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

Sermon by the Row. 8. j. Stcwart-A
Picture OF Modern S0ciety-Steeped I'm
Slough or Mawkish Sentime mt atty
The Ruman's Revolver and Society's
Handkcrch icE-Social Strychnine With
Rhetorical Crust.
At the United Presbyterian church In West
Twenty-sixth street sermon was preached yester-
day, which was piquant with ideas and sugges-
lions worthy OF the consideration and reelection
OF those who have the good Of society and the pres
ervation OF the dignity Of justice at heart. The
church is small one and was SHINY attended. but
the lucky few heard sermon which did not fall to
make an impression on them The text of the
sermon, which was preached by the pastor, the
Rev. s. J. Stewart was taken from Genesis TX, g.
"Whoso sheddeth mans blood by man shall his
blood be shed; for In the image OF God made He
man."
After reading the text Mr.. Stewart talked to
some length on the law ne had just quoted. He
said 1t was one of the Oldest rules to be found in
the Holy Book. AS the law regarding the DISPOSE
ton OF the man who killeth his brother is the Oldest
80 also ID the crime or murder the first grand crime
and was thenceforth an outcast upon the face Of
the earth. We learn from Genesis that the rule OF
.. IA AN o EYE FOR AN EYE, TOOTH FOR TOOTH,
efficacy OF putting this rule into practice is proven
by all history Society is vast structure. and its
nation or class, but upon the individual actions OF
its individual members. Each man should con.
holding the social fabric rests on him, and that
when he weakens or disobeys its rule his part OF
the labor falls on other shoulders.
Such Is the present condition of society that
the few who have obeyed the laws are unable
longer to uphold the edince. I! is fast falling and
have strven TO uphold It, that will be ruined in the
crash and not those who have deserted the build
zens see this and are in despair OF saving the
structure; but they Will ere long break society's
ts SS S IN
who have been instrumental In causing the fearful
calamity. When this Is done they will return and
REBUILD. The rottenness and dilapidation Of the
present structure are such that II will not stand
| patching. Reasoning men know this and the day
Is not far distant when these very cool and calcu-
lating citizens will resolve themselves into hot
| headed and unreasoning work, under the name OF
VIGILANCE COMMITTEES
| and rid themselves of these traitors and rebels
| In these days OF the Credit Mobilier expose and
the unwilling OF the shameless sins of municipal
| marauders people very naturally become very
sceptical of the existence Of anything noble or
| honest in our political or social organizations.
goes unpublished is that our legislators either have
not the ability or are unwilling to make good and
parts Of the law is studied imposition on the
DO not know how soon they may be indicted con,
which they may crawl when brought to trial.
philosophy is pseudodox. 1t Is and always win be,
| suppose, human failing to see the faults OF
others, while in our lar-reaohing view we remain
Joyously eblivlous OF the faults which belong
| selves. Now, II society instead OF ranting about
| others faults would invert its vision, picture
would be presented to 1t which Is infinitely more
| and villains must have certain amount of pluck
and daring to execute their plans, but society has
none Of this, consequence OF which is Its some
| times expressed amazement and nattery OF the
| daring deeds 0fruthess robbers. To return to my
| argument: Let society lock ut itself and con-
| template its own figure. What sicKening, loath-
| some object 1t is, with its
| MORBID wIsHY-wAsHY LUKEwARM SENTIMENT,
| drDbling out its whining prayer, crammed with
lately robbed ii OF one of its members Its versa
| tty and tnconsstant reasoning Is something
! delightfully."- amusing. One week 1t cries In stem
| its demand Is complied with 1t weakens at the
knees and vents poetic prayer In extenuatlon OF
the crime which few days previous curdied Its
The ruflian puts his hand into his pocket, takes
out his pistol and sheets citizen. When he Is con-
victed society puts It's hand into Its pocket, takes
| out It's handkerchief and weeps. Poor creature
| Ia tenderness will cause its death. in
| point Is that OF the murderer OF Mr.. Putnam,
S chose wdSw has signed petition to
| OF the murderer OF her bread-winner to impris0n-
ment for life. In doing this the lady displays CON-
mendable charity and forgiveness, but Governor
| the criminal statutes were not exacted for re-
| venge but for the administration OF justice and
afYected by the murder, but every member Of the
| community. II an example Is not made OF some OF
these men, the generation Of the twentieth Gen.
GANG OF ouTTHRoATs AND MURDERERs.
| Parents should look to this and demand an ex-
ample for the benent Of their children. Some Of
! the newspapers have the happy faculty OF cover
ing the social strychnine with a most delicious
looking crust Of rhetoric and, thus concocted, the
young idea takes into Its system the iRsidioui
poison which In maturer years viii Kill the SOU
and breed o thousand crimes.