The New York herald., 1877-11-19
A Variety of Subjects Discussed by
the Preachers.
HEPWORTH ON MATERlALISM
"Baptizing the Church of God With
Eau de Cologne"
BISHOP JAMES MEMORY
Interesting Religious Services on
Randali's Island.
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.

CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
ATHEISM. RATIoNALIsM AND MATERIALIsM
COMPARED WITH cHIIsTIANITy-sERMoN By
REV. GEORGE II. HEpwoRTH
Continuing his series OF sermons on creeds Rev.
Mr. Hepworth preached to his congregation in tho
Church of the DISCIPLES, yesterday, upon ratonasm,
materialism and atheism. These he submitted to a
comparison with Christianity in their influence upon
mankind. Since our object he said, Is only to know
the truth should accept the labors OF every one
who seeks with consccrated heart to discover the
hitherto hidden facts Of nature that We may know
moro ourselves and become moro useful TO others
ana have purer motives IL life. FIRST OF all It was
necessary say word about tho bold denial Of every
thing which is called atheism.
There were few men In the world rash enough to
deny that the world had been created and every thing
in it showed design. Mr.. Hepworth would not call
atheism cloudy day, that simply shut out the bright
blue sky from view, but rather dark night-so
gloomy TO prevent man seeing his way or recog-
nzing his best friends In America there was no dam
ger from atheism. Tho people OF this country were
too heaithlu subject that maady TO danger
Gus extent mans nature would be very much
perverted II he could not detect a Supreme Prov.
dence-a guiding hand In the WORKS o nature and the
experiences Of human iie The effect OF atneIstieai
but upon w whole naiions In France during
the revolutionary days statues OF Reason
high altars-were worshpped by the popu-
lace. Tho whole people were driven by doubt
aud frenzy to OF which they were afterward
ashamed The gu,ilotnc was erected In tho Place do
IL Concordc head after head ell into the bloody
basket under Its murderous axe. Then apoeon ap.
pcared and restored order. Atheism, the preacher
Sad, tells that camc from nothing and are has
tening nothing Instinct tells Us the contrary II
the ''Gospei OF Dirt" as Mr.. Carlyle called
maierialism, but The 'gospei OF annihiiation
Man naturally sbrunX from THIS doctrine Of darkness
despair aud therefore 1t was not 50 dangerous as
the theory lnaieriasm advanced by some scientific
masses OF the people Its theories resolve
everything into matter, body, mild and soul.
When ne inc uircr sought tho origin matter the
materalst hurled IL back into eternity II urnlshcl
ony magnificent doubt to take lhe place ol the holy,
true and time onored doctrines It would destroy,
The maeriast says that the belief in the soul is
satisfying dream to some people, but that he IS above
such Childish theories Materalism says sAli you will
have you got but piece OF clay"
These words remain, but the idea has departed.
Nothing remains but set OF implacable, heartiess
natural laws. Man cannot cry out, "Fatherl' Hc
might well call pteously TO thc avalanche In whose
path he stood to spare him II he aoes not get out Of
the way he must perish. Mr. Hepworth believed that
this theory untrue, because IL Digs The grave Of
every noble attribute OF humanity
RArIoNALIsM.
The rationalisc theory next engaged the preach
er's attention. The name assumed by the adhereuts
Of this theory insult to Christianity implying
that 1t not rational This cg0tisticui and
foolish and did not indicate the SUCCESS OF The mater
iaIists Faith in the Bible they call superstition, and
they contend that the Bible has no authority, except
what given TO It by the reason OF man. rney rdi-
cule the IDEA OF miracles. Mr. Hepworth would say
10 the nationalist, "You admit that God lnado tho
world. he made II by succession OF miracles. Why
has He now ceased doing what he did for so long
sime?" Mr. Hepworth TO explain the ration
alstic theory IL the existence OF God, but de-
MED HIS manifestations IN the world. They refuse to
admit the possibility OF Prov and
scon ut the idea Of miracle being wrought ior any
purpose whatever Prayer 1t declares useless In fact
~ teaches that the world is like clock which God
lhn first nf
and ut which He has not since looked, but stands of
and lets go ticking and unwInaiag unit. the last
world 2" the preacher asked OF the nationalist "Was
!, SO great failure that He was ashamed Of ~ Why,
then did He not relegato 1t to the darkness and
oblivion from which 1t sprungY
INDIFPERESTIsM.
The result of this rat onalistc theory feeling
OF indifference toward God. Nan SAID, ''since Goi
does not care Tor me care nothing Tor HIM. This
doctrine might DO called ratoDasm but there
reason IN IT, Not only would the preacher Ind It i'm
possible TO love such a God, but ne could not help
hating Him. He made the world and made
II iull OF dangers and temptatohs, and Hc
made man also and placed him in II, leav-
Ing him alone and helpless When man
cricd for help in danger he was an
swcrcd with a mocking laugh IRON eternity. Bet
ter the blndcst and Doidest atheism than God.
Why did the rationasls prayY 10 whom or what did
Shcy prayy The preacher could Dot understand what
prayer was like uDdcr such conditions
The idea OF God presented In the Bible was next
dwct upon by Mr.. Hepworth. God created the uni
verse ana It depended upon him Tor its exist
hko golden balls from HIS hands, and thoy
have gone on revolving since. each in It's
pointed path. He loves mankind and VIII continue
DO SO. He Is our Falner Who Is in heaven, and SO
minute Is HIS interest IN the world that sparrow
falls without His knowledge God hears words aud
answers our prayers, not always In the Way we ask,
but In His own way, which was always the best. BY
night and day He watches over men and SENDS His
angels to minister unto them Ii you ask what tho
world IS, said the preacher, answer IL is but u
dream In Gods mind put into existence. Man IS The
result OF u ycarning OF God Tor children. Religion
the best and 10 tho highest manhood and
womanhood. Conscience Is the shDdow which tho
centre OF light casts upon the sensitive souls ot men
for just iron touched by current oI electricity,
though IL had no power To attract before, becomes
marvcously magnetic aterward, just SO the soul,
which Is touched by God, learns to love the things
when tod loves and to hate the things which God
hates.
In conclusion, Mr. Hepworth asked his hearers, as
reasonable beings which OF all the theories hc had
discussed most rational, NOBLE the
worthy OF mans acceptance Every theory outside
OF the Bible, when 1t speaks OF God, blols Him out,
and when 1t speaks OF lite lowers the moral mercury.
say to these people as would 10 haunting ghosts,
"Avsuntl Then turn Christ aud lie says me, III
am the resurrection and the life; he that Dciicvcth
In me shall have life everlasting. ! 90 10 prepare n
place for you, that when am thero you may be