The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-10
The Power OF the Church.

Yester ay was almost too charming to
spend in church, and yet the churches were
well flled-eyidence that religion is, even in
this pleasure-loying city, more attractive thar
blue skies and cheerful sun. 1t has beer
complained by religious journals lately thai
the churches are not made sufficiently at
tractive; that they are dark, gloomy and
badly ventilated; and it has been suggested
that they should be at least as inviting ex,
ternally as our theatres. The theatre is
blaze OF light; its cheerful vestibules seem ia
ofier hospitality to the passer-by, and to sug.
gest innumerable pleasures within. 1t is
said, with too much truth, we fear, that the
church offers few Of these inducements; is
portals are generally gloomy and its principal
attraction is the sermon. Fortunately thu
latter is very powerful element of success
The reputation of the metropolitan pulpit has
become SO great that one is almost sure Of
hearing discourse in any prominent church
distinguished for eloquence, learning and
piety.
The evidence that our churches have moral
and intellectual attraction which compensatea
for their material deficiencies is found in our
columns to-day. The sermon of the Rev. DR..
Hall, at the dedication of the new Presby.
terrain church on Fifth avenue, is magnifi.
cent example Of religious eloquence and
thought The dedication OF this church is on
event as interesting to the Professionals of the
country as the comforting of the berretta upon
Archbishop McCloskey was to the Catholics.
Millions of Methodists, Baptists Episco-
palians, and even Universalists and Uni
tarians will appreciate its general Importance,
and without jealousy, for we are constantly
finding proof of the fact that the old bitter
rivalries Of the different sects are disappear.
ing The dedication of the new church is an
event in religious history, and striking illus
tration Of the profound hold which the
Presbyterian faith has upon our people.
Besides, this able discourse-and DR.. Halls
earnestness and intellectual energy did
Justice to the occasion-we preseB
other sermons well worthy Of careful
consideration. Among these are those Of
tho Rev. Dr. w. f. Morgan upon the dis
ciplne OF delay, the thoughtful argument OF
the Rev. DR.. Riley upon the limits Of civil
allegiance, Mr.. Frothingham's Characteristic
analysis Of the modern Pharisees, Mr.. Hep
worths superb argument for the Christians
faith in an immortal being and happiness in
the future and Mr.. Beecher's sermon upon
the relation Of man 70 the Divine Spirit and its
influence. These and other sermons must
have recompensed their hearers for the sacri.
fee they made in leaving the great church Of
nature Tor the temples Of religion, The oil
was sill, the skies we're azure and blazing
with lustrous light; in the bay tho waves
were dancing ligh: and clear and in the Park
and on the banks Of our two noble rivers the
trees were putting forth their tenderest and
most delicate green. But there was moral
grandeur in some Of the religious discourses
Of nature which was more glorious than even
this palingenesia Of nature. The resurrection
Of the spring goes as il comes, but the resur
rection Of the human soul is an eternal birth.