The New York herald., 1877-12-17
piscourses from the Various
Pulpits Yesterday.
Is CHRISTIANITY OUTGROWN /?
The Subject Discussed by Mr..
rockingham and Others.
MUCH NEEDED HUMILITY
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.

oUTGRowN cHRIsTIANITY-sERMoN BIZ REV.
MR.. HEPwoRTH.
Mr. hepworth preached "0utgrown Christianity"
yesterday. He selected Tor his textJohn XII, 32-"And
II Ibe lifted up from the earth will draw oil mon unto
me-" In Masonic Temple, in this city, said Mr. Hep
worth an undoubtedly cultured audience gathersfrom
Sunday Sunday. II s ministered to by man whose
scholarship and whose graceful eloquence have given
him large and deserved popularity He isone OF the
prominent influences OF Now York. 1t 10 his delight
20 tell tho people that Christianity, as system OF
thought and as q mode OF hie has been outgrown;
shat doctrines not believed, because II is mpos-
able Tor intelligence OF az educated community 10
accept them. His thome Is outlivod and an out
grown Christianity. Down In Water street, filled with
those most dangerous characters that infest large
rcntres, is our friend jerry McCauley, in what no
calls q mission. He declares that tho Christian re-
ligon, it alone, has saved him from eternal ruins
believing this he breaches Christianity with an un-
tutored eloquence but an elcquence that Is not less
persuasive because II lacks education BY means OF
this Christian religion he has lifted mon from the
mire nth OF very low depths OF crminniity and
guilt He has snaiched men and women from the
very brink Of grave, and II you ask him
by what means il Is dono, he says that he knows
other VIII accomplish tho purpose that is
40 dear 70 his hearl as tho doctrine OF Christ HIM
cruc,ned He asserts, still further, that from the
moment he engages the attention OF u man ana gots
his heart fixed on the life and sayings, blended Win
into that mans life an element OF power which is
awakened and continues awake until The man Is re-
deemed physically, morally and spiritually.
THE TWO
There arc two tests OF the same system or thought
Dne is called tho test OF reason, ana tho other is
known 10 be the test of experiment Which Is the
mean by tnis to infer that Christianity Is nvaaated
whom tested by the highest reason. On the other
hand tho further scientific research goes me nearer
been familiar 10 since our childhood, and which
are Incorporated in the history OF the ages for
eighteen centuries. ! cannon, however, but assert
that better test OF Christian truth 10 found In the
effect that It produces ON mans liie II IL evident
shat Christianity OF the mission In Water street
Is worth the world than the cultured meeting
In Masonic Temple. Brothren, We want to look at
this matter hltle In detail II Il Is true that we
have outsrown Christianity then It is Time that we min
lsters resigned our placeR IL we have not ougrown
Chrlstanity then the demand falls upon the pulpit
with unusual power TO act with more vigor and 10
preach with larger persuasivencss. II Is AN ncon-
srovcrtbe TRUTH admitted by the best thought OF the
rime, that the nature OF things demands that We be-
lievc God and that We love Him. Ono OF the wants
Fo the soul is love. You might as well blot out the
sun from the universe as blot out love from mans
nature In hatred man dwindles. Love is the evan.
gel OF the soul. Love becomes inspiration to us
that encrgizes oil The dormant faculties OF our nature
and enables us to work and endure No other system
0i thought except Christianity, satisfies SO fully and
completely this organic want OF the soul.
CHRISTIANITY PRESENTS.
Christianity presents us an object worthy OF our
Imitation and also promises us help TO reach II II
makes this demand upon US, 'Bo yc perfect even as
your Father in heaven Is perfect" Tho Christian o
Is nko mountain climbing. The more you climb the
better you able climb. Then tho intuition OF
conscience proves the value OF Christ as teacher.
Conscience is not only educated by communion with
Christ but II discovers TO man the mysteries OF God
We learn by experience that communion with Christ
braces Tor the hard work that lies before nm.
Science tells tins axomatc truth, wherever therc
II right there must be wrong, and wherever thero
10 q wrong there must bo right. Who're thero are
two ways possible ono way must be better
and the otner must DO worse. Our con-
science teacncs US plainly enough that there are
two ways In which man can walk. All
do not travel along the road. We are taught
only that there two ways, but that one way
than the other Christianity has otner
object, IL seems to than 10 snow man road ous
OF the woods; tells tho way out oil darknc
with It's miraculous finger points In tho direction
OF the light The lilo and death Of Christ Is ike
weavers shuttle it Is constantly weaving itself INTO
the fabric OF human history. Gods prudence lies
In spite OF all that we do. Neither our
any of the laws that God has placed there. Years
This q wrong done AGAINST the law OF God that
ali men are brethren What The result Years
years went; generations and generations
went, and the black thread the fabric.
Gou's providence moved slowly, until at last the
whole machine OF national government was stopped,
ana the American people shocked at the appear
ance OF grim and Tue demand OF life made upon
every athcr ana mother. Then the battles came In
quick succession. IL was only making the black
thread red. 1t had to bc The nation could not 60
until a swift sacrifice was made. Mr.. Hcpworth con-
Cluded by earnest st9toment that what America re-
Qulrcd TODAY more Cnrslianity less.