The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-01


Yesterday was day to try the religious en-
durance Of church people, and considering
the oppressveness of the weather it must be
confessed that preachers and people did well
and bore it nobly. Some of the ministers
uttered their valedictories and babe adieu to
their hearers something to think about during
their summer vacations, and altogether our
budget of sermons to-day is fresher and more
attractive than some that we have printed be-
fore the thermometer ran up to the nineties.
Professor Everett, of Cambridge Mass, in
structed the Church of the Messiah touching
denominationalism, and, comparing and con-
trasting the several forms of Christianity
and heathenism, it seemed to many
persons that there is little or no
difference between them, and that ono
is as good as another 1t is hard to tell who is
right and who is wrong. There may be
truth somewhere, but we must wait for its de-
velopment The preacher drew very nice
and proper distinction between religion and
theology. While the former, like the air we
breathe, is ever and everywhere the same the
latter, like the atmosphere is always changing.
It differs in one region from another and in
one day from another. Theology, like the
atmosphere, takes up everything-vapor from
the sea, malaria from the swamps, sweetness
from flowers and corruption from decay. 1t
takes up the prejudices and imperfections of
our lower life. Theology, like the atmosphere,
may breed even death; religion, like the air,
can bring only life The unity of religion,
the reverend Professor thought, is evidenced
in the indices to the hymn books, wherein may
be found songs by men of all creeds and
orders of belief In theology they would
disagree, but in religion they would unite.
And thus, in prayer and praise, all religious
souls can go together.
Many and sad indeed are the mistakes that
men make for lack of knowing what their mis-
sion in life is Mr.. rockingham endeavored,
in his parting words yesterday, to show his con-
gregation that the aim of every man in this
life is happiness. Some seek it by wealth,
luxury, pleasure and others by faith. The
aim of religious life is not wholly for happi-
ness. This idea was more fully elucidated by
illustrations from natural history and philoso-
ply, and it was shown that the fundamental
idea of communism, which is pure selfshness,
is directly opposed to the Christian religion.
Mr.. rockingham wound up his discourse with
o sheer at the religious and benevolent institu-
tons of the age and the people who lead them.
This is, perhaps, allowable in o. man who
rarely misses ON opportunity to rail at religion
and to set Jesus Christ below Socrates or Con-
flcius. To keep up the semblance of a Chris
tan minister, however, it is necessary some
times to soy q favorable thing about Chris
tanity or to pass it by in silence. His late
lecture on the workingmen's strikes was an
swered yesterday, in Masonic Hall, by Mr.
Leavitt. Sterling character, like sterling gold,
never loses its value, but is always above par,
and hence it was very fitting theme for
Sunday discourse, and Rev. T. L. Hale, Of
Boston, took it up and handled it yesterday
for the benefit of All Souls church. Speak
ing of the elements of character, Mr.. Hale re-
marked that even now we find fools IN the pull
pit, and takers elsewhere who give greater
consideration to brilliancy in speech than to
merit in the thought expressed. Such men
fail in the eud and are soon forgotten, IA
were so many of our officials, simply because
they had not mental weight enough to leave
an enduring impression Such men, he said.
were always working around for recommends
tons from Others simply because they had not
sufficient steadfastness of character Of their
own TO command either enduring attention OF
favor This is Severe, but true.
!. Tho feature Yesterday in the Episcopal