The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-04
FEAST OF THE CIRCUMCISION
Mr.. HepWorth on the Way to
Begin the Year.
BAD BOOKS AND PAPERS
John Weiss on the Tragedy in
Nature.
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES


to the sermon OF Rev. George Il. Hepworth, at
the Church OF the Disciples, corner OF Forry-lourth
street and Madison avenue. The reverend gen.
tleman had chosen ior his theme How TO Begin
the New Year." and nls remarks were received
with profound attention. In the prayer immed-
ately preceding the sermon the reverend preacher
invoked Gods neip that men may DO made hon.
orable, upright truthful and just during the new
year. Might He make this year Of grace, and
inspire them all with confidence In Him, no mat.
ter II He send JOY Let the divine spirit
consecrate this congregation to Him from sunday
to sunday, and thus make the year one OF spiritual
triumpns and blessings. The reverend preacher
took his text from the Gospel according 70 Mat
thew XVIII. 2s:-Have patience with me. and
/ will pay thee all" me remarks OF the reverend
gentleman, which ne based upon this text were
extremely brief, as he was suffering from violent
cold. and his voice was very hoarse. While his
sermons generally occupy from an hour to an hour
and half in the delivery he spoke little over half
an hour yesterday morning. AS Will be seen from
the full report below. the reverend preacher took
this occasion OF orclally expressing his New Years
wishes TO all his hearers, and, In fact, to all Chris
tians, and to express the hope that the year 1875
might AFFORD them, twelve months hence. graft
lying retrospect
THR SERMON.
he supposed 1t had frequently happened to them,
debtor who was unable to meet note. They
either ielt pity or contempt for him. II they felt
assured that he was anxious TO discharge his DUTY
honorably. and was merely the victim Of unforJu-
nate circumsta nces all the kindness OF their natures
would naturally well out toward him, but II they
knew that he lived extravagantly at nome ana did
not mean to pay his debt, they could only feel the
contempt which he deserved On the 1st OF January
every Que had debt to discharge which no owed
to the divine Creator. and 1t was his business, as
their minister, to ask them whether they had paid
on an instaImens OF the great promssory note
which He held and TO which they were the second
party. 1t was important that after having passed
through this year they sn0nld inquire wha: they
were and where they were.
DEATH OF TIE OLD YEAR.
Last Thursday night the Old year died; It died
quietly. as age generally passed away; II died
leaving It's benediction to them and their children.
Almost instnctively, Is the hours passed oy, they
dreamt OF the past and the future. AS the last
stroke OF twelve rung out upon the night air they
instinctively cried out, ''GOodoy, old year!n and
they silently offered up prayers TO God that they
might build better in the new year tnau they had
ever built before. The New York custom OF cele.
brating the new year. Dy the way, was one he
liked. He could not easily forget how cordially
they all shook hands with him on that day, and he
mad no doubt that the season was one OF great
utility in other respects. 1t was time when the
impulsive, rash deed 81 ready regretted was laid
under the sod, when men could approach one an.
other without formality ana without GOODNESS.
The words, "Happy New Year!' had glad sound
of mutual forgiveness. kindness and charity
which was most grateful 10 the heart
NOBLE LONGINGs.
Now, brethren, what were the thoughts that
arose most naturally at shtS season, what were
the sentiments that swayed their oreasis' Ii
might be his business 10 utter these thoughts
from the pulpit, but be knew that they all had let
them Just Us well as ne had Ii was noteworthy
circumstance that TWO business men sitting to-
Setner scarcely ever conversed on those profound
and elevated subjects on which they pondered In
their hours Of rep9se ana loneliness ,o he had no
credit for these ongings, these thoughts and
desires. Q, Young nen, might they cnerisn these
noble thoughts and cultivate them more and
more, even though they did not freely utter them
It was curious that living only seventy years
shorter spaces OF time. No ANIMALS hao this g. use
Of time, nor did angels know any subdivisions oil
about time. With him, David said, a thousand years
were IKE one day; II was curious thing that
that knew nytning about time.
CERTAINTY OF SALVATION.
MANI aonpts Of their salvation. but NAV tSeg he
all melted by Gods love and thus remove all these
doubts and make certain the success Of their lives
they might cling more and more firmly to that
cross to which he had chung Tor 80 many years.
and to which he hoped they would al cling as long
as they lived. How much good they might accom-.
plish II all these 2 900 people this temple oil
this en- tire neighbornood. TINS vicinity was only
Indifferent to God because their hearts were cold
because they JAILED to serve as such examples OF
goodness as would render them powerful lliustra.
tions OF whas latin could DO Let them therefore
his heart. There was no church in New YORK that
stood exactly ON the basis on which this stood.
They knew how heavy was their debt. and God
II on. Let them allow him 10 assess them, not
only IN money, but in the works OF their heads
WORDS TO YOUNG MEN.
Let him 60 down on his knees oftener than
than he had ever done IN the past. Let him 90
down on his knees and pray for these young men
P4ey came nere In large numper
but let them not only come from curiosity, but be.
come strong In that revealed power which brought
peace 10 earth and good will to mankind He had
himself been once subjected TO all their tempta.
tiens and could appreciate the trials OF their
IN lie faded, yet one thing grew clearer and
clearer and lasted stronger and stronger, and that
was the religion OF Jesus Christ, their Lord ana
Saviour. and he loved all the others. He liked 10
60 down TO the counting houses and see the bust.
ness men shape The destinles OF the great city.
But let them do it, not In their own names but Ia
that OF God Almighty. Let every business man
feel that he was here on earth to do business in
the name Of the Lord and In service OF the great
principles which He represents-truth. charity,
TIE BLESSINGS OF Aas.
He loved the old people too. Old age was q
the Wac was he 70
tess thing OF life to those who we're Old II WAS
the religion OF Jesus Christ. 1t made all the uif-
ference in the world whether they were to die and
ne no more, or whether they were 70 die and hive
forever II was not necessary for him to talk
much longer They saw his condition and no W
unit ne was to speak much more. And yet he felt
that he must offer one more OBSERVATION.
WISHES FOR THB NBw YEAR,
He hoped that this latin OF which ne had spoken
would grow In brightness, in clesrness; that it
would rise out oil the darkness OF ubbelief as a
chip came lorth from pail OF fog. When he was
cruising on Nova Scotia last summer he saw snip
dimly, and he noticed how slowly 1t came
through the fog and showed all It's
outlines; and when the two SHIPS met
it was with hearty wishes OF good will aud "God
speedv Thus they mad met on New Years Day
in bidding one another Happy New Year"
They went In different direCtons-one east, the
other west-but might Gods blessings rest over
them ALL He would close with lew words When
the year 1915 died, as 1874 had done, might they
cross as the most priceless treasure OF their lives,
LA Inn a Ln surnIlnnel Ii nQuer q I.