The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-02
Yesterdays Sermons.

Yesterdays Sermons.
Mr.. Beecher yesterday instructed and edited
his hearers with discourse on the expediency
of Christ's physical absence from the earth
and the divisions of the Church which have
resulted therefrom. He took up the logic of
the men who reason that if they had lived
in the days of Christ, or If He lived
now, 80 that they could see Him and
feel Him, their faith would be so much
stronger and the unity of faith in the Church
would be so much surer, and asked, Is it
desirable to have unity of belief in the Church?
Mr.. Beecher thinks it is not desirable in the
sense in which men talk about this unity,
though it is very desirable in the sense in
which Christ speaks of it. He thinks it is
not quite certain that men would believe in
Jesus if they could see Him to-day any more
than they do, or than men did when He lived
among them. Mr. Beecher favors variety Of
belief, honestly entertained and taken in love,
and believes that Jesus in heaven is near to
every believer and ready to help ALL
DIR. j. d. Fulton took the story of Ananias
and Sapphira (Acts w. from which to preach
pertinent question which he asked is one that
might be sounded from every pulpit in the
land, els it perilous to be dishonest in deal
ing with God?'' Ananias believed it was safe
to tamper with God, and he acted under
the belief that no one knew the secret
of his theft and lying but himself
and his wife. But Satan knew his
lo loI k~:o H.
dred and twenty ministers with whom Ananias
was associated there was only one fell. In
stead of making such an ado over one that
falls we should rejoice over the many who
remain firm and true.
Mr. rockingham thinks it is not fair to
expect individuals to live up to their belief
We have to consult the drift of opinion of the
people among whom we live. The best ap-
pointed train in the world will not run forty
miles an hour over stubble field. The
Hebrews belief that they are an elect
people, Mr.. rockingham thinks, is what made
them what they were, keeps them to-
gether as brothers to-day and which has
given to us the Old Testament. The
Christians belief that Christ is the Re-
-deemer of mankind makes him hold the
salvation of his soul as of primal import
ance, and consider every other religion but
Christianity superstition. And yet there are
good people, Mr.. rockingham thinks, who are
not Christians, who believe this world is every
thing and who seek to make it as good as they
can.
The Rev. Mr. Miller reviewed Father Lakes
latest utterances on the common school sys-
tenn Of education here, and has joined issue
with him on that question, believing that
sour national honor has been insulted." The
discourse is, therefore, given in the spirit
of man who alone had to de-
fend not only the national honor, but the
entire system of secular and religious edu-
cation throughout the land. 1t does not
breathe any of the gentle, forbearing spirit of
the Great Teacher, and is designed rather to
provoke enmity and ill-will than peace and
amity. Matters extraneous to the question in
issue are introduced for the purpose of giving
fresh 'broadsides to 'the Papists" and ''the
Jesuits''
DIR. McGlynn opposed the union of Church
and State, believing such union to be injuri-
GUS to the best interests of religion. In his
sermon yesterday he combated the notion
that religion is and should be Gas free as the
air we BREATHE" and said very truly that it
was simply absurd to expect it to be given any
where free Of expense to those who seek or bene-
fit by its ministrations. And there is no more
sacred duty, and no higher privilege, he
thinks, than to contribute, at the expense of
some self-sacrifice, to the building up of Gods
altar and the support of the charities that
naturally cluster around it.
Father McNamee gave an exposition of the
parable of the laborers hired to go into the
vineyard, and commented upon the ingrati-
tude and indifference of mankind toward God
and His work. The remembrance of what
Christ has done for us should compel us to be
faithful laborers in the vineyard of the Lord.
The Rev. Father Meagher tried to dispel
from the minds of his hearers the idea of the
potency Of ''the almighty dollar to do all
things for them. The late panic was an illus
tration OF the folly Of trusting in money and
ct the same time a punishment of the sin of
idolatry indicated by such trust.
Father Garesche opened mission in Brook
Ign yesterday.
Our CHARITIES are again described in the