The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-15
LYRIC HALL.
MIR. ROCKINGHAM breaches ON "a DEvoU
LIFE"

MIR. ROCKINGHAM breaches ON "a DEvoUT
LIFE"
The usually large audience gathered at Lyric
Had yesterday morning to listen to the Rev. o. B.
rockingham ON the subject OF IA DeYous Li:e.',
The reverend speaker, contrary to his more
geaeril custom, confined his readings TO the
ed Book OF the Christians, emitting extracts
from the other ancient and revered writings with
when he is wont to instruct and entertain his
people.
THE SERMON
BY devout lie is understood life Of contem.
p!aton, OF thought aspiration and prayer; there
FORE 1t Is purely internal. Its form oil expression
has differed In the various periods OF the worlds
history. In the early ages 1t Was expressed IN the
form OF a sacrifice OF something which was consld.
cred as q gilt TO God. This was perhaps OF q
human victim captured in war; Of lambs. bull
locks KIDS, doves; something which was pecu.
liarly precious TO the glvcr. AS In the process o,
time man became more kind and mcrciul In his
thoughts these were dispensed with, no more
affairs were erected and in their stead symbols
were offered, like incense, which was supposed to
be an emblem Of the gilt. Further on IN the pro.
cess OF mans refinement only words came to be
offered in the form or prayers, and finally these,
too, were dispensed with, and no offer OF prayer
was made; but in lieu thereof an inward reaching
so dlssimilar have at the bottom the thought.
The idea or devOut lie Is the same everywhere;
1t is the idea OF conservation, the giving up Of
something near and dear; 1T Is the mIngling Of
the human with the superEu.nan, the mixing OF
our own thought with the endless thought which
circles through the world. In India, for example,
where the Infinite Being IS regarded as every.
thing the al.-in-ail the effort of the devout per-
son Is to make himself nothing, to abolish,
If such q thing could be done, his very
CONSCIOUSNESS and so be absorbed In Him. Pass
OF the Roman CATHOLIC Caurch placing the Virgin
Mary between them and the AlllE-Ali, aud to hor
they bring their gifts, while the Protestant has
the suffering Christ, whom lie regards as God
himself and whose ideal lie he strives TO initiate
OUTSIDE OF these and outside OF Chris,laaity, the
idea Is the same. In Illustration OF this The
speaker mentioned Theolore Parker, believing IN
no saviour or other intermediate between himself
and Goa, and Auguste lomte, the author OF tic
no hereafter, and yet IN his catecbisn LAID down
rules ior devou. ME and directing MS dlsci2les
TO pray three times day TO some CHOSEN spirit
VINO had Afforded them reef IN their trouble, thus
THE SPIRIT OF DEVOTION
aud conservation IN the human heart. Tue devout
LIE, MIR. rockingham Said, Is not peculiar TO any
BORN OF ne S e
voit life as tradition, nor CDEte because nc
had been 50 taught After showing the great i'm
portance or thought In comparison with the ma
tera universe the reverend gentleman conLln-
ned :Deyo tion IS associated with all that is best
In lie. THIS feeling has made the temples OF latin
more tnan a match Tor the temples vi commerce,
more than matcn for the residences OF man.
And why is 1t, then, that devout lie has 80 fallen
into cisrepute? Tor that 1t has so fallen cannot
be doubted. 1t Is because there has been
we avo Te eomSeea ye a5 ne
common idea Is that a man can only lead a d,vout
Lie Dy devoting himself entirely TO That, and the
result Is Il loss OF time and OF intelligence which
cannot be endured. After speaking OF a series OF
sermons, written by number OF very liberal
As,tta hmm nt- anti ~
10 pattern after Joseph, The lather OF Jesus, Mr..
rockingham said VINO knows anything ABOUT
hllnf lie IS not character OF history. and all We
know OF him Is from the paintings OF tue Old mas.
tcrs representing hin as contemplating his Dapy
o al ESy5 Aa suas cIea, i in
a recent sermon, spoke OF the new and
extended career when the observance OF ritual
isn would throw open ~ women, III making altar
cloths, dressing affairs and embroi1erlng vest
ment5
1t is not to be disputed that the common i'm
precision OF the devout man Is very disagreeable.
lie ~ expected TO associate as little as possible
with anything useful in life lie may not be an
actor. though he have the genius OF Joseph Jefrer
son or Ed win Booth lie may not sing In the
opera, though he have the genius OF Mario. lie
PLAY ON THE vIoIIN
he must eschew all amusements and refuse TO
associate Wit n those who attend them; he mus
MAKE Sunday as useless as possible, and no mat
ter what the opportunity afforded Dim to do no
must not DO IL on that day. Mr.. rockingham
argued against TINS form OF devoutness and urgeo
upon his n arcrs the necessity OF truer and
NiGHeI uevOuOn, 10 nc manifested III WoTk, WIN
proper aims ana tendencies, Tor the Advancement
OF self with reference 10 tue good OF the entire
race. Is there doubt that lie wouo be better
II men and women reported themselves 10
headquarters ~ stated hoursS sailor, no mat.
ter what his capabilities, Is lost II he can
not take hts observations, and In the great
voyage Of life Ia 1t possible that any person can
steer Alright save by the star that never sets2
Raphaeps painting OF the TRANSPORTATION repre-
sents two picturos In one In che upper the gIorl-
fed Christ Is seen conversing with the great men
OF His nation; while Ct the foot Is the poor man
rvh I'M IN rod Qnx WAl nc n
the people surrounding him, their eyes turned
towar5 the brilliant features OF Christ. Superb
cial critics have found fault with this; but why
was the Grace Riori1ed but that He might cast out
deYilsi Together they teach that man goes