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CHUECHES AND PASTORS
OF
WASHINGTON, D. C;
TOGETHER WITH
FIVE EMdW) TOPICS OF SERMOXS, DELIVERED U 1855 AXD '6.
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
A LIST OF ALL THE CHURCH-EDIFICES, AND THEIR LOCALITIES.
BY I.OKKNZO D. JOHXSON,
Author of " Chaplains of the Government."
NEW YOliK: PUBLISHED BY M . W. DO DD
NO. 59 CHAMBERS ST., Rkar ok the 1-ahk.
1857.
' 157516 !
i TtLDEN fOUNDAT.OHS. I
1 1899. J
FEINTED BY
!il3&]arti ©. Jenkins;
2v Fraokfort St. N. Y.
CONTENTS.
Introduction 9
Directory to Churches, 11
Churches and Pastors, 21
Christ Church, 23
F Street Presbyterian Church, 26
Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, 30
First Presbyterian Church, 32
Wesley Chapel, 34
Saint John's Church, 36
First Baptist Church, 40
Saint Patrick's Church, 44
Saint Matthew's Church, 45
Saint Peter's Church, 4G
Fourth Presbyterian Church 4G
Baptist Church, 51
Foundry Methodist Episcopal Church, 52
Friends' Meeting, 55
Second Presbyterian Church, 57
E Street Baptist Church. G4
McKendree Chapel 07
Unitarian Church, 70
Church of the Ascension 73
Saint Paul's I'-ticjlish Lutlician Church, 75
(vih
vm CONTEXTS.
Eyland Chapel, 77
Methodist Protestant Church, 80
Trinity Church, 82
Sixth Street Presbyterian Church 83
German Evangelical Church, 85
Shilo Baptist Church, 87
Presbyterian Church, 90
Methodist Church South, 92
Thirteenth Street Baptist Church, 96
Methodist Protestant Mission Church, 100
Church of the Epiphany, 101
German Evangelical Church, 103
German Evangelical Lutheran Church, 103
Assembly's Church, 107
Jews' Synagogue, HO
Union Chapel, 115
Grace Church, II7
New Jerusalem Church, 118
Gorsuch Chapel, 120
Fletcher Chapel, 120
Providence Chapel, 121
Methodist Episcopal Church, 122
"Western Presbyterian Church 123
Chaplains to Congress, 127
Sabbath Schools, 129
Five Hundred Topics, 137
INTRODUCTION.
The District of Columbia, embracing within its limits the cities of Washington and Georgetown, the national capitol and all the vast machinery of the General Government, constitutes one little terri- tory, in which this whole brotherhood of States have an equal interest. The Heads of the several Departments with their hundreds of clerks, and the other employes of the government, coming here from all parts of the country, to have, at least, a temporary residence, nothing less can be ex- pected, than that there should be felt, in every Congressional district of the Union, more or less solicitude as to the secular, social, and moral con. dition of this growing metropolis.
Leaving others to inspect the workings of the political machinery in this District, we propose to give in this work only a very concise view of the moral aspect of things — in connection with the pastors and churches of Washington.
For a work of this kind to have any claims to completeness, it should include the religious enter- prises and interests of Georgetown, as well as Washington — with which, by the increasing facili
0^)
DIRECTORY. 13
LIST OF CHURCHES.
A LIST of all the churches in Washington, D. C, including the names of the respective pastors ; and, so far as ascertained, the times of holding public worship.
BAPTIST CHURCHES.
First Church, 10th street, between E and F streets. Rev. S. P. Hill, pastor ; residence on H, between 15th and 16th streets.
Navy Yard Baptist Church, Virginia avenue, corner of 7th street east. Rev. Mr. Greer, pastor ; residence on Virginia avenue, between 7th and 8th streets east.
E Street Church, E street, between 6th and 7th streets. Rev. G. W. Samson, pastor ; residence on 6th street, between D and E.
Fourth Church, 13th street, between G and H. Rev. Dr. Teasdale, pastor ; residence on 13th street, between G and H.
Services at all the ]3aptist churches at II A. M., and at the usual hour at night.
14 mRECTORY.
CATHOLIC CIinSCHES.
St. Patrick's Church, F street west, between 9th and 10th streets north. Rev. T. J. O'Toole, pas- tor; F. E. Boyle, assistant. Services daily at 5f and 6= A. M.; on Sundays at 6, 7, and 10^ o'clock A. M. and 4 P. M. Parsonage adjoining the
church.
St. Matthews, corner 15th street west and H
street north. Rev. John B. Byrne, pastor ; Rev.
Jas. B. Donolon, assistant. Parsonage adjoining
the church.
St. Mary's (Grerman), 5th street west, between Gr and H north. Rev. Matthias Ailig, pastor. Ser- vices same as above. Parsonage adjoins the church.
St. Peter's, (Capitol Hill,) 2d street east. Rev. Edward A. Knight, pastor. Services at same hours as above. Parsonage adjoining the church.
St. Dominick's, (Island,) F street, between 6th and 7th streets. Rev. J. A. Gr. Wilson, pastor ; J. N. Clarkson, assistant. Parsonage opposite the church.
EPISCOPAI. CHURCHES.
Christ Church, (Navy Yard,) G- street south, be- tween 6th and 7th streets east. Rev. J. Morsell, rec-
DIRECTORY. 15
tor ; parsonage adjoining the church. Services at 11 A. M. and 4 P. M.
Trinity Church, corner of 3d street west and C street north. Rev. Gr. D. Cummins, rector ; dwell- ing 6th street, between D and E. Services at 11 o'clock A. M., and at the usual hour at night.
Church of the Ascension, H street north, between 9th and 10th streets. Rev. Mr. Stanley, rector. Services at 11 o'clock A. M. and at night.
Church of the Epiphany, (3r street, between 13th and 14th streets. Rev. Charles H. Hall, rector. Services at 11 o'clock A. M. and 4 P. M.
St. John's Church, opposite the Executive Man- sion, at the corner of H street north and 16th street west. Rev. Dr. Pyne, rector. Services at 11 o'clock A. M. and 4 P. M.
Grrace Church, D street, between 8th and 9th, (Island.) Rev. Alfred Holmead, rector ; dwelling on B street, south of Smithsonian Institution. Ser- vices at 11 o'clock A. M. and at night.
I street, between 19th and 20th. Service at 11 o'clock.
16 DIRECTORY.
JEWS* SYNAGOGUE,
4th street, opposite east end of City Hall. Ser- vice every Saturday from 8 to 10 A. M.
I.UTHERAN CHURCHES,
German Evangelical Church, corner 20th and Gr streets. Rev. Samuel D. Finkle, pastor ; dwell" ing near the church. Service at 11 o'clock A. M.
English Lutheran Church, corner of H and 11th streets. Rev. J. G. Butler, pastor ; dwelling 12th street, between K and L. Services at 11 o'clock A. M. and at night,
German Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, north side of E, between 3d and 4th streets. Rev. Wm. Nordman, pastor ; dwellins: next door. Services at lOJ o'clock A. M. and 3i P. M.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
McKendree Chapel, Massachusetts avenue, be- tween 9th and 10th streets. Rev. George Hildt, pastor ; residence 9th street, between L and M.
Foundry Church, corner 14th and G streets. Rev. Samuel Register, pastor ; parsonage adjoin- insf church on G street.
DIRECTORY. 17
Union Chapel, 20th street, between Pennsyl- vania avenue and H street. Eev. Wm. S. Rogers,
pastor.
Ryland Chapel, corner of Maryland avenue and
10th street, (Island.) Rev. John S. Deale, pastor ;
parsonage 10th street, adjoining Ryland Chapel.
G-orsuch Chapel, 4| street, between L and M, (Island). Rev. J. H. Ryland, pastor; residence, parsonage above.
Wesley Chapel, corner F and 5th streets. Rev. ■William Krebs, pastor ; residence F, between 6th and 7th streets.
Capitol Hill Church, corner A and 2d streets. Rev. R. S. Hough, pastor.
Ebenezer Church, 4th street, east, between E and Gr streets south, (Navy Yard.) Rev. Francis H. Richie, pastor ; residence 7th street, between G and I streets.
Services at all the M. E. Churches at 11 A. M. and at the usual hour at night.
Fletcher Chapel, corner New York avenue and 4th street. In charge of the McKendree Chapel station.
