The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-05
The Farewell of the Rev. E. W. Hitchcock, OF
the Fourteenth Street Presby.
terian Church.
Or PORTER ON VITAL CHRISTIANITY.
DR.. Dix on Married Life and Free
Love Heresies.
Sermons by Drs. Williams, McGlynn, Dix, Porter
and Cuyler; Father McNerney Messrs
Hepworth, Lothrop and Beecher.
and Miss Smiley.
ST. PATRICK,s CATHEDRAL.

The Parable of the S0wer-Nccessity and I'm
portance Of Hearing the Word of God-ser-
mon by the Rev. Father DIcNcrney.
There was, as usual, very large attendance at
the Cathedral yesterday. The last mass was CON-
menced at half past ten O'Clock. the Rev. Father
Kearney officiating as celebrant. AT the termina-
ton Of the first Gospel the Rev. Father McNerney
assembled the pulpit and preached a sermon, taking
his text from st. Luke, viii. 4-l6, relating to the
parable OF a sower. The reverend gentleman ex-
planned that under the simllltude of q sower, who
goes forth to SOW his seed, Our blessed Lord re-
minded mankind that He came down from Heaven
70 spread His Word among men as the seed,
THE GERM OF SALVATION.
He took upon Himself their nature subjected
Himself to their lnfrmltes and spoke to them in
their own tongue, that by them He might be under
STOOD. He came not as an imperious MASTER n OF
as the avenger OF His Word which had often been
been rejected and despised but as the faithful mas
ter OF the household who himself would fain cult.
vate with greater care hitherto barren SOIL Thus
did the loving Saviour visit the and towns and
hamlets OF Judea and Galllee. He went forth even
unto the country OF the Sanarans and the Gentiles,
teaching the muttudes that gathered together and
careful to sow The seed only on the soil that had
been prepared to receive It, our blessed Lord
o eve He no 81
sons. The barren soil, the naked rock the thCrny
ground received their share as well as the better
prepared and more fruitful soil. His teachings were
placed Within the reach OF a-of the learned and
The unlearned. OF the rich and the poor, OF the
good ana the wicked for he preferred tDat the
seed should be scattered in vain than that any one
should plead that II he had not done what was right
1t was because he had not been taught the necessity
OF dong 80. The reverend gentleman then pro.
ceeded to dilate at some length upon the manner In
which the Word OF God HAD been spread, through
all ages
THE CARES OF THE WORLD
were the th0rns tnat choked the Divine Word
III n q
socltude OF life, or mans anxiety to secure posi-
ton IN the world or to acquire what may make his
lespnySicallv and socially agreeable. Too often
did man loose sight OF his last end IN seeking hap
piness on earth. Too often was man absorbed In
The service VI his fellow man ana of the world at
the expense oil what he owed to his Maker. IL was
IN vain to endeavor TO serve two masters. Christ
Himself so declared 1t. The heart, therefore, that
was intent on amassing wealth had no taste, In.
clinaton for anything else, and the cares with
serve 1t filled the soul, srined every good impress.
sion, eyey holy aspiration, every inspiration OF
grace. The thorns were the pleasures Of the world,
pleasures Of the senses, pleasures OF society, which
enve0ped the soul as in O network, striking 1t ou
from
THE INFLUENCE OF GRACE
and throwing 1t into an atmosphere In which
spiritual life could have no existence. The good sol
which brought forth fruit IN abundance was tut
figure OF those souls wherein reigned supreme faith
hope AMI charity, who sou Ilt God above all Things
heard His word With love and reverentv kept IT.
They were the consolation OF The Church In he
trials. The soft rains OF Heaven moisten theil
hearts. It's light shed over them Its viviiying In
nuence. Its sun warns them. they were the Held
Of the Lord filed with blessings where sprung uI
fruit to life eternal. The seed which the Divine
Word sowed upon the lace OF The earth.
The mass sung was by Mine IN nar. Professor
Sclmltz presided at the organ. AT the oHertory q
beautiful terzetto, 30 Jesu Me- was sung by the
soprano, tenor ana bass. The services concluded
shortly after twelve O'CLOCK