The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-03
Expounding the Word Of God to
Eager Listeners.
PATRIOTISM AND RELIGION.
Beecher on the Nobility Of Chris
tian Character.
HEROES OF THE COMMONPLACE
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.

PATRIOTISM AND RELIoIoN-A GLANCE At THE
PRESENT CONDITION OF socIETx-sER1os
M REV. GEORGE H. HEPwoRTH.
A his text in the Church OF the Disciples yester-
Aav morning. Rev. George II. Hepworth chose
Aha following passage from Paul's Epistlc to tho
Ephesans-. Bsing aliens from the commonwealth
Of Israel and strangers from the covenants OF
pronisan Patriotism, said Mr.. Hepworth, Is very
closely allied to religion. II Is tho youngest son
in the family OF which religion Is :he Oldest They
were born Of the same mother, and between them
there is q sympathy which IL the natura! result OF
kinship The effect which religion produces upon the
character IL TO EDUCATE and 10 make sym.
pathetic with everything which right and true tho
effect which patriotism produces 10 TO enlarge his
views, TO quicken his sense Of moral obiga-
lions and TO increase his power Of sclf.sacri-
Ace ana devotion to others We have every
reason to DO exceedingly thankful to God
who has uado us citizens OF SO peculiar . common
wealth. aud there 10 no custom which We could prac-
slse that could DO productive OF better results than
that OF meeting once year In Gods holy temple TO
offer up mutual thanksgvings for tho many blessings
which no showered upon Us during tho year; and
ret II il sometimes difficult TO discover the difference
lctwosn ourselves and those OF other countries-be
woen Europe and America 10 order that our thanks-
giving may be definite and pointed II Is said that
soldiers on battle neld know nothing Of tho extent
the battle in which they engaged, so overcome
are they by tho excitement and entnusasm OF the
moment So too. Is It with US. who arc apt
or,sa me .hoso snssrvinD prncuies which
DO cherished with the deepest love OF the
nations heart. II we coad stand some
hill top and from Lofty height look upon all the
divisions OF our large country should ihsn appre-
ciate position and the privileges which enjoy.
In other lands there arc Kings and armies ready TO
people, but here the people Is the king, and,
shank God, thero 10 divine equality between man
World but i, q not In uniform Its soldiers are to be
found Nc tho workbench, holding tho plough on the
farm, In the office OF tho clerk We have been IN
existence = century, during which We have proved
things 70 the world and raised the standard OF
comfor. among the people We have Infused into
each man q degree OF personal ambition which
psis him TO ift his heart to the accomplishment OF
great AMI glorious result. IL Is well that the whole
nation stop think It's obligations and there
bcttor place in which wo should thank God for ali the
opportunities Afforded by native land than In the
Church which His Son has established. rhore 10 no
placo from which the truth be spoken better than
from the pulpit
GovxRxxxyr AND TIE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
II was said IN tho days oil Cromwell that tho Chris
tan religion part parcel or the constitution
OF England. We may say the same about our country
to-day. ana tina. patriotism ana Inc Christian iasn
first place, seems - inc that the greatest want OF
sue limes is unselhsh statesmaush,p which rs in
c0rruptibe The ideal statesman The mau who Tor.
gets his personality when no taxes the oath OF Office
The administration oil public AFFAIRS ought not TO have
In the shadow OF suspicion II has butsv1Os
object and aim, und that Is duty well performed,
In spite friends Toes The ideal statesman 10 the
man who soes tho whole OF tho country and who
takes his position far above all local issues. His
office Ia administered that can give him nothing
but honor Administration III any other way opens
the door temptation Corruption STA ks IN and then
Its horrible characters are seen written on the wall
As look around me detect hunger for ONCE and
longing tor power which Is ominous la the last de-
grcc. | think | SEQ q class Of anxious
Tor Office who cannot be governed by the
odsn %sSv sna have s KIND Of
Bile, IN which The prizes belong ~ him who - the
most reckless aud powerful A great man always
makes his office greater, whilc bad man always
drags down 10 his Lowell. would the time were
u hand wneu the courts would render y impossible
tonored name. IL our country tho incentive 70 seek
N Office should be honor, not money.
We in the habit Of looking for the perpetrators
crime dishonesty In the cellars Of the poor and
The lowry and the uneducated But while so dong TO-
day the anomaly which presents Itself to us 10 that
most trusted officers are sullied. Men who have
behind spotless record, VINO have been honored
citizens and implicitly trusted In matters OF bus-
suddenly trpped aud fall through tho trap Of
disgrace Some OF these men are Christians. yet they
have fallen into the morass OF sin and OF shame The
cause OF this sad condition OF affairs 70
20 be found In tho fact that tho financial
condition oil the country has been changed curing
tue past lew years, and unless we change with u we
shall reap the whirlwnd OF shame and Disgrace 1t ~
tho natural ougrowh OF tue prosperity that followed
late civil war and when the crash came, like the
snot Of pistol, we could not stand IL People could
necessary, but continued to live extravaganty Tho
result 10 thut the American people are becoming used
breathe IL without being aware OF It's poisonous nature
This Is problem casy IN Its solution but the DIM
Guilty IL 10 practise the remedies. We want moro
moral courage must LOOK more trustingiy TO tho
Christian religion. II insists upon the iulament oil
duty and Of the obligations which bind man
70 IL dues not ignore tho things Of
this world, but would reach up end draw
down those influences which cluster about tho
throne Of God. The Christian religion has fought
against this great evil and has been assisted NY two
strong and faithful allies Ono Of these Is tho courts
Of Justice Many OF their decisions are cmbiems Of
conservative Christianity. The judges have ponted
out danger and referred to the remedy IN strong
terms me other ally has been the press all over the
country. We ought 10 be exceedingly proud OF the
abity, Of the impartiality OF the general sense OF
houo Of the far sighted sagacty ~ tho editorial rooms
OF the American nowspupers Hardly ono vi them has
pandered to the popular wish or grancd tho popular
excitement. Nearly all Of thcm, ever since the war:
hav. raised OF warming consistently pointed
danger, admonished tao people OF the condi-
ton 81 affairs aud advised higher sense Of ruth IN
business affairs lnndelity has eaten the near o So
cicty Now must come back 10 the Cross, 10 Inc
Sermon the Mount, ~ tho old iaith of our fathers
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
NOBILITY or CHRISTIAN cHaRACTER-sERMoN