The New York herald., 1873-12-15
CHURCH OF THE DIVINE PATERNITY.

The Talismanic Belief in Religion
Ceremonies nnd What They Amount
To-Thc Minister OF To-Day a "Pray-
Ing Machine for Whole Parish"-
Sermon by the Rev. DIR. Chaplin.
The congregation at Dr. Chapin's church yester-
day heard one of the most interesting ana nstruc-
tive sermons that have emanated from the great
champion or Unversalsm for many Saobaths. me
discourse was purely doctrnal, inasmuch as It's
progress deyeloped the tenets of UnIyersast be-
lieL while at the time the preacher infused
into his remarks the boldness of figure and beauty
of imagery that have made many OF his sentences
almost like those OF an apostle. The sermon,
which was preached from the text, John iv., Is,
explained the materiastic conception of religion,
or better 'talismanicn Interpretation OF religion,
as the preacher called it.
THE SERMON
When the woman OF Samaria spoke the words
winch constitute the text, ''Sir. give this
water that l thirst not, neither come hither to
draw" she showed that she had material or tai
ismanic conception OF religion, said the preacher.
Her words were IN response an offer made by
Christ TO give water which, wnen once tasted, Tor
quenched thirst. Sceptics and ratonalists
seem to interpret the woman's speech as ironcal; !;
but such it was not. IL displays her utilitaran
conception OF the water OF which Christ had spo-
ken for she thought that when she had once pro-
cured this wonderful beverage there would be no
more use in her going TO the Well. ii one tries To
interpret the scriptures INTO modern English, or
in any way add TO or 0etract rom the text, 50 as
To enable him to luy eiucidate the meaning OF the
Sacred Word, he is now pointed at a rauonaist,
strong Is the connection in the human fuind be-
tween religion and obsolete usage in language. This
fact viii serve an illustration OF whatI wish fully
TO bring before your mind. People in general think
II is III the very and liberal words OF the scripture
that efficacy Is lound instead OF IN Its spirit and
meaning, thus showing that their idea of religion
Is talismanic one. In this same way DO many
regard the sacrament and ceremonies ol their
several creeds. am tie last man in the world TO
make little OF
CEREMONY or SACRAMENT.
when those vino perform them believe in their
soul thas they are doing good to themselves as
concerns their inner life; but against such as per-
form these ceremonies merely as sort oi tails
man against evil, something good Tor their own
intrinsic worth, my voice shall ever be raised. All
the ceremonies and services are great helps to
interior lie, and as such only do / approve OF
them Many people declare that they DO not
know how to pray, and this declaration Is founded
on the belief that certain forms must be obeyed
With this idea first in their neads they look upon
the minister as praying machine lor wlole
prcXy. Ihey come TO church to hear
seEa tn not onty to pray The Peyng ana they
listen their province. They would 1ain do as the
Japanese-put then prayers in machine and
place II by the side OF running stream there 10
let them WORK out their own articulation at the
VIII OF the bubblng rl Another proof mat re-
liglon IS regarded as talismanic is found IN tue
fact that people live through the whole week With
out ever thinking either Of God or church. while
Sunday, the seventh DAY, they cram all their de-
V0tlon into
COUPLE OF HOURS
and think they are safe from harm, for they have
waited and have seen the talsman. According to
the ideas some entertain regarding religion, al
though IL may at nrst sight appear awiuy para
doXlca1, man may, nowadays, be a religious and
at the same time immoral man, strong is this
false doctrine. To remedy the growing evu there
is but one way, TO wt-not to stop at the roadside
well but to go direct to Christ with your supphca-
ton, and from him receive that water which shall
sever be well springng up into everlasting lite."