The New York herald., 1874-08-03
ALL SOULS CHURCH.
Tho Necessity of Preserving Pure
Charactcr-SermOn by the Rev. hIr.

Tho Necessity Of Preserving Pure
Charactcr-SermOn by the Rev. hIr.
jerks, of Boston.
The congregation at this church, corner Fourth
avenue and Twentieth street. was unusually slen-
der OF the services yesterday morning. During
the absence OF the regular pastor on his summer
vacation the pulpit was occupied by the Rev. Mr..
jerks, Of Boston. THIS gentleman chose as his
text. Ecclesiases, ix., s-"Let thy garments be al
ways white" There are nations the reverend
speaker began, that wear white as tokens OF
mourning; but white is generally symbol OF Joy
ana happiness In those countries persons who
sought to hold public cfficos clad themselves In
white; but 1t would seem rather like mockery for
OUR OFFICE-sEEKERS
to wear white 1t has always been q perplexin
question how men may live in the world and
keep their garments free from stain when they
meet oil its temptations Men Of q religious turn
of mind have always acted and ielt as though
there was one mode OF morality for them and
another for the men OF the world. The result is
that to-day there Is a distinction between worldly
men and those whose sphere is higher. The
worldly man looks upon the UNIV orldly man as an
object for his pity and q mean creature. The
truly religious men found that they were
,,I not to Keep @ their garments white by
but by encountering it and trampling It under
foot. The old Church had such dread OF ITS adver.
saries that It was continually drawing its followers
from temptation, and telling them that the only
way to overcome evil is to avoid It, Now you 1nd
the Church leading men into novels or misery and
reformation; it leads Christians to those paths
where their kind influence is mostly needed, and
makes
a. working organization. 1t is only when these
Christians and church worshipPers descend into
81 81 ans S.s.rs s Ut
the lowest places. and see The squalld misery
which vice always creates. BY such visits they
purpose OF the Church for long time mas been fa
tally misunderstood So-called Christians are
busy keeping their own garments white and seek.
away from the evil and soil OF the world. They
are beginning to ieel now that there a higher
OF churches and church duties. The long faces or
the past have given way to the hearty smiles the
Cheeks ansy figures and no'
habit OF her duty. Strange that the aesthetic idea
Is so rooted It Is an idea Older than Christianity.
relating to religion. Strange that 50 many years
have taken us to find out the truth OF this point.
THE OFFICE or RELIGION
is TO ming light and JOY over the multtudes. Chris.
tianity has cups OF Innocent pleasure In her hands
great lack OF common honesty. virtue Is despiscd
TSs Ss ss h0gS Wnst snns
which We are approaching The national char.
acter Is now passing through Its severest test
True iath and honesty are now needed. In the
language Of q politician, success is a duty A re.
liglon Is needed which will keep men from living
and stealing, as an eminent preacher saws, we
are responsible for ourselves and are called to &C.
count only for our own actions. "Let thy garments
be always white" We nave our duty to consider
our own errors to correct and our own char.
acters to mould. We have only TO keep our.
selves We are apt 10 say wnat will other
people think we ought to do NOS what
we think we ought TO do. Let us
assure ourselves that our garments are white
There are some sins into which individuals and
communities are apt 20 fall. the first is DISPOSE.
ton misjudge character 1t is not safe to Judge
from superficial examination II you trust only
TO the outward appearances you Will do q serious
wrong. The second Is the misn Interpretation OF
motives straight stick will look crooked in
water. Just SO with
MEMS MOTIVES
Looked at through some mediums they seem all
right, and UiCe veYSd. TO these add misrepresen-
tatiOn. 1t is SO easy to vary the Evidence
and put in a little or home manufacturer
Although we consider them harmless little addl-
tions, yet as power it Is dangerous to use. We
give our own colorng, with no desire to stray
from the truth. ''Lrt your garments be always
whlte' that is always ann at perfection. Let them
be symboiical OF purity. Do not waste time over
past sins, but improve the opportunities OF the
present. Let US seek to have our standard not
only high bnt spiritual. Let US seek to make our
character high and pure; so in the midst of cor.
rupti0n we snail not share it. The Injunction that
our religion lays upon us Is simple One-lt says:
''Let your garments be always whte.u