The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-01
NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

What In Transient md What Is Permanent,
as Taught by the Lessons Of the Dying
Year-Sernon by Rev. DR.. Merrill Richard.
SON.
Tnat good old fashion that takes The New Eng
ander-hOwever nercely he lights the battle OF life
ana however far away from his nauve heath and
hearh-back to the old Preside and Old scenes again
AZ this holiday season OF the year caused quite
dImnution In the number Of attendants at
the services yesterday morning az the
New England Congregational church, cor
ncr OF Madison avenue and Forty seventh
street. il Is possible that the dlsagreeable
weather increased the list OF absentees. One thing
Is certain-that neither the weather nor slim con-
gregaton detracted from the customary bold and
eloquent vigor OF Rev. DR.. Merrill Richardson, the
pastor. and. what Is more. he preached as ne al
ways does, sermon up 70 the OCCASION or In other
words, sermon whose train OF observation and
reflections was suggested by the passing away Of
the old year and ushering In Of the new one. HIS
subject WAC
WHAT is TRANSIENT AND WHAT is PERMANENT,
let us Join ourselves to the Lord IN . perpetual
covenant that shall not be forgotten" BY way OF
introduction ne cited the medisatlons Of voIney,
the French philosopher, AZ ne ga2ed on she ruins
OF once powerful kingdoms, sitting on the broken
fragments Of cities once rich ana great and iul vi
and looked upon lie as . mockery, a. the caprice
oil chance. he next showed now jeremiah. medl-
impressed with the VANITY oil Oil earthly greatness,
but with o hope and trust In the future and
knowledge tnat though empires and kingdoms and
nations might be swept away and ctttes Crumbe
TO dust, that there was permanent life to the soul
life coexistent with the everything Creator He
next inferred that anything that ID natural Is tran.
silent. Babylon, Uneven. Palmyra, TneDes mad
their Wall streets and ''G0ld Roomsh their costly
and temples, as New York and London and Paris
have to-day. Then, as now, stocks rose and 1ell,
were Se ana Ss ana sefe Nfre w
Twice ten centuries ago these cities perlsned, and
the anuquary has to dlg beneath the mould OF ages
10 ind q relic OF their existence. oblivion has
swallowed all their natural works. Should our
cities ana marts Of commerce escape the c0nquests
Of war there must follow
TIMES EpFAcINa CHANGES.
On thIs Continent are forests Of ages growing upon
the ruins OF unknown cities-ctes where leemlng
millions once lived ana wrought, as boastrui OF
their deeds, as full OF hope, Us confident OF the
future az the people OF New York city to-day
While The rocky strata or the earth holds the impress
OF ancient reptiles ana nsh, not trace can be found
OF man or his art where once concentrated the
wealth and fashion and power vi untold mnnOns Of
Times oflaeng 0nger has touched them,
He next showed that there is nothing perpetual
In family or race. Royal aud noble families have
carved out great estates ana sought TO make Them
NE, forms or religion, the wlsest philosophers, are
ever passing ever.renewng life Of mankind.
Celebrating IN eloquent terms and with copiOus aud
apt illustrations this branch OF his discourse he
addressed himself TO what Is permanent. Though
man dies, though his noticed works perish, though
his name Ia forgotten, though his body mingle with
the elements, he joins himself 10 the LORD III love
ana duty. that union shall be perpetuated. Altar
fires go out, but not the worship they klndle In the
Souls OF men. Tna form changes the spirit lives.
The spirit OF Grecian culture and Roman law sur
wives portc0 and tomple and all their material gran
deur Galilean fishermen joined TO Christ Outiive
Jewish sanhedrms and the thrones OF the Caesars.
In conclusion he showed that
THE YEAR 1871
brought home the truth Of the text This year
would be ku own as the year OF great calamlties--
famine In Persia and India floods in China, whole
feet crushed In the ice now OF the Polar Sea, de-
structive storms Ia various parts OF the world, X
pl0slOns OF mines and steamboat BOILERS railroad
disasters, fires sweeping over whole counties IN
our Western States and laying In ruins the wealth
OF a great city. All TINS impressed the lesson tnat
those VINO would have permanent treasures must
lay them up with God.