Providence Chapel, corner I street and Delaware avenue. In charge of the Capitol Hill station.
18 DIRECTORY.
Methodist Episcopal Church South, 8th street, between H and I. Rev. Dr. Doggett, pastor.
METHODIST PKOTESTANT CHURCHES.
Methodist Protestant Church, 9th street, be- tween E and F. Rev. P. L. "Wilson, pastor ; dwelling, parsonage adjoining the church.
Methodist Protestant Mission Church, corner of Virginia avenue and 5th street, (Navy Yard.) Rev. John R. Wichols, pastor.
Service in all the Methodist churches at 11 A- M. and at the usual hour at night.
NETT JERUSAL.EI?! CHUKCH.
On North Capitol street, between B and C streets, near the Capitol. Minister temporary. Service at 11 o'clock A. M.
PRESS ITTERI AN CHURCHES.
First Presbyterian Church, 4^ street, between C street and Louisiana avenue. Rev. Dr. Sunder- land, pastor. Services at 11 A. M. and at the usual hour at night.
Second Presbyterian Church, New York avenue, near the corner of I street north. Rev. J. R. Eckard, pastor. Services at 11 o'clock A M. and 4 o'clock P. M.
DIRECTOKY. 19
F street Presbyterian Church, F street, between 14th and loth streets. Rev. Dr. Gurley, pastor : residence west side of 12th5 between G- and H streets. Services at 11 A. M. and at night.
Fourth Presbyterian Church, 9th street, be- tween G and H streets. Rev. Dr. J. C. Smith, pastor. Services at 11 A. M. and 4 P. M.
Assembly's Church, corner of I and 5th streets. Rev. A. G. Carothers, pastor. Services at 11 A. M. and at night.
Sixth Presbyterian Church, corner of 6th street and Maryland avenue, (Island.) Temporary sup- ply- Seventh Presbyterian Church, 7th street, be- tween D and E, (Island.) Rev. E. B. Cieghorn, pastor.
Western Presbyterian Church, G street, between 19th and 20th streets. Rev. T. H. Haskell, pastor.
I'NITAKIAX C'lirRC'II.
Corner 6th and D streets. Rev. M. D. Conway, pastor ; dwelling Mr. Hudson Taylor's, corner 9th and D streets. Service at 11 o'clock A. M.
('OI.4»kl:u 4 iiL lec'iiivs.
Colored Presbyterian Church, loth street, be-
20 DIRECTOKY.
tween I and K. This church is temporarily supplied by Dr. James Wilson.
First Colored Baptist Church, 19th street, corner of I. Rev. Samson White, pastor.
Second Colored Church, Missouri avenue, be- tween 6th and 7th streets. Rev. Gustavus Brown, pastor.
Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, corner 11th and K streets. Rev. Thomas McG-ee, pastor ; residence 8th, between I and K streets.
Little Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, south C street, between 4th and 5th streets east. Rev. F. S. Evans, pastor.
Israel Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, south Capitol street, near Capitol Hill. Rev. Samuel Watts, pastor.
Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, corner 15th and M streets. Rev. W. H. Waters, pastor.
John Wesley Chapel, between 17th and 18th streets. Rev. T. J. Clinton, pastor.
Zion Wesley Chapel, on D, between 2d and 3d streets, (Island.) Rev. Mr. Jones, pastor.
CHURCHES AND PASTORS.
CHURCHES AND PASTORS.
CHRIST CHURCH,
WASHINGTON PARISH, NAYY YARD,
Rev. Joshua Morsell, rector, preached in the morning before the communion, from 1 Corinth- ians V. 5 :
*' For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us."
The speaker presented a striking parallel be- tween the institution of the Passover in Egypt and the types which foreshadowed the death and merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, with the media- torial relation in which he stands to us " miserable sinners." He also explained the relationship of the Lord's Supper, (which was instituted the night on which our Saviour was keeping the Pass- over with his Disciples,) to that ancient institu- tion, where our Saviour transferred the sacrifice of the lamb that was slain, and to bo eaten on that
(28)
24 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
occasion, to himself, and said : " This is my body, which is given for you ; this do in remembrance of me."
Rev. Mr. Morsell has just entered upon the duties of his rectorship in this parish. Taking this discourse for a sample, Mr. M. furnishes the hope and promise of bringing the requisite prepa- rations and qualifications to " feed the flock of G-od." He takes the place of the Rev. Mr. Hodges, who but recently retired from this pastoral charge. And as this fact has not before been mentioned in our " Sabbath Review," it would not here be out of place to pay a passing tribute to the piety and usefulness of one who has, for the last seven years, gone in and out among this people, " an example of believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." The benevolence of his heart, the gentleness of his manner, and his diligence in visiting his people, especially "in all times of their tribulation," will not soon be forgot- ten.
Christ Church, to which name, for the sake of designating its location, we have usually append- ed "Navy Yard," is the oldest church organization in this city. The corporate name is " Christ's
OF WASHINGTON. 25
Church, Washington parish;" and that venerated receptacle of the dead, better known as the " Con- gressional burying-ground," belongs to this '• Wash- ington parish," the right name of which is "Wash- ington Parish Cemetery." As it was the oldest and largest burying-placc in the Federal city. Con- gress made an early beginning there to deposit their honored dead, as the long line of monumental blocks, bearing the date of the death of deceased members, bears witness. Hence it is now so widely known as the Congressional burying- ground. The entrance to Christ's Church being through gateways, and shaded grounds in front, with flowering shrubbery and the parsonage on the side, gives it an air of rural quietude, all in har- mony with the "house of prayer." Then the high projecting galleries, and the narrow nave of the church, together with the elevated position of the pulpit, reminds one of those sacred olden times on which the mind often delights to dwell, while such structures as some of our church edifices now are, were never dreamed of. Nor does it lessen one's impressions of other days to learn from the older members of " Washington parish" the lively recollections thev have of President ]\radison,
26 CHUKCHES AND PASTOES
(whose lady would usually arrive first in her coach,) as he came regularly to church, in fair weather, on horseback, like our present Chief Magistrate, who usually reaches the church-door on foot almost as soon as his lady is ready to alight from her coach.
F STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Rev. p. D. Gurley, D.D., preached in the morn- ing from John xiv., part of the first verse : ''I go to prepare a place for you.''
The speaker insisted on the sentiment of the text, that heaven has somewhere in Grod's universe a locality, and brought many passages of Scripture to show that He, who has purchased us with his own blood, has not withheld his highest wisdom and ability in preparing a place for all his followers, that where He is there they may be also beholding his glory. As to where this " place" is, he said, the Scriptures were silent, only that they everywhere point upward, " far above all heavens ;'' and then produced the suggestion made by Dr. Dick, that the numerous systems of the universe appear to astronomers to be revolving around some vast
OF WASHINGTON. 27
centre, in the same manner as our solar system revolves round the sun ; and that as the sun is five hundred times larger than all the planets of the solar system, so this great centre may exceed in size all the systems in the same proportion ; that on this vast central universe, five hundred times larger than all the worlds that float in space, God has his great white throne, where there is room enough for all nations of every kindred who shall be the heirs of salvation, whether in this world or on those far away revolving round other suns. To this " place," having led captivity captive, our Saviour hath ascended to make ample and com- plete preparation for all who follow him in the regeneration. The point of appeal in the discourse was this : Since, to be a disciple, a follower, an imitat(jr of Chri^it, indeed, to be a partaker of the Divine nature, were the indispensable qualifica- tions for ascending " into the hill of the Lord and to stand in this holy place" — who is attending to it and who neglecting it ? The ajipeal was search- ing and impressive.
l)r. Gurley evidently attaches a great value to the undying soul. Helieving that it is " a great salvntinii" to bo savfd. so also to lose the soul i?^
28 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
evidently, in the speaker's mind, full of affecting, serious, and awful considerations !
