The New York herald., 1874-11-27
Reformed church.

filled yesterday morning. The pastor, Rev. II. +.
Rogers preached on the "Glory OF New York; tho
text being taken from the twenth-frst chapter Of
Acts. part Of the thirty-ninth verse-"A citizen
OF no mean city.n The reverend gentleman said
these words were spoken by Paul when attacked
by mob In Jerusalem, ana when he was about to
be imprisoned by the Romans on charge OF being
q disturber OF the peace. When questioned as to
whether he was not certain foreigner VINO on
previous occasion had stirred up strife among the
people, be answered :-'d am . man which am
Jew of Tarsus, city in Cicia, citizen OF no
mean city and, beseech thee, sufer me to speak
to the people - Although no man need be ashamed
OF his country or ancestry VINO has no reason TO
be ashamed Of himseii yet II Is aiegirmmate ~ sno,
he has chosen to order the circumstances OF our
birth so advantageously, and | confess have
often thought OF tue language OF st. Paul as ap-
plicable to those Of US who, like myself are ma
tive citizens Of the great metropolis. Every such
mean clty,n Tor whatever may be said OF New York
1t cannot truly be said that IT Is mean city.
There Is great deal said with more or less JUS
tlce OF the poverty and crime, the ignorance ana
corruption on the one hand. and the luxury, ex-
travagance and dissipation which characterize the
good people in the rural districts think that 1t is
place where HE and property are continually
There is q great deal about the history OF this
city; Its wondrous growth; Its commercial prog
ress; its development IN all the elements Of
greatness-material, social, artistic, educational
and philanthropic-for which we may be pardon.
ably proud and iOr whichits citizens should be
profoundly grateful. Jefferson was not right when
he said that large cities were ulcers on the body
polite There must OF course be found there much
OF the dregs and forces potent for evil as well as
potent for good. But there lS q great deal said
ABOUT the virtue Of q rural pOpula ton which Is
not warranted By facts, ana there IL q great
deal that is good and great and glorious
about great cities, although IL may be
fashionable to call them hOtbeds OF vice and SINKS
OF corrupJlon. New York has been one Of the
best abused cities In the world, and as o son OF
New YORK and the minister OF the first church es-
tabished on Manhattan Island, l feel that shall
not violate but honor the prOprieties OF this an
nual Thanksgiving Day II pay some grateful
tribute to the goodness OF Gods providence II
the history OF my native place, and try to show
you that every one OF its native and adopted cit-
izens may say, with the great Apostle, II am
citizen OF no mean city" DR.. Rogers then gave
q most interesting historical sketch, showing
the progress OF the Empire City from the time
when Captain Hudson steered his little Ghlp the
Hall Moon, into the Bay OF Manhattan, 265 years
ago. up to the present, and In conclusion said: -
"L0ok, then, at her wonderful history; consider
her matchless elements Of power, estimate
properly her beauties and deformities, appreciate
thoroughly ner duties and her dangers, and prove
yourselves worthy to be citizens Of no mean city.
Discard not the conservatism Of the old while you
glory In the progress OF the new. Never change
the base which the fathers laid with faith and
prayer while you carry the superStructure higher
than they ever dreamed OF. Welcome alb the races
OF the earth to your generous fellowship. but see
that they buiid with us the same old rOunda-
tons OF intelligence and Christianity.n