The New York herald., 1875-12-13
SOUTH REFORMED CHURCH.
CONGRESS AND THE cHURcH'-sERMoN BY
REV. DIR. ROGERS.

CONGRESS AND THE cHURCH'-EERMoN BY
REV. DIR. ROGERS.
The South Reformed church, Fifth avenue and
Twenty-nrst street. was well filled yesterday morning
with congregation that listened with much attention
to q discourse by the pastor :'Congress and the
Church" His text was Exodus xxii 2s-'Tbou
shalt not revie the gods, nor curse the ruler Of thy
people, :" and from Timothy, l., 12-"l exhort there
FORE that first of all supplcations prayers interces
sions, and giving OF thanks be made for all men for
kings, and for all that in authority: that we may
lead quiet and peaccabe lie in all godliness and
honesty The pastor advised that here were had,
first positive command, and, second, earnest ex-
hortaton Though $500 years had elapsed between
the utterance OF the and the other the
spirit breathcd IN both aud their tendency
MAS to the game end Both the command ana
exhortation seemed particularly applicable to our land
ANA to this time when the national Legislature had just
conveued The American people are gwen 70 habltual
abuse OF their rulers and they just as habtuay neglect
pray Tor them. In no other country are men in au
thoriiy so mcrcilessly scrutnzed; not only IN their
political connections, but in their private relations they
attacked Once talked OF Tor oice, ana instantly
pedigree and family history gwen TO the world,
and Illustrated papers begin the work Of carlcature,
while the professional interviewer seeks you ut ali
hours subjects you searching cross examinations,
and literally you inside out. II elected, your
astoninent is very great TO hear of exceilences you
never before knew Of while on the other hand, you
shocked ond expression with being charged with
crimes never dreamed Of No wonder, under such
from holding oIlce.
Under the old Hebrew system ofgoverninent the off,
ciaI commanded respect by his pozltion and so IL
should be with Whatever the private character OF
those in authority, the Tact OF Their being promoted
above their fellow citizens should be sufficient 10 stop
indlscrninate abuse and vruIent attacks The COM
mand Of the text refers to the official character Of the
ruler. and should SO be obeyed Not that We arc not
10 be particular as 10 what manner OF men we select
officers OF government Tor this should always
have tue greatest attention, ana the time may come
when the personal character OF ruler is 20 tainted
that the patience Of the people exhausted and rcvo
lutons engendered Upon the reverence OF people
for those authority depends 10 great measure their
prosperity. The Word OF God does not describe the
form OF authority or government that should be
adopted but 1t does say there shall be settled
form and that It's authority shall be respected One
man may live alone and get along well enough. Roon
son Crusoe alone perhaps caused no trouble, but SO
soon as Friday joined him there was government de-
manded. So soon as an organized community loses its
respect for its rulers just SO soon has lis demoraza
tion begun.
The Bible plainly and explicitly teaches that civil law
be known, and obedience TO all its cXponents is
Christian duty The government must be oocyed so
long 1t subscrves its ends II II fails IL administer
ing the laws then revolution becomes imperative that
III the end better government may be secured Per
sonal OF those in authority, now rife in this
land has become positive SIN. The sentiment OF IT.
reverence exists well as the custom OF hurng cpl
thet and criticism at every public officer, from Presi
down constable; the art OF carIcaturc though
II has accomplished some good perhaps, in exposing
corruption has much harm in the manner it has
presenting public officers to the rdcule and scorn OF
tho populace. The preacher, minister OF the Cos
mol aud as a citizen protcsted against this abuse OF our
public officers He also dccried the manner in which
papers assai rulers and in tunes OF election
the pamphlets and documents that food every street,
abusing this that the other candidate.
Dr. Rogers in conclusion, said that the present Con-
gress together under peculiar ctrcufnstancesi
The dominant party OF many years has resigned ITS
sceptre and the opposition has say; the Presidential
Message than before is looked upon as re-
murkable document and wakes much discussion. The
influence that may be brought 10 bear upon the mem
beTs that TO the halls Of our national Leesa
many, and there should be the resolve to purn
those not of a righteous nature The people all
the country looking the present Congress for such
laws aud enactmenis as will again inspire confidence;
the standard oil values must be considered aud wisdom
is required for the work We also in our centcu-
NAL year and this land Of wealth, of good men, good
and happy children must 20 on and prosper 1t
will be II the Christian religion continues upper
most IN the hearts OF the people Let us abuse our
rulers less and pray for them Let Us pray for
the President and Congress that they may harnonZe,
though not in accord politically.