Among the deaths which have occurred the past week in Dr. Grurley's charge is that of Rev. Mr. "Wynans, late principal of the Central Academy. Mr. W. was regarded by all who knew him as a good man and a sound logical preacher. Besides discharging the duties of a teacher at the head of his school through the week, he was here and there rendering assistance to the regular pastors on the Sabbath. Although a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church, he has several times sup- plied the pulpit for Dr. J. C. Smith, much to the edification of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, during their pastor's illness. Sustaining such re- lations to the community, his death must be la- mented beyond his immediate family and relations. In a brief allusion to his death, Dr. Grurley spoke of the loss to us of such a man even as of small moment in a comparison with the gain to him — dying with the calm, bright assurance which religion inspires, which, like the clear setting sun, grew brighter until his eyes were closed in a Chris- tian's death. Altogether the service of the morn- ing at F Street Church was well calculated to
OF WASHIXGTOX. 29
impress the mind with the importance of attending to the things which make for our peace before they are forever hid from our eves. Feelinsf the sub- ject, which he had seriously revolved in his own mind, to be important, he made others feel. The audience evidently retired with the impression that religion is a subject which should belong to no secondary consideration.
The origin of this church runs back to 1803, when Rev. James Laurie, then known as a Scotch seceder, commenced preaching in the hall of the old United States Treasury building. His first church was built in 1808. Although the church subsequently became identified with the Presby- terian church (old school) of this country, yet Dr. Laurie was its sole pastor until 1841, when in consequence of protracted illness he was assisted by Dr. Van Rensselaer and after him Dr. S. Tustin. In 1843, Rev. N. Bannatyne became associate pas- tor with Dr. Laurie. In 184(3 Rev. Mr. Bannatyne died, greatly beloved by the senior pastor and by the church generally. As a testimony of respect for his character, a marble slab is placed in the wall of the church bearing a creditable inscription to his momorv. Rev. L. H. Christian was then
30 CHURCHES AXD PASTORS
associated with Dr. Laurie for only a short time, when he was succeeded by Dr. D. X. Junkin, who remained associate pastor until after Dr. Laurie's death, which occurred in the spring of 1853.
Many of the distinguished men who have been engaged in administering the government at Wash- ington, have been regular in their attendance at this church. Among these may be mentioned Gen. Harrison, Hon. James Buchanan, Postmasters- Greneral Wicidiffe and Collamore, Hon. Mr. Dob- bin, Secretary of the Navy. Hon. Wm. Wirt held two pews in the church while in Washington. President Pierce, who regularly attends the Four- and-a-half street church (Dr. Sunderland's) in the morning, is as regular in his attendance at F street church at night.
EBENEZER METHODIST EPLSCOPAL CHUEOH,
SIXTH WAED, XATY YARD.
Rev. Mr. Richee, pastor, preached in the morn- ing on the selfishness of sin, in contrast with the philanthropy and benevolence of the Gospel, from Philippians ii. 21 :
'•'For all seek their own, and not the thhigs which are Jesus Christ's."
>
OF WASHINGTOX. 31
The pastor of this church, in his ministerial ed- ucation and Christian character, is regarded as an intellio^ent theolos^ian and true servant of the church. He is now in the second year of his ministry in this charge, with ordinary prosperity. The Ebenezer church is the oldest Methodist organ- ization ia Washington. This is the reason, per- haps, that the Sabbath school connectetl with the Ebenezer church was placed in the lead of the long procession of the Methodist Sabbath School celebration which took place in this city several days ago. Nearly fifty years since the Methodists commenced holding: meetins^s in a room then and long afterwards known as the " Twenty Buildings," towards Greenleaf's Point. They subsequently worshipped in an old buikling which originally belonged to the Carroll estate, situated near what is now called the " Carroll Spring." In about the year 1811 the church edifice they now occupy was erected, frf)m whence has grown up the twelve churches and chapels (jccupiod by the various Methodist congregations (including the Methodist Protestants and the Methodist Church Soutli) now within the city of Washington. At Ihc last cen- sus of 18'j0 (since which there hiwv, Ixhmi atUlcd
82 CHTECHES AND PASTOES
the church on Capitol Hill, the Fletcher Chapel, Gorsnch and Union chapels) the Methodist church property was estimated to be worth fifty thousand nine hundred dollars, with accomniodation for about nine thousand persons. iVrrangements are now made for replacing Wesley Chapel by the erection of a new and more commodious church { and the first moveVnents are already made by the Ebenezer church for leaving in due time their venerated old building, the corner-stone of which was laid by Hev. Beverly Waugh, (now Bishop,) when he was comparatively a young man, for a new and more commodious house, better adapted to the pressing wants of that consf relation.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
FOUR-AND-A-HALF STREET.
Rev. Byron Sunderland, D.D., having returned from his annual vacation, preached on the doctrine of Divine Providence, from Exodus xiii. 21, 22:
" And the Lord went before them by day in a piUar of a cloud, to lead them the way ; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light — to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people."
The speaker proceeded to consider what are
OF WASHINGTOX. 33
called ''special providences," and "dark provi- dences," and urged the claims of the Gospel upon his hearers, by a consideration of the designs of Providence in relation to the final destiny of man.
In the absence of this gentleman from the city, he visited the Green Mountains of Vermont, in his native State. He was at the commencement exer- cises of Middlebury College, and delivered an ad- dress before one of the College societies. A gradu- ate of that institution, of the class of 1838, he has now, in the 36th year of his age, received from his iVlma Mater the honorary decree of Doctor of Di- vinity.
Rev. Dr. Slnderland, pastor, preached morning and evening, from Psalms xlviii. 12-14 :
'• Walk about Ziou, iiud go round about her ; tell the towers liiereof ; mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generations following ; lor this God is our God forever and ever ; he will be our guide even until death ;"
giving a historical account of th(; church, from its commencement to the j)rcsent time.
It is the oldest Presbyterian church in the city, except the F street church, which, at the time of its organization, was a church of Scotch seccders. 2*
34 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
The Fonr-and-a-half street church, is, therefore, strictly the first Presbyterian church organized in AVashington. It began to be in 1809 ; its first communion was in the room of the Supreme Court of the United States. It has had two church edifices, seven pastors, twenty ruling elders, thirty- seven members of the temporal committee, and nine hundred and sixty-six communicants. To this account the speaker added a review of the distinguished individuals who had worshipped statedly with this church ; such as Gen. Jackson, President Polk, Mrs. Col. Benton, who had gone to the spirit-land ; and that among the present regular attendants on divine service, from Sabbath to Sabbath, were our Chief Magistrate, Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, and several of the United States Rep- resentatives.
AYESLEY CHAPEL,
CORNER FIFTH AND F STREETS.
Rev. R. L. Dashiell, pastor, preached in behalf of the ^'orfolk and Portsmouth sufferers, from Job xxxiii. 29, 30 :
" So all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living."
OF WASHIXGTOX. 35
His main object appeared to be to present the reasons for Grod's manifested earnestness to save the souls of men. One of his propositions was, that when favorable providences became the cause of our pride and hardness of heart, it is a wise manifestation of his goodness to us to send such dispensations as will secure the desired end, namely, our penitence and salvation, even though they may be what we call " afflictive." To add that the subject was so treated as to produce deep emotion, is to present a very incomplete idea of the discourse. Mr. Dashiell brings to the Christian Ministry a strong mind in a strong body. He does not touch religious matters lightly. What in his estimation does not deserve to be done with all his might, he leaves for more effeminate minds to perform, and will not, therefore, fail to make his mark. He does not allow the scholarship of a col- legiate graduate, the exegesis of a studied theology, or rules of sermon-making, to lessen the force of the impressive episodes and earnest zeal of a down- right Methodist preacher. An almost continuous revival of religion is in progress in his charge. He has meetings every night in the week, and pro- poses that the series shall be unbroken through the
36 CHURCHES a:sd pastors
coming autumn and winter. Mr. D. is in the fourth year of his ministry in Washington, which completes the term allotted him, by the rules of Methodist itineracy, to remain in a city. Early next spring the Annual Conference will assign him some new field of labor, very much to the regret, according to present appearances, of the many who crowd the chapel to attend on his ministrations. Imbibing the deep-toned feeling which character- ized the preaching of the distinguished man after whom his chapel is named, and more especially the spirit of his Divine Master, he bids fair to close a term of increasing usefulness like those luminous bodies which increase in size, and in the strength and beauty of their radiance, until they pass from sight. The collection amounted to about two hundred dollars.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH,
REV. S. PYXE, D.P., RECTOR.
Right Rev. Bishop Whittingham preached, after which he administered the right of confirmation, and the Lord's Supper. The Bishop selected his text from Jeremiah, chap. xxxv. and a clause in the 13th verse ;
OF WASHINGTON. 87
"Will ye not receive instruction, to hearken to my words? saith the Lord."
