The New York herald., 1872-10-07
HEPWoRTH AT sTELNWAY HALL.

Large and fashionable Congrega tion-
The Pastor Welcomed HOmc--A New
Style OF Roligi0n-Tho Duties of Chris
tsans Irrespective or sect--The EARLY
Church and the Modern World--A Pro-
found Prayer and Unorthotiox
Sermon.
The Summer solstice having passed the Rev.
George Hcpworth again appeared to minister to the
wants of his parishioncrs yesterday at Stenway
Hall. The congregation OF which Mr.. HepwOrth Is
the shepherd have rented Steinway Hall until the
lst OF January when they will take possession OF
their new ednce which IL now being built for them
at Forty-nfth street and Madison avenue. About
two thousand persons were present. OF all scots
and denominations, with large preponderance of
the fair sex. The services were opened by fer
vent PRAYER from Mr.. Hcpworth, followed by
hymn which was sung by an present, en- Then MT; al
10th chapter aud 18TH verse OF st. Matthew, as
ioll0ws:-
Behold send vou forth sheep In the .mds, of
wolves BE therefore wise as serpeuts and harmless
But beware Of men, they will deliver you mp the
councils and they will scourge in their synagoaues
He said Jesus always talketh in metaphors and
s gmfes CUR aways were SaTssn WIN singular ap1
none more so than in the one chosen for this text.
Under this metaphor lies great truth-the meta
Yield, but to conquer; to subiugate Princlpaties
and Powers. He came to put His own spirit into
phor of the wolf and lamb you would think that the
poor, simple lamb would lose. The world is great,
a on S Of be in yern is wG m
and baseness; 1t comes to your door with the butts
OF its muskets and the points Of Its bayonets and at
tempts to batter 1t down. The Gospel truth comes
and knocks gently at your door, and leaves Its
teachings and its benedlctions behind In spirit OF
prayer and meekness. It is DAVID against Goliath
again-David with his sling and Goliath with his
beam. And yet these five pebbles viii bear more
power than the weaver's beam OF the giant.
risen and have decayed, and thio ones
and Empires & have spoken their words and passed
| has irradiated the world, making man better
and purer and more ennobled. In the early
Worldly comfort. wives and children and kindred,
everything that the Christian possessed had to give
Roman world, with its teemng populaces, burning
with hatred OF the Christian. What spectacles those
CRY for four days, and Cesar under the canopy
| with the immense concourse OF pitiiess people
e Sn e @ ea ea s
lessly waiting his fate. All it was brave thing
and his Empire, his affairs and his false gods for
the sake OF the carpenters son OF Jerusalem,
whom the prosecuted Christian believed to be the
omnlpotent God. 1t costs nothing now to be q
Christian; there Is sort OF gentle optimism preva-
lent. You have some one to say prayers
and you shake hands with your minister and invite
him him to % dinner % once month. then your duty is
stone. We want work, earnest ana energetic
work, with consecrated hands and spirits The
true Church of Christ to-day does not consist OF
good music, OF fashionable congregation with
nice gded prayerboOks, OF o popular preacher and
q costly and beautiful ediflce In which to
worship. I think God looks down with
anger upon such a Church. 1t Is dreadful
mistake. Wherever there Is body OF
men and women who worship the Lord Jesus with
humble spirit and fervent prayer, whether in barn
or stable, my brethren, there Is the true working
church. The eloquent preacher concluded by ad-
vocating missionary effort.
Mr. Hepwolth stated that on next Sunday they
would probably commence the work of their new
Sunday school in tae vicinity of their new church,
with competent teachers and a good superin-
| tendent The congregation was then dismissed
with the singing OF hymn and the benedcton.