The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-12
Truth and Trash I'm sho Pulpit.

There is venerable hoary-headed prophecy
in the Bible which has its fulflment in this
day, if never before. 1t speaks of time OF
of hearing the Word Of God. What with the
sensationalism which prevails among our
religious teachers, and the loads Of trash and
twaddle with which sney cover up the few grains
Of truth which they pick out of Gods Word,
1t is scarcely possible sometimes for the hear
ers to do otherwise than doubt everything
they read and hear. If the reader should ask
us what Is the leading idea theologically or
relgously in to-day's sermons, we should be
compelled to reply that, aside from the Two
man question:" they contain no leading idea.
Rev. Mr.. Woodbury. preached the second of
the series of Unitarian doctrinal sermons in
the Church of the Messiah yesterday; but we
have failed to find single doctrine enun-
ciated therein. He tells us that the glory Of
Christianity is that it leads the world in
thought and spirit, and that there is
not nation under heaven but has felt
its influence and been quickened by 1t into
newer life and higher aspirations. But there
is nothing doctrinal in that statement 1t is
q simple matter of fact. He tells us that the
mission of Unitarianism is to set the human
soul free from the shackles of superstition. If
80 it has sadly failed. He finds points of
agreement in the creeds Of others, and he has
charity for all; but the reader will probably
discover In the closing sentences gentle tap
on Brother Hepworth's knuckles for the little
''muss" he raised among the Unitarians lately.
Hepworth, too, is weak and washy in his
utterances. He drew picture of moral hero
ism-the young man who belongs to fashion
able society, who for his religious principles is
sneered at but who still holds fast to his faith.
The weak excuses which men make for
their neglect Of the requirements of religion
he exposed by showing that every man in this
land at least has the means at hand of ascer-
tanning just what God demands of him. If
he neglects or refuses to avail himself of this
knowledge, he alone is to blame, and he must
take the consequences. 'Wrong," said Mr..
Hepworth, sis kicking gun. Don't use it;
1t shoots at the wrong end. No matter where
you aim, it hits yourself" This is undoubtedly
true and the experience Of every wrong-doer
corroborates the statement We have had
some very powerful illustrations of this truth
in this community recently.
The religion of humanity and the atonement
were themes of Mr.. Frothingham's discourse
yesterday. 'Jesus," he said, ''came with a
character which made everybody feel them
selves very black by the side of His white
ness. But He came not as prince, but as
man to shed a perpetual stream of
regeneration-a blending together of heaven
and earth. We are saved by grace through
faith, said st. Paul. We are saved
by the Christ of humanity-by faith in the
principle of humanity, saith Mr.. rockingham.
''Do something, give something; no matter
what is done so it be in thought and feeling
and Ne atonement is effected" Alb, indeed!
is it? Then hath Christ died in vain. II it be
of works then is grace no more grace and sal
walton is no more the gift of God, but the
merit of our own works. Let the millions
of Christendom who, having spent all their
money on such physicians as Mr.. rockingham,
and have been nothing better, but rather
grew worse, testify whether they have been
saved after Mr.. Frothingham's fashion
or after the Apostle Pauls. Brother Beecher,
while treating splendid subject in very
inferior manner, yet disagreed with the pre-
ceding parson. Speaking Of different classes
of men and the motives which prompt them to
work either physically or mentally, intellec-
tually or morally, he remarked that to make
our ideals useful we must join to them Divine
strength and q child-like faith in Christ and
in the future. Very good.
The near approach of Lent led the Cath
Ollie pastors to give prominence to that solemn
season. In st. Patricks Cathedral DR.. STAIRS
illustrated the necessity Of faith and good
works by the restoration of sight to blind
Bartimeus. There are four different classes
of persons In the world, said DR.. STAIRS
first, those who deny the existence of God;
next, those who are prejudced by education
and early training; then, again, those who
are blinded by passion and worldly pleasures /;
and, lastly, the contumacious rebels who
know the truth, but who willingly
follow after lie. The only way
to convince those persons is to bring
them under and within the influences
Of an infallible and Interchangeable Church, and
get them to unite good works to their faith,
for either alone is dead. In St. Peters church
Father Farrell preached on the Eucharist, and
in st. Stephens Father vasseur related his
experience as Jesuit missionary in China.
He believes that country will be the great bat
tie field of Christianity, and to prepare for the
conflict his hearers were urged to put on the
whole armor of God, and victory would be
theirs. There are other pulpit productions
and religious doings and sayings worthy of
dominant hut our anaca will not narmt