National Republican., 1881-10-17
METROPOLITAN oHuRoH.
Eloquent SermOn by tho Rev. Dr. New
man.


IT was gratifying to the large number
OF the friends OF Rev. DR.. Newman 10 see his
familiar face and form once more In the pulpit
which he occupied with such distinguished ability
Tor so many years. II was an od-timo audience
that filled every available space in the commodi-
Gus auditorium OF the Metropolitan Church yes
terday morning. After the pews had been filled
camp-c chairs were placed in all the aisles, and
when these were found insufficient to accom-
modate the multitude chairs were also placed in
and around the altar and some sat on the steps of
the pulpit The reverend Doctor selected as the
basis Of his discourse the words found in
Acts, w., I2-"For there IL none other name
under heaven given among men whereby
We must be saved" The preacher spoke without
notes, and In his usual forcible and picturesque
manner He said that there were four faots
which confronted us on every hand. First, there
is thatin the world which men have agreed to call
vice. What II is, and what Is It's origin, and why
II is In the world at all, are questions which have
been productive Of much discussion and much
difference Of opinion. 1t is sufficient to say that
ii Is the parent Of all misery Again, there Is that
In the world which men have agreed to call vir.
tue by the general agreement Of mankind this is
the source of all happiness Again. IL Is agreed
that the source of vice and virtue Is not In the hui
man physique or In the human intellect but II is
in character. What character Is cannot be exactly
defined any more than the astronomer can tell
what light is or the student Of history define civil
ization. But tile essence underlying the word Is
apparent In general II can be said that character
Is what man is--what he speaks and thinks and
lives In the fourth place, 1t Is evident that the
power TO suoduc vice and develop virtue Is not In
man nor of man, Is not In the Bible nor out of the
Biblc; but IL comes from source outside and
nre prone o n % a,srncasd "S GnTs Is Syency SSa
sneer nt the plan Of salvation but salvation Is the
necessary tissue OF all true and noble character,
aud in Its nature Is twofold. First-To adjust
man relations with God, aud this was affected by
the death of Christ, He was the justifer of the
unjust Second-To reconstruct human nature, so
that man Is taken from the chaos OF his fnll Into
the cosmos of regeneration In these times the
essence OF our religion Is placed III the cruel
pie OF discussion, ana criticism ana creeds are ~
tackled and faith assaulted. The statement of the
text affords sure ground upon which to stand;
that the only power left to man Is what comes
from Jesus Christ There are two theories which
arc advanced concerning man, the first asserting
that man is bad only account of bis environment,
and that he Is by nature capable OF being deyel.
oped TO higher state. Tie second maintains that
human nature Is bad radically but not totally, and
this leads up tothe doctrine OF regeneration. The
preacher tlien went on to discuss at length the
proposition that there was no other power known
TO man except the name OF Christ which was cnpn-
bic OF subduing vice and fostering virtue: lie
spoke OF the theories which the ingenuity OF men
had devised to take their place aud how modern
inhduity had borrowed from the philosophy of
India the ideas which II sought TO substitute for
the doctrine of the Christian religion. lie showed
how all the reformatory forces Of the world were
essentially Christian. Every upward and onward
movement of humanity has been preceded by q
revival Of evangelical religion.
ST. JOHNS CHURCH.
st. Johns Church, opposite Lafayette Square,
contained large and fashionable congregation
yesterday u having been announced that the rec.
tor, Rev. w. A. Leonard would preach for the first
time since his return from Europe. President Ar
thur was III his pew and secretary ana Mrs, Hunt
were also among the worshpers. An invitation
had been extended the French guests to attend
the services, but for some of the party
were present. Mr.. Leonard chose as his
text portion of the thlrticih verse OF
the fourteenth chapter of ST. Pauls Epistle
to the Corinthians, and his sermon was
q mastery aud instructive one. He con-
trastcd the manner Of worship practiced In former
times in which pomp and ceremonies wero the
principal features, with the simplicity observed ut
the present day, and charged his hearers to avoid
| all appearances tending to make religious ser.
vices exclusive and mysterious. At the conclusion
| OF tile sermon he delivered short address TO the
| congregation expressive of his qualification al
| again being among them, ana made certain neces-
sary, announcements and appointments for the
coming week.