The New York herald., 1878-10-28
MASONIC TEMPLE.
BEHIND THE scENEs-sEEMoN BIZ Mr.. o.

u. FRoTHINGHAM.
Tho subject chosen by Mr.. o. b. rockingham to
illustrate his sermon In tue Masonic Temple tho
phrase Bcnind the scenesp lie sald that all is not
bchipd the scenes what II seems before hcm-not as
fair or good as we are led imagine. Tho
phrase Is borrowed from the stage. and may
bo applied TO tho tbeatre Of life. Be-
foro the scenes there life beauty, grace !;
richly dressed men and women, lords and ladies
with the stately march OF tho tragic muse. Behind
the scenes arc tho dusty 1ours, uncarpetcd pas
sagoways, men hurrying to and iro IN thor shirt
Sleeves the crcaking pucys and unsghtly objects Of
reality. Before the scenes are spanges and painted
pastoboard castles that are castles and streets
tnal no man could walk In. The people on the stage
are what they seem 10 boz they are ac,ing thor
parts. Behind the scenes arc men watching aud
weary aud struggling with the rea work Of the stage.
In illustrator OF the life behind the a
what notorious Brooklyn preacher occupies mscI +
in painting the gamblcr's revels, tho courtcsan's
haunts Yes; but Iit the veil little higher and then
snail mens and women's laughter ana reveiry DO
brought crying and wailing Turning to nature we
see tnat admire beautiful landscapes, gorgeous
sunsets the pulpitnting and surghg OF tho ocean Is
waves: yet away tue mask from before the
aud hat 40 we sec1 Earthquakes, tempcsts, death
Ia thousands oil forms stalking grIinly triumphant
from end TO end Of the planet In unknown
forces, dragging the innocent and tho oest
down to the grave and making their years on
tins earth int oierabe with agouy. Nature is tho
most bloody tyrant that can be imagined. Look DO.
hInd again. ana lit this veil, too Tor tho
edincalon OF the generation Nature utters ner un-
ceasfng protest against all wiekednesses, which arc
tho transgressions OF her immutablc laws and the
OF every agony. An attentive car can catch the
murmurtngs OF nature against these iniqaitcs.
rnB siDy or TnE PLAGUE.
Nature tells the people 70 cultivate The ground that
famine miy be prevented, and wncn snc sends pos.
thence with ~. The yellow fever
has caused tho OF $4,000 O,000 and tho sacri-
lice OF lives whose vaiuc and numDer can
never DO counted. But that icvar 10 worth
| 10 the nation all II has cost; for u has
| powerfully aided tho rc-cstablisbmcnt Of good
feeling between the North aud the south. How many
nurses and physicians have sacrificed them selves in
| the noble msstOn which they assumed Their mum
befs will never be known but, in this age OF sccpti-
cism and unbeliel, they nave left behind them the
essence VI their herofsn. winch Is worth iar more
than the vast sums OF treasure ana numoer Of uves
| that were wasted. Probably this fever scourge
caused no more suffering death tnan was necessary
TO bring US out We are cowardly, lazy race, that
has 10 DC driven By sour aud goad Poverty, suffer-
ing disease, wrechedness want are the snarp spurs
tnat have TO be uriven into the SIDES humanity
| 10 plsh us TO effort. The American invents DC.
cause ne compelled to do II, because handful OF
| people must suDdue continent, tunnel its mo an
tans. brage It's rivers and cultivate It's landa fime