The New York herald., 1876-11-06
MASONIC TEMPLE.
THE PERFECT LIrE-sERMoN BY REV. o. B.
FRoTHINGHAM.

FRoTHINGHAM.
Au unusually large congregation assembled in
Masonic Temple yesterday morning. Mr.. Frothing-
ham announced his subject 'Thc Perfect Life, " and
said What Is a perfect life recent definition OF
religion calls IL the endeavor OF TO perfect him
self The definition has several advantages To perfect
pne's sefs certainly more desirable than perfect
encs neishbor which IS what religion often does The
definition moreover, has a certain historical justinca-
non. As of fact religion has been been bccom
ing more the effort OF man to perfect himself
Il is becoming spiritual thing assuming form
character energy, intelligence, moral and spiritual
advancement. In the oldest forms Of religion
there Is connection between morality and rclig
ion. IL consisted IN an apparatus OF pous
observmces, contritons and confessions design
ing he invisible forces They helped those
VITO pleased them they withheld help IRON those
who displcased them. a man simply tried to ind oct
the best way OF pleasing aud the easiest way Of dis
pleasing. and now alter all these thousands OF
years OF spiritual experience there single spirit
nal religion that has home makes a close conncc-
ION between pety and goodness Take the Romans.
which is. on the whole, tho most complete definition
II Christianity in tho most dogmatic form M person
who has ever been IN Roman church will
every side men ana women the most abJect the most
degraded the most baso and vile, going through the
forms their religion with the constancy and
devotion. See hanging the altar plcments OF
the robbers trade, which he has secured there ia
honor OF The Virgin or the saint 10 bless h,m IN
LIS occupation. Religion consists Of purchasing
favor irrfn unseen power frotcsiantism is
ttrred with the idea that Christ must
lie within. That the consoiinr spirit not form,
ia, vas IN the person. That tho Lord pufged every
lcrson through the avenue of Hts own consccncc
l;ut still we must 20 outside of Proestsntisn, 20
among those who outside of the proesscd Church
lind people who, as rule, every day Ia their
common speech tbat religion and goodness
are one and the thing and cannot be divorced.
Religion is tie effort OF man 10 perfect himself
There arc two words---one OF which IS repusivc and
The other Is vague-- Effort ana periecton Tho word
cfort is rcpulsive Naturally dislike effort IN namo
and substance. The world Is not marked wish enorI
The processes by which all the glorious things IN the
unfvcrse brought about not characterized by
effort They get by these. There IS no Wrinkle on
fhe brow OF Cod. There sign OF struggle IN
any OF the great works OF liis hands. All
order ior millions aud millions ut years yet
there ID The sun every morning AS "
millions Of years and stiIl Is un~cared
Watch II ous CT thc abyss OF night There
In no sign of weariness, dimuEition OF his light
some air and every evening he goes down, gathering
his gorgeous robes about him, not hue weakened,
not bow less perfect. Yod cannot hear the grass
grow but you hear the grasshopper whr Tho
sumner comes but so nofscessly the prophecy Of u
bong told IN every preceding day; yot We arc not
that any change is taking place, except by The