The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-06

informed of the late awful destruction of hu-
man life on the rock bound coast of Nova
Scotia, and in view of other calamities result
ing from the wickedness of mon, and against
the flood of vice, decentralization and corrup-
ton which threatens the shipwreck of Church
and State, let us hope that the beginning Of
this Holy Week will be marked as the begin
ming Of q new epoch in the cause of their Di-
vine Master. Is the cause of Christianity ad-
@vancing9 Yes, among the Hindoos, the Chi
nese, the FIJI Islanders and in the kingdom of
Dahomey. The Crescent is waning even on
that sacred soil
Over whose acres trod those blessed feet
Which eighteen hundred years ago were nailed
For our advantage on the bitter cross.
We, indeed, adhere to our opinion frequently
heretofore advanced, that Christianity, with
the potential forces of modern science which
it commands, is destined to cover the earth
''as tho waters cover the great deep" But
looking Immediately around US we have little
cause for vain Boosting over the triumphs or
progress of modern Christianity. While we
are converting the heather in the South Sea
Islands we are forgetting the heather at our
own doors. John Randolph, when in Con-
gress, was once startled by the reading of a
bill for the relief of the Greeks, when, spring
ing to his feet, he exclaimed, ''The Greeks,
Mr.. Speaker, the Greeks We have them
here, sir, and what are you doing for them?"
Looking eastward from the heights of Ho-
boken on clear morning New York appears,
MOI IvV nitu of nh11ra hnc
Walking down Fifth avenue ON bright
April Sunday afternoon the stranger
would pronounce our goodly metropolis
a city of saints and angels in broadcloth,
silks and satins; but look in the
Tombs and glance at our criminal calendar
will dispel this pleasing delusion. How far
are our Christian churches responsible for
this criminal calendar of our city and for this
reign of decentralization, corruption, extraya-
gance and general wickedness throughout the
land? How far have our Christian teachers
failed in their duties in this connection?
These are matters for their serious consdera-
ton this blessed day of the Saviour's popular
welcome to Jerusalem. The people welcomed
Him as their prophet and their teacher, be-
cause He placed Himself, not above them, but
among them, and adapted His divine instruc-
tons to the simplest nearer. How far shall we
trace His example in this days sermons on
Fifth avenue?
The truth is that our Christian churches
are doing and dreaming while the wicked
world around them is wide awake and fear
fully active. Palm Sunday is good day for
a new departure by our preachers and teachers
of the Gospel, and for new resolution and
renewed zeal and activity, extending beyond
Fifth avenue to the highways and byways,
and from the elect to the poor sheep that are
astray. Oh! we Christian teachers, be ex-
horted to devote this day as the beginning of
an enlarged humility, charity and activity in
the cause of Christ, or all your fine sermons
to your drowsy congregations will be but las
the sounding brass and the tinkling cymbal"
The Clerical Hero OF the Atlantic.
When horrors such as the wreck of the At
lantic come before us We can at times distin-
guish the highest attributes Of manhood rising
amid the gloom of death to make known the
The rock that shivers the stately ship, the
vessel that breaks upon the rock, the water
that swallows, the hurricane that losses the
waters are things material and inscnsible.
Man alone amid all ''the horrid war of winds
and waters raging can stand out from the
internal surroundings with CLEAN of the god
like on his brow. Sudden disasters like revo-
lutions, produce their heroes from unexpected
sources. They are tossed up by the waves, as
it were, and the world can admire, although it
may not understand. That one of the heroes
of the wreck of the Atlantic should prove to be
an Episcopal clergyman, Mr.. Ancient, ought
not astonish any one; but because of the
very fitness of the mans profession for his
his courage in good
cause, his devotion to the Masters doctrine
of charity, many will find cause for wonder.
That in the most gallant manner he risked his
life dozen times to save the lives Of others
that he was first in the boat to rescue the last
man from his slow agony in the frozen rig
ging when men used to the terrors of the
deep shrunk back from the task, places him
in the front rank Of those rare heroes that the
world can praise and admire without single
detracting breath. He was clergyman, men
may say, and self-sacrifce is the great rule
under which he had registered his life; His
Master, the Great Shepherd, not only risked
but gave up His life for His flock. 1t would
follow naturally from this that his heroism
arose only from a sensitive appreciation of his
l,tv +o God RI bimse1f and tn hio fellow
man. The world, however, will rightly rate
his heroism as something higher than mere
bounden duty. Sorrowfully we have been
made to feel that those from whom most was
to be expected have often fallen shortest in
performance. The Teacher preached His
greatest sermons from Gethsemane and CAL
vary The first showed how deeply He felt