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

Church-Materialism Considered ana
Its Claims Denouncca-Scrmon by the
Rev. DIR. Morgan Dix.
The congregation of st. Stephens church. whose
edifce was formerly located on the corner or
BroOme and Chrystie streets, and which since
1865 has worshipped in various localities held
its opening services in their church, on Forty
sixth street, east of Sixth avenue. yesterday. It
purchased the building from the Church OF the Ad.
vent ana the two congregations will henceforth be
united. Provision has been made for good church
music in the selection Of the following choir so.
prano, Miss Clotilda Saar; contralto, Miss N. Llv-
ingston; tenor, Mr.. John J. D. Trenor; bass0 and
director, H. P. banks; organist, Professor Joseph
Poznanski. The rector is the Rev. Joseph II. Price,
u. D.; associate, Rev. A. B. Hart. The rector
preached in the morning and in the evening the Rev.
Morgan Dix, d. D., OF Trinity, delivered discourse
on the passage as from n Matthew w.: E"Man shall
prOceedeth out Of the mouth OF God"
THE SERMON.
In commenting on his text he stated that he
should first proceed to show that great truth Is
herein contained, and, second, to lay down certain
herein is indicated that tends e to make
life desrable-not only the meat we eat. but
everything hch ministers to mans necessities
his comforts his Injuries and his vanties and
pride until the time OF his end comes and his lie
here becomes as tale that Is told. As 1t is said
man cannot live by bread alone, so there must be
does that side differ from the other, for which
bread Is the only requisite There are
FOUR PHASES OF EXISTENCE.
First. the elementary lile second, o chemical ex-
istence as IN the minerals third, vegetable lite
which is sensitive, possessing Consciousness, IN
stinct, lOcomoton. II man possesses nothing but
animal lie he could live by bread alone II his
idea OF Immortality beyond the grave OF another.
higher and nobler existence, Is q delusion, the
result OF education system OF lies, then 1t is his
privilege, as 1t is his duty. to think only of
the pleasures and comforts OF this world OF houses
and lands, OF line cehes anu all the luxuries that
III 70 acsen " wh ~ ' a,s ny
speak 1t out, and a much larger class are affected
by 1t. They believe that the soul never stretches
is to attain in this world. They live by the
assimilation OF matter, propagate their kind and
tsem ali thoughts Of God, OF moral law, Of
truth and divine harmony are phantoms. They see
as through the fumes OF opium. This philosophy
will not do. 1t has against 1t the protest OF the
real man. He knows that he Is more than an ami
NAL: he has flashes of the Divine glory within him.
While man can live by bread alone here. 1t is OF
says he shall not live by that alone This cannot
be more simply expressed than by that
NoBLER PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE
out rom which arise truth, honor, purity, broth
ery Kindness and charity, in the exercise Of which
ars the prncpes Of rnt honor eSe
&C, could not be generated from matter-could
not emanate from the phosphorus Of the brain
or from the spinal marrow more than from
potatoes. Man has another side to his Lie; the
food for the sustenance comes from the spirit
of God The soul instinctivey turns to Him as
the child seeks its mothers breast without being
taught. He showed how children accepted the
idea Of duty as # by instinct and claimed that the
doubt and unbeef OF later years are the result Of
sin and the devil, by which they are led away. He
LAID down certain principles for the guidance OF
lie and urged upon his hearers to ac-
uep the Word OF life rather than the bread
which perisheth. Never give up one word OF living
power for the flesh pots and baubles In exchange.
Reverence and sustain those VINO are thus constant
TO duty in despite OF the SCOTS of the world and OF
those who clam the greatest wisdom In 1t. He
denounced the materiallsts, who looked only to
this life; to them there is no God. They are bad
men OF bad principles, and their lives are
In accordance. He exhorted his hearers, in
conclusion, for their souls sake, to live near to
God possible. Our aim should be to be near
Him. Our ears should be open to hear Him and our
wills so schooled that we can act In accordance
with His commands. Let us make Christ the
measure OF our action, His cross the measure OF
our glory.
He closed with some congratulatory remarks to
the church members on the erection OF the build
ing. and urged upon them and Others to be con-
slant IN their support of the rector in his ministra
lions.