The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-19

Alm One All sucH atLeuptS are unworthy,
and if made they will fail.
The Sacred Sabbath Sermons.
In this sceptical age, when the foundations
of Christian faith are loosening and men are
asking what profit they shall have if they
pray unto the Lord, this particular duty of
prayer cannot be too strongly urged by
ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ. And
right royalty did the Rev. Father Kearney
urge this duty upon his cathedral congrega-
ton yesterday. Prayer is certainly effica-
cious but to make it so it must be offered
'in confidence to the Eternal Father
through His Son Jesus Christ" 1t must
be offered with perseverance and faith. 1t
is the peace offering of our souls to God and
the indication of our desire to renew friend
ship with Him. It is the evidence of submits
sion to the Divine will, which God has prom
Used to reward with crown which shall
shine forever in His kingdom and glory.
In the course of long and eulogistic ad-
dress Of the character and beauties of the
Virgin Mary DR.. McGlynn came to practical
thought when he told his people that the one
thing necessary to save their souls is love to
God and obedience to His commandments
If this were more frequently impressed upon
people, and the Importance of their individual
responsibility set forth more strikingly by
every Christian minister, we might hope
shortly to behold very different and better
state of society. But very important feature
Of Catholic worship was introduced in st.
Stephens church yesterday morning-namely,
congregational singing That is the great
lack Of the Church in this age. The people,
whether in Protestant or Catholic churches,
take little, if any, part in the services, and no
wonder that after while they lose all interest
in them save that which springs from being
entertained or amused It is pleasant to
record that Catholic church, hitherto &C
knowledged to have had musical service in
ferior to none other in New York, should now
feel constrained to give all the people an OPP
portunity to worship God in the use of sacred
song. For this many of our readers no doubt
will be thankful, and we trust that other
churches will follow the good example of St.
Stephens
the most diverse conclusions from the truths
of nature and of revelation. Mr.. Frothing-
ham, Of whose growing orthodoxy we had
lately some hope, came out yesterday with
theory of the ''scheme Of salvation diamet-
rically opposite to that which the Scriptures
teach, whence he is supposed to have drawn
it. Certainly no other book gives us any
such scheme as the Bible, and yet it has all the
marks of human production, and scholarship
and criticism have proved that the doctrine of
its infallibility is wildly insane" There is
here half truth, and more than truth, which
is likely to mislead. The Bible, like other
books, was written by human hands, but
no scholarship or criticism has yet shaken the
faith Of the Christian Church in its divine
inspiration. On the contrary, the more it is
adversely criticised the more brightly do it's
pages shine. Mr.. rockingham would substi-
tute rationalism for religion. cit is the safest
creed" he thinks. Where no creed is neces-
sary it is as good as any, but nowhere else.
''The whole scheme of redemption says this
teacher, assumes health As found in the
Bible in common use among Christians this
scheme assumes the very opposite. 1t is the
lost who are sought after, the sick, and not the
whole, the physician comes to heal, and
instead of the human heart crying out against
it, it accepts it as a fact and looks to Jesus
Christ for the remedy.
The Second avenue Presbyterian church
commemorated it's founding twenty-five years
ago, and DR.. Asa D. Smith preached sermon
ON the necessity of spreading the Gospel, in
which important work this church has had an
honorable part during its history. The Doctor
himself was its first pastor, and his successor
was called some time ago to occupy the pulpit
of the American Chapel in Paris
The Methodists of White Plains, in antici-
patton of that place being one day included in
the metropolis, yesterday dedicated a magnif-
cent church, valued at nearly 100000. Three
Bishops and dozen Doctors of Divinity as
sisted at the ceremonies, and sermons were
preached on the cooperation of human with
divine agencies in the work of redemption
and the triumph of Christianity over every
other religion and form of faith.
Rev. Mr.. Sweetser uttered his protest
against the hanging of Lusignani and Nixon
last week, and against hanging generally.
But, like most other theorists, he has no ade-
quate punishment to offer the murderer in
lieu of the death penalty, which he would
have abolished. He admits that it might have
been right at one period Of the world, but 1T is
now disgrace to our civilization and an out
rage on us all. Mr.. Sweetser does not seem
to think that the murder of an unoffending
man on the street in cold blood is as much
disgrace to our civilization as the hanging Of
| the murderer When the cause is re-