The New York herald., 1872-12-16
A REPORT OF IT'S CONDITION


institution, read
REPORT OF ITS CONDITION
from the pulpit He said the House Of Mercy, more
than any other institution bears witness that Jesus
is still upon this earth. Have we not in this great
city hundreds OF women who are going down
the slippery path of vice and shamef But
have we not also Jesus' words, 'Neither
do condemn thee; so and sin no more" Asso-
clate yourself with Jesus by giving, If not your per-
sona assistance at least your fervent prayers and
your means for this work Of mercy. During the
year the House Of Mercy has been thoroughly re-
paired. The success OF the Sisters OF st. Mary has
been thoroughly established. Since the publica-
tion Of the last report seventy-one new inmates
have been received, and the present number
OF inmates In the House is forty. The
Rev. Morgan Dix preached the sermon. He
took his text from Ecclesiastes VIII, 2-"It
is better to look at the house OF mourning than at
the house Of feasting." This is rather strange
saying, but little reflection will show its truth.
He who serves God truly must sometimes be con-
founded by the indifference OF the majority OF men
to all the higher aspirations OF the soul Such men
are marvel to the religious Yet after all 1t is
not difficult to explain this indifference and ignor
ance They are the result Of refusing to look at
certain
GRAVE ASPECTS OF LIFE.
sentass " with h. shs folds q Inc ''g garments
istence Of these two sisters Of the world. They
forget that there is future, and we see, after
ing than at the house Of feastng. II it be certain
that my house Is to be destroyed by fire tomorrow
had better know it to-day, 50 as 10 save my most
once like dream we had better keep 1t in mind
to-day. All the people in the world dwell
enpy @ the Nv" house Of feasing e'as' or they
occupy the house Of mourning The house OF
mourning presents the serious dark aspect OF
nature. This world Is the house of mourning. Our
first entrance into this world is made with pain
and amentation. As soon as we learn to dis
and ask the Lords pardon for our sins. AS we go
through life we find that this world is not place
for feasting. All the fair things OF life flourish
ON THE SURFACE OF DEATH.
Doubtless the greater part OF mortals spend their
lives in this shadowy house. Think Of our diseases
struggles Look into your own lives, SO very i'm.
perfect If not positively evil and say II the house
OF mourning is not IN truth n that which holds the
in that house. "Blessed they that mourn,n says
the Lord. The Lords words are strong express
sion for the serious. sober, grave views which be-
long to the man who will not wear the
motley garb OF the fool, but who discerns the
But there is another house-the house OF feasting.
This latterhou is the construction OF minority
THIS is the life spent in gayety and merrment. The
men In This house shut out the lamentatOn and the
cry, they turn away from the thoughts of death
till the heart becomes as hard stone. This house
some OF us who spend all our lives in it. This
temper which win not mourn has been the charac-
terlStc oil WnOle communities VINO nave adopted
the maxim, "Let US eat drink and be merry, for
tomorrow we may die."
Why is 1t better to be in the house Of mournings
"The heart OF the wise is in this house.u
Adversely invariably produces higher Characters
than lie OF gayety and merriment. Nothing is
more intOlerabe than the set smiles OF the face OF
folly; nothing is more disgusting than continual
jesting and joking. The worlds benefactOrs were
men who knew the sorrows of the world whose
hearts bled when they saw the mseries OF their
fellow creatures. Seek not the worlds beneiactors
In the house OF feastings-you will not find them
there.
PATIENCE, RESIGNATION, LOVE:
these are the words that shine over the house OF
mourning, whence comes, after ALL river Of glad.
ness and rejoicing to the weary ana to the Op.
pressed. When the lights in the house OF feasting
are extnguished, when the music Is silent and the
players are gone, then 1t is time to go to God and
answer for what You have done. There is, breth-
rem, time for easting. Christ was no gloomy
misanthrope. He dwet In the house Of mourn
ing. but He gladdened 1t by His presence. Men
were truly refreshed by the feasts OF Christ One
OF the feasts took place when He spoke
the last words to His disciples. In our
Fathers house, the Church, we have the true
feasts. The days OF Advent draw toward
their end we think OF the coming least To-day for
the sober thought; In q few days gadness and re.
joicing. Asylums like the House OF Mercy shelter a
class OF poor sinners who have been led astray by
the glare OF vice. The rufiian smites Justice In the
cheek and freely brandisnes the pistol and the
knife, killing aud destroying at pleasure. Now
this House shelters fifty poor sinners against the
ungodly and against themselves. Many have been
saved through Christ-let us hope, forever Aid
then, this noble work.
a collection was then taken up,