New-York tribune., 1874-12-07
A CHEERFUL RELIGION.

and announced privately yesterday w tne rus
tees that had accepted the call and would soon be
installed pastor. The vacancy was caused Dy INC
resignation OF the Rev. Henry Powers, and t was sup
posed at one time that the Rev. Robert Coyer OF chi
cago would succeed him. but Mr. Colyer declined, and
the trustees called the Rev. Mr. Alger This chrch was
formerly under the pastoral charge OF the Rev. Geo.
H. Hepworh and earlier still OF the Rev. Dr. OsgOod
Dr. Osgood went to the Protestant Episcopal
Church. and the Rev. Mr. HcpwOrth became the pastor
OF the Church OF the Dsciples independently, af'er
formal OF his change OF belief as to the
Divinity of Christ. The Rev. william r. Agcr, the new
pastor, is scholar OF established reputation He Is
native Of Massachusetts, 81 Of age and is
the author Of several religious WORKS OF when the
History Of the Doctrine of Future Life as t has Pre-
vailed In all Nations and Ages" is an OFTEN quoted
authority. He preached Yesterday morning In the
church over which will soon be Installed pastor. an
nouncng his subject to he "A Cheerful Religion" based
on this ext "RejOice in the Lord alway; and again
say, rejoice" Philippians w.: 4.
What forms, he asked, tie basis OF cheerful reglonf
The principle that welfare OF man Is the VIII OF God
And s this u sound principle Who can look abroad
with wholesome mind over the great plan OF the world
and that the Creator clearly designs that Ills
creatures shall be happy, and by swelling higher the
tide Of universal joy Him to he more abundantly
glorifed It is only antag0nism with one
another that prevents this. God has endowed US with
wonderful faculties. He has filed our habaton with
Coodly He has surrounded us with the Sc
raphc hosts OF beauty blazing rank above rank 10 his
very throne. Then He has SAID 10 u.s. Ny love toward
you is shown provision made for the sup
ply OF your wants. Go forth now roam over my
works. learn secrets enjoy the pleasure they yield
Keep Iny laws love one another. ana he happy" 10
do this faithfully would be the practice OF genuine,
unadulterated religion. And cOuii anything be more
checrfui way should tho vottry of such munihcent
faith wear luguDrious cOuutenanco and so si2hng
ttpir,f ifa
lief that tie happiness Of man Is the will OF God, IN the
striking proyerb: "A heart doeth good like
medicine" The aphOrsm is true in threeiOld sense.
In the first place cheerfuness excellent prophy-
Tactic recipe for wardng of invading ills, well as
a precious stimulant under impending exhaustion. IL
IS notorious that in the hospitals OF defeated army
greater proportion of the wounded die than in the
hospitals Of tie yicors. Bright hopes fDe tonic
gloomy fears act poisOn therefore happiness is the
VIII OF God the helpful aud inspiring law OF things.
Secondly, a happy man i. stronger and more capable
| than an unhappy one. He Is fuller OF vital energy,
mole accc ssibe to the motives which the soul OF
ambition and The spur Industry He consequently
do work and do it better than Gsheartencd and
| wrctcned man can. Wien happy, 1ul OF heart
and ic then strike out plans OF usefulness and
honor, then work with perseveTnR yg0r. But when
we arc sorrOwiu and dlstrustlul, saddened by the
| aching Of unsatsfed wants, then the world loses It's
value and lie parts with its charms. The motives which
before excited Us become power.ess ana are sunk auto
Trdly. in the normal condition Of things enjoyment
ayoraO!c virtue. While wretchcdness Is panderer
m,n Genial benevolent, aud grateful. An unhappy
person APT to "co cross misantArOpic, tyrdnnca
Inc natural Of his desires being unqualified. he Is
GscOrddnt ami uneasy Many man. s0ured by the DIS
appointment OF his ambition, seeks miserable COM
fort in magu.ntly depreca.Hg those VINO nave sue
cecGed IN theirs. Personal JOY ana contentment would
transform this scli-gnawln@ an!mosy INTO pt4ceiui
GOOD viii. merry netrt doeth good Ike medicine;
therefore, human happiness, not c!9om ana pam Is
The design OF the Creator and the true religion.
