New-York tribune., 1881-12-26
DIR. BRIDGMAN on THE INCARNATION.

The Madison Avenue Baptist Church, 1t
Maaisolaye. aud Thiry Ist-st.. Was simply hut taS'e
fully decorated with greens and flowers ioT the Christ
ma, service yesterday morning. Tie pillars supporting
the gallery were wound viii sprucc while aJo,e each
one and beneath The cGs fixture, hung cath, 81 holly
mixed with a few bright flowers. la the centre
OF each Of The panels into which thc
gallery front divided star OF holly Tho front o
the organ loft at the OF the chuIrh was heavily ie
ooned with the material. ON either side Of the
alter stood low evergreen and at the base OF The
large columns supporting the arch Of the chancol
taller trees Fcsoons and wr,atAs OF green stuff aud
bright GOuers hung the curved wall back O the pul
pit while in the centre OF is space was large star Of
| molly, red berries and flowers.
The music was rendered by quartet the singing being
congregational ordinary occasions The quartet con-
sisted Of Miss Irwin. Miss McCulum a'tO: VIII
nam IeggeI tenor; and Mr. OHdin, hasso The orcant
was II Y. Bartlett One solo was accompanied by harp
| together with the organ Mics SlOman was the harp
player The following selections OF music were rem
dercd at the service Opening organ voluntary Chopins
"Polonaisc; first anthem, "Sholr the Gad Tidinss.
arranged from Wagner; solo By Miss McCuiluu, "Noi'
by Adam, harp accompaniment; second anthem,
"Glora" fIom aO2nrts Twelfth Mass" closing vol
! uuta1y, overture to "TanbauseI."
The pastor. the Rev c. D. W. Bridcman, took ms
tex John l., II: "Aud the Word was made Gesh aud
dwet among us. and bchcd His glory, the glory Of
the only besotien Son OF the Father in 3i Ertce ana
| tr9th." Tie scrmon was ia substance as follows;
oil and saints oar own Nation gathers al Jund is
chiefs and herOes DO them honor. Bus snch cClrbra-
lions are confined clsscs NO mere human name or
gory ever commands world wide attention. Not only
one uatiCn bui a utinn6 not Un!S Ia one year. bit iu
al years Chris cHdUm celebrates lis greatest festival.
The story 0 He advent life and death ~ Jesus IL old
and well known The world over, aui IL VII always inter
| est and Influence mankind II 10 a remarkable
fact apart from all considerations OF Faith. that The
Child OF two poor IIeJrcW shOJd como -
an influence over the minds and hearts Ot mcu. There
must something more than human ID His ma
tuIc; tneTc nave DCcn clements O tie dlync naLdre
In His character, lie born and rose through every
expcrieucc o. human lie. and He perfect Glass
| believe thai He was simply the ont OF human
! genius and His religion would perish
/ On what does tls faith tue dYnityOi Christ de-
| pendl On the SCnpture the numerous prophecies Of
| Him contained IN the Ola Testament
! were ali fulfilled. All the circumstances
of s birth aud ife point TO the conclusion ;hat lie
| more thar man. thai Hc came from God. III Him dwct
| ali the fulnesa Of the GDdhoid. Such incarnation
a. the Scriptures describe IN not improbable. ". cannot
tell I'm what way how much God came into ChTi5ts
lfr neither the anatOmst discover the prncpe Of
he With all his prO1ingh, can Ia plain thc subtle
| relations between mind and matter, though he knoWs
well they exist Does scientist say because thing f.
| iucxpucable, that IL Is therefore Impossible
At unreI2 We have 20 do with inGiie power and ~,
manifest atOns in tis matter Incarnation Is not i'm
u s,iDlc The idea Ot the diyinty tncrng into human
lives been present. This universal faith Of
mankind nas been manifested IN every Wuy-in ths,
In poetry. in tragedy, in sculpture and in AL rcll OUF.
Ths instinct is universal and therefore is natural We
cannot deny that suc1 revelations have been and