The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-29
HEPW0RTH,s NEW CHURCH.

HEPWORTH'S NEW CHURCH.
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A Sermon scepticism-The Different Kinds
of Douof-A Right start in Life-Thc Dam
gers Of Temptation and the Possibilities OF
Reform.
An immense audience crowded Steinway
Hall last evening, nlling the galleries. plat
form, private boxes and the main portion
of the auditorium. Quite early the people
began to make their appearance, coming not
only In couples but In troops. and at about seven
o'clock regular procession was moving from
Fourth avenue and Broadway to the white marble
portals OF the building. When the services
began 1t was utterly impossible for any new
conner to obtain q seat and the alsles
were soon occupied by those who were forced
TO remain in a standing posture. II 1t was the pur
suit OF knowledge OF heavenly things under ain.
culties, there was certainly no one In the vast
throng VINO showed any WEAKNESS before the bene-
diction was uttered.
The young and beautiful OF the gentle sex were
present In great numbers but liKewise-a natural
sequence-were those muutudinous young
men who find IN Mr.. Hepwortn's eloquent
preaching an attractive indication OF tine
true way to heaven. The choir were seated
on the platform, almost neutrality-suspicious. in the
thr0ng Of Mr. Hepworth's church members, who
were seated all around him, so that there he looked
safe enough from the attacks OF cynics scoIers anu
ssasman me wS %s' VINO y0d%s
index finger Of his dexter nand in
sn ont Of in the baton stand
seeming enjoyment OF the battery or eyes that was
aimed at HIM. The hymns were swelled by hun
dredS or earnest voices and were really grand In
their erect although the performance Of the choir
was not more true to the principles Of are than that
When The last chord OF the anthem, in which the
one most familiar line Is,
Ana oh we stand on Jordan's strand,
had died away in vibrating pulses upon the ear.
opened the Bible first pouring out glass OF water
from the pitcher which sat at hand and drink.
Ing 1t. His dress appeared rather negligent
and he was not very cleanly shaven. Mr.. HepwOrths
face Is very amiaoe. and his hair falling sllxntlv
has the careiessness Of aspect 1i pr rSsr
Which an sf mmscuae m nSnsn not linen se
Invariably the accompaniment OF such
@ % e oe Of no mat
swift ana Luther. From the Gospel OF st. Matthew
he read the sixth chapter After another mterlude
song ne began MS sermon the second upon Faith
and Doubt with the text from the chapter just read.
snrtysixta vsrseU Y of little fan He
IS simply and only theoretical; second That which
Is simply and on, only Practical The two pre-.
be Theoretically doubtful and. yet lead a
n me The re atheist MOLE %
times was man Of remarkably UPRIGHT lfe ae
was gentle as a child and good and pure as
woman. He would sooner have plucked out an
eye than have done wrong; and yet such an IN
stance Is an exception-a remarkable exception.
The brain was wrong, but the heart was
the theory Is right Many nan believes in the
Thirty-nine ARTICLES who does not practice them.
be unaccompanled by a practical scepticlsm ana
practical sceptcism by theoretical scepticsm But
Sosg are "a Lite s caor
from Thought. 1t is exceedingly import
cause the chances are that your lie WIN take It's
color from what you believe or disDelieve. II you
do not see IN the world the Creative Presence II you
nature will dry up. and as III the body, diseased
part weaEens the action OF the whole. IL you do not
ind any prOvidental care In your life, and do not
feel that you guarded and guided by unseen beings
ana influences, then your moral perception dulled
and life Is chilled and you are robbed OF one ele
ment OF strength. When. therefore, look at the
world and try to find the reason why men are so
weak, vicious, so purposeless, the answer comes
at Once-unti men nave larger and more pene.
tratlng faith there Is no hope for Them Look at
what Is called the dangerous class in this city They
cougregate In novels and dens. They hide from the
light Of day and come out Of their covert only
darkness falls. They are practically atheists, every
one OF them. There Is no God to them They may
possibly assent to the facs OF His existence, but
there IS no kind or appreciation OF His providence
honesty. Ali men Will cheat and steal, only some
do 1t more cunningly than Others. they are not so
happen to be unsuccessful in their vlllany-that is
all. suppose could flash revelation into such an
ones mlnu a TeVeutlOn Oh GOuS love ana oil
Christs Willingness to forgive, should not make
life appear absolutely loathsOme to himY 1t would
be AS though should put my arm down through q
trap door into The darkness In which he living
and draw him up into the blessed hight Of the day.
IL could give him quckenng faith should turn
the whole current OF his actions Well, there thou
sands IN this city VINO have not fallen, but who are
falling They have not touched the miry bottom yet,
but they sliding, and sliding pretty rapidly, too.
What Is the trouble with them, and how are they
be redeemed? They 20 about IN search OF pleasure
andt eXcitemen. see that gayly decorated saloon
that opens out or Broadway; hear the clash of
glass against glass; listen TO the merry sounds Of
laughter as boon companions meet each other.
DO those young men know that tins course units
them for business-that II unhlnQes the moral
natura-that 1t stands in the way Of utl.
They will say, "On we don't care We might as
well have good time while we can. There's no
particular harm In being gay while you are young.n
some vi you have SAID this. Well, suppose had
the power TO draw the curtain aside anu show you
your future? Suppose l could point out the road
which you are travelling as It winds always down.
wards ana 1t ends In Potters Field, at an obscure
and unEnown grave? Would you not start back
with q shudder, almost with q feeling that you had
been insulted. and say, "ImpOssiOleY And yet
mat very road great many young men are travel
ling, and In that lonely grave they Will end their ca
reer What you all want Is larger and truer faith
N the great vertles Of Christ Get rid OF the scep
ticism which IS dung all your finer religious SEN
sibiltie5. have firm 1ath In God as your Heavenly
Father, one VINO Is always ready to help and serve
YOU and IN Jesus Christ, who Is closer TO you than
you think, and who is always willing to help you
bear your burdens, and In the Holy Spirit, the
forer VINO VIII give you the peace that passetn all
understanding. Then no harm can come to you.