The speaker proceeded to give the interesting narrative contained in this chapter concerning that remarkable people, the " Rechabites," many of whom, on the approach of an invading army, fled to Jerusalem, and there had their obedience to the instruction of their fathers tested, b} having " pots fall of wine" set before them, which they refused to drink. "We will drink no wine," said they; " for Jonadab, the son of Rechab, our father, com- manded us, saying, ye shall drink no wine, neither ye nor your sons forever. Neither shall ye build houses, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyards, nor have any; but all your days shall ye dwell in tents, that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers. Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he hath charged us," c^c. "And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites : Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, because ye have obeyed the commandments tjf your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according to all he hath commanded you, therefore, thus saith tho Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Jonadab, the son
38 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
of Rechab, shall not want a man to stand before me forever." This unbend ino^ integrity, this faith- ful obedience in the presence of temptation (with the pots of wine before them), on the part of this people, was made the occasion of a solemn rebuke, as found in the text : "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, go tell the men of Judea and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, ivill ye not receive instruction^ to hearken to my words ? saith the Lord. The words of Jonadab are performed ; for unto this day they obey their father's command- ments, notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking, but ye hearkened not unto me." In reference to the fulfilment of the promise made to these Rechabites, the Bishop made allusion to the reliable statement of that wonderful man, the Rev. Mr. Wolf, who, while travelling in Mesopotamia, found the Rechabites still a distintit people, drinking no wine nor having any vineyards, but living in tents, and carrying out the instruc- tions of their father Rechab, and that he heard one of them repeat the blessing which G-od had prom- ised them for that obedience, which had been transmitted in the Arabic tongue from one genera- tion to another, now for more than two thousand
OF WASHINGTON. 39
five hundred years, althongh entirely ignorant of the scriptures in which the promise is recorded. The Bishop made this subject the basis of the fol- lowing sentiment: That obedience — obedience to parents, to Grovernments and rulers, to ecclesiasti- cal authority, and obedience to God — formed the groundwork of our present and future hopes. Self- control, and the submission of our wills to the will of God, formed the basis of Christian character. The submission and teachableness of children, their filial obedience, — obedience from love to parents, — was made to illustrate the grounds of our obedience to God. The tendency of the age to early insub- ordination and the disobedience of children, were considered ; parents were also believed to be in the fault. This tendency to "individuality" and dis- regard of the laws, would, if persisted in, render the rules by which society is governed, no better than ropes of sand. To this end, said the speaker, did the Apostles go out and preach the gospel, namely, "obedience to the faith among all na- tions," and that we may have "obedience unto righteousness."
Next to Christ's Church at the Navy Yard, St. John's is the oldest Episcopal Church in the city.
40 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
Built ill the form of a cross, it has a venerable ap- pearance ; and with its history, ministry and membership, there are many interesting and hal- lowed associations.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,
TENTH STREET.
Rev. S. p. Hill, pastor, preached from Titus ii. 14:
" Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.''
The one object of this discourse appeared to be to unfold the great ends had in view by our Saviour's advent into this world. It was adapted to the occasion of the Lord's Supper, which was administered in the afternoon. Were we to pre- sent the dignity of Him " who gave himself for us," and the sinful state of those he came to redeem "from all iniquity," and infer from the greatness of the price paid for man's redemption, the import- ance of this work of " purifying unto himself a peculiar people," we should give some clue to a sermon which presented the wonderful fitness and
OF WASHIXGTOX. 41
ability of Christ to accomplish the work He alone can perform — namely, to lead such sinners as we are, through the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, to be " zealous of good works."
With sympathies which do not suffer the mis- eries that sin has introduced into the family of man to go unobserved, Mr. Hill appears to realize that the widows and the orphans, in their destitution and loneliness, are to be cared for by those who are "zealous of good works." He listens to the noise of war with anxious concern, not so much to know which party will become victorious, as to learn how many garments will be rolled in blood, and how many wives, mothers and children will be left in their bereave- ment to go about the streets in search of daily bread. In his sermons he talks of the scenes at Sebastopol as if distance from the place, or the participants being of other nations, had nothing to do with lessening our realization of the woes there produced. Nor is he unmindful of human sulFer- ing, in its various forins, all around us. With such susceptibilities he approaches the Cross of Calvary and the victim " who bore our grief;> and carri<Hl our sorrows," th«'ro expiring, in the Ian-
42 CHUKCHES AXD PASTORS
guage of the text, " for us," with feelings that give form aDd point to words, and with thoughts that stir the souls of his hearers. Rev. Mr. Hill is pastor of the First Church of the Baptist order in Washington — a place filled by his venerated pre- decessor, Rev. Mr. Brown, for nearly half a cen- tury.
Rev. S. p. Hill preached from 1 Peter ii 7 :
'• Unto you therefore which believe, lie is precious."
After an introduction, the speaker divided his subject into two inquiries : First, What is it ty believe, or to have faith in Christ ? Second, W/u/ is Christ precious to believers ? He then proceeded, in answering the first interrogatory, to say that there were two kinds of faith ; that one was pro- duced by evidence, that it might be regarded as a faith of the intellect only ; that the devils as well as wicked men had that faith — they believed and trembled. The other had its seat in the heart; it consisted in a confidinsf submission and an af- fectionate reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ for present salvation. Unto yon, therefore, who thus
OF WASHINGTON. 43
believe he is precious. This faith prodnces obe- dience as natural as the confidin<r, affectionate child is obedient to its parents. Obedience is faith in exercise. In conclusion, he gave to all professed Christians one sure test as to whether they pos- sessed the faith in which salvation lies, namely, Is Christ precious ? Though now we see him not, yet believing^ do we rejoice with joy unspeakable in the preciousness of Christ, for this is the pro- duct of saving faith? Hearing Mr. Hill reminds us of the man, while on a vi.sit to the city, whom his friend desired to gratify by going with him to any place of worship the visitor should choose — on being informed of one clergyman who always fur- nished his hearers with an intellectual treat ; of another noted for his graceful manner, his musical voice, and who was altogether an eloquent man ; and yet of a third minister, who had no peculiarity so striking as this, that he sent his audience away thinking so much about Christ as the only Saviour of men, that the speaker was hardly mentioned, his subject being made so much more the topic of thou<^ht and conversation, tban hiinself. Rev. Mr. Hill is eminently a preacher of Christ and him crucified, — "the way, the truth, and the life.''
4:4 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, (CATHOLIC.)
Rev. T. J. O'TooLE, pastor, F. E. Boyle, assist- ant. Sabbath morning, at 6 o'clock, we attended "mass" (the sacrament of the Lord's Supper) in this time-honored place of worship. We were not a little surprised to find, at this early hour, so many in attendance as to render it impossible for all to find a place to kneel or even stand inside the church. On this account, after a sufficient recess was given for those in attendance in the church to retire, and those outside to take their places, "early mass" was repeated. To those who sincerely believe in the mysterious process of transubstantia- tion, a changing the consecrated elements into the real body and blood of Christ, it is not difficult to conceive that this is a solemn and deeply impress- ive institution of the church. That the worship- pers are sincere, and deeply impressed by the occa- sion, no one who shall witness these exercises can for a moment doubt. The solemn stillness, the undivided direct attention, the devout and earnest manner manifested in attending to their appro- priate devotions of reading })rayers or handling the rosary^ or in receiving the sacrament, ample
OF WASHINGTON. 45
evidence that there is an impressive sense of an awe-abiding presence, which lifts the Txiind above all earthly distinction, may be seen in their man- ner of approaching the altar to receive the Eucha- rist. Here may be seen genteel persons kneeling at the side of the day-laborer, who might have been born in other lands, and at the same time with persons of color, as if to say, " In the presence of G-od all distinctions are forgotten." Wednesday is the anniversary of the death of the venerable Father Matthews, late pastor of this church.
ST. MATTHEW'S CFIURCH, (CATHOLIC.)
Ri:v. .Ias. Doxelan, pastor, .loiix B. Bvr\e, assistant. Being in attendance at this church at II o'clock, we heard the senior pastor deliver a highly practical discourse on the nature and bene- fits of prayer, and its indispensable necessity to our final salvation, from " the Grospel for the day," found in St. John's G-ospcl, Kith chapter, com- mencing at the :2-3d verse : " Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name he will give it you," &c. Rev. ]\Ir. Byrne oiliciated at the altar. But the music — (he music !
