New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-08
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
UNITARIANisM RENOUNCED.
THE REV. GEoRGH II. HEPWoRTH IN
BRACES ORTHODOXY.


Church of the Messiah at Thirty fourth-st. and
Parkave., which in affecting incident Is unparal-
eled in the history Of any church in this city IN
late times at least. The church was nilea 10 its
utmost capacity. camp stools being placed IN tho
aises for the accommodation Of visitors, and even
the standing room both above and below being oe-
cupied by congregation which had gathered
mainly to hear the farewell sermon of the pastor tho
Rev George II. Hepworth, whose withdrawal was
occasioned by change in his belief On doctnnai
points.
It appeared from Mr. Hepworth's sermon, and his
subsequent explanation, that since his connection
with Unitanansm pastor Of this church the con
yiction of the absolute divinity of Christ has IRA
dually but surely grown upon him until the differ
ence of opinion between himself and his eonTeea-
ton became apparent as 20 lead TO an intimatlon
from the more radical members that his usefulness
as pastor of that church hOpelessly impaired.
This intimation was embodied in precise and
definite terms in note from Mr.: Babcock, President
of the Board of Trustees which was delivered 70 MI
Hepworth last Saturday evening. When the services
were closed Mr.. Hepworth, after reading TINS note
aloud said that he was ready TO withdraw, bur no
would have been glad had he been allowed to do 80
without being subjected to public insult Inc
reading of the note well as Mr.. Hepworths state-
ment that he had received other unpleasant eoh-
munications, one of which characterized him as
feeling evidently being in the pastors favor lie
said further that he had been engaged by the con
| creation, but had been dismissed by Mr.. Babcock
| alone. When he had concluded. Mr.. Babcock ex-
planned his action in terms analogous to his note
an extract from which will be found below, as TO
call forth prolonged Kisses FROM the audience.
Although addressing congregation opposed TO
him in sentiment Mr. HepwOrth took advantage OF
last opportunity of explaining his own position 10
IL INIT Of
must have satisfied the most orthodox Of the evan
oelical churches" His text was St. Matthew 81;
whatsoever therefore, shall confess me before men,
him will confess also before my Father which u IN
Heaven He was listened to throughout with rapt
attention and appealed to his hearers with su'h
feeling that few hearts were untouched aud lew
ewes dry and when all was over and his last words
of explanation were uttered, i shall preach SOME
where next Sunday, you may believe" there arose
a sudden and powerful clapping OF hands anu theh
men and women foeked to the pulpit to bid him
sorrowful good-by. His sermon was astoliows'
THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST
The words OF the text seem to he frcghted down
10 the very waters edge with vital Import Iby con
tain command which demands the Immediate atten-
ton Of all thinking For my own part during the
last few months. my faith has been growing more ds
mite and my in the Scriptures as hnal authority
| mare explicit Not that I have turned about aud
faced the other way that to-day stand to my past
in the relation fruit TO blossom My brethren ia the
denomination known Of the change; nave OeehI"r
! n long time aware OF its progress; and nave
had no reason to suppose that your eyes have oe'1
! blinded 70 the fact At rate, az ms
time it becomes my duty and IL Is my pleasure u 'r
Won some Of the processes by and through Wheh nave
reached my present position. No man enertans arg
admiration or enthusiastic respect for those who
have stood az repre- men, in times past OF nj
tartan Christianity Their regulations have been con
fined to sect their influence has been limited only W
the boundaries OF civilization. They have been game
I'm intellect and trusting and cOnhdng children ~
| heart They have eOmmuned with God initiated
| Christ and been baptized in and inbued viii
the Holy Spirit. And yet have al the better Hshi
to crtcise, because was myself born, Graded ana O'''
in the midst Of these influences was no convert I"
them drew them IN with my mothers milk anu every
tendency in my entire educational lie ran IN that di'C
tion can therefore speak plainly, indeed. a kindly
word OF criticism; and, without the slightest shade 81
amnesty toward any creature that reads the rlohe
can tell YOU NY exact thought and what proposed t.
A. ,1l '''
TsE FAILURE OF UNIrARIANsM
Ibaye watched the denomination Tor iohe time Win
increasing interest and Increasing sadness m'' "'h
in its Conferences and have done my utmost 70 peSua'
il 70 acknowledge its undivided reliance on Christ jesus
the Lord and savior Of human souls have been usH'
cessfu But the number OF rs ministers and followers ha'
boen gradually Growing smaller every year Going back"
little we find Claiming, the man who gave methon an"
form 10 the body and whose doctrine was as unn" '
the doctrines OF to-day one thing can DC "n"A'
auother Claiming scared the highest mountain peas
of cvilizable existence. and standing theIo on ,w
rock-rbhed summit, looked, not Inan-~ ara Du Coo
and saw the shining face OF Je.ls 1hls' E' I ~,
,Ited 10 call the savior and Eedccmer Or human
race The denomination to-day has come down itoIn t'
mountain peak, and Is now, tlhhA IooAIIk 90 o.. -,
among ges and philosophers VINO gro" up o' u
I our midst md the equal 81 the NaHAtene. al, ,
The unity OF God, orr pecuirr dogma, was, II itan
our history Alright simply incdfnLai ana na not ,n
the foundation stone upon Mhich the 'ieoIn,a.iiSss
| Was bnilt Channing said himself that he regarded
Unitarianism simply AZ The charter OF human Ieeuom
ne beIeyed la the inspiration OF the Holy scripture
that In some mysterious the death Of Christ bad to
| do with the forgiveness OF the sinner. anu NVc
0pther his system OF theology would he to-day
49, ,asnecabIe orthodoxy stood in contrast with
the Christian world on one point lou Know uat VA the
Oden time the enthusiasm Of the fathers Nas sm'tss
rid They were sectarian 10 the ast degree, and some
times gid In their utteraees ana m nor aisM ~
stances they found II impossible 10 be charltabe toward
\ those who differed from them. Chsshhlhg un tS
Christian charity with his beheI, ana tn
I dogmatie doctrine Of the Unity of God was
simply incidental to that Now snrousiy ehonsn, W.
whole world charitable To-day there Is large enough
freedom any denomination of Christendosn 10"
somewhat elder and harsher doctrines have quietly os
appeared also, and at this moment the true Chrlstdn
Iaan can under any pulpit In any church thrOugaoa
the domain ChTistendOm, ana feel that the bahd OF
the minister l. feeding his soul The leaders IN oui yNn
body have admitted this many and time public
| conference
FOES WITHIN THE CHURCH.
Then in the course OF events, II became necessary 70
have new issue at rate, new issue actually
presented itself aud the spirit OF the denomination be-
came actually changed. and with that new issue wish
10 cay plainly this presence have no sympathy what
ever viii fight that issue on the broad
ground Of generous belief, and IN the
interests Of truth have patience with,
nor belief in the saving effects Of that mediation with
which ths denomination stands content this moment.
We stand to-day for loose disonted dscordant ideas Of
Christ aud also for that interpretat OF the New
Testament which leaves II an dle dry Bissss ieter