The New York herald., 1871-12-11

IVY PuiPiIs yesterday, winch VIII NO
iound reported in the columns Of the HERALD
this morning. There are few or none of the
flashes of eloquence or oratory. the scathing
denunclations Of persons or things, the biting
sarcasm or the keen wit which we find some
times distilled from the holy oracles bv the
theological maltsters. The season is becoming
solemn and so are the preachers. 1t is the time
for religious revivals, and the Church and
the ministry bend their energies and direct
their attention mainly, if not solely, to this.
The Redemptorist Fathers are holding series
of revival meetings in St. James Roman Catho-
lie church, in the Fourth ward, and with
remarkable success. And In view OF the near
ness of Christmas and the preparation of mind
necessary to rightly observe that festival and
the attendant holidays the Rev. Father
Ratschke yesterday preached sermon on
penance to large congregation. 1t became
the privilege and the duly Of Rev.
Father McCready to call the attention
of the congregation of St. Stephens church
to the same event and the accompanying facts
and circumstances, and to strive by example,
entreaty and warning to induce his hearers to
accept the love and mercy of God as mani
tested in the gift of Jesus Christ to die for
sinful men. But having received the Divine
Saviour into the heart it then becomes the
Christians duty, as explained by Rev. Father
Kearney, to manifest our faith by ''practsing
good works earnestly and faithfully through
out life, and not be content with the mere
profession of faith. Tire influence of good
example and faithful life was practically
declared and held up for imitation.
In st. Marks Protestant Episcopal church,
in Second avenue, the Rev.. DR.. Rylanos
preached very simple discourse on the
Saviours advent as appropriate to this occa-
sion and as reminding the congregation Of the
second coming OF Christ, for which he feared
they were not preparing themselves as they
should by lives of religious devotion to the
cause and service of the Master. He advised
the people not to depend much upon forms Of
prayer, but to have the love of God IN their
hearts, daily inspiring their lives and increas-
ing their joy. And thus, with lamps trimmed
and lights burning, they may wait for the
Lords appearing, whether He shall
come at midaight or at the cock
Growing or in the morning. The
Gospel Of Christ has won for itself such q
place among the literature Of mankind, as well
as in human hearts, that, as DR.. Richardson
demonstrated yesterday, it is not a thing to
be ashamed Of. It has stood the test Of 1900
years, and still lives an ever-increasing power
in the world. And any literary work which
can thus survive is not to be despised. The
Bible is the book Of the civilized world, and
its readers may be reckoned by millions, and
its circulation is thousand-fold more than
that of any other volume. Voltaire, who
swore he would extrpa.e it from
the literature of world, died with
out accomplishing his task, and his house
near Geneva is now a Bible depository
''What, then, asked DR.. Richardson, 'tshall
be said of Gospel that can stand such
trial7 This, that men shall not be ashamed
of it. Contrast the nations who have lived
under its light with others, and everywhere it
is seen that the Gospel has been the mightiest
power to enlighten and elevate" But to come
under its power we must part with cherished
sins, make sacrifices for its sake and en-
hour we shall feel its quickening aud hallow-
ing influence aud peace.
There was q change Of priests but not Of
subjects in Lyric Hall yesterday. The Rev.
Mr.. Munday, of Syracuse, was substituted for
Mr.. rockingham. The substitute found in
~ hat Id
to his own place" q text suggestive that the
tendency OF men as well as of water Is to find
their own level-to go to their own place. The
heart Of the king is often seen now In the
breast Of the peasant, and the liberalty of the
prince in the backwoodsmau. A good soul,
no matter what its surroundings, is, by
irresistible gravity, drawn toward those
of like good work. And men are
not working for this world alone while here,
but also for the future world. Religion aud
life are bound up together, and while we are
constructing our earthly habtations we are
also building our future and unchangeable
abodes The characters which we form here
will determine our relations to the future
world. And inasmuch as the character is
formed by what we read and hear-for as a
man thinketh in his heart 50 is he-it becomes
a highly important duty to look we'll to our
literature. Aud Rev. Mr.. Pullman gave
his Universalist congregation some useful
hints in this line yesterday. What
ever is read should be mastered,
but of course only the best should be read.
The character and style Of some of the popu-
lar literary works of the day were bit off, and
the sickly Sabbath school literature received
its just rebuke. The mental faculties are
ruined by this weak trash. Some writers run
into mysteries where no one can follow them.
Sunday school books which don't state facts
and convictions are tissues of lies, according
to Mr.. Pullman, and by giving examples OF