The New York herald., 1877-09-17
MASONIC TEMPLE.
THE OLD AND THE NEW FAIrH-sERMoN d!

THE OLD AND THE NEW FAIrH-sERMON by
MIR. o. u. TGoTuINGHAM.
Mr. o. b. rockingham preached yesterday morning
before a limited audience at the Masonic Temple Dis
carding pulpit iormaiities Mr. rockingham selected
no text but plunged at once into dissertation upon
what he termed the old and new faith. Ho character
ized Christianity and its established forms of belief in
the old faith and predicted its decay, asserting that
even though 1t should maintain existence Tor u
thousand years 10 como Its demise as religious
educator was inevitable. He claimed that Christianity
was passing away, and that now religion was
dawning upon the world, but the influence
and effects OF the Christian iath would
remain. Its teachings and practices Involved
Individual hclplcssness and imbecity, reliance upon
GJd IA contempt for human "cxcrtons," " and the
manifest Even 10 Its leaders and professors tho ial-
lacy OF The iah Is revealed and they look elsewhere
for the lite that Is 10 be their guidance and the law
that Is 10 be ther strength. In the sabbath ana on
occasions OF religious demonstration they are strictly
orthodox but otherwise the arguments OF reason and
Intelligence determine their actions
PREACHING.
Through all lands all forms OF Christian be-
lief this prtnciplc asserting ITSELF aud the old time
system OF Christian preaching was tabooed. Mr..
Bcechcr, IN Brooklyn told HIM that his congregation
desired TO hear no theology from him. and that all dis
QuisitioDs on the aIonelnent and the sacrifice
Calvary to be relcgatcd to tho region Of the
past. Even Moody, the greatest revivalisl Of this
any other age convinced OF the propricty OF plac
ing theology underground and had recourse other
subjects better calculated TO promote religious telling
These the OF thoughts,
and their effects pcrmeated social and political
lie. Ii there one cnaracteristc Of our time 1t
shc estimate placed upon sincerity. To insure
cess must live up TO their principles; but ho
asked, what kind OF commercial ana political lie
would VIC have II merchants aud politicians were gov
erned exclusively by tho teachings OF Christi one OF
The prominent SIGNS OF the decay of
Christian faith, he said, was tho tendency
to substitute humanity, Kindness CT heart
and philantrophy for Christian teaching Their pres
ence was generally regarded as an evidence OF In
c. ensed religious iervor but 10 tho preacher boro
testimony OF weakness and disnegration, because 1t
was simply glorilcation Of natural instincts which
Ibc faith tram pied under foot Ia the faith
gns 10 lie no Christ AMI no SavI)ur He did not
70 convey the impression that II did not respect Chris
nanity aud It's teaoEings on tho contrary, would
lrar 10 light from hidden places tie names
Df lustrous religious beiicyers, whether OF Jow,
Buddhist Mohammcdun and place them upon |
4 pcdcsaI they boofo attained The new fnItn
Iauant Immortal glory, the responsibility oil man aud
4 belief IN the virtue OF true manhood Tho new |
ATTN. he claimed, would engendcr relations 10 |
lie not ony, bot would tend to the elevation OF tho |
human race The speaker closed an eloquent address
~ suQeesting honest and honorable conduct IN all |
relations the Lass OF religion the ELECTS OF