Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-02-20
Special Correspondent of the Herald
Letter from New York,
New YORK, Feb. 10. 1873.

I've" AOiNhy GSUs 10, 1910.
E'ditor Rutland Herald The great
subject upon everybody tongue, to-day,
is another snow storm" The walking.
much of the time, this winter, has been
intolerable, and, in consequence, the
horse cars have been so crowded when
they could run at all, that to ride was
but the lesser of two evils.
Since writing you last, | have listened
to many of the celebrated divines of this
city, little description of whom may
be interesting to your readers. First, in
the list, | will mention Rev. John Hall,
than whom none stands higher for sound
theology, practical ability, and warm
broad-hearted benevOlence. He isan old
gentleman, but eyinces vigor of both
body and intellect His language clear
ly indicates his Scotch nativity, but he
is fine speaker and his words are al
ways fifty chosen. 1t is said Of him by
some of those who differ widely from
him in religious matters that, eve love
him, for the dear old man has such
good heart" Next, will tell you some
thing of Rev. Dr. Taylor, of the Broad
way Tabernacle. He, too, is a Scotch
man, and, to my mind, the ablest preach
er | have heard in New York. He is
stern in his orthodoxy, but never a SER
mon of his is completed without the
clear foundation of good life being
presented as essential to Christian char
acter. He says: 'Words are power
ful, but lives are more powerful. Pray
ing is well, preaching is better, but the
magnetic power of true, good life is
the best Of all" | heard him at the
national temperance meeting which was
held in this city the 30th of December.
In speaking of pledges, he said: ''Why
should you hesitate to sign the pledge,
even if it is not necessary for your own
sobrie.y; Why do you say you do not
like pledges? YOu do not hesitate to
accept a five dollar note when handed
you? That is pledge. Whena young
man marrtes the Girl of his choice, their
mutual promises are solemn pledges
The only safe road upon the temperance
question is abstinence, why not be
pledged to that? Do it for your weaker
brothers. sake, if not for your own.
Twelve years ago the Home for Sailors,
in Liverpool, was burned. The fremen
and others labored zealously until it was
supposed that every human being had
been rescued from the burning bujlding;
and they stopped to rest with feelings
of gratitude at the thought that no lives
would he lost, when, 10! upon the high
est corner three sailors were seen crying
for help. Men rushed forward with a
ladder hut it was too short. Stand
back = cried a voice, and a man bore
forward another ladder and placed il
upon the first, but it was still too short
Putting his feet upon the top Of the first
ladder, and placing the second one upon
his own shoulders, he cried out to the
sailors, Come down over me :. and they
passed down, one after another, over his
body, until all were saved. Thus,
friends, if the ladder of abstinence is too
short for your Notwithstanding brother,
reach out your hand to him, and, if needs
be, let him pass to safety over your
bodies, pledged for your brothers good.
Every sermon he breaches has within
1t some striking illustration containing
lesson which one never forgets. heard
a sermon from the Rev. Dr. Hepworth,
in Steinwav Hail. and also heard him
make brief remarks during the ''week
of prayer" He is rare in elocutIOn,
perfect in rhetoric-in he has the power
of surprising eloquence-but in no other
particular does he compare with the two
ministers above referred to. He has a
great many warm admirers, but his ser
mons strike me as being preached too
much for effect, not enough from the
heart. The elder Tying has sad face,
as Of one who has known much of sor
row he seems old and feeble, yet he
puts much life into his sermons, and the
flowers OF Rhetoric seem to grow like
natural blossoms in his fertile magma
ton and are scattered with wonderful
protuseness from his lips. The younger
/ Tying. during the ''week of prayer, = was
one Of the most active among the minis
tiers in his efforts to do away with any
appearance of sectarian distinctions or
party feeling. II. NJ. 5.