The New York herald., 1873-10-27
Pulpit Themes OF tho Day.

Pulpit Themes or tho Day.
One hundred and seven years ago Method
ism began feeble existence in this city. 1t
was ignorant and unknown as well as feeble
but it had voice, and with that voice, musical
and sweet, it has sung its way through this
land until it has placed itself at the head
of every denomination in. the country
in numbers, influence and wealth.
beginning SO weak and small resulting
in growth SO large and strong de-
serves to be remembered, and yesterday the
founding of Methodism in America was COM
memorated in that place where of all others it
should ever be remembered John street
church, the first Methodist meeting house on
this Continent DR.. Chapman, of Brooklyn,
preached an appropriate sermon on the occa-
sion. It is natural for church as well as for
individuals to be impressed with what appeals
to their senses, and to imagine that their testi-
mony is essential to certainty. And it may be
that by looking at the steady increase of the
Methodist Episcopal Church throughout the
country our city Methodists had forgotten
that it was declining here until
their attention was SO lately called
to it. AS DR.. Chapman remarked, our senses
have deceived us again and again; but the
highest certainty is grounded upon the testi-
mony of consciousness. Hence we believe in
Christ to-day not SO much because of His
miracles as because of His life and teachings
and their influence through centuries. The
miracles do not float Christianity. Phenome-
nal manifestations cannot be made ex-
clusively basis of faith in Christ We
have more sure word of prophecy whereunto
we do we'll to take heed as to light that
shineth in dark place. The superiority Of
the prophetic word is seen in the fact that it
is general, while all phenomenal manifesto
tions are special The triumph of Christi
anity is to be the grandest miracle in the
worlds history. 1t is now the mightiest force
on the face of the globe, and the grandest in
tellects God ever made are to-day sitting at the
feet of the despised- Nazarene.
We may scout the idea as much as we
please, but every decade increases the value Of
men-not merely as 80 much muscle and bone,
useful and necessary to perform q certain
amount of labor, but of man as q moral and
spiritual being. But the man Of golden worth
has not yet appeared, and hence Dr. Robinson
advertises for him. He wants a man in the
fulness of physical and spiritual stature, re-
sembling Christ. The Doctor regrets there
are so few of them that they can be counted
on ones fingers. But why are such men SO
scarce? He tells us. Materialism has tam
a~ol yit fba IN
development There never WIS a time when
so many infdel lecturers we're abroad and
when the press seemed so universally on the
side Of anti Christ. These things may be true;
but there is another side to them. Infidelity
and scepticism cannot exist where there is no
thought. And we may safely assert that God
win not allow His own enemy to do all the
thinking for this world. There are some truths
that lie straight in the sceptic's path as well
as in the Christians, and one day or other
he will come to them. 1t may be when
he least expects; it may not be SO soon
as we could wish; and, to our own thinking
scepticism and infidelity are doing some good
in the world, though not in the way we could
wish. The Doctor has paid very high COM
pliment to the power of the press, but it lacks
one very essential element-namely, truth. 1t
is not true to-day, and we doubt if it ever was,
that an editorial in any paper in England or
America could ''shake the throne of mon
arch, produce q financial panic or cause war
between nations" People take very differ
ent view of public teachers now, whether in
the pulpit or in the editorial room, than they
did fifty or hundred years ago. And, though
the press is yet very powerful, its influence
and power lie in another and different direc-
| ton.
sympathy and Apathy" are words Of nearly
opposite meaning. They were used by Mr..
rockingham yesterday to illustrate two
phases Of Christian teaching. No religion,
he declared, has carried sympathy SO far as
the Christian religion. 1t is the means OF
obtaining grace. "The Catholics" he re-
marked, shave two ways Of getting into
heaven-one to be poor and the other to get
poor. The Catholic Church does it's utmost
to get money out of you, and to gather
together all the people that are poor" for
whom it builds institutions of every kind and
lies to know that Protestants, too,
believe in infallibility; but, accord.
ing to Mr.. rockingham, it is the
infallibility of the New Testament "Protes.
tantism is q religion of thought, but the ker.
mel of the Catholic faith is hard. Protestants
are intelligent Catholics are sentimental y
And this difference between them Lads to tn,
increase Of pauperism and crime, until sspau
perism oeconrsss profession and poverty
!Tas"se, and existence becomes fight and
struggle. The strong oppress the weak ant
the hungry eat up the little ones and thu
give show Of reason to Darwins theory
though, as Mr.. rockingham says, "No writer