The New York herald., 1874-12-28
MORAL STOCK-TAKING
Mr.. rockingham, Leaving Christianity Be-
hind, breaches Humanity.
FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
Dreams and Reality by DR.. Chapin-A Lesson
for the New Year.
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.

OF MORAL srocK"-sERMoN DY REV. GEORGE
n. HEPwoRTH.
Rev. George II. Hepworth preached yesterday
morning his usual sermon on the close OF the year.
which was entitled "raKing Account Of Moral
Stock This sermon is always looked forward to
with grea. interest by the enormous congregation
who nock every sunday to hear this popular
preacher, and yesterday the vast edidce was
almost completely filled by devout and intelligent
worshippers. Or. Hepworth's magnidcen. voice,
lis effective delivery and perfect knowledge OF the
art OF rhetoric have made him one OF the most
eloquent preachers in this city OF eloquent
pulpit orators. The congregations attracted
by him are recruited from the most culti-
vated and highly respectable classes OF New York.
and always embrace a large number OF vlsiters
from various parts OF the country who are passing
through the metropolis. THIS was particularly
the case yesterday, when the bright morning and
the balmy air invited the most negligent church
goer 10 attend the teachings OF religion and the
rites OF devotion.
AN OUTLINE OF THE SERMON.
AS will be seen from the fun report of the rev.
erend gentlemans sermon which follows below
the preacher gave a vivid picture OF the thoughts
which crowd upon a sensitive and reflective
mind on the close OF the year. He attempted TO
portray the joys, sorrows, homes and disappoint.
period. and demonstrated In his clear convincing
manner the important lessons with which these
varied experiences, these triumpns and trials OF
the heart are instinct The most impoI tant Of
these lessons was to teach Christians faith in the
future, no matter what the past mad been-that
faith which comes through Jesus Christ. The rev.
erend preacher closed with beautiful peroraton
invoking the grace OF God to make this new year
one OF spiritual lulness and clearness, OF abiding
faith ana happiness in Christ; and taking up this
thread in one OF his most beautiful prayers. watch
vlsibiy moved the congregation, he called down
the blessing OF the Almighty upon bis heaters and
humanity at large.
The reverend preacher TOOK his re xt from
Ecciesias,ies H., 1l-"Then l looked on all the
works that my hands had wrought, and on the
labor that mad labored to DO; and. oenoid, all
was vanity and vexaslon OF spirit, ana there was
no profit under tue sum-"
THE SERMON.
The book Of Eccieslastlcs, ne said though not
considered by all as strictly canoncal was yet so
full oil wholesome lessons that II was 10 oe re-
garded OF almost equal value with all the oiher
books whose authenticity was undouoted. Times
had changed since the days to which this verse
alluded, but men were the same. Clrcunlstan
altered, but human hearts were still unchanged.
The human appettes, desires, passions, we were TO TO
be ound IN this nineteenth century IN New YORK
Just as they were in the time OF King David.
solomon, whose words were quoted above, was
ssssed oi some piesy had yet some very worldly
moods 1t was III one oil these WORLDLY moods that
the surplus OF his income III making
great show, in keeping an ostentatious es.
tablishment and luxurious country seat.
IL made me great WORKS; ppilted lDe honSes; l
planted me vineyards; made the gardens ana or-
cnards and planted trees IN them OF all kinds Of
fruits made NE pools OF water 10 water there.
with the wood that bringeth iortn trees; got me
servants and maidens aud mad servants BORN IN
my house also mad great possessions OF great
and small cattle, above all that were in Jerusaem
before me; gathered me also silver aud gcld and
the peculiar treasure OF kings &C. Then came
He thought that this man generalized rather too
plainly.
SOLOMON ON DEATH.
"rhe wise mans eyes are In his head, but the
fool walketh 10 darkness, and | myself perceived
also that one event happenetn to them all Then
said in my heart a. it nappeneth to the ioo 80 1t
happenetn even to me, and why was l. taen, more
wise, Tnen said In my heart that this also Is
vanity; for there IS no remembrance OF the wise
more than or the fool forever, seeing that wnIcn
now ia In the days to come shall all pe forgotten.
And how dictn the wise mans AS fooi"
difference between the death OF the wise man aud
that oil the fool was exceedingly great, the one
leaving but smoke behind and the other trail OF
glory.
This was the hour when men naturally sat down
TO look into their bank accounts, when they
struck their balances and tried TO discover where
they we're, what tney had been and whittier they
had been drifting. they desired to know how
much money they had at hand 70 meet the emer-
gencies OF the new year, and they recKoned up
the fruits OF their works IN order 10 come 70 some
definite conclusion as to the value OF tHeir busi-
closely examined tue principles OF their business
In order TO ascertain whether they were the true
RESULT OF THE RETROSPECT.
For twelve months they mad been striking out
from the centre all round the circle. In some OF
the paths they hal found no fruitage, in others
they had won praises oil rare value. Ii they mad
been better on this December than they were last
they should be thankful, but II they were worse
on, they should yet not be discouraged.
was precisely IN the oa household n o as It Tas In
u
bill. Tney were reminded OF certain little things,
eacn only snowflake In ttseif bat all to.
gether forming quite a. Iormidsble I. show during
IN IN their Spiritual house nod; that Ley
should gfavely consider questions when took
their hm ssana aon 6eI ~ HIM aeor Sd ana saa nov
tain associations connected with this season Of
the year that made II hnllowed time and should
make them turn TO the future with stronger ye
and s;outer Leart. he knew some OF then dis.
appointments, he knew the storms trat had
visited their households, and that 1t seemed 70
them as il they were never 10 overcome their great
dificuities. some OF them nad gone iorta 10 buiid
up new npes loi tey had zone on yorNlng any
singing all the time.
GRATITUDE TO COD.
O. what lows were theirs A new voice rom
cradle ike sweetest music 10 the parents ear,
other Joys perhaps, and they were hllcd with the
some OF them, again, mad been Called
to other scenes. They had been called to
lay their loved ones NOT INTO tue pFlghl cfa13e,
hut in to the sad cold grave. All these varied expe.
riences had come TO them. IN congregation as
large as this all must have wept ahd laughed some
time.
Now, what was there in their lives that was Gle.
waiting ana that was degrading during these last
twelve montnsY 1t made all the difference in the
world whel her they made doubt or iait1 the watch
word Tor the year to come Let him ask, then,
tnese questioIs:-what had God done iof niin and
thcm during these twelve months We're tney in
debted to Him lor an tnlngg We're they not IN
debted to Him for eyerythings And had thcy not
at down some sunday afternoon and wondered
how IL was that they stlll lived, and whether the
sIissol utlon that was inevitable was painful or
painless oneY He thought many an eye must have
closed in a revery like this.
LfFE'5 MYSTERY.
Had lie not given to them continued life aud
was this not something worth gratitude He tine
pfeacnef) was frequently moved by thoughts IKE
these They lived they knew not why they died
they knew not why. Could they .pIoiong ilie for
Que m0uent2 Gould they create it9 No " was
Tie ei,t OF God himself and this marvellous mys-
terry OF nle aud tue stili greater mystery o. dcaa
were now TO be considered. II was lie VINO plessea
Ham t4