The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-09


TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The HERALD is recognized as the great national
newspaper OF the New World.
Three thousand or more newspapers In different
parts of our land transfer to their columns that
part of its news best suited to their particular
readerspOlitics, religion fine arts and science; In
fact, everything and everybody are represented by
1t in the course Of one weeks issue. Mondays the
religious world seek its pages with avidity to learn
what some of the great ministerial minds enunci-
ated in their pulpit teachings. The writer has had
q passion, II 1t may be so called, to hear our
prominent preachers and orators and during the
past twenty years has heard most OF
the eloquent speakers OF that time. Father Gavazz
as he preached twenty years since, was by far the
most eloquent and soul-stirrng preacher that ever
visited our shores, and Louis Kossuth the most at
tractive and powerful political speaker. Gavazzi,
with a vim that was admirable, was all faction,
action" and although his English was very de-
fectve, his features would often express more than
words, and, with his Roman cloak wrapped around
him, he would form postures that were strikingly
beautiful and expressive. From all that we read
his must have been similar to that OF Cicero On
the contrary, KOssuth, the Hungarian patriot, was
quite the opposite. He remained In one position,
almost statue like possibly raising his hand once
during an hours grafton; yet he held spell
bound immense concourses OF people He used
pure Shakspearian English. His power was In the
his musical voice possessed. So 1t is we md rare
orators with characteristics the most opposite.
down There is now preaching in the city Of Brook.
Ign man who, in my Judgment, excels, as pulpit
teacher, any and oil preachers in that City OF
Churches He came from San Francisco q little
over year since. happened to hear his first
mon. He had a total absence OF the usual clerical
style; he spoke with great rapidity, but clearness;
no time lost In the introductive services which
occupied about ten minutes instead of the usual half
hour Soon he gave out his and from the word go
a q w rII
in the time usually occupied In enunciatng one.
His treatment of the subject was entirely original,
full an hour longaroused his audience to the pitch
OF enthusiasm. He evidently had visited and lived
drawn from his wonderful knowledge OF astronomy
and botany, and the habits OF all kinds Of animals,
birds and fishes. Such beautiful and exquisite word
pictures as were hung before the audience never
before witnessed. In short, such q tor,
rent OF bgrning eoquence as he poured s,l
wonderful preaching could not be- sustained, at,
tended in the evening His fame had evidently
been nosed around, for the church, the aisles and
pulpit platform were occupied and many people were
unable to find entrance. Ihave heard him many times
since and think he rather improves. The crowds
place Congregational-are erecting him building
almost as large as Talmage's and on the same
style. look upon DR.. H. NJ. scudder as one OF II
not the greatest and most effective preacher
known to the American pulpit to-day.
Pitching into ssCato."
10 THE EDITOR OF TIM HERALD.-
have taken much interest in the theological
correspondence OF Your valuable journal, especially
in the communications OF "Cato," in which he has
declared his ability to prove, by the Bible the NOR
tally Of the soul. In compliance with this asser-
ton he, In his last argument, endeavored to show,
scripturaly, the non-existence Of that mortal
agency.
Does not "Cato" see that he has committed an
error, Has 1t not occurred to him that man, re-
iectng the Immortality OF the soul, must necessa-
rly, deny the veracity of the Bible; for does not
that good Book through mutitudinous paragraphs,
show the existence Of an everlasting SOUL How
ridiculous, then, to take as a criterion work
which he must believe detective Again, how
true and disbelieve the rest Can each mind suit
itself which part to believe and which notY Now,
taty" and consequently discredits the Bible, can
he strengthen his point by referring TO work OF
which he disapprovesS There exists certain class
Ofpeople which believes In the nonentity OF the I'm
mortal SOUL OF whom is 1t composedt To ascer-
tain we will divide our so-caed Christians into
three classes-viz:
The first class Is composed OF the untutored who
though genius undeveloped by education lies latent
in them, consider It above their sphere to object to
facts which to them seem demonstrated beyond a
doubt; and others, who, having no thinking faculty
OF their own would believe In the arabian Nights
were Il but taught them with as intense fsrvor
that which characterizes their devotion to the Al
mighty.
The second class consists OF persons having keen
perceptions, educated endowed with great con-
ception for certain studies; some perceive the
mysteries Of language; Others evince marvellous
knowledge OF human nature; while others, again.
have wonderful prediction for music, nc. Be-
yond their forte everything Is obscurity, and al
though some candidy think themselves capable Of
discerning the intrcacics Of studies ont OF their
sphere they see but TO certain boundary; beyond
that all il darkness.
Among the third class are numbered some OF our
most profound thinkers; men who recognize the
superiority OF humankind over the brute crea
ton; who, through deep research, ere convinced
OF the magnitude and magnanim.sy OF "God's
works" and convey their thoughts to myriads OF
reflective men,
"Cato,n fear, belongs to the second class. Let
him bear In mind the proverb, "A little learning Is
q dangerous tbing.n His genius Ia misappled; and
although he embody his thoughts In nowery lam
guage and thereby misead the credui0us, he falls
70 lmpreaa rational Intellect. His QthQLWlae In.