The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-10

"Tho Religious Ameudme emit T" to the
United states Constit alton IAN EN-.
phatic Denu notation OF the Movement
Sermon by the Rev. Henry Powers.
The elegant Church OF the Messiah, Thirtyfourtr
| street and Park avenue, was very well filled yes
terday morning by an attentive congregation, II
being announced that the pastor. Rev. Henry
| Powers, would select a. the subject Of his dis
course the proposed addition of the religious
amendment to the constitution OF the United
| States The reverend gentleman took his tex
from Galatians v. 1-'tStand fast therefore, or
the liberty wherewith Christ has made US free, and
| be not entanged again with the yoke Of bond
age" In these words Mr.. Powers began
we have an Illustration Of the ap ostolc
| injunction. "Be ye angry and sin not
| certain fiery indignation seems to be
expressed In them and pervades the entire letter
as well, OF which they form part. Evidently the
| Apostle Paul was rlghteously mad when he wrote
this epistle to the Christians of GaIatla fact
which you win not fail to perceive II you read it
carefully through. But there was cause for this
| resentment and grave necessity for Its express
si0n for the Apostles Official integrity had been
assailed and the purity and suflcency OF the Cos
pei he preached had been called In question These
Christians Of Galatia were his own spiritual chill
dren, and but little time before this writing he
had impaired unto them the truth as 1t Is In Jesus,
in ALL its simplicity, Its spirituality. university
and freedom from every legal and ceremonial
restriction whatsoever, and most gladly had
they accepted 1t at his hands, with every
expression OF esteem and love for him. But, as
Luke informs us, certain men had come down from
Judea and taught the brethren that at was need
full Tor them to be circumcsed and to keep the law
of Moses.' and, tnat they might the more readily
accomplish their reactionary purpose, ara
THESE "JUDAIZINd TEACHERS"
sen the character and influence oil the Apostle and
to a ss up ef On ha the ruins
an apostle all he was yet much inferior to the
others, and especially to Peter James and John,
their success was far too great for the peace and
purity OF the Galatian churches. that great also
had made them tree would be thus speedily
l9st IN their voluntary assumption again
hot and righteous indignation Of TIE apostle, and
his immediate endeayOr to stay SO great q peryer-
sion Of the Gospel: He vindicated his own char;
proclaim the truth with which he had been en-
trusted; and this he did because he clearly ap.
pretended the sure destruction OF the new and
better faith II thus 1t allowed to be subservient
unto the old and worn-out ritual. Mr.. Powers then
which Paul saved the early churches in their time
OF greatest peril. and continuing said But
now again, as many times besre ' throughout these
nineteen hundred years OF Christian history, this
hateful yoke Of Jewish bondage is offered
unto us. Nay, rather, it has been assumed and
worn in some degree by the great majority OF
Christian believers until this present in spite Of
the Gospel; and II Is disciples Of the Old Tesla
ment and not the New who are to-day attempting
this land In which the truth that makes men tree
and Gessed y and loved as never elsewhere
again, II 1t were enacted, the
sUBvERsION OF OUR RELIGION.
II Is, Therefore again time for the feeling OF
righteous Indignation akin to that OF Paul. and
the expression or 1t alSO In SO tar as that may be
needful to stay the consummatlon or SO great q
held in Allegheny, Pa, for the purpose Of or.
United States" such association was, ia fact,
Sc and the sna s
article 1.-THE object OF this society shall be to OBJ
tain such an amendment OF the constitution OF the
United States Is shall suitably acknowledge Al
IN Cove m the LORD jesus christ as thy
God as Of supreme authority in civil aGairs."
The erignatOrs OF this movement were
Of the different DENOMINATIONS; but when the
first National Convention under the new constitu-
that the cause had meanwhlle made e such progress
that the association numbered among its adher-
ents many OF the best representatives Of almost
every branch OF the Christian Church In this land.
Since 1869 It's growth has been quite rapid and It's
activities have increased cOrrespondingly, and now
1t holds several conventions each year in different
parts OF the country. .FOr the purpose Of creating
public sentiment in favor OF its Objects," 1t pub
great quantities. and is striving to Influence legsla
ton at Washington and at the capitals Of the sew
@ sa ws Judge s wa% sros si the
States supreme Court and among its Vice Presi-
dents were such men as these :-Bishops McIlvaine
Eastburn and Huntington OF the Protestant Epis-
Brooklyn, and Mayo .ltnitarianj, Of Cincinnati;
herst College, and VIM, President or TUFTS Col
lege and governors and esquires, and ..,i5r
HONORABLE MEN OF ALI. CLASSES -s
TOO numerous to mention. Said Secretary McAlis-
ter, at the convention in Cincinnati last January,
III was the attack OF enemies OF our common Chris,
life that struck the alarm and sounded the rallying
cry which has drawn together many OF the best
alton" "Avowsd atheists and inldels, communists
and Papists, uniting like Herod and Plate, have
ligien from our schools and turn our Sabbath into
holiday f0r reveiry ana pafsde snreWd ana
more loudly been demanding their rights Of con-
SCIENCE as they are pleased to term them: their
IN 10 Pc e nave
book which they hate read where their children 60
to be taught their right not to have the govern.
ment with which they stand connected In any way
prayer anything the KIND q when they DC
same occasion by the corresponding Secretary, the
Rev. l.. p. Stevenson, Mr.. Powers said, and the
made BY Mr.. McAiilster, are the enacting Of laws
for the enforcement OF Christian marriage and the
suppression Of blasphemy and lcentlousness; Tor
the stopping OF Sunday mails and trains the clos
ing OF public libraries on sunday, and the setting
aside OF State legislation when 1t shall not be In
harmony with these ideas. The sort OF zeal, also.
with which this movement is pushed may be in
ferred from such remarks as those which fell rom
the lips OF its advocates at the convention in
than Edwards:-"The earth would soon be-
come he'll If the constitution were
not soon amended 80 as to recognize God
phesied that New York would yet see the day
when the streets would dow with blood, even worse
than In Paris in the days OF the Commune, II Jesus
Christ is not soon recognized In the constitution -
and O Mr.. Milligen thought "that the constitution
which was drafted BY the Pilgrims
BOARD THE MAYFL0wER
was In favor Of Protestant Christianity, and that
no one therefore who was opposed to that had
Mr.. Powers, these well-meaniBg persons who are
in such dead earnest, and possess great influence