The New York herald., 1871-07-10
CHURCH OF THE STRANGER.

The Church, the Pastor and tho Conxre2a-
tlsu-'Iim that Cometh TO lie L VIII in No
Wise Cast Out"- Discourse by the Rev. DIR
Deems.
The Church OF the Stranger is not fashionable"
church, nor is DR.. Deems fashionable" preacher.
Not that fashionable people are not usually TO be
found among his hearers. but, when they are, they
have, In nine cases out Of ten gone 10 crafty a
fashionable curiosity to hear q somewhat distin-
gulshed preacher. The most striking proof that II
Is not 'fashonable'' church Is that every Sunday
sees It flied with worshippers, earnest worshlppers,
who have gone 10 hear to learn and pray, and
whose piety Is not OF that meretricious nature
which shrinks from going to worship despite the
broling heat OF summer and the storms OF winter.
Dr. Deems, too Is no holiday pastor, VINO sugarr
the great truths OF religion TO make them sum-
ciently paiatabie to the perfumed exquisites VINO
weekly coniescend to patronIze Christ and critclse
their ncighbors for an hour or two In one Oh your
..rasnionable- charches. His hearers feel this, as
A GLANCE AT THE CONGREGATION
will show. 1t Is half past ten, and the services are
just beginning. The church is already almost filed
by congregation earnestly intent on the services
and ferveny Joiulng IN them. Very few persons are
reyerensIy at the porcn until proper Opportunity
arrives to proceed TO q seat without attracting the
attention OF the congregation from the services, =
mode OF procedure in striking contrast with
tnat nippapt manner characteristic OF the
majority OF the patrons OF your fash
pastor mas been infused into hts congregation. and
there Is SO speak, realism abOut their petv. IL
is weldressed and intelligent congregation,
though II cannot be said TO be q very Intellectual
looking one. Your intellectual ngIOnist cannot
1ud at Dr. Deems the theoretical vaSares and meta
physical meanuerlngs which IN many pulplts have
taken the place OF The Gospel The con 5regaton AZ
the Church OF the Stranger con lists OF persons OF all
ages aud Of many ndtiOnS OF life. The sexes are
nearly equally represented. The young and far are
present In large numbers and LOOK younger anu
neaS ganee arSna The
goodly number OF Old men, bald, bearded
and benevolent looklng,. who listen ear.
preacher. Just here and there IN the frUnt pews,
may be seen few male Christians. with thai KIND
OF expression OF features aud That Kind OF manner
which looks for some recognition that they Ar G
affiuent Christians. There ls
SMILE OF SNUG SATISFACTION
on their rotund visages They Join lervently, to all
appearance, III the devoilons but iook As II they
would say TO the resi- OF the congregation. Don't
Christian amr"
THE SERMON
yesterday wa8 from the sixth chapter OF the Gospel
OF st. john thirty-seventh verse-"Al that the IA.
ther given Me shall come to Ne; and hln that com.
opened by calling attention to the wonderIui nature
OF the human viii. God gave man iree WILL and to
draw the VIII OF man to hmsei He became one Of
u.s. took on Himself our human nature. was
born OF the Virgin Mary lived for thirty three years
among men. enduring what they endured; suffered
unuer Pontius filate. one OF his own people, who
were subjects OF the Roman conQuerOrs; wa crucl-
feu, iorm OF death which considered the most
ignOminlous; He died and was buried aud descended
into hell-a Orm OF expression which the preacher
explained as meaning tne utter gloom VI de.tn-afd
roe again, taking with HIM to Heaven the body he
had inhabited on earth. There was something ex.
trenely realistic lii The preachers remarks refer
ence TO the union OF the divine and human natures
In Christ. We must, lie sald not Interpret The Bible
by theology. but theology by the Bible. Theology ls
but a human science. He closed with earnest ap-
peal TO his hearers to- place themselves In direct
communion with Christ. VINO mad said, 'Hlm tnat
co.neth to Me Will In Dowise cast Out.n