~ inye ypur ~
uz .d duties to the eXten: or your ablty, aud with
b"an,iing heart enjoy tue world. without dread of
tr mower In nature, inherited DOOM In history, or
awning bcrditiOn in the iutue, this Is cheerful re-
i, consistent witn unpevyertcd Christianity
namely conformity the Word Of God aud perfect
love hIch casts out fear. IGere IS raw religion OF
h,rb1rc superstition, which Is Itioua assuila-
ron OF the dark and portcntOuN phenomena OF nature
a savage WHO hold this are slaves OF terror toy
uug themselves il the rites OF their worship There is
also tie arbitrary religion O morbid dogma, which Is
lActaphyaca assimilation Of the dark ana poltentouS
facts OF life. The eylzedalions "ao hoiu hl are We
lin, OF anxiety, imagining themselves TO be under
doom which they strive by various artificial meaus to
Finally there is the healthy religion of faith and love-
which is Il rational assimilation OF the order and be-
uignty Of the universe lac ehlShtehed ana cm9nel-
n led individuals VINO hold this trusting In the infai;c
pcrfccou OF God, try 10 learn His Will as expressed III
tue constitution oI MS WORKS. ana 10 40 IL anu then en-
loving every good He has placed in their power,
Ic1ve results in His hands without misgiying. Tho
spt OF tnc first form ol rclg0ns Is natural arn OF thc
second artificial HuAety; OF inc thlrd grateful content
The first is the Wild religion oi Ignorance; the
second the technical religion oI disease; tue thrd the
yeraciOus religion Of health The first Is an instructive
growth of superstltiOu5 inaginatons; the next an
Elaborate product VI morbid i1tetcs, but tue last Is
the normal correspondence III human experience OF tho
Divine plan enacted in nature aud proydence-a true.
cheerful religion. As spring gurgles up from the
near Of the eartb clear anu fresh scattering reiresh-
ment and producing veTdure IN Summer, rearing It's
crystal structures ana hanging its gems III WINTER so m
tue center OF our being God mas placed an Immortal
soul, the. play Of whose aLgcIlon may glad
den itself and all aTOdnd WIN the choicest |
delights and the activity OF whose intelligence winning
conquest after CONQUEST may iGrhLsG pressure without
end. Oar Maker unqiesOnaDy designed the conscious
action faculties within Us to be fountain OF un
failing Joy. The eye never "eares OF gazing on Visions
OF beauty the ear never cioy5 ol iIstohnS W ..
melody; tue heart Is never surieed IN experiencing
emoions OF love the mnd never pals IN searching out
truth and contemplating NY soi9 bue c.i'I5' ~ ~. "
nrIved OF their proper nOurshment ana activity di'Sat
i.dcd and out OF tune, dINlng tner pos,soi 70 pcl
ulclous gratincation oi cOuse are VI misery:
Uumau nature cannot be expected TO Jleld happneSs
Author, In harmony with tue laws OF lhe uhlNrrse |
sI through ALL n is obvious at Inc granu design oil
God the happy fuhtlmen OF It's ONCE 6yevsry lacu.
aud that every instance OF hIseIy 'ihPes sonc OH
ton of this design. Half of our life consists In reccv-
arounIus Leading from different parts o. the globe |
iuto the bosom 0f Ancient Rome were hIe great nigh
world sent Its wealth its luxury ts art TO adorn ana
argrandze the proud mistress OF the earth enthrOnei
on her seven hills. 80 running lrOai the |
ontr,Ird creation Into the human soul, are |
tSe live channels OF the along whose mysterious
ways taste SMELL touch sight and sound, form, weight
anj humber podr the riches of nature 10 endles, |
sire ANS teach and please the royal child OF COD
between being q aud being a weed or "A stone! |
What an inexpicable thing 1t + that the nlnd can
thjnk perceive create, and aspire; that We live and
move experience hope aud rear, love and trust ana eau
r.o MA fellowshlp with innnitudc what does II |
noani IL IL does not that there Il blessed spirit
ar Father who built the universe ana who wishes Us 10
be happy, and intends that IN some form We shan |
ia so forever then 1t means nothing; then, indeed,
A religion OF gloom and terror would De thc true one
Rnt IL does mean tins. and the mighty arrangements
made for human enjoyment show that fa cxultaton.
nb0unding Joy, not forobOdng aud wretehedness arc
,uat ina creator means for Bu6 since free moral
agency is par OF the plan. the extent OF tue commu
ntin carried on betweenthe individual and the race
nd betveen the soul and the universe the degree or
haTmouized uctivy the spiritual faculties. the mum
bcr and the intensity OF the JOYS 10 he experienced there
from are lefJ largely 10 eaCh man 70 decide for hin
self They depend culture IN conformity |
"a law they depend hts health. strength, knowl
ad-e virtue aud Industry. VINO can declare how nuch
happuess Newton derived from his discovery ana con-
,cnnaon Of the true order of the solar system VINO