The New York herald., 1872-10-28
JOHN STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH.

The Ono Hundred and Fourth Ami.
versary OF Its Dedication-Thc Value
and Importance OF True Christian
Character-Sermon by Rev. DIR. j. r.
Newman.
Yesterday was the one hundred and fourth ami
versary OF the dedication OF the old John street
Methodist Episcopal church. which event took
place in 176s. goody number OF Christian Metho-
dsts assembled within its old granite walls to cele
brate the festival but principally to listen to the
very eloquent discourse preached by
REV. DIR. j. p. NEWMAN,
Chaplain OF the United States Senate The rev.
srend gentleman preached on Christian character,
and chose very appropriate text from Revela-
tions viii. l3 14-One OF the elders asked him. say
ing What are these who are arrayed in white
robesY and whence came they9 And he said, They
are they who came out of great tribulaton and
have washed their robes and made them white in
the blood OF the Lamb"
DR.. Newman commenced by saying that the
Creator demanded prescribed character, which
must be the source OF happiness to all. Character
Is the aggregation OF a man-of his physical and
Intellectual powers-is that which man is rather
than that which man possesses. Character is
threefold-namey, natural, responsible and evan
gelcal.
THE NATURAL CHARACTER OF MAN
Is that which he has received from his parents or
his progenitors-the physical and intellectual quail
ties he possesses. Therefore whatever you are
naturally you have inherited from the past. One
Is born lovely and angelic; another cross and can
not be soothed. One sceptic; another a natural
believer One is born a lover OF the truth; another
lies from his mothers womb Another is born with
more than Roman honesty; another practises
stealing from his cradle. Such Is natural charac.
ter. When does 1t become responsible9 Just as
soon as II can understand and appreciate the obli-
cations OF the law. This may be at five, fifteen
or twenty-five; but, whenever 1t comes, there
is the line OF demarcation. But can you throw the
responsibility on your ancestorsS All moi for
Christ can impart grace TO you through the chan
nels OF prayer and the sacraments of His Church to
change your natural character. SO that the thief
with the Divine WILL can become respectively
honest, truthful and unfaering In their faith. IL
Is under these circumstances that men can attain
THE EVANGELICAL CHARACTER,
which has for its law the doctrine OF regeneration
founded upon great natural law, which is this
that happiness and purity are inseparable.
The elements OF this evangelical character are :
First, moral state or condition; and, secondly
an act OF being life Initiative OF Jesus Christ the
only evangelical Teacher who ever held His sub
jccts responsible for their frame OF mind. Such
should be the moral culture OF the will that when
called into action 1t should act responsive and
responsible to the law. SO also should
conscience be made responsible to the
purity OF your character until after being trans
formed, as II were, from the passive to the moral
state. some are oRy settled, not purlned: This
the learned Doctor explained by showing the diff
terence between diluted and clarified water in two
separate walls. The one, If rested, has the sed-
ment at the bottom, which stains the purity OF the
water at the first shake The other remains always
PURE. Such also are the justified and the unjusti-
lied. But 1t won't do 10
SHAKE SOME MEN.
9c's iS also true representation OF the doctrines
0l justification and sanctlncation founded by the
apostles. The true Christian man Is no more pious
around the altar than In the counting house, for
he makes his duties subservient TO the higher
duties OF religion. Just as the earth, while revolv-
ng on its axis, moves In its orbit at the same time
around the sum- borrowing light and heat from that
grand old luminary OF the skies, so the true
Christian, while employed In his daily avocations,
permits the spirit OF his bosom to move with the
angels around the throne OF the Eternal.
JAe character VI man Is therefore prescribed