The New York herald., 1878-11-25
OUR MORAL STATUS.

L
NEWMAN.
| The Rev. DR.. Newman delivered his second dis
course last evening the bright Side of New York.
to an immense and highly respectable audience "what
more should be done for the destitute and vicious
classess' asked the Reverend Doctor. '.As we have
therefore, opportunity let us do good unto all mem
Galatians vi. 10. New York justly boast of 3i5
| charitable organizations which dsbursed in 1877
| S6.5Oo.OO0 in cash, food. fuel clothing and med
| ical assistance for the relief of the destitute
| and for the Improvement of the vicious
classes in this great metropolis This is a
glorious fact and is honor to Christian civil
ization and if half the million of people resident
here cassed among the poor then the other half
gave $12 so per person for the relief of the needy
| But this immense does not include the
| amount given unfortunately to those who may
| chance to apply, by churches and societies not
mentioned in the ''Ofcia Handbook of Benevolent In
stituons and Charities Of New York. It may be that
| the unknown charities great the known.
The record is high The left hand has not known
what the right has given. In many the recipient
knew not the generous giver. Disguised stranger
the good Samaritan has visited the home Of wreched
| ness and want, and leaving found himself twice
| blessed" New York has never turned deaf ear to
| the cry for help. When Ireland smitten with
pestence that walketh in darkness and destitntion
| New York responded with magnifcence worthy Of
| her wealth and intelligence.
SOME CHEERING SIGNS.
| In considering the bright side Of New York the
Doctor said in addition to the facts which gave last
Sabbath night let give others on this occasion in
| proof that New York has bright SIDE Our public
libraries are accessible to our citizens whero our
masters of thought in every department of literature
and where the workingman and apprentice boy and
the girl who honest livelihood by honest toll
may freely drink at those fountains of useful know
| edge. Our Young Mems Christian Association and
our Young Women 8 Christian Association open their
gates to all who may come for social enjoyment and
religious benefit. And it is the pride OF New York
that metropolitan press keeps eternal vigilance at
the portals of liberties Our daily papers claim
the right and the same is accorded to them to pass
movement Their e Srt"isms are correctionai and and
| promote the best interests Of society. Our press
.,, Is uhiauous ,a !, t. i the pnoto,Taph Of our
Little or nothing escapes tho vigilant eye OF the
porter. while the editor gives tone to public opinion
| A city with such press must have bright side 1t
is indication of the better condition Of New York
| that our better citizens have risen nacsse and
hurled from power those political thieves who plum
dcred our city. And this power abides and and
win be used whenever duty demands. In connection
| wlth municipal government have depart
monts wherein ali the great interests of society are
conserved. Our public benefsctions are worthy the
punish. our police is the best in Tho world and 80
| safe is New York that even clergyman can make
his midnight explorations through our dens of in
fanny without losing his pocketbook or shocking his
| modesty.
But what more should be done for the destitute
and vicious classes of our cityY This question sig
nifcant when remember that in 1879 200 fam
| to your missions of charity Let invoke law. 1t
is the province of law restrain the individual for
| benefit OF the individual Burke says law is benef-
in action Law is restrictive and protective,
and should also be preventive % Ile benevolent may
give when by iudicous legislation may largely
remove the causes which render their benevoience
| necessity. Some OF these causes beyond the
reach Of preventive laws. but there are others
| which and should be removed Our charities
| addressed to two classcs-the impecunions and
| the pecunious. The impccuniOus made OF two
unfortunate and the idle The unfortunate
arc those who have lost their property or employ
ment or health and are poor from ono or all these
causes. These are to be pited and aido II SICK send
the in:eptionslly and habtnaily idle shonld be- COM
PEELED to work. Laws should be made TO meet the
vicious and indolent, and IN the provisions Of such
laws the tramps should be attended Proiibitory
laws should be enforced against tho importation Of
paupers from other countries and their rcshpment
back again should be insisted upon. The bright side
New York will be mssie considerably brighter by
vigorous system of missionary effort. We must lead
the masses Of this metropolis to Christ.
rs BnooKrYN srsLEss ?-REv. DIR. HATFIELD
DISCUSSES THE COMPARATIVE PURITY OF NEW
YORK AND HER SISTER CITIES.
Tho Rev. Mr.. HATFIELD, of the Eighteenth Street
Methodist Church. preached last night on
the subjcct:-"Do the Recent Crimes and Disclosures
Prove New York Worse than Other Cities 2" His
texts were:-.Iniquties prevail" and ''There
Is hope in Israel" Tho reverend gentle
man said, in substance. during his discourse
that from the press. platform and pulpit the an
nounccmcnt Ia made that iniquitios prevail, that
crime is tho increase. and that this city (which
contains nconsiersble portion of the country's
population) Ia infected with dreadful contasion
and IL corrupt tho cities of tho old times
We arc told by distinguished divine who
has explored the dark places Of this city By
night that New York Is very bsd, that It
is moral cesspool. and that 1t is wonder wo are
not swallowed mp by an earthquake destroyed as
werc Sodom and qomorrah. There can DO no quea-
ton that crime and wickcdncss abound in
city; but that II Is worse than others in
tho East River may he fairly questioned. That the
'.City of Churches" is without den uf infaruy IL
more than the Brooklyn preacher can make us be-
isve. but the idea Of that ctys goodness capital
advertisement for those who want to rent or sell
houscs in Brooklyn. But little exploration by the
police ofcals st midnight in that city would reveal
some things that have not yet been disclosed to my
brother In the ministry. There 10 much inquity
| is paradise compared with London. Paris
or %r,r, Visna' th ,rs Dns m Sar,, sm mot not here TO
York. nor to make nvidious comparisons beswcen em
this city and others. to apologize for wrong nor
to make II appear that we arc righteous than
arc but ~ call your attention to the that criue
and wickelness abound; that they 70 be ncrcaa-
ing rather than dminishing; and this fact ought to
occasion alarm among tho friends Of good order
lead them inquire the this sse of things
and the best means for their removal. Scarcely
n day passes that VIC not shocked by tho
report Of brutal murder. daring robbery,
astounding fraud or gigantic burglary In addi.
| ton to these the grave. heretofore supposed to
I've too sacred spot to be dcsecrstcd. is opened by
sacritcgious hands. robbed of It's treasures, and
neither the skill Of the detectives the large
amount offered for the arrest and punishment of the
| criminals has been eHcctual.
HUMAN pEPRavIry BrAMr.
| Now. what the chief for crime through
out the land The first reason IL to be found in the
depravity OF human nature; the second motive is
money. Human life and property would h. safe but
for the inordnate desire for money There Is nothing
too degraded; nothing too daring pro-
fame that men will not do tor money attribute
this general Decentralization that prevails largely 10
the cxtrayagnnccs in living that brought about
by the latc war; aud the reaction in consequence OF
tho shrnkage In values which necessarily followed.
III look for further solution OF the problem of
the prevaenceof Of crime in our city we shall nd II in