The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-14
MASONIC TEMPLE.

REV. o. B. ROCKINGHAM ON THE REVIVAL.
The delightful weather of yesterday attracted large
congregation to the morning discourse OF Rev. Mr..
rockingham at Masonic Temple, corner of Twenty
third street and Sixth avenue. Fashionably attired
ladies filed nearly every seat in the large hail.
The reverend gentleman, previous to his DISCOURSE
called attention to the second reception OF his society,"
which is to take place at the Union League Club
Theatre on the evening of the 25th inst He then
announced that the subject of his discourse would DO
the series OF revival meetings under Mcssrs Moody
and sankey now going on at the Hippodrome. He
would not speak of those gentlemen in a spirit OF
criticism cav, but as graciously and politely as
possible. 1t had been said, with consd-
cradle degree Of foundation, that the end
which those gentlemen undertook TO accom-
psh visionary; that the revival was
artificial in its method its philosophy unsound and its
spirit thoughtess 1t no doubt popular move
ment in which thousands and of thousands were
interested Some of the nObes clergymen in the city
were dcvout friends 1t prayed for by men be-
fore whom the speaker should stand with uncovered
head There doubt but the revivasts possessed
the courage of sincerity to carry them through their
arduous duties They stood in Of the rich
any other class, their work SO far singulary
free of many mistakes which characterized revival
movements of past ages They did not deal in denun
ciaton-no banding down Of tho inhde as a CURSE
holding OF the unbeliever over pit. spirit Of love-
kindness and compassion seemed pervade the move
rnents of the two who controlled IT, They we're
sincere, but many who did the most harm were the
most sincere.
In considering the ends which they wished TO &C
complish this necessity amounted to nothing IL was
objected to, then that they sentmentalsts that
they passed by considerations of the actual worldly
warfare passing around for visionary ideas OF here
after Why talk OF the suferngs Of Christ cucifed,
an event which took place thousands Of years ago,
nnr nntold oeon"sS NJ ppneS nyonah,v sas AZ
heart the sorrows and suiferings Of the world-the
effects OF inemperance, the disruption OF homes the
trouble brought about from crime OF every descrip-
ton He should deal directly with those issues There
two leading methods OF advocating relgion-irom
the outside and the inside the work of the reformer
4 and Of the regenerator.
! Mr. rockingham then went on to dilate upon the
| controlling influences OF these methods He decried
the advocacy Of visionary ideas In religious teaching
He would FIRST 90 at the actual root Of trouble II
absurd to preach to the cold and hungry while making
no effort TO amelioraie their condition. That was not
the plan OF the reformcr Mr Moody not
former He proceeded in the shape of a regeneration.
He worked on the doctrine, "GIve them new heart
and you give anew life IL was the best plan II IT
was only properly conducted. Reveals could be
carried on by good men and women going out into the
/ world and lmpressng upon the heart some great and
good thought-strlkng it homo and making them feel
t. Let them preach OF the beauty OF God, his absolute
justice, the Creator preservor, constant beneiactor,
whose goodness is boundless watching the fan of The
sparrow and the life of every man and woman on
earth This was perfectly simple doctrine to teach
Then they could preach that man was human
creature, not beast plant but being
with spiritual existence Suppose this
was grandly presented to the world would
not the blood begin tinge the veins and the BRAIN
TO feel powerful influence at work. The lot Of man
kind would then grow sweetor and sweeter. suppose
they to preach that there close direct COM
munion between man ana Cod that influences from
above were continually coming down to U.S. that each
who asks penlently receives what he asks Would
not thrill OF delight pass through the human soul
This was revival excitement The philosophy q hessrs
Moody and sankcy wrong. They taught no RAJ
tional doctrine at all They passed by the living issues
OF the Gay as the idle questions OF idiots and foos
They had but one thought Christ; that He was the
Goldman Even OF Christ they aid not speak nom
any enlarged standpoint Why did they not take the
Christ OF the Gospel the Christ OF the great human heart
the Christ who embraces everybody in his arms, the
Christ Of the heroic sou the Christ who preached SO
eloquently that every heart was touched
Mr. MoODY's FIXED.
MT Moody's eyes were fixed upon one single point
IN the LIE OF Christ, His death The great significance
IN the death OF Christ consequence OF the mis-
sion with which He had been ntrusted. His was
sacrihoia death This the grand point in the argu
ment OF the ovangclists Thcy.wished 10 make thelI
followers Christians through and through They would
be perfectly satisfied II this accomplished Every
thing else should be put aside in advocacy OF this prin
cple In the mythical book OF the Acts OF the Apos
ties Is was related that while Paul was preaching a
Ephesus number OF his hearers came with the
books pictures and works OF art and bnrned them be
fore his eyes The evangelist desired that everything
Ahould be destroyed except the doctrine OF faith
Christ They asked US 10 abandon the study o