The New York herald., 1874-07-29
THE GOSPEL In THE GROVES.
Sermon BY Bishop noggett-The Foundations Of
True Faith and How God Honors It.
4 Small Act for Q Great
Christian Corporation.

Christian Corporation.
SEA CLIFF, L. l., July q. ls5k
rne preaching service was delayed this morning
tnar the great crowd who came up on the boat.
snd VINO were expected might have an oppo. ru-
nity to near for the last time the sermon of
bishop Doggett There are about thirty ministers
on tue ground among whom are Rev. Aoam Wal
lace, OF Philadelphia D. Gibson, of ohve. NY:
j. F. Richmond. OF sing Sing; J. G. Bass, G. W.
Ford, S. II. Bray Fl. +. Pease, OF BROOKLYN; Dr.
1rue' OF whitestone; T. H. Burch, DR.. wakeley,
w. McAhster. n. G. Cheney, R wheatley T. n.
Terry. DR.. De Vinne and Robert Roden, of Nav
YORK AS the ministers are furnished with tree
passes many OF them come up every morning and
return IN the afternoon. Yesterday Q change was
made In the sale OF tickets which looks little Se
q repetition OF the well known railroad swtnde
founded on "good for this day opiy.n Hitherto
passengers could buy excursion tickets to or nom
New YORK or Sea Cdn for sixty cents. Passengers
from City Island were required to pay forty cents
each way. On the afternoon trip from the camp
to the city excursion tickets were thus
sold. whereby the passenger might come back
again on the nve O'Clock trip. or not until next
morning. THIS has been prohibited because few
persons preferred to use their tickets .'for this
day only" on the following day, and now City
Island people must buy tickets in packages OF
twenty-five, which can be purchased at the rate OF
thirty cents each, and New York people must buy
at either end OF the line, ana are supposed to be
deoarred from holding over either at the grove or
IN the city. unless on the paymenr OF an extra
rate Persons are thus obliged either to pay forty
cents for the single trip or pay two iares Tor one
trip. This seems too mean and
CoNTEMPTIBLE FoR CHRISTIAN CORPORATION
to indulge In; and moreover, as the courts have so
often decided that such tickets, when paid for are
good until they are used. the Sea Clin Associa-
tion ought not at this late day try to take ten
cents or one cent out OF any ones pocket. The
writer has made all sorts Of inquiries about this
charge from the boat hands, clerk ministers, &C.,
because complaints have been made about It by
persons who purchased excursion tickets, and
who yet desire to stay over o night ut the grove
but ind objection made to their tickets next day.
because they were "g0od for this day onlyn the
pretext Is too fimsy TO be entertained for q mo.
ment. The dealings between the Camp Meeting
Association and the public should be perfectly
exact and just, and when they have received
passengers money for q ticket they should scorn
the thought OF compelling him to pay money for
which .hey offer no equivalent; In other words
passengers should not be compelled to pay twice
for one trip. The public mention OF this thing
should be enough to lead to its correction-not for
the writer's sake, who is not affected by it except
as one OF the public.
1t was twelve O'Clock to-day when Bishop Dogget
began his sermon. He had previously read for his
lesson Isaiah xii and part Of H. Corinthians and
the congregation had sung with great spirit the
well known hymn,
When Icsn read my title clear,
and Mr. Boole had made some announcements.
The Bishops text was John, l., 50-5l. He began
by pointing out the relation OF the text
to the contexts. The latter, be said,
were Of the utmost Importance. 1t
demonstrates that faith Is not dependent upon
miracles for Its acceptance. And this principle
was beautifully displayed when Jesus was gather
ing his disciples around him. The Bishop recited
the circumstances or the OF the several disci
pies to show that they followed Christ without any
evidence but His call. The Bishop then recited
the conversation between Philip and Nathaniel,
and remarked that Philips reply to Nathaniers
objection that nothing good could come out Of
Nazareth was perfect. Come and see; don't settle
sented 70 see for himself at once and brought out
from Jesus the greatest eulogy that ever iell on
''BEHoLD AN IsRAELrTE INDEED
IN whom there Is no guile" The surprise OF Ma
thaniel was next considered. 1t was Increased by
the statement OF Jesus that he saw Nathaniel un-
der the dg tree, and On account OF the suscepti-
biify Of Natasnsrs faith which believed the word
words or the text were uttered.
NATHANfEL'S FAITH
was tne topic OF the Bishops DISCOURSE whose in
theme contained two leading tnouRhts-nameiy
the true ground of faith and the manner in which
such faith the Bishop remarked, must have a
foundation, a solid one, on which to stand Tne
and the O Is ns 6u n Of
which aith has. He began TO state what the foun-
daEon OF iaitn Is not, that the people might the
better see what 1t Is. The ground OF faith he said
Is not dreams, though portion Of truth NAV be
sometimes contained in them; 1t Is not miracles;
God It Is an Inspiration OF nature, though It CAP
tlvates one especially when is speaks OF God.
FAITH is NOT FOUNDED ON SCIENCE,
so as to give us true foundation for faith. What
then, he asked. is the true ground Of iaithf Inc
OF the human soul. 1t Is that which human nature
feels that 1t wants for this lie as well as for the
the demonstrated word. and It comes TO us With
all Its gathered evidence. 1t has the testimony OF
nature In the form OF miracles; it has the testi.
mony OF the spirit land III the coming OF angels on
visits OF mercy to men; 1t has the testimony OF
human experience throughout all generations.
This ioundarion on which the faith OF the soul may
rep0se Is commended to us IN the text Bsnop
kavanaugh dwelt briefly on the character OF Ma
tnaniel. IN whom there were no DISCUSSES. He was
was placed III contrast with Thomas who could
not believe until he had seen the wounds in tue
The next thought winch the Bishop considered
was, What Is proved bv Natnaniel's admission
is the best Christian who asks no questfons-who
Goes not require Jesus to show his credentials
every moment. The obstacles to faith were next
considered, and found not to oe in the head but
in the heart. They are not in the Intellect but In
the moral nature OF man. God has 90 arranged the
laws oil belief that they shall act In concert with
tho revealed Word or God And it Is ON this
ground that
THE WORD or GOD CoMxENDs ITSELF
to mans understanding. 1t 10 IRON the deprav1ty
OF the human heart that the mind OF man becomes
darIened. The evidence Is not that OF miracles or
OF the senses OF our faith IL requires only moral
evidence, and that Is in the nature of the
Gospel Thus, the nrst thought oil the
text, consumed one hour IN its elaboration.
The second thought-the way God honors genu-
ine simple iath, and because IL Is pure and simple
IN HIS molly word, occupied nearly the same time.
thereafter ye shall see heaven opeu," &c. There
are, the Bishop remarked, three realizations OF
true faith-frst the presence OF heaven itself.
What Is heaven he asked. II Is the residence OF
God Almighty 1t Is the home OF the soul. God
never made hell for man. Heaven is the home Of
man, which ne had lost, but which Christ has re-