The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-07
MASONIC HALL.
FIGHTING WITH sHADows-sERMoN BY REV. o.
u. FRnTHINGHAM.

FIGHTING WITH sHADows-sERMoN BY REV. o.
B. FRoTHNGHAM.
The Rev. o. b. rockingham preached yesterday
morning on Fighting with snadows.n He based
his discourse for once on Scrptural text quot
ing that part OF the Epstle 10 the Ephessns which
alludes to human battling with EVIL spirits.
This doctrine OF evil spirits living In the air is q
very old one. We md IL among the Hebrews
long before Christ who believed In evil spirits
dwelling in the chambers OF the air. They were
supposed to dwell IN dark places they haunted
grayeyards, tombs, &C. They are related TO have
been so thick that II mortals nad only seen them
they would nave been AFRAID TO move for fear that
they would tread upon them. These are
the evil spirits referred 10 by the writer
or the Ep;stle 10 the Epheslans. Whoever
reads the early Christian works meets
these spirits Of evn and darkness at almost every
step. The stained windows in catnedrals were
wrought as spells to keep these haunting ghosts
out the church bells we're rung TO purge the
chambers OF the air from them. the holy water,
the telling or the beads OF the rosary, the sign OF
the cross, were ali devices to battle against these
shades OF the nigat.
REALITIES MERGING INTO SHADOWS.
as time v ears on, however, this old superstition
becomes exceedingly shadowy. There are people
now who believe mat what are called spirits are
Simply the NHgeEllR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
made upon the mind while the mind mas not. yet
cleared or-as the man, Tor instance, who mas lost
aIimb SIN continues TO fancy the sensations which
ne once Ielt IN It. because the muscles
nerves still continue 10 report tuem. sup
pose the people ~ho die 90 not i've again
Still tuey 40 not dte-do not die Tor
tue living. Your friend, while living, comes and
goes, but when dead his presence j. perpetual;
there Is no seat at the table wuicn ne does not oc-
cu0y; you cannot dlyest yourself OF the sense
tat ne i witn you wherever YOU 90. All houses
wnsre men nave lived and dIeo are haunted
houses. Through the open door the impapaolc
presences come aud 20 as long as you i've, tnink
breatue and work. These splris live, think,
brearne, work with you ana III yOu. HOW re.
marSaDe IN the impress ons are the shades or
grt AZ men Inc ghost OF Napoleon stu continues
10 control the desunies ~ great natIon the guest
OF LutEer Is sthl unlad. lnsutuaohs DO not die
wnen tney are so lar obsolete tnat tney tannot be
rHE SHADOWS or RELIGION.
Take the altar OF sacrifice, Tor instance, which
STOOD In the Jewish tempe as IL stands IN tne
Caristian temple to-day. A. II Was once Tor tine
uai sneuclng OF Diood 10 Is now Tor the mystical
shedding OF blood ny the incarnate CArist. Then
look gov. tue altar passes into tue communion
table am that INTO purple vase OF flowers. Inc
RDnao Catholc cathedral Was Supposed TO be
literally Datch oil lanu rescued from the deya,
walled. Duttressed, Dlessc1 and c0nsecrated and
guarded At every portal. On the gorgeous
To tArOw upon the noor where toe woFshipEers
knelt the reflex o these holy figures. IL
was very refuge from tile sinful world. 90 now
into the Protestant caulch on tIth avenue. NO
hoy water, 10 PRIEST, no rltual-Onli tue shadow
81 these tntngs. ihe cnurcn IS no longer refuge
or the word, hut simply comfortable place,
where Tich people can near the best music ana
near the MOST popular preacher on SUNDAY. Aud
then the cnurca rnis SHADOW OF the cathedral. is
Tans1rmed INTO tae meeting house, the shacow
q, ne cnurcn. IA the ancient times prayer meant
Tie cry o. tue lamIsneg soul, offered IN the belief
that Cot was uyerle ~ ana would send uOWn tue
literal hani 81 relief; prayer - now, perhaps,
Only praise aud aspiration.
sPECTAES or ANCIENT BELIEFS.
During psst week tnIs builaing was dedi-
Gated 20 al urdsr 81 remote antiquity. me
those which solomon paced at ms own temple;
they we're once PROBABLY emblems Of tue columns
OF ciouded nre which marched before the Jews on
their Historical procession AT that Time every
em0lem vas charged with.a living duty o. pro:ee-
ton. Now u l. simply SHADOW retained Tor its
beautiful associations. We see the same things IN
dugIHas. mere were times wnen mea were
asuamed Of their bodies, wnen they were ashamed
ia looking AZ their bodies: they would rear am
lies, ENJOY no pleasures, simply because they
were engaged IN the al-aDs0rDlng pursuit OF get
ting ri 81 their nves. Where = TINS DOGMA
world there are nifty people VINO believe II.
81 h remote that II i Only b. an EFFORT Of the
Inauguration that We can recall ". Ana yet here
r. =. Even now we see every now ana thcn some
rich Or great man VINO letircs from the wOrd be-
cause ne Deheves Dimself sinner. Victor Hugo
SAYS tnat NJ lie seems 70 be sweet and holy ua-
less " nas perfume Of the tomb about II. We
have s'l "reminiscences q Old ideas. We blush
fcr inc scryitudc imposed upon tie past BY
cespots, sud when We read the accounts IN the
avers of today Of how generals daughter was
married re oniy 0lgsh Tor me sefvitude which
humanity imposes upon ITSELF The desire when
people Fee 10 read a0out the marriage 81 gem
eraas dauehter mas pale renex oil the adulatIOn
win wnicn IN past times the iowly worsnipped
tue great
FIGHTING WITH SHADOWS.
There was proposition in place IN the West
that tEe school children should be paid for kling
grassa0ppers twenty cents guart-haughte rl-
ana gust Oi wind swept them ~ aWay ia a mo-
ment. u wouln De equally Impossible 10 destroy
tue spirits aud shadONs OF ilie ~ 1gnting against
tnCm. Battle against Wen au1 not against spec
tres in hgitiDg with men you preserve the hero.
Ism. a. the men no are now tne noblest cham
plons of brotherhood between the North and SUuth
are those wbo iOught hardest Bgt Nnen ron
hght VITA shadows the blows fali always upon
your own heart. man once came 70 Lniher amd
asked Rim nov 20 get rid o. q deadly fear that was
feriug nlm. Luther. when at his WITS end
said. eco ana get dead drunk TINS ADVICE Is
not worm imitation. but the modern man can say
Plunge into WUrN; plunge into society; put your.
self into contact win real things single nouF
Ol dufy ls worth century Oh eXorcisin, 81 prayer
and 81 erase. II Is wen Tor ~ 10 remember IN our
wOrsnip that y - me real tnlngs wnlcu VII Dring
~ In real contact VITA the Father o. our spirits.