The New York herald., 1877-09-10
ST. MARKS EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
SERMON BY Rev. DIR. J. n. IYLANcE ON THANK
FULNESS.

FULNEss.
The Rev. j. r. Rylancc. pastor Of ST. Marks Episco.
pal Church, returned from Europe ON Friday last on
the steamship Bothna. Yesterday morning he con-
duced the services, and large congregation pres
ent to welcome him back to his pastoral labors As II
was communion Sunday, aud owing 10 the occasion OF
his return DR.. Rylance did not preach regular dis
He merely INDUCED in talk or address TO MS
flock, there being, however, continuity of thought
express.o ION on the theme of "Thankfuness'' the
text being from the 1851 Psalm 1st and ID Tho
Doctor has made several trips TO Europe and conse-
fuenty he did not 20 for nero superficial study
OF the habits or customs OF the people, but never
thelcss in his remarks he dwelt at considerable
length on the many advantages possessed by Ameri.
citizcns those OF other nations. Tho doctor
is an Englishman and has much service "on the
other sidc' that hts comments arc worthy OF
more than a mere passing notice He began by oh
serving that 1t IS sometimes said that we 60 from
homo that may more fully appreciate tho bless
ipgs OF home when We return, TINS being specially
true OF tho Christian pastor, he beng not only
OF ordinary human affiliations and attachmentg, but
al the same time the head OF large household con-
sistlDg Of tho Church which ho represents. The
preacher remarked that as IL was his nrst appcaran
alter n considerable interval OF separation from 81.
Marks pulpit Ho came not much to preach u
closely Iudictcd sermon as to utter spon-
taueously feelings aud sentiments OF gratitude
upon his return to ,sc his cusaomnry hosn m heids
discourse. He proceeded to remark that there Is n
great deal OF sclshness IN life and oven IN good deal
OF that which passes under the name OF religion.
Gratitude is comparatively rare feeling We receive
blcs sings but VIC do not deliberately estimate their
value. Let even ordinary blessing fan US and we
III ~ II and estimate value then as we never did be-
lore. Such inattcnt!on comes very largely from our
being absorbed in the pursuit oil other blessings while
overlooking many of which We are IN actual
possession at the moment Inattontion TO these
things Is prevalent vice. bcnco tho importance of
''Fo Forget not all Hts benefits. Some OF the leading
OF Christian thankiulness were dwclt upon
personal domestic social and tho privileges secured
by the Church.
NATIONAL BLESSINGS.
Special mention made OF our national blessings
and privileges, which the Doctor held TO be equa to or
superior 10 those OF any other country Ia the worl,
and here he expressed his firm faith III aud thankful
ness Tor the equal Justice and impartial liberty when
our constitution guarantees 10 all. Lamenting upon
the prevalence Of vices, such dishonesty and inf
dcity TO solemn trusts, with the reckless gambling by
which fortunes were often made and lost, he held
that these things not tho normal ouigrOwth OF
American Institutions or legitimate developments OF
American character, but he found the explanation oil
such vices with the dissipation which had generally
invaded even the Church IN the Decentralization which
had been entaed by civil war, which, Of all wars
tho most deadly IN US influence upon the finer
attributes and virtues OF national character
These things. however. he felt confident were