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

New Years sernlOns.
Amajority of the pulpits Of this city and
vicinity, both Of those which are reported as
well as those that are not, were occupied
yesterday with what may be termed New
Years. sernons- The church ledgers were
written up, and the business of the year was
reviewed, and the balance struck to the
question, Elbow much owest thou unto my
LordP" But the debt appeared to have accu-
mulated greatly, and the creditors have nothing
to pay. Much that the Church might have
done it has left undone, and very much of
what it has done might have been done better,
or left undone altogether. Nevertheless, if
review of the old years work will bring
renewed zeal and diligence and higher aud
purcr inspiration for the present year-well,
the labor shall not be in vain. Among the
pastors whom we report to-day as having
preached New Years sermons are DR.. Rich
ardson, in the New England Congregational
church, who made the feeting hours q. basis
for some remarks on the transient nature of
earthly things as coutrasted with the perma-
nency of heavenly things. The Rev. DR..
Armitage, of the Fifth Avenue Baptist church,
drew parallel between the years
of the ancients and our years. The
former were measured by days and
weeks and months; the latter are measured
by results. And touching results the Doctor
had something to say about our municipal
muddle, the Treaty of Washington, the Chi
cago fire, the abolition Of slavery in Brazil,
the civil war in Cuba and Mexico, and other
events which bear upon the social, political
and religious life of the nations of the world.
His hearers were exhorted to begin and to
end the new year well, which We hope they
will do. Archbishop McCIoskey brought
prominently to the notice of his congregation
the striking and startling events of the year
just closed, which probably has never had a
parallel in the years that have passed
over tho Christian world. The events which
have transpired in Europe, and especially
those affecting the Vatican were reviewed and
commented upon. But, painful as these things
were to think about, there is bright side to
the picture In the progress Of Catholicism
throughout the world during the year. Over
twenty thousand pagans in Syria baptized into
the Christian faith within few months Is an
event of which the Archbishop might be Justly
proud.
DR.. Hepworth still ministers to the Church
of the Messiah, Notwithstanding his, accept
ance of the doctrine of the divinity Of Jesus
Christ, and he will probably continue to do SO.
That faith should make him better and
more faithful pastor than he was before. Yes
terday he gave his people some good words on
Christian manhood and the growth of religion.
The religious mysticisms of the olden times
was shown to have produced sickly manhood
which excites our sympathy. The manhood
of scepticism, now so prevalent, which SCOTS
at religion and laughs at the credulity which
can accept the Bible as the Divine Word, the
Doctor does not think can last long. Christi
anity is the bridge across the river, and in
proof of this he pointed triumphantly to the
great army Of Christian heroes who have lived
and died in its faith and passed triumphanty
over to the other shore. The Rev. Mr.. Light
bourn, in the Seventeenth street Methodist
Episcopal church, demonstrated what kind
of preaching would make manly Chris
tians and what would not. A dis
course that has not the Gospel in it is
not preaching according to this evangelist,
even though it be delivered in the house of
God and on the Sabbath day.
Mr.. Beecher, who is always trying to solve
some problem, was yesterday engaged on the
problem of suffering and the theory Of evil as
its cause. Pain and sorrow is in Mr.. Beecher's
opinion a necessity of development Of moral
power In us. When the lower nature of man
struggles with the higher there is pain, but
the shouts of victory come at the close. The
tuning of a piano causes hideous noise, but
melody is the result. Even so he believes it
is with US and our suferings, which we
should bear patiently and strive to master.
The Rev. F. O'Callahan preached in the
Catholic Church of st. Mary's Star Of the Sea
on the necessity for the religious education of
children by contrasting the respect formerly
paid to the head of the Holy See with the
neglect, if not absolute dsrespect, with which
he is now treated. But better day is dawn-
ing, and we wish the "Holy Father" as we
wish all our readers to-day, "A happy New
Year"
PATERSON has another mysterious murder