The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-15
A DENUNCIATION OF THE DEAD.

teeDth street Methodist Episcopal Church.
AS was to be expected from the subject chosen,
address to young men with reference to the death
OF James Fisk, Jr.," the above church was densely
crowded yesterday morning to hear the pastor, Rev.
J. s. Willis. During the delivery OF the discourse.
which Is given in full, the audience was greatly ex.
Cited When he spoke OF Colonel Fisk's character
and habits the people sat In mute astonshment,
and when some happy illustration OF the danger Of
following his example was given the voices OF
old members OF the church uttered fervcnt
"Amens" "Lord God OF Heaven be pralsedr'
&c. At It's conclusion he was surroundsa by
many, who congratulated the pastor on his bold
utterances. Rarely has such a sensation been w.t.
messed in q metropolitan church. MI. Willis Sc.
lected hymn, peculiarly suggestive OF his subject
Beneath feet and DER our head
Is equal warning given;
Above us 10 the Heaven.
Death rides on every passing breeze
Each season has its own disease
Its peris every hour.
Turn MORTAL turnl thy soul apply
The dead who undernealh us lie
Shall live tor nell or heavenl
The pastor took for his text Proverbs XVII,
25, and XVI, l2--"There Is way that seemeth
right unto man, but the end thereof are
the ways OF DEATH" and said:-What pallng
power fingers IN that last wOrd-Death What
fearful defeat to all who trust earth and time for
their delights What fading OF all hopes like au-
tumn leavesl What falling OF all shrlnes ana tenn
pies ana idols OF the hear ana dissoving OF every
cherished thought III the Darkness OF the tomb
rne tragedy which suggests these reflections and
which lea to the selection Of the text transpired
about four o'clock on the afternoon OF Saturday, the
7th inst, and the quiet Sabbath that followed,
which should have mingled Its holy worship with
the soft sunshine, the closing scene was covered
with clouds, and the curtain dropped on
ALL THAT WAS MORTAL OF JAMES FISK, JR.
AS approach this subject seem to hear voice
SAYING "Tread lightly DER the ashes OF the dead.n
So says humanity; so says Christianity. SO let 1t
be- and yet for sake Of humanity and history the
truth must be told. Life Is path in a wilderness
which DIVORCES at countless points and often leaves
the traveller perplexed to the certainty of his
journey. There Is but one right way; and this,
more rarely travelled than many OF the byways, Is
often less distinct There are roads that lead
through forest and flowers, roads that are
CHARMED WITH BIRDS AND FOUNTAINS,
roads that thousands frequent, and In their gradual
divergence and increasing beauties they seem right
unto q man, anc he follows them and rej0ices in
them and feels ever so safe and rich and proud in
them "but the end thereof are the ways Of DEATH"
There may be preclplce al the end OF highway
p,tfall In garden path-a Dottomless cavern in
the most beautiful landscape. journey more our
way may be beset with another class OF dangers.
Wild beasts may devour. serpents may stng-dis-
eases may infect, robbers attack and say-nignt
fall xpecedly from the shadows OF the hills and
leave US to perish In the darkness and cold. Its
all important that the right way be chosen for only
in this shall these periis be wanting-only IN THIS
shall there be safety 1t has been the study OF the
ages so to map out this human pilgrimage as to al.
ford the unwary voyager safe conduct to the goal.
thrln1
ultimatum-viz:, how 10 live. 1t entered into the
codes OF states and the theses OF scholars ana tue
devotion OF worshippers. All seemed interested 10
know
WHERE WE'RE THE ROCKS IN THE STREAM OF LIFE
All seemedto recognize the fact OF perils, but at
what point they lay in the ways that seem right TO
man. or whether they were there ct all. they were
puzzled 10 decide
And so It Is now; the illusions Of sense are as
strong to-day as ever; and men by thousands are
being sbipwrecked ana starved and ruined, Just as
when the feeble twilight OF truth had but dimly
llgbtei the morning OF the word.
J. These disasters emanate too often from failure
have mentioned taxes place frequently and often
fatally at the very beginning the world lifts Its
lures on the vision OF childhood,
YOUTH is POISONED BY A DREAM,
and early manhood finds itself bewndered, beating
along perhaps with giant force but wasting In sor-
did endeavor ana energy winch should have
tributed to the bene. action Of the world lie that
would rear temple TO the clouds must be careful
oil his foundation. He that would rear character
TO the skies must build on truthful principles High
aims must be warranted by q sure footing, or wnen
the realization comes 1t Will be but overthrow and
DISAPPOINTMENT The man whose life we contem.
| plate to-day was most vigorous builders, but
He BUILT on SAND,
he built hastily, although splenddly, and therefore
| unsaley. He began wrong. His life was vanity
fair; his character and unhealthy plethora, drop
steal AMBITION o fungus and stencil. HIS way
seemed right unto him. doubtless in a certain sense.
because he had never weighed It's issues IN the bal
| ances Of truth. He followed an ignts Jdtuus, aud
while II burned he was In glare but when II FADED
| all his light went out and he sunk IN
Tue vorEx THAT RoARED For HIS COMING. :,
His life was one OF the most signal failures.
know tnis false brlllancy In which he revelled daz
| 2led the souls OF many. The young, especially,
| were charmed by It, Those who knew not enough
Of the willy ways Of sin, those unskted III the
tricks OF fortune, were won't to esteem this as more
| or less real But those who knew the holl0wness
| and the bitterness Of this human drama nave
learned to distinguish between reality and mere
| pretence. They see That this CagiiostrO was