The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-25
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.

A Sermon on the City Frnuds-The Rev.
MIR. Hepworth's Opinion oil the Committee
OF Seventy-He Thinks They Are on the
Wrong Track.
This spacious and beautiful church was crowded,
usual, yesterday evening with the elite Of Murray
Hin and It's neighDorhood. Unitarian congrega-
cation, rule has invariably the look OF culture
and refinement and Mr. Hepworth's congregation
Is particularly distingushable for these graces OF
the soul. Tne music, the upholstery, the personal
attire of the audience and the earnest but softened
uterances OF the preacher are all In keeping with
this ecclesiastical organization for going to heaven
with all the advantages OF being surrounded with
the best society," The sermon, Will be seen below
was kind OF John the Baptist wall against the false
and fraudulent city government accompanied by q
very sensible and practical suggestion for remedy
Mr.. Hepworth's text was taken from Hosea viii,
7-"For they have sown the wind, and they shall
reap the whirlwnd." He said:-My text announces
fact the truth of which is proved in every genera
and by every people. 1t is peculiarly forcible
and picturesque statement that
THE PUNISHMENT OF WRONG
always follows on The heels OF Its commission No one
Is exempt-nether the private citizen, the public
of1icer the king We are In the midst OF an Illus
tration of this our community The whole city is
stirred as IL can be by no ordinary event. Wrong
has been DONE and very great wrong, by some one,
and the people seem determined to find the offender
ana give hun his reward. am glad that at last the
provocaton has been sufficient TO arouse the great
mass of our people. nope that the investigation
which has been Instituted will accomplish not one
thing only but two. In the first place. 1t is due TO
the just men-the men OF probity who occupy Office
and we proud to say to the whole country, which
Is too ready 10 believe that there Is
NOTHING But CORRUPTION
In New York-that they should be publicly exone-
rated and commended. You know 1t Is the tendency
In all greae excitements to huddle the innocent aud
guilty in the same cell OF condemnation. The peo-
pie discriminate only when they are COOL There
are good men and true In high places, and they
stand up against the general background OF corrup-
ton as white marble monument against the mid
uight. In the second place, hope the real crln-
mails viii be found and punished 20 the uttermOst
extent OF the law, without fear or favor know IL
Is often urged that the temptations OF once are OIL
most irresistible; that when millions are passing
But this is o feeble excuse. There are men In this
city who would sooner cut their right hand Of
should give these sacred trusts. 1 am led to ask
hat Is the cause OF all this tr0ubleY The answer
WIN come straight home TO all OF u.s. It is that We in
the selfish pursuit OF our own personal ends for the
Iast twenty years, have
.FoRGorrEN THE CLAIMS OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS;
ana when we have been reminded Of the loose con.
duct OF our public o1tcers We have said, eyes, l
know 1t, but it can't be helped. have neither time
DOR inclination for these things" AND so the mat
ter has gone on from bad to worse. We have been
very mindful OF our rights and very unmindlul OF
our duties. We have done III politics what some ig-
norant people do IN the Church Tney pm their
atth on the minister's sleeve and leave their getting
10 heaven TO nim and we have lost all of per.
50ual responsibility for the conduct OF public AFFAIRS
and left Office TO any adyenturer who had the impu.
dence or the ambition to claim 1t. To such pass
have matters come that 1t Is hardly honor to hold
place OF trust. The motives OF one who seeks 1t
are universally suspected, and 1t is too often found
IN the hands OF man who has paid for 1t with the
MAKING HIS FORTUNE OUT OF IT.
This, need not say, Is all wrong. 1t Is wrong from
The standpoint Of true citizen and from that OF the
Christian. The Church does right In denouncng
sucn laaity Of public OPINION If there is any
down to the root oil the matter Gust all Adventures
from Office and see to it that such men elected
nitv. Gentlemen, your work Is larger than you
think 1t is not simply to ind criminal and to
public sentiment on this aiinportsnt S aues:
iona sentiment That will put this great
ans s s Is News s 9o4 Sa ana nsT
OF her most prominent and trusted citizens. II I
may be allowed to crticse, think this is not sum-
hardly dare TO say II, ana yet firmly believe that
they are GA the wrong track. The men whom
moment from condemnation while some Of those
ior whom have great personal respect are spat
ing 70 my judgment, the two real criminals the two
men VINO should be made to
DisoosGE THEIR LL-aoTTES AND POLLUTED
WEALTH
and sent to State Prison for their guilt, will get OF
scot free under cover OF the inky blackness wnicn
they exude from their own bodies. These should
be punished, not only in justice to the community
az large but, curious argument In justice to the
lesser thieves who are daily sent to prison. II TO
steal hundred dollars is an offence punishable
with
CLOSE CONFINEMENT
what ls due 10 him who steals mlIona2 Shall ne
be q Respectable citizen because he Is bold enough
20 steal all we have We should have IN mind, too,
the general Generalization which results to the
young men Of the community. Fraud In high
places Is ike rain on a matched roof; 1t trickles
hn In I'M hnnoo
Let the citizens OF New York be stirred TO real
earnestness Let them purity our primary meet
ings our caucuses, our elections, until 1t shall be
proved that we are not so selfish or so avarcious
that caeress OF our duties 10 the public and the
country at large. God grant that good may come
out OF this excitement, that our manhood may be
strengthened, and that the cause Of Christian truth
may prevail