The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-21
CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH.
DRAINS AND CONSCIENCE SERMON BIZ THE
REV. DIR. J. p, NEWMAN

BRAINS AND CONSCIENCE SERMON BIZ The
REV. DIR. J. p. NEWMAN.
The Rev DIR. Newman preached in the evening on
the subject of brains and Conscience, taking his
text from Acts XIV 16-'I do exercise myself to
have always conscience void of offence toward
God ana toward men," The diffusion of in
teliigence. said the Doctor, and the creation of .
public conscience the paramount needs of the
present day. There is an intimate connection be-
the intellect and the sense Christianity
is not only the most intelligent religion known 10
man, but demands of each and all mental culture
for the due appreciation of it's obligations and pro-
visions The Bible unfolds to us the highest order
of thought and fills the mind with the noblest con-
captions of God and Wherever it spreads
its banquet of wisdom and love there the
common intellect rs emancipated and there is
possessed the largest average intelligence. As Amcri-
cans. we must insist upon int. ligent citizenship.
Such citizenship may not be necessary tor mo-
narchcal or arstocratc countries; but here, where
each mau is sovereign and each citizen rcpubli-
one. there must be Intelligence to Understand
the nature and obligation of law. We cannot insist
too strenuously upon tho maintenance OF our system
OF common schooi education. lie who cannot read
the constitution under which he lives should be
allowed to exercise the political functions citizen
Yet too much stress must not De laid upon known
edge without mora iorce to direct IT, IL was Lord
Bacon who said, In knowledge without love there
Is something of malignity." 1t Coleridge who
said. "All the mere products OF the understand ing
tend to DEATH. 1t was ST. Paul who said add virtue
TO your knowledge Some OF the most brilliant
intellects have been monsters in crime. knowledge
IN power for good for evil according IL is con-
trolled by moral force. Call conscience what you
please-'the facuty OF the soul, "a OF moral
obligation, IA perception and q sensibility," "a
moral sense" or "a witness"--one thing is true
namely, that may create within ourselves and in
others such sense OF right and wrong that men
Will entertain tor the same profound respect We
can cultivate this moral sense to the exclusion OF
hatred. jealousy and revenge and to the manifesto
ton ot love, honesty ana nonor. We need to-day,
more than ever In the past. public conscience that
viii respond TO every force OF duty and to justice
DUTIES CITIZENSHIP.
Each citizen should nave n clear realization of his
responsibility to society aud TO hts God, that no
will manifest In all his pubic actions the same in
tcrest that he feels Ina Whatever belongs to his per-
Bonal welfare. He must create for himself anu for
Others such standard Of right and wrong will
exclude crime and misery and bless society with
virtue and happiness. The present epidemic Of
crime IN high places and IN low is in proof that
such moral standard does not now exist. We have
brains enOugh-we have poets, statesmen, philoso-
OF our intelligence. but. people, are lacking in
committed Aside from all creeds and church
aniziti0ns and even religion Itself we should settle
those eternal principles " truth aud Justice, vlr-
the and charity, which are the only SAFETY aud hap
pincss OF the people. The creation of such con-
science IL the mission OF the pulpit the press the
rostrum, the schoOlhouse and the family. These
the great factors in the production OF public moral
ip. Heaven and earth call upon the Church TO &C