The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-02
EPISCOPAL CHURCH CONFERENCE.
Paper by the Rev. DR.. J. p. Lundy
ON 'sChristian Monuments and Sym.
hnIIsn,

Paper by the Rev. DR.. J. p. Lundy
ON ssChristian Monuments and SYM
bolism.''
The regular Church Conference Of Episcopal
clergymen of this city ives held yesterday alter
noon at the chapel of the Church OF the lncarna-
ton, corner OF Madison avenue and Thirty fifth
street. The attendance was rather small, being
limited to about ten persons. Rev. Samuel Osgood
presided.
Alter prayer the Rev. DR.. Montgomery moved
that when this Conference adjourn 1t be to meet on
the 5Jh OF October, and that the Committee OF Ar
rangements be empowered TO engage the services
Of two eminent dvines for the purpose OF address
ing the Conference on the subject of "Foreign and
Domestic Evangelical Work." The motion was
carried.
After a brief discussion In regard to the PROPOSE
ton to hold Church Congress like those frequently
held in England. In order to stimulate discussion
In matters OF religious interest, the Rev. DR.. j. p.
Lundy read paper on "Chrlstian Monuments and
Symbolism He began by saying that the early
Christian Monuments illustrated the history of
the church In a most admirable manner.
THE ARCH OF TITUS IN ROME
for instance, under which he 1.-THE speaker) had
frequently passed, told the sad, terrible story of
Jewish rum OF the downfall OF that once mighty
peope, with a force and power which must needs
see again before ones minds eye the laded glory
o. the nation, aud the triumphant victor riding
over the grave Of the Jewish nation.
Religion must always seek association with the
forms which were apt to convey an idea OF the at
tributes OF the Divine Beng. The ancient nations
endeavored to express, by outward symbols, their
religious iaith and spiritual tn ought. These SYM
bOls were sure to impress the mind powerfully. 1t
was, indeed difficult to how the faith could be
preserved and the worship transmitted TO other
generations without some outward symbols or rec
olds. True, there were certain dangers connected
with it, There was, for instance, the great danger
that the symbols might ne deoasen into idols; a1d
n IA md nrnl inn
faith serve 70 undermine it. This was the great
fault OF the Hndoo, Persian and Eg ptian religions.
idols. The reverend gentleman then showed.
with apt Illustration. how the ancient nations mad
first tried to express their vague ideas OF
THE HIDDEN POWERS or GOD.
Zoroaster consecrated caves to the worship OF
the Supreme Being whose power was already
then lett instlnctlveiy by the human mind.
1acitus. In MS vivid and picturesque account OF
the ancient Teutons, related how they consecrated
to God their woods and forests as they would not
be hampered in their worship by the confnlng
walls Of temple. The origin OF the first symbolic
s r fn ,ed us Ss Of as ere as
symbol he asked why the heavenly bodies were all
spherical, why their orbits were euptlcal, why the
eartn was round instead OF being square2 From
the aspect oil the glorious vault oil heaven the first
ideas aud forms oil God were probably derived !;
est symbol OF the divine power. In This cOnnec-
tion he protested against the falacY OF worship
ping nature any more than as
MERE SYMBOL OF GOD.
This was great error and 1t was also greatly
20 ne depiOred That the cross should De perverted
by any church AZ a Crucifx requiring universal
reverence, and that the symbolic wine and bread
Should ever have become the Corpus Christi. As
to the symbolic use Of tine cross It was ALREADY,
In ancient Egypt India and other countries, q
precious emblem OF the opposing forces OF nature,
and IN one shape, as sign manual OF the ilitcrate
and superstitiOus II had come down TO the present
generation Tor several thousand years. Moses
took the circle and cross only from the signs which
God had hung on ali the Dattlemcnts OF nature, and
among the ancient Hlndoos, fourteen centuries be-
fore Christ, cross formed OF two pieces OF wood,
to produce IRE by friction, was the first symbol or
the hre-god, oil the light and lie OF the world. The
cross, IN Ihe CHRISTIAN catacombs OF Rome, The
symbol OF spiritual light and lie and OF the Lord
OF salvation.
Alter listening to the learned DISCOURSE which
was replete with interest," the Conference ad-
journed till October s.