Year: 1871

Sermon to the Aged by Rev. DIR. ArmitaGe--
Gentle sacerdotal Rap for Attending
Other Churches.


The New Years Christian worship at the Fifth
avenue Baptist church, near the corner OF Forty
sixth street, was inaugurated by large attendance
at the services yesterday morning. There were no
decorations in the church. After the preliminary
exercises OF prayer reading the Scriptures and sing
ing, Rev. Dr. Armitage the pastor, preached


THE SERMON,


which, as he remarked in advance, in reference
to aged people. while that Of the evening discourse
would relate to young women. He took as the
basis of the discourse the text Revelations, l., 10
1hings which thou hast seen, things which are and
things which will be.n When Colonel Fremont
reached the summit of the Rocky Mountains, in
Oregon, he saw behind him vast tract already ex-
plored and familiar to him, and before him vast
region OF which he knew nothing. such was lie.
we can TAKE retrospective view OF the past the
1t was given us to form some judgment OF the future
by the past Stronger by weakness, stronger men
become as they STOOD upon the threshold or q new
world. Mans character in life Is fixed very early.
He dwelt at length on this point, showing how i'm
portant 1t is III early life lay the foundation OF
good character. In ancient times the character was
formed slower.


THE PRESENT AGE IS


greatly different from the past age. While great
events were the work OF centuries in the past the
work Of centuries is now almost crowded into





the capital Of Italy would be removed from Florence
to Rome, and that Victor Emmanuel would occupy
the important position he now illsg Having eabo-
went on TO show that whatever the


PAST OF AN OLD MAN


may have been 1t Is invaluable Although this past
is changeless the old man makes it enrich the
future. He urged in this connection that it would
not be wondered at that old people were fond OF
dwelling upon the remote past OF tneir lives and
that this feeling should be cherished rather than
repused Because they did this, because they talked
hInfv urara Than and Iu
way OF contrast disparaged the present, they were
not to be ridlculed but held so much the more in
reverence. They were not to be looked upon as


OLD FoGIEs,


but relics Of the past Enargng upon this topic,
soever man soweth that shall he reap and Illus
trated its truth IN the closing lives or the aged.
ceeaed to speak Of the present. When we look at
the young oak sapling we think Of the future, but
when we look at the old father of the forest then
we think OF the past. Most men are either his
torlans or prophets. The great present Is
the fruit of the past. The flower that budded yester
day blooms teday and will be blasted to-morrow.
The present Is the dross that is passing here not
the ore block above or a block below. gTiuv
strikes its brlh also sounds forth it's death Knel.
There has always been IN the breast Of man a de-
sire to


FIERCE THE FUTURE
When Saul came before the Witch OF EndOr to find
out his fate sne commenced her lncantations and in
the midst OF them spirit in the form Of a human
corpse suddenly rose from the eartn-You desire to
know your tate; tomorrow thine enemies shall have
THINE head." The past Is ours the present ours,
but the future is unborn. With this idea he brought
his sermon to close, and after taking his seat arose
again and INDUCED in a little extemporaneous talk
upon the subject OF
PREACHING TO CUSHIONS AND SEATS.
He said that the members of the church were too
much In the habit OF attending IN the evening the
churches OF Chaplin, Hepworth Richardson, Tying
and other pulpit celebrities. he wanted they should
attend their church. He gave them one OF three
alternatives either have minister for evening
services or dispense with them altogether or attend
them more regularly. At the conclusion vote was
taken and all decided to attend by raising their
hands. Taking up collection for the benefit of the
poor admission OF two ladies to membership of the
church and the communion services terminated the
exercises