The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-17
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
pLYnOUTH CHURCH.

LImOUIn O0O6Uds
Paula story OF tho Crucined CuiprIt-
Religion Becoming the Mother OF Every
Human Raco-DemOcrscy, tho Sense of
brotherhood for Every Human Being
The Chinese and CaliSornian Religions
The Necessity fer Sending Out Homo
Missions.
1t would seem-if 1t were possible for the
Plymouth church edilce to grow, toO-that the
Plymouth church congregation grows larger and
larger with every succeeding Sabbath. Yesterday
morning Mr.. Beecher delivered very eloquent
sermon in behalf of the home missions. sermon,
a. Mr.. Beecher remarked, that was bringing him
nearer and nearer the contribution box, and 1t Is
to be hoped for the sake OF that worthy cause that
II was well filed. The text was l. Corinthians l..
lS-"FOr the preaching OF the CROSS Ia to them that
perish, fOOlishness; but unto US which are saved,
it ia the power OF God" If one considers
that OF elevation, superiority and pride which
goes with refinement and cultivation; if one stood.
as Paul did, in Athens and saw the p0mp and splen
dor and power OF the Roman Empire. he would ap-
preciate what Paul did. All he had to go out in the
world with WAS story OF . crucined culprjt.
rBB STORY OF A JEW.
and q Jew abandoned by his own people, He con-
frOnted all these and said ITO those who perish
the preaching OF the orucifed is foOiishness." He
preached that by the f0Olishness of preaching God
saved men; he preached one that was down.
trOdden and broken down through sorrow. This
preaching developed more power than was in
the whole invisible organization of sOci
ety.; he preached the paternity OF God
and loss and showed His Infinite goodness and
mercy. All these results flowed from this unfolded
God; not as being qulescent, passive, but as being
active, the greatest worker and the greatest SUI
ferer; God as being the universal teacher. TO
preach crucifed Saviour was to preach an Of
this wonderful tenderness, this wonderful suffer
ing, this wonderful love- God pouring HIS life out
for men-as soon as that idea came II was the
greatest power.
WHAT PAUL PREACHED
had three elements. He assumed universal human
sinfulness, divine love and immortal existence 1
think these are the fundamental elements-man's
sinfaness, his immortality, God the Redeemer
damental; 1t takes human nature on its
true facts, 1t teaches development and
but as the Of meSs grand
working force of the universe 1t reveals the end
and aim OF the Gospel in its long career on earth
80 move mankind as these truths OF God.
It is not possible to develop and arouse the moral
quence stimulate every organism Of society
Society is the incarnation Of the invisible power OF
soul Hence ne VINO carries to nations true ana
civilization Religion will become the mother Of
every human race. It Is not technic system-it Is
that
vIvIFIC SPIRIT OF GOD
from whose touch creation springs to life The
enlightening spirit Of God. l do not say that all
civilization has come from preaching, but do say
that 1t has been the mother head Christianity is
life power In man. and Is vitality in the SOUL
IL Is divine in origin, human in development. The
difference in moral result between civilization as
product and auxiliary Is. that one materializes
while the other splritualizes One IS the end and
aim Of life the other its product Civilization be-
comes harmless only when 1t has life through i'm
mediate contact with GOd-n0 manhood without
spirituality; ne spirituality without divine inspira
anity makes universal manhood.
In our case the reason why christianity should
to matersizlng; second, in relation to democratic
ideas or universal manhood. without, regard to
To have any conception Of the vastness Of the
energy and wealth OF this nation one must travel
You see other nations sending their young men
here to see us and to stay. Upon tins Continent
SPIRITUAL INFLUENCE,
or we become mere material workers; The Gospel
democratic ideas requires that every man should
aid his fellow men. The true democratic idea is
not that every man should be on level, but that
he should be as God made him. II he be an African
or an Indian, let him be as God made him. That is
democrat; but he is not 1t Is the sense Of brother.
hood for every human being for whom the blood OF
This revelation of God, which nlls heaven, this
truth, this immortality of everlasting being, Is
what gives truth to democracy. Here is the Afri-
can. what are you going 10 10 WIN HIN DcMO-
crat, you think much OF the Irishman, with his
vote. What Of the negro ? What Is Christianity
going to do with
. THE WEAKER RACESS
Christ came down to save the meanest and lowest,
and what Is our Christianity. Where Is tine spirit
OF Christ 7 am astonished at the Chinese, when
they have seen such beautiful examples of
Christianity, that they must be bereit OF reason
not to admire Californian religion. We have stolen
from them, beaten them, hanged them, and yet
they won't be converted. Oh, what mOckery OF
the faith in Jesus with which we are treating
mi m
meet the wealth Of this country There is a ne
cessity for sending out home missions. The old
States should take care OF the new ones. We can
not afford to have single State barbarous.
come to preach your own cause | feel that there
can be no service more acceptable to God than to
pour from our plenty into their treasury.