The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-02

The Fan Religious Campaign Opsnea. "
Yesterday was reopening day in several Of
our city churches. They had been closed
some two, four and six weeks-for repairs
and Frightening up, 80 that the ruralizina
worshippers on their return might find the
house swept and garnished and LOOKING cheer.
full and inviting occupancy. Trinity Metho-1
dist Episcopal church, which had been shut
up for month, was reopened yesterday, and
a large and fashionable congregation, we are
told, gathered there to listen to the eloquent
pastor, Roy. John E. Goodman, demonstrate to
them how ''the mountains shall bring peace to
the people, and the little hills righteousness
or, in other words, how strength and security;
such as can be found only in the religion Of
the Lord Jesus Christ, brings peace. A weak
nation can never be said to be q peaceful one. =
It is through death agonies that liberty 10
born, and through continual battles we trans-
NIT it to our children. Christianity is q 70.
bust religion, and the peace which its Founder
gives was obtained by self-denial. 1t pro-
claims laws to which men must sub
NIT and before which kings must bow:
and obedience to those laws brings peace and
assurance forever. Yesterday was reopening
day also in the Fifth avenue Baptist church.
and singularly enough, too, DR.. Ar1nitage, ia
pastor, had some good words to say on Chris
tan endurance. The true Christian, he said,
never faints. He might fret and worry, but
faint or succumb, neverl And herein con-
sists the great difference between the man Of
faith and the man of the world. The Chris
tan might fail, but he would not faint, for
God can take care of him, and He will sus-
tain him. Life u.s. indeed, as the Doctor de-
clared, as much history of failures as OF
triumphs, and failures sometimes produce
good effects. The lesson of DR.. Armitage's
DISCOURSE was that OF: strength rs: conf
directly from Cod in whom is our trust
Though the Fifth avenue Presbyterian church
has been partially opened during the summer
there was, nevertheless, a reopening there yes
terday but its PASTOR Rev. DR.. Hall, was not
in his accustomed place. Professor Greene,
Of Princeton College, set before the congre-
cation the extent and the Importance of the
great harvest of the Almighty and the few
ness of the laborers to gather it. No other
event in this world or in the great hereafter
can compare in magnitude and importance
with the ingathering Of this harvest of human
souls. Geographical discoveries, the accumu-
lation of wealth and the increase of knowl-
edge are, by its side, Of comparatively little
value. And this harvesting must be done by
men, and by men who will not receive new
revelation or new command to do it. The
command is standing one for all
time and for all men, "Go work to-day
in my vineyard" and 1t is the duty of
all to pray and to preach and to spread the
Gospel, and this duty DR.. Greene enforced
upon his hearers by precept and illustration.
In the reopening services in DIR. Omissions
Reformed church in Fifth avenue yesterday
subject very much akin to that chosen by the
preceding preachers was taken also by the
Doctor 1t was Q rural subject-sowing and
reaping-and it's application was made to the
spiritual sowing and harvest time. The Doc,
tor acknowledged that for three months he
magnificent harvest, and it was therefore
natural that he should come home with his
mind full of agricultural illustrations. And
then, running rapidly backward, he led the
congregation back to Eden, where the Lord
Himself taught Adam the first lessons in plant
ing and reaping Spiritually this is our SOW
ing time; let us, as the Doctor urged pre-
pare our fields, SO that the dews from heaven
may not fall upon wasted and barren land,
but may bring forth fruit in abundance to
His glory when The ! Teaping tips comes By
and by. The reopening discourse Of Rev. Mr..
Pullman I'M the Church of Our Saviour yes
terday was fdi, Of practical suggestions to-
those who stand waiting all their days for a
revelation from God to them like that made to
Paul long, long ago, while ell around us the
woes and sorrows and prayers, the countless
passions and emotions of hearts that have
looked through the starry skies, have been
revelations and visions from God. Every day
such revelations are made to each and all Of
us-to men as blinded and benighted as Paul
was; but they will not read them Alright.
Hence they continue in their blindness
and in their sins. False pride is what keeps
men thus in ignorance and in sin, as was
illustrated by Rev. Mr.. Snyder in St Marks,
Protestant Episcopal church, by comparison !.
Of the characters OF the Pharisee and tho
publican portrayed in the Gospel The
former, with oil the self-satisfaction imagi-
nable, thanked God that he was such good
man, and especially so much better than his
publican neighbor. But the latter con-
fessed that he was a sinner and begged
for mercy, and he received it and
went down to his house justified by faith.
Rev. Charles B. Smyth contrasted New York
and Athens and found many points Of resem-
blance between them, but our city excels in
this, that it has two hundred and seventy-two