor, aud Mr.. J. r.
Thomas, basso-sung songs of pleasant welcome.
When the popular pastor, Rev. George H. Hep
worth, ascended the pulpit a joyous welcome
cleaned brightly from his countenance, and
the same shone with reflected light upon the coun.
tenances OF the congregation. He preached o
WELCOME HOME SERMON.
He took for his text Genesis l.. 10-"And God
saw that 1t was good" This IS q mysterious
world, after ALL The more we see OF IL the more we
feel grateful to Coo for that lneXtricabe mystery
called life 1t Is an enjoyment to be-tO SIMPLY live.
When he heard people talking about this being
vale OF tears his heart sadaened for them. Only to
such as make the world sOrrowfu IS IL sorrOwtul.
All such know not God and laith and love. This
world isa
TEMPLE TO WORSHIP IN
worthy OF the immortal soul. No wonder. When
It came first from his almighty hand He stood afar
year Of work came their period OF refreshment.
They haa tired OF routine. They wanted q change:
mans world into Gods world to get out OF toiling
and tugglng over the problems OF life into pure
gatherers; to look on green fields; to watch the
rising tide; to hold high communion with the wind
and the starS TO get away from the din and dust OF
the city and brea,ne a different air. lie
WENT INTO THE COUNTRY,
as they nearly all did. He wanted rest. To keep
who have lost 1t what VIII they not give for it ?
They who have II how careless they are ol It, 1t IS
easier for q healthy man to be honest than a
diseased man. Disease ana demOrallzaton are
almost synonymous terms man in good,
sound, healthy STATE easily keep the Ten Com
mandments 1t is necessary for one to be healthy
to have a right idea OF God-to have proper con-
healthy man could hardly say good morning TO an
angel. man would not ENJOY himself In the
New Jerusalem suffering from twinCe OF the
rheumatism. Alter dwelling al eloquent length on
this portion of his discourse he drew graphic pic
ture of the theories Of God and human nature spun
out Oy
THE AsCETIC PHILOSOPHERS
OF the oden times, who lived unhealthy, morbid
lives III caves. FROM CnlS ne went on To snow now
the ministers OF to-day should live to become a
living force among living people. Ministers should
be strong IN BODY TO be healthy in mind. It seems
to be part of the profession 10 have consumptlve
shrug, 10 have hollow eyes and stoop shoulders. If
he could only
DRAG THEM OUT
into God's world make them cliInh Gods noun.
tains make them pun the oar and do hard muscular
work he would make different men or them.
com ortabe Ieeing steals over man when he looks
over nature and realizes tuat lie who made the
world did IT rightly. No man can leave his business
and look upon God's universe without It's doing him
good. He remembered IN northeast storm walch-
the sea, and the thought came to him that
the sea could come up to Gods finger
marx and no higher. He knew he was
| safe. Continuing this through, with further illus
trations, he made transition TO the stars and the
! probability of their beng Inhabited. lie showed
how Insignificant man Ill himself compared
with the vlstness OF
THE PEoPLED UNIVERSE
picture OF himself and his own thoughts he drew
yacht Of the ocean-bound shore OF New Hampshire.
He telt then the insgnihcance oil his own life. But
the summer was over, ana they mad returned TO
their homes and business again. There was much
work for them to-day-wOrk Tor them a people;
work for him as pastor. Their work should not he
Sc tarian. II the world did not know where they
stand no matter Ii Is better to be Christian than
a Unitarian, to follow Jesus rather than dogma.
They welcomed all. The
SERMON ON THE MOUNT
was their favorlte. Let them heed Its precepts. He
enlarged at length, IN conclusion, on the relation
between the minister and his congregation. lie
wished TO cultivate more intimate relations with
them: to set ASIDE an evening or day each week
that any memoer OF the congregation might come
and see HIM alone. They had entered on a new
ecclesiastical year, and he hoped that during the
coming winter months they would all work with one
Will for Jesus the Christ and for God the Father
With soft and low ana sweetly musical voices the
choir chanted the Lords Prayer, and then singing
Dy the congregation, prayer and benedicton closed
the exercises.