4:6 CHURCHES A^'D PASTORS
It would be diflficult for an uninitiated hearer not to acknowledge that it formed a large share of the attraction.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH, (CATHOLIC.)
CAPITOL HILL.
Rev. Edward A. Knight, pastor. At 4 o'clock, P. M., we attended "Vespers" in this church. The exercises embraced little more than chanting the Psalms of David, and offering incense in com- memoration of the gifts presented by the wise men at Bethlehem to the infant Jesus. It was tran- quillizing in its influence and romantic in the reminiscences it awakened.
FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Rev. J. C. Smith, D.D., pastor. It being the 27th anniversary of the organization of this church, the pastor gave it more than ordinary interest by preaching an historical discourse adapted to the occasion. Before entering upon his subject he opened a manuscript book, which he said was entitled " Memorials of the Dead," containing the names of all the individuals who had died within
OF WASHIXGTOX. 47
his pastoral charge in Washington. From this he read an obituary notice of one of his deceased elders, by the name of Gallaiidet. The deceased had been a revolutionary soldier, and was with Washington at the battle of Princeton. He was the father of the lamented T. H. Gallaudet, of the deaf and dumb asylum memory. Mr. Gr. possessed a philanthropic character ; he originated the plan of founding an asylum in this city for homeless and vagrant boys, for which he collected some $3,000. He died in 1843, at the advanced age of 88 years.
Dr. Smith's sermon was founded on Isaiah xlii. 16 :
"And I will bring the blinfl by a way that they knew not ; I will lead them in paths that they have not known ; I will make darkness light before them and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them and not forsake them."
From the many statistics and interesting facts contained in a sermon of more than ordinary length wo gather iIkj following : That the church v/as organized in 1^:28 of twenty-tlireo members; that they extended a call to the llev. .1. N. Danlorth to become their lirst pastor, anil that he entered uj)on his labors in November of that year. Throuizh the
48 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
first few years of its history we see this little com- pany of believers worshipping for a time in the school-room of one Mr. Brasher; and, in 1829, emerging from thence into a new and convenient wood-frame meeting house to hear the dedication sermon from the late Rev. John Breckinridge, D.D. In 1832 their pastor, after five years of faithful and successful labor, entered another field, leaving them with an addition of 117 members, which, with the original number, made them 140 strong. Mr. Danforth's withdrawal made the occasion for the call extended to the Rev. Mason Noble, who brought to his work the energy of a young man of fervent piety and good ability, who served the church with still greater success, apparently, than his predecessor. Having a commodious house of worship already for him to enter, and many of the difficulties overcome which are peculiar to the infancy of a church, Mr. Noble, in the seven years of his mini.^try, led nearly two hundred new mem- bers into this fold of Christ. Accepting a call from a church in New York city, Mr. N. was succeeded by the present pastor, who was installed on the first of October, 1839, now more than sixteen years ago. Through the series ^of years in which Dr.
OF WASHINGTON. 49
Smith has been pastor he has received 678 mem- bers into the communion and fellowship of this church, of whom 51 have died, some have been excommunicated, but a greater number dismissed to other churches of the same sect which have been growing up in this community.
The spacious church edifice in which tliis con- gregation now worship was dedicated on tlie 20th of June, 1841. Sermon by the Rev. E. N. Kirk, now of Boston, Massachusetts. There were many other facts and statistics given in this discourse which our limits will not allow us to give in this place, but which we should suppose each member of the church especially would like to preserve, and for this reason alone we presume its publica- tion will be called for.
Dr. J. C. Smith preached in the morning from
Deut. xxxiii. 27 :
*' The eterniil God is thy refuge, and underneiith are the ever- lasting arms."
The object of tlie discourse appeared to be to illustrate the protecting caro of our Heavenly Father for his dependent people. By laying his 3
50 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
everlasting arms beneath them He makes their strength equal to their day. In doctrine Dr. Smith subscribes cordially, no doubt, to the creed of his sect ; but he has a mode of presenting God as a father more than as a sovereign, whose wrath we are to appease ; more as a friend than as a judge, whose name is only to be mentioned with dread. He appears inclined to illustrate the good- ness of God and our obligations to appreciate his mercy and kindness by obedience and love to him who first loved us. Instead of removing God far off from his creatures, by dwelling on his power and other infinite and incommunicable attributes ; instead of presenting Him on his throne, with scep- tre in hand, who, like the sovereigns of antiquity, could not be approached with a sense of sympathy, he teaches us to regard God as '• Our Father who art in Heaven," whom we are to approach with the confiding assurance of mercy, and forgiveness, as disobedient children return to their father's house. If his discourses are not constructed by the severest rules of logic, they are relieved of the sameness which is often produced by a more strict adherence to scholastic theology. His illustrations are oftener drawn from real life than from classic lore : and if
OF AVASIIINGTON. 51
the people are not entertained with so much about the " original" languages, they are entertained \Yith what they can understand and know to be true. This forms one of the reasons why his aiv.- ple church edifice is always well filled with atten- tive hearers. On listening to Dr. Smith's sermons one would suppose he had learned to preach of him who said, "Or what man is there of you whom, if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone ? Or, if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent ? -If ye, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him ?" Besides dis- charging the duties of pastor to his own church, his labors have been " more abundant" in estab- lishing other churches and in obtaining for them faithful pastors.
BAPTIST CIirKCII,
NAVY VAUn.
Rkv. S. W. Grk!:r, who h:is just entered on his labors, preached Sabbath morning. In the afternoon were held the services of his installation. "Rev.
CHURCHES AND PASTORS
Dr. BiNNEY, President of Columbian College, de- livered an able discourse on the requisites of a genuine Christian character. The charge to the pastor was delivered by Rev. Mr. Teasdale. Rev. Mr. Samson presented the right hand of fel- lowship, Rev. Mr. MiRicK addressed the church. Rev. Joseph Hammitt, of Philadelphia, now agent of the Columbian College, preached at night.
FOUNDRY M. E. CHURCH.
Rev. Mr. Register, pastor, preached in the morning, and at night on the physical, intellectual, moral and religious training of children. In these two discourses were comprised the duty of parents to their children, and children to their parents ; the relation in which Sabbath schools stand to the Church, and the duty which Christians ought to perform in Sabbath schools. The speaker fur- nished ample evidence that the subject had been one of study, and was derived from the mature con- victions of his mind, and not a mere effort at dec- lamation. ISo parent, nor teacher, nor attentive child, could have listened to these discourses and
OF "^ASIIINGTOX. 53
not be profited. His text for the entire day was
found in Ephesians vi. 4 :
'•And ye, fathers, provoke not your cbildren to wrath ; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
These discourses were delivered in accordance with an arrangement for all the Methodist clergy- men in Washington and vicinity, to take the Sab- bath school cause into special consideration, and to make collections for the purpose of advancing Sab- bath school interests, where sympathy and co- operation are most needed in this behalf. This Christian effort was made most appropriately to follow the interestinsf exhibitions and exercises of the preceding week. On Thursday of last week, the children and teachers connected with all the Methodist churches which comprise the Potomac district, came together in this city ; and, after forming into line in Lafayette square, marched with music and banners in at one gateway, which leads to the White House, and out at the other, passing uncovered through the portico of the exe- cutive mansion, in token of respect for the nation's Chief Magistrate, and " for all in authority." Nor was the President unmindful of so grand an exhi- bition, so full of promise, to the (Munlry and to the
5^ CHUECHES AND PASTORS
cause of morality and virtue. We record it with gratitude, that from the day that President Pierce took up his residence in Washington to the pres- ent time, he has not merely responded favorably, when solicited, but has volunteered his presence and his contributions in every place wdiere such presence and such contribution gave indications of encouragement and usefulness to benevolent and religious enterprises. After this long proces- sion of children and teachers (numbering in all some 2,500) had marched through the avenue to the Capitol Grounds, and there listened to reports and addresses, the several schools from other towns were kindly invited to partake of rest and refresh- ments at the several Sabbath school rooms of the Methodist churches of the city, which act of hos- pitality formed one of the interesting features of the occasion. From thence the visiting schools returned to their several homes, much gratified with their visit to Washington.
OF WASHINGTON. 00
FRIENDS' MEETING,
COaXER OF I AND NINETEENTH STREETS.
Sabbath morning we attended public worship in the Friends' " Meeting-house,'^ where we heard no jarring discord in the music, for there was none; no pointless wandering prayer of half an hour's length, for no audible prayer was offered ; no pass- ing by the plain teachings of Christ on repentance for sin and faith in his mission, nor a metaphysical argument about the pre-Adamic state, or the un- changeable predestinations of Grod ; no overlooking the manifestations of God's love to man, and the reasons why we should love G-od, in an attempt to reveal the mysterious workings of God's moral government, and at what point the decrees of God and man's kee agency are to be conjoined to se- cure salvation ; no mystifying and placing beyond the reach of a mind in love with virtue and true holiness, the examples and soul-elevating influ- ences of Christ's character, in an attempt to mako the people understand certain theological theories, which were never placed within human compre- hension ; no giving a higher importance to sys- tems of religious belief than to the formation of
66 CHUF.CHES AND TASTOES
a true Christian character — all for the plain reason that there was not an audible word spoken throu^rh the time of worship. Having, therefore, no exter- nal aids to our devotions, no outward excitement of any kind, we v/cre thrown back upon our indi- viduality, and made to depend on our own resources for instruction. To save the morning hour from a vacuum, then, v/e commenced discoursing men- tally on a subject suggested by the circumstances in which we were placed, from the most solemn text, to us as individuals, to be found within the lids of the Bible. " So, then, every one of us shall give an account of himself to God." (dom. xiv. 12.) We then proceeded as follows : " Grod is a spirit." Acceptable worship is to do it '^ in spirit and in truth.-' Says the Apostle, " If any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his." The same Apostle says to Christians, " But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit ; if so be the spirit of God dwell in you." And again, " Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dv/elleth in you? the temple of God is hol}^, which, temple ye are ;" " and if any man defile the temple, him will God destroy" — all pointing to our individual responsibility and our accountability.
OF WASIIINGTOX. 57
So far, then, as the usual services of the Sabbath, variously conducted in our several churches by the various religious sects, render us any aid in seeking after the right Spirit, and in awakening an impressive sense of our individual accountability and fear to sin, a love for Christ and for virtue, — so far as they are the means of strengthening our purposes to carry on the great moral conflict with self within us and with the world without, purify- ing our natures, and lifting us up to a communion with the Holy One, so far they are useful. Fa- vored with no "testimony," our silent communing with ourselves was not lengthy, and we had half an hour at least to spend in the next nearest church.
SECOND PRESBYTEKIAX CHURCH.
Rev. J. R. Eckard, pastor, preached in the morning, on the re-opening of the church, a re- dedication sermon of more than ordinary interest, of which the following is an outline :
His discourse was based on Tsalm xxx. I, o. After some remarks on the Psalm itself, as inter- preted by its inscription, ho applied it to the pres- ent condition of the church, noticing, 1st, that 8*
58 CHUKCHES AND PASTORS
they were engaged in an act of re-dedication ; 2d, that in former days the church had experienced great vicissitudes and depressions ; od, that they had been raised by God to a state of prosperity and bright hope for the future The statements made by him in regard to the history of the church, were of general interest to this community. About the year 1819, there were some twenty or thirty members of the Bridge street church of George- town residing in Washington. Finding it difficult to go so far to worship, they were encouraged by their pastor, the Eev. Dr. Balch, to attempt build- inor a church for themselves. The effort be2:an with a prayer-meeting of some fourteen persons, held by the Rev. Thomas Balch, son of the vene- rable pastor at Georgetown. The present site was purchased, and the building, which has been re- fitted, was erected. When it was erected, the tract around was a mere common. To the north, about where Franklin square is, were bushes and low trees, which extended to the hills that bound the city. The house at the southwest corner of H and 13th streets then stood, with seven oak trees near it, from which it was called the Seven Oaks. For some time the church enjoyed great prosperity :
OF WASHINGTON'. 59
then came a season of painful reverse ; difficulties arose which reduced the church almost to extinc- tion. Of those difficulties the pastor wished not to speak ; they belonged to a former state of things. Not only have their causes entirely ceased for years past, but those who produced them are gone. A very united and harmonious society have long been in their place. The pastor put in contrast two former seasons. One was a time when the then President of the United States, and all his Cabinet, were pew-holders in the church. The aisles were frequently filled ; members of the congregation had to go early to church, to get seats in their own pews. The other was a time when for months the church was locked up — there was no worship — silence prevailed, instead of praise and prayer. Dust settled on the pews and the pulpit, and the edifice seemed mouldering to ruin. On the Sabbath when he first attempted to hold services there, one gentleman, a member of the church, accompanied him to the place. They two waited for some time for others, and then went away. On the evening of that day, thirty-four jiersons were present, of whom thirty had been requested to come from other churches, to make the appearance of a congrcga-
60 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
tion. From that time onward there had been im- provement, until the mercy and goodness of God had at last brought them to their present condition, which promises so well for permanent prosperity.
The remainder of the discourse was practical. It indicated the worship of heaven as the model to be followed by churches on earth.
There has been a regular progression in the im- provements made during the last year in this church edifice. The work was commenced by giving to the building a steeple spire and a coating of paint; then, to the internal improvements was added an organ, of dimensions adapted to the size of the church, which gave a new impulse to the singing, and improved it to a soul-inspiring standard of sacred music. iVnd now convenient pews or slips have taken the place of those straight- backed seats, so poorly adapted to favor the slight- est inclination to recline on (he part of the wearied attendant. These internal improvements have been completed by the reconstruction of the pulpit ; and the lights and shades of fresco painting which now adorn the room, present an air of comfort and elegance quite attractive to the eye. Such is the series of improvements which this place of worship
OF WASHING TOX. 61
has undergone, the consummation of which called for a dedication on Sunday morning.
At five o'clock P.M., Rev. Dr. G-urley, pastor of the F street Presbyterian church, preached a deeply impressive and interesting discourse, on the nature and qualifications of profitable and accept- able worship, from John iv. 24 :
'• God is a Spirit ; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
It was pleasant to see the manifestation of so
much co-operative and kindred feeling as appeared
in the pastors of neighboring churches, together
with their congregations, many of whom were in
attendance on this occasion. Rev. J. Gr. Bltler,
of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Eleventh
street, took part in the exercises.
Rev. J. R. EcKARD preached in the morning from Romans vii. 9 :
"For I was alive witliout tin? law onro, but wlicn the com- mandment came, .'■In rovivcd and I died.''
The speaker started off with some account of the author of his text — once an unrelenting opposor of the relic^inn which ho subsecnientlv sull^red so
62 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
much to promote — and what effected the change, so great a change, as to induce a persecuting Saul to become the persecated Paul ; and then, with a fine effect, allowed the Apostle to relate some of the trials he had passed through in spreading the truth he once despised, in his own words: ^^In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have 1 been in the deep. In journeyings often, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. In weariness and painful- ness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." This newly-repaired church is at the juncture of New York avenue and H street. Besides giving it a more meeting-house-like finish externally, the so. ciety have recently placed an organ of appropriate size in the orchestra, which renders substantial aid
OF WASKIXGTOX. 63
to the choir in discoursing sweet music. The vene- rated name of J. Q,. Adams is still attached to one of the slips, for which he paid a large price in or:^.er to aid the society. Mr. Eckard, some ten years in the employ of the Board of Foreign Missions in Cey- lon, returned to his native land with his companion, who was broken down in health ; and, reaching AVashington, found this small parish most emphati- cally missionary ground. The house having been closed and the church scattered, only a little handful were found " with a mind to work." But that little handful now see a respectable congregation gath- ered round the altar which had been forsaken, ap- preciating their good pastor, who has been tried under many circumstances, and whose faith fails not. Mr. Eckard's style of preaching is entirely natural, almost conversational. Those who go to church with minds sufiiciently awake to receive the ideas of an intelligent and correct minister, correct in facts and in the theology of his faith, will iind in him no want of perspicuity or precision, but hastening directly to the point, which he ap- plies earnestly, plainly, and sometimes personally, to each of his hearers. But those who attend church in passive submission, to be moved by somo
64 CHCECHES AND PASTORS
extraordinary action in the speaker's manner or some captivating intonation of his voice, will not be likely to stop long at the Second Presbyterian Church.
E STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
Rev. G. "W. Samson, pastor, preached in the morning from Matthew viii. 17 :
" Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses."
Allusion was made in the introduction to a series of two or three discourses on sickness, and religious duty in reference to it, and also to two or three discourses following, on Christ the Son of Man, and the Son of " Grod manifest in the flesh," partaking our trials, with power to overcome them. This discourse was introduced by the statement that the sick need sympathy and relief — the first of which man may give, but the latter God alone. The demand of human nature ever has been for one who, from partaking both natures, aftords both these requisites. The statement of Matthew and of Isaiah, from whom he quotes, is that there are two evils which we need to have removed, '' in- firmities" of spirit and " sicknesses" of body ; and
OF WASHINGTON. 65
there are two ways in which Christ is the Physi- cian of body and soul. He takes as a man and wshares in sympathy with ns both these evils, and by Divine power he bears these away as a bur- den, giving us relief. The first point led to special discussion of the fact that spiritual evil always is th^ precursor of natural evil ; that the sin of the soul is the ultimate cause of all suffering to the body. The second point presented Jesus Christ as '' God manifest in the flesh" — the Creator, submitting to his own \sL\Ys, and, in his peculiar manifestation in Christ, really touched with the feeling of our in- firmities, having been tempted in all points as we are ; while the moral effects of this exhibition of his condescension draw all men unto him, lead- ing first to a moral renovation, which corrects gradually all other evils, while it entirely takes away the .sting of suffering.
It is a position which cannot be doubted, that our doctrinal views do much towards directing our stops in practical life. A bigot is one who repels from his mind every iilca, come from whence it may, which has not been petrified by his creed. Mr. Samson is not a bigot. He most evidently believes that, even though a man may have great
QQ CHUECHES AND PASTOES
errors in his religious theory, yet, by carefully studying with an honest mind the teachings of Christ, he may form a far higher and more useful character than the one which might perchance be moulded by the formulas of his church ; and that the sick-room and the death-bed, where theories are often displaced by realities, are a fruitful source of truth and usefulness. From this and previous discourses, it will be seen that the calam- itous scenes of sickness and death which are now shrouding some of our neighboring cities in gloom and sadness, do not escape the speaker's mind, leading him, in dividing the word of truth, to give a portion of meat in due season.^ Although com- paratively a young man, yet, (including the time he spent abroad) Mr. Samson is now one of the oldest pastors in "Washington. "With a mind liber- alized by learning, by an extended acquaintance with the world in foreign lands, as well as his own, and by a close study of the gospel which he preaches, imbibing the spirit of its Divine author, he teaches the religion that the people need. Be- sides discharging the duties of his pastorate with
<-- Referring to that sweeping epidemic at Norfolk and Ports- mouth, Va.
OF WASHINGTON. 67
indomitable industry, Mr. S. takes a deep interest in the renewed efforts to make Colambia College equal to the demand of the times and the people among whom it is located, as a Protestant rather than a sectarian institution. With a progressive mind and good health, and with his whole soul given to the work of the ministry, Rev. Mr. Samson will be likely, if his life be spared him to the com- mon age, to make a strong impression as a Minis- ter of Christ, especially on the people of his charge.
McKEXDREE CHAPEL,
Rev. George IIildt, pastor, preached from Ro- mans i. 16 :
" Fur I am not asliamc'i.1 of the Gospel of Christ.''
The speaker proceeded to give his own reasons for not being a:?hamed of ihe Gospel : 1st. Because it is rrue, as proven by the fulfilment of prophecy and the working of miracles; 2d. Because of its power to regenerate, reform and save from the second death ; 3d. Because of what it *reveals about the life to come — " life and immortality are brought to light through the gospel.''
68 CHURCHES AXD PASTORS
Mr Hildt is yet within the first year of his pas- toral charge of this church. Having been in the itin- erant ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church some thirty years, and having filled many important positions, such as the presiding eldership of episco- pal districts, &c., he brings with him much experi- ence, as well as the intelligence of a general reader. Mr. H. belongs to the old school of Meth- odist preachers. He forms a connecting link be- tween the present and the past in the history of Methodism. Although there never has been a time since the days of Vv^esley, when there were not men of learning and ability in the Methodist Church, yet now, with their schools and colleges in almost every State in the Union, and one or more theolosfical seminaries, it would be stransre, indeed, if there were not scores of young men entering the ministry from these seminaries of learning, who surpass some of their elder brethren in preparing sermons, with appropriate exordiums and logical argument, or deduction of the doctrine contained in the text, and in the application, &;c. Yet with all their superior attainments in popular education and sacred literature, the past history of the Methodist Church furnishes us with the right
OF WASHINGTON. 69
to inquire as to whether they bring with them any more of that peculiar endowment by which the older preachers were enabled, in the language oi the noted Lorenzo Dow, to " stir up the people to seek an interest in Christ" ? Yfith very little aid. from schools, they sought not only to preach tho truth, but they most earnestly sought, as an indis- pensable preparation for their work, to feel and. to be filled with that truth. Coming in the fulness of a spiritual baptism, the speaker's voice, yea, his very countenance, become the medium through which that feeling was communicated to others. It appears to be this feeling in the speaker's own mind, this deep sense of the value of the " great salvation" to dying men, as much or more than the words uttered, that ^'stirred up the j)eople." The pastor of McKendree Chapel, after arranging his j)ulpit themes as best he can, most evidently waits yet " for the promise of the Father" to be fulfilled, depending more on a spiritual influence to produce the desired edect than uj)on })reaching the gospel "in word only." Ilenco the McKen- dree Chapel is filled from Sabbath to Sabbath to its utmost capacity, to hear a man who appears to f.'cl and enjoy tbc CT0.<^pel he preaches to otliers.
70 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
UNITARIAN CHURCH.
Rev. Mr. Conavay preached his last sermon be- fore a vacation of several wrecks, from John xvii., part of the 7th verse :
" I tell you the truth ; It is expedient for you that I go away from you ; for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you.-'
The speaker, after tracing the Paraklete of the original and Comforter of the translation to their primitive significance of "added strength," went on to interpret the words of Christ, as a call to the disciples to a greater reliance on their interior self- hood, which could not be strong until, by his leaving, they should be cast on their own facul- ties. This was illustrated by the fact that, whilst Jesus was with them they were weak enough to betray and deny him, and in peril " they all for- sook him and fled ;" but after his death we find the same gathered with new strength, and, by the aid of the Comforter, three thousand were united to their number. The similar danger of a depend- ence on something outward — a book, or creed or church service, or Sundays — render the words pertinent to Christians now. Tbe germs of all
OF WASHINGTON. 71
good lie in man ; the highest possibilities, if he will only turn within ; and this can be only by his be- ing cast on his own resources.
The pastor of this church is young to sustain the responsibilities of his position, maintaining alone among the ministers of this city, doctrines which, according to the popular standard, are not orthodox. He maintains that religion is not exotic, but indigeneous ; that Christ made no vicarious atonement, there being no need of any on the grounds of offended justice ; that the govern- ment of Grod is parental, rather than judicial and condemnatory ; that Christ is the moral hero of the world, and presented a model life for all man- kind ; that, having the nature and power within us, we arc " to vralk even as he walked." Mr. Conway would, therefore, have us look without only for an example, and look within for the power of conforming to it. For this reason only ho di- rects men to Christ, as ^' the way, the truth and the life." There is a freshness and originality of thinking, and an earnest heartine>s of speaking, which convey the impressions of an hduost pur- pose and sincere belief, and which secure and fix the attention of his hearers. The question'? on
72 CHUECHES AND PA3T0ES
which Mr. C. differs from the standards deserve serious consideration ; and, since they are believed by a congregation of hearers, we do not regret that they are preached with a plainness of speech which does not render them liable to be misunder- stood.
Rev. Mr. Conway delivered a discourse on the life and character of the late Hon. YAlliam Cranch, LL.D., Chief Justice of the District of Columbia, from Psalm i. 3 :
" He shall bs like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth its fruit ia its season ; its leaf also shall not fall, and whatsoever it heareth shall prosper."
It has been very justly said that every good man's life, of whom we may have sufficient knowl- edge as to feel the force of his character, adds to our stock of moral wealth, which may lie in our possession like the wealth of the miser, unim- proved ; or it may be so used by us as to lift us up to a state of moral excellence and grandeur, such as we should never have attained without that wealth, that life. For illustration, how many are better than they would have been, if St. Paul had never lived and died ? So of Luther, Calvin,
OF WASIIIXGTO^^. 73
Wesley, Howard, and a hundred others in all the various professions and walks of life. When these lives are completed, somebody near or remote must be improved. They imbibe the spirit and copy the example of the departed dead. Principles may enlighten us, precepts may instruct us, but it takes example to move and improve us. We are, therefore, laid under new obligations for the life of. Judge C ranch, which he has left us, and which is now handed over to us for our improve- ment. And, so far as the author of this discourse has reproduced that life in his brief sketch, and the accompanying reflections, he has laid us under obligations to him, especially those of us who never saw Judge Cranch.
CnURCII OF THE ASCENSION.
Rev. Mr. Stanlkv, rector, preached on the bene- fits of Sunday-school instruction from Matthew xviii. 11.
'• Even so it is not the will of your Father wliicli is in Ilcaven that one of these little ones should perish."
The speaker proceeded, among other things, to say that if Sunday schools were substituted for 4
74 CHUECHES AND PASTOES
parental instruction, to relieve parents of a duty in this behalf which none others could perform, then it might be maintained that Sunday schools were an injury, and not a blessing. But he con- tended that, according to his observation, such was not the fact. And he might have supported this position by the testimony of thousands of parents, who are actually urged by their children for such instruction as they themselves are often unable to give to the young inquirer after truth, that he might be prepared for the next Sunday school, xs'or did the Sabbath school release the church from her duty to give that peculiar religious instruction w^hich everyone must receive before comiug to the rite of confirmation and the communion. It was altogether an interesting view of the care which our Father in Heaven has for cliiidren, it being not His will " that one of these little ones should j^er- ish," and a view of our duty growing out of a knowledge of that " will." The true character of a child was beautifully, as it was justly, de- scribed— its uncorrupted innocence, its confiding trust in the parent, its sense of dependence, its duty to obedience, and its demand for guidance. Mr. Stanley not only called for a contribution to
OF WASIIIXGTOX. 75
increase books of instruction for their Sunuay- school library, but he called on all in the congre- gation whose circumstances would permit, to give themselves to the work — a work which promised no earthly reward, a work of benevolent action, that would enrich the giver in proportion as he benefited the receiver.
The interior of this church edifice has beeu im- proved and adapted to evening service. The rector, with a good spirit, is laboriously active, and the membership are encouraged that they will yet see a fall house of interested hearers.
ST. PAUL'S EXGLISII LUTIIERAX CHURCII.
Ri:v. J. G. Butler, pastor, preached on the par- able of the sower, including several verses in the 8rh chajiter of Luke. After li.stening to this dis- course it occurred to us that it would not be deemed out of place to give a more extended no- tice of the sect of which this church is the only representative (whoso services are performed in the English language) in our city. The Lutheran is represented to be much the largest Protestant de- nomination in the world, numbering, according to
76 CHURCHES axd pastors
accurate authors, from twenty-five to thirty mill- ions of souls. The government of the church is republican, the power with the people, exercised through their representatives in vestries, synods, &c. The doctrines of the church are those of the reformation, as set forth in a manner substantially correct in that noble document the Ausrsburo^ Con- fession — the trinity of persons in one Godhead, the proper and eternal divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the universal and total depravity of our race, the vicarious nature and unlimited extent of the atonement, justification by faith alone produc- ing a holy life.
The Lutheran church requires of her members unity in essentials only, allowing in non-essentials liberty, and making charity the bond of perfectness. The growth of the denomination in this country since the introduction of the English language, has been very rapid ; the number of her minis^ters has more than doubled in about ten years, with a correspond- ing increase in her membership. The congregation at the Gothic edifice on the corner of 11th and H streets, was organized about ten years ago, and less than six years since, when the present pastor took charge, it numbered about twenty-five communi-
OF WASHING TOX. 77
cants, which have now been increased to about one hundred and fifty. It has just freed itself of an em- barrassing debt of from 86,000 to 87,000. AYith its flourishing Sabbath school and its spirit of enlarged liberality, entering into all the benevolent enter- prises of the day, it bids fair to become one of the largest and most efficient churches of onr city.
RYLAXD CHAPEL.
SEVENTH WARD (ISLAND).
Rev. a. Griffith, senior pastor, preached from St. John's Gospel, xix. 30 :
" He said, It is finished : and be bowed bis head, aud gave up the gbost."
The text and subject were adapted very appropri- ately to the administration of the Lord's Supper, which immediately followed the sermon. In the examination of what was meant by those deeply pathetic words, " it is finished," the speaker went on to say that it implied more than the mere an- nouncement on the part of our Saviour that his earthly life was now finished ; but that the great plan of redemption, which prophets and kings had waited for through a long series of agcfj, was
78 CHURCHES AXD PASTORS
*' finished ;" that the event foreshadowed when Abraham offered up his only son, " from whence he received him in a figure," (Hebrews xi. 19,) when he was to faithful, believing Abraham as good as dead, tliat was '' finished ;" that the scene so graph- ically described by Isaiah, who said, " He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter," that was " finished." Rev. Mr. Griffith being the oldest man in the city in the ministry, in which he has been actively engaged for nearly fifty years, we think it will not be deemed inappropriate to give, in this connection, the following facts, especially as he is fast nearing the close of that term which the *' itinerant system" of Methodism, to which he still adheres, allows him to remain at Ryland Chapel. Rev. A. Griffith entered the ministry in the Methodist Episcopal Church in the year 1806, and, with the exception of the short tiriie he stood in the relation of a supernumerary, he has been regularl}^ engaged preaching within the limits of the Baltimore Conference ever since, and is now the oldest effective preacher in that large body of itinerant ministers. Mr. G-. still retains ordinary good health for one of his years and toils, and contin- ues to share with his brethren the sacrifices of the
OF WASHIXGTOX. 79
itinerant systenn with unabated zeal and cheerful- ness. He also retains his mental faculties appar- ently unimpaired, and to his services and into his sermons he brings the benefits^ of long experience and a well-stored mind. He is. as ever, a student, and keeps himself informed of all thnt is new and peculiar in science and theology. Although he may be regarded as a good specimen of what is sometimes called '* the heroic a2;e of American Methodism," yet, from his critical knowledge of the discipline, economy, usages, and institutions of the Methodist Church, his brethren hold his opinions in high estimation, and have often returned him to represent them in the General Conference. It affords us pleasure to add, that if the senior pastor of R viand Chapel always brings as much pointed practical truth and whole-souled interest into his services as he did last .Sabbath, especially at the communion, we think every one should turn self-accuser who goes unprofitcd from his minis- trations.
80 CHUKCHES AXD PASTORS
METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH,
^•I^■T^ street.
Rev. p. L. Wilson, pastor, preached from He- brews iv. 1 :
"Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."
The speaker coinmenced by alluding to the great promise of the " rest which remains for the people of Clod ;" a rest, he said, which begins in this world. 1. As to what is truth : " If any man will do Plis will, he shall knc-iv of the doctrine.'' Be- lieving and obeying, he shall experience the truth ; also, "an inward testimony," which amounts to an assurance, a " rest," that all will be well in the great unending future. 2. ITe presented the cau- tion, the warning, contained in the text — " a prom- ise of this rest being left us, let us fear lest we come short of it."
Rev. Mr. Wilson is yet in the first year of his pastoral charge of this church. He has al- ready realized not a little of that which is most gratifying to a minister of Christ — many im- portant additions to his flock. The Ninth street
OF WASniXGTOX. 81
Methodist Protestant Church was never, perhaps, pecuniarily nor spiritually, in a better condition. The church edifice and parsonage are out of debt, and, with ample gas-lights, accommodated to even- ing meetings. The church and congregation are enjoying the ministrations of a pastor, the logic of whose life and activity among the people, exceeds in force and influence the logic of his pulpit dis- courses. At the exhibition of their Sabbath school, on Thursday evening last, before an audience which filled the house to its utmost capacity, many parts of which presented subduing and deeply interesting scenes, more than a hundred dollars was realized in the contribution. One pleasing feature in the life-membership effort to raise this money, was to see the unanimity and liberality shown by the members of other churches, particularly by those of the Episcopal Methodist ; