The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-22
ST. JAMES CHURCH.
Sermon by Bishop Potter-COnfrmatio ton
Seryice.

Sermon by Bishop Potter-ConfirmatiO n
Service.
The fine weather yesterday, and the expectation
OF witnessing the confirmation or some new mem
bers to the Episcopal Church, were sufficient To
induce large attendance at the morning services
at the st. James church, In Seventy second street.
between Third and Lexington avenues Bishop
Potter, OF the diocese, presided and was assisted
by the Rector, Rev. Cornelius B. Smith, and Rev.
George S. Converse, OF Boston. The music was In
keeping with the Importance OF the occasion.
Nearer My God To Thee" by the choir, consisting
of Miss Ida Hubbell sopranos Miss Sarah Lund, Alto
Mr.. j. s. Snipes, tenor, and Mr.. J. v. Yatman was
very finely rendered, was also the Introductory
voluntary on the organ by the organist Edward q.
Jardine. The sermon was preached by the Bishop,
who chose for his text st. John XXI 22-"Jesus
said unto him, II will that he tarry till come,
. what Is that to thee Follow thou Me-" The
proofs Of Christ's resurrection, he began, OF His
glorious triumph over death, are clothed in mys
terry, as was the forty days preceding 1t. When
after the ascension, He came to His apostles He
was unknown; but what was their final joyous
recognition of himl And none OF them dare ask
Him. who art Thouy for they knew Il was God =, lie
was the duty OF the apostles; this is our duty. The
adorable one will rot draw aside the
VEIL THAT HIDES THE FUTURE.
He simply says follow Me. We must do this In
faith Give all our thoughts to the anxetes OF the
destroy patience, unfit us for the discharge Of our
duties, unfit this world for place OF probation.
What we most need in this world OF neetng shad-
ows Is the path OF duty made plain; and to seek
to penetrate further is to take our thoughts from
duty to impairment curiosity An example on TINS
w seek IN to e entsr the gatss ba
success They have Sought to enter
but with such anstrnetea attention as not
responsible problems and solutions; concentrate
all your energies, for you win need them all to
before His ascension He says to His disciples, You
shall be baptized before long," they said, when
RomansP" He answered Them at concerns you
not, the time of the Caesars; but Christianity shall
eventually prevail" 1t has prevailed; has swept
continents, taking in its course Kingdoms and en-
pires. All religions have bowed beneath 1t. He
told them not what they asked. He told them what
was better. SO it is God seldom gives us what We
ask. He gives us more.
sHoRT-sIGHTED MoRTALs
seek to pierce the future; but the hidden oracle
When viewed rightly, what wonderful thing Is
human life Men, apparently absorbed IN the friy-
olities OF the moment, with death warrant IN
temporal interests. After. elOquently charging
this part of his discourse, the reverend speaker ex
horted mankind to give up the ten thousand ques-
tons which are beyond the reach of the human in
tellect and which do not In the least affect our
faith, SO that when we reach the other shore we
may wake up in His shape and eternaly partake OF
The eighty-eighth hymn was now sung, during
the progress of the first two stanzas of which about
twenty-five applicants for confirmation kneeed
upon the cnance and ranged themselves
about the altar. The singing now ceased,
and the aged Bishop pronounced with
slightly tremulOus voice the words which
Episcopal Church for life AS he laid his hand on
the bowed head of each and uttered Ais benedic
ton, not sound save his voice was heard through
out the church.
Prayer was now offered up by the Bishop. the
newly confirmed still kneelng; after which they
arose and he addressed them abjuring them to
wage eternal war against SIM to declare, on all
fitting occasions their religion to try to keep their
conscences pure and tender; never to let their
PUBLIC PROFESSIONS
outstrp their belief: to profess to give all
and keep part. God does not demand all: there is
not single passage of the Scriptures that indicates
it. Every day that ASeeng Eye is looking down
and reading hearts. Keep them, then, innocent.