The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-27
MASONIC TEMPLE.
CHORAL INSPIRATION" -sERMoN BY REV. o. B.
FROTHINGHAM,

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FRoTHINGHAM
Almost every scat in the large hall OF the Masonic
Temple occupied yesterday morning the pastor Of
the Independent Liberal church announcing that he
would address his hearers upon choral Inspiration 4"
After word OF introduction he said that the Hippo
drome was a study. The performances there present
varying aspects, which different in relation. Some
excite curiosity others provoke smio still others
indignation, while at times the gravity of is out
ragged yet occasionally they earn0, and excite
thoughts religious minds Some OF the latter tho
speaker desired to refer to. What do see? Why,
men working to save souls Two men are there who
have nothing to gain individually by what they
doing; they not TO make money acquire place,
do not appear to be aiming for political favor, but
men with spiritual minds endoavoring to evangeze
the crowd Behind them the most gifted clergymcn
of tho city, giving them their support and the benefit
OF their heroic Wills Again, behind them hundreds
OF laYmon, OF the best society influential and noted
the pursuits of daily life, all giving their time,
their money and the force of their example support
of the cause. What have they to gam by II? They
expect to increase their social financial rela
tions by alliance with the movement, and so the
only answer that BIO given Is that their motives
purely dsintcrested Then, again behind these is
the Young Mems Christian Association, q society OF
over moro than 4, 900 persons, who look to convert
souls TO Christ. They do much beside this. Com
mitees appointed charged with the duty OF taking
care OF young men, Strangers the city that they
may obtain respectable lodging houses and know where
dnd moderate priced restaurants Lectures are pro-
vded for them also library well furnished and the
reading room Is always open, and members there
at all times to make the time pass pleasantly and pro-
ntably. Work is also furnished them, that they may
be kept from temptation You see these purely
IDEAL aims The young men expect nothing, hope for
nothing in this work. Again, some OF these frequent
the lowest haunts and meet with rebuff but they
mean TO accomplish at all hazards what is uppermost
in their minds purpose like this entirely contrary
10 ordinary pursuits 1t is most worthy and the object
sought cannot be estimated by dollars and cents. In
this we something like real inspiration. Not all
the four thousand are thus engaged, but II score
thus busy themselves they doing grand work. Now
what the motives that govern these men? First, II
is scctarian spif-hat is, the devotion to some par
ticular class oil ideas being the best tending the
salvation OF men, This il narrow and disagreeablo
some sense. A certain amount OF narrowness seems
necessary 10 all intellectual force The banks OF a
stream must be reasonably and reasonably high
for TO dow with reasonable force to be available for
the economies OF mankind; with the stream OF the
mind there must not be too much narrowness too
much bIgotry If you would have 1t to flow and attain
greater knowledge and make greater acquisitions. TIE
render the intellectual stream available there must be
q certain amount Of narrovpcss but then there must
be liberalism with II. One creed ABOUT valuable
another but that believed in by tho young OF
the Christian Association though extremely narrow Is
worked for by them and pushed along WHAT Is tho
OF principle II you are not willing to aid 1t and
keep It upward and onwardS Again. the motive that
Influences tho young in this work-wo Will say in
the salvation of thor own souls-what OF thatf This
hope OF living that the hereafter may be OF eternal e
licy
FICTION.
They hold that life is short anu its usefulness
If they could only feel that this felicity would
be certain II would be great thing but then, to hold
that all this lille amlcss, and the idea OF saving ones
soul Il paramount; that good society person
good for nothing without u, is absurd IL is better to
have the feeling that there is something In this life
than TO settle down 20 the idea that flowers OF
creation only to DO swept away Again. these young
interested In the salvation OF other peoples
souls They seize men. get them into rooms and pro-
vide amusements Tor them 10 that end. This Is
purely ideal thing. Yet they disnterested, noble
and at times heroic the work. Here then, is pure
fanaticism. We call IL such. The notion that
must live to save his own soul will cat away soul
after soul and leave nothing behind This purpose OF
saving other souls Is OF doubtful utility and works
spiritual mischief OF noble We believe IL bet
elbow ourselves along to better state f there
Is better statc) than adopt the other
plan. The law OF progress and the law
OF evolution will do all that Is required
For tho principles OF the Yong Mems Christian As
ISOLATION II is better that substitute others They
labor ioT the salvation Of souls; you interest your
selves NJ the Spiritual condition OF mon, not beyond,
his comments upon ignorance, bgotry and supcrsti.
tion the pastor SAID that, taking il literally. those
who believe that they can be saved by the blood Of
Christ are placing premium on crime, premiam on
guilt Such superstltions are full OF blight To
the souls OF men from such Christianity this,
10 lift this great burden OF oppression from such souls
should be our aim and work Put Il on the ground OF
selL Let us take OF tho temper Of aspira-
tons Let US emancipato ourselves from all supersti
ton, all bgotry and ignorance, and In this way
will be kept clean and free from all oppression.