The New York herald., 1871-05-15

organist, formerly OF Dr. Rogers church; Miss Hen
rietta Beebe, soprano; Miss Agnes Palmer. con-
tralto; Mr.. Charles Fritsch, tenor; Mr. w. Ii.
Beckett baritone, composed the new choir. During
divine service the choir gave with excellent effect
the Deus Miseratur. The unison was perfect,
THE Low, MELLOW TONES
OF the organ noated out mingled with the voices Of
the singers, and filing the church with sweet
sounds The organ execution throughout was
marked with excellent taste aud Judgment-never
drowning the voices of the singers, but sinking and
swelling with their voices, softenng and me!lowing
their notes. The character OF the music throughout
was suodued and rather sweet than good or inn
posing: but its influence was emnently religious
and emotional. The voices oil the SINGERS are good
and eXcellenly cultivated. Mr. Beckett was
suffering from slight cold, but, never
theess. he succeeded m In dischargng his
far 10 make DR.. Armitages church fayorte Win
all church goers who love good music, and hail the
aid which sacred harmony brings in eleyating the
soul TO the contemplation OF the greatness oi the
creator. II would be diicult 10 over-estImate the
effect OF music as
A sTiMULANr TO DETor1oN.
and ciergymen cannot do better Than bring their
congregations within reach of It's soltening and
nnIng influence. Whatever makes the church more
attractive, without interfering with its purity and
simplicity, should be called in TO increase the hold
OF relgious practice the mind ana affections OF
the people at q time like tins, wnen SO many ana
sucn various temptations are present TO draw OH
the cold on the Indifferent
the sermon was preached By the Rev. Or. Armi-
tage, VINO took his text St pauls FIRST Epstle
the Corinthians, Xy, ), e-"And last OF ALL lie was
seen OF me aso OF one born out OF due tine. For
l am The least OF the Apostles that am meet TO
be called an, an apo;re, because persecaed the
stitute an apostle; first, he should possess
THE POWER OF MIRACLES,
and, second ne should nave seen the Lord. All the
Apostles fulfilled these requisite conditions esaa-
claliy PAU, though he did not see Linn at
the same time as the others. CHRIST had
Him. lie appears to allude 10 this tact
the poeucal words, 81 was as one born ont Of due
ume.n In the conversion of ST. Paul we have a
notable example OF the war OF aggression carried
on by Christ against the enemy by men captured
from the Devii and made TO serve the interest Of
God. Jesus never had q mighter or more redouDta-
bic enemy Than ST. Paul, ana to-day the Church
celebrates an event that has Influenced more tnan
anything else the progress OF Christianity, because
the conversion OF ST. Paul set the Churcn free from
prosecutions and gave great help TO the spread OF
conversion were as extraordinary as important.
They were unique. The agent Of his conversion was
no. man, but
CHRIST HIMSELF -sr 'Gsee
appeared to him IN person IN the broad MONDAY,
the son OF God came down from the heavens ana
spoke TO Saul II was no dream-like iupre esson ar
hearing or the SPIRIT but coming or Christ 10 hIs
'resurrected humanity 10 speak 10 man. No event
depending on the evidence OF one man can be better
authenticated and 81. Paul distinctly bases his
claim 10 be an Apostle upon his having seen Christ.
saul was a Hebrew Of the EXTREMIST type; Phari-
see educated IN the chef rabblnica school OF the
holy city, In strict compliance With the observances
OF the jewish falth he seems to have oustrpped his
ism. But he thrsted for light win the intensity
which only noble nature can feel freer from The
lower instincts than most men It easy Tor him
TO 1--we up 10 the Pnarsee law, which required not
righteousness OF the spirit but OF the letter. AT the
moment OF the apparitlon or Christ Paul felt His
power In being cast to the earth ana
BLINDED BY THE LIGHT.
that encompassed the Lord. The depth of his hu-
imitation Is revealed in the live words which ne
could utter in an agony of distress, 'Lord, wnat
must do ~ These are the words OF one completely
crushed and broken Confused and bewldered, he
= ghai
he hated and oppressed lives ana is God. In this
conversion OF ST. Paul we have two miraculous ee-
ments-a voice and light. is there anything anal
ogous to this in the conversion or snnersy Every
ment OF conversion, which foods mans soul and
reveals him TO himself, VIII be granted by divine
power. Light Is but a poetica! term for thought
from which spring all actions ana revo
lutlons. Creation is only one of Cots
thoughts. Lpht and thought are the same
and when Gods thought descends into q man
II recalls him to virtue by convincing hun that sin
will drag him down. Have you never heard q
voice In your Offices ana at your amusemelts plead
ing the cause OF lplocence and vrtuep IL was the
voice OF Cnrlst caling 0ut TO you, "Why d0st thou
persecute mer' st. Paul discovered that the outer
show OF laitn was not the right way to salvation.
The highest wisdom Is to see II you have made the
Pauline mistake and II so to try to initiate this
Pauline conversion. Don't be Idle walters crlti-
cal moments, for God Is nth III the still and
quiet
VOICE OF CONSCIENCE,
III only We VIII hearken TO HIM: and there is no
proof that Christ VIII come TO as lie did 10 ST.
Paul. Let us then be docile and seek the Lord
while We may, that we may not be las born out
OF due me" but rather like these born TO salvation.
Alter the sermon the choir sang the benedicton in
beautiful style, and at its conclusion many OF the
congregation renamed to compliment DR.. Armitaec
the acquisition OF such excellent tne
service OF The church.