The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-26
LYRIC HALL.

Moral observation-disclosures Of Religion De-
clininG-Sermon by Rev. o. Ii. FrOthing,
ham.
Lyric Hail. between Forty. second and Forty.
third streets, Sixth avenue, was yesterday morning
crowded to It's utmost capacity Notwithstanding
the unpleasantness Of the weather. After the pre-
limiDary singing and prayer were concluded the
pastor, o. d. rockingham, commenced his sermon;
but as quite common with him, announcing no
text. The reverend gentleman said who does
not regret The decline OF the heroic vrtues2-
for since then the grander moral qualities have
been on the decline. Calculation Is taking the
place OF charity. What we now call common sense
Is selshness looking out for our individual welfare
This Is due 10 the prevalence Of rational Ideas. The
more reasonable people become the more vtrtuous
they become. Truth, simplicity and honor will
come forward and take their proper places. There
are few men and women who are rational. and who
can mold an idea in their minds until 1t becomes an
acting principle in them, never to be cast aside.
never to be forgotten. How many are there who
can classify their thoughts9 There are very few
whose faculties are SO well trained as to be able to
trace the effects Of present events the future
The reason Is the
PRODIGiOUs POWER OF PASSION
in our own enlightened society. We see clear.
headed, strong.mlnded men carried of by 1t daily.
In q conflict between passion and reason in
Is the victor. Since this Is SO, instead OF
bewahing the almost useessness OF reason, were
passion rules the day, the former ages mad an i'm
mense advantage over us in the belief OF Christ.
TO the rude and uneducaJed this was tower OF
strength. Let you understand 1t as they under.
stood 1t several hundred years back and 1t Will
a but So that in their sg
looked In their eyes and spoke 70 them. He who
has lived on earth with body like theirs and
sinned not; who had the same temptations and
swerved not; who never had where to lay His head
and complained not, was their Deity. This was lie
suferlnCs were over, but whose heart Dled Tor
every unrepentant sinner; who was still
stopped, but coming naturally and taking their
hand, and at last dying rather than give them
w. nc, ,sss ~ r vn, ,Wn a n
the world TO think that this Being was Judge
Judge who would not only Judge al their actions,
but their thoughts, their very wishes. This image
was kept continually before their eyes-by the
sculptor in stone, the painter on canvas, the mu-
people WERE why were not all men carried away ?
They would nave been had not the world been Just
stupid as IL was, requiring revolver TO put an
idea into a head. Now that
DIVINE IMAGE
Is gone has entirely iaded from the minds of men.
Professionalism begun aud ratlonalism completed 1t.
Professionalism began II, because 1t took away the
image. the music, ana has replaced them by an
told them to read, and one by one the elements
were taken apart. But what effect does TINS image
slons, from perjury from frauds Although the
| symbols have Deen destroyed mas the realityS No.
| It lives effectively as ever. But people have
peen so long accustomed 10 look for their
for them 10 love simple, natural person ike Christ
None are more goddess than those processing
the greatest love for Cod none are more Chrstless
| than those who seem TO love Him most. The
DOCTRINE OF EVOLUTION
is that society grows IKE tree that as many
| It's growth. Men think that Providence Is outside
| themselves and will make society grow without
| their help. They think n He wishes peace they
shall peace The result OF this Is there IL no
moral enthusiasm. II He Judges II Is imperti.
hair &C., but not TO help themselves. Is IL for God
| or man TO settle the Alabama caimsf-whetner we
shall be ruled with justice or njusticeP The world
Is ours-the career OF the future Is ours. But these
| have not been given TO us Internationally, for we
win be held responsible for all our deeds; and
| the unerring
| SCALES OF PROVIDENCE.
| Who are they that keep back Improvement The
|Sknave and Inc fool. See the man whose life Is
| devoted TO some noble end. He Is regarded
| not merely as an individual benefact0r, but
as helper OF all mankind. or course IN
| the good cause there 10 room for fanaticism.
| Well, II we are under this action Of evolution we
| need not work. The brakeman Ii as necessary al
The engineer, and the engineer as necessary as the
brakeman. Ia this however, there are no stopping.
| places. Christianity ever moves forward. Read
instead or the Golden Rule" live for others-in
stead Of DO unto others as you would have Others
| do unto you." Understand y0nr own relations, and
you will be link VI the golden cnain OF Gods crea
| lures and do the part you alone eau do.
Singing By the congregation and benediction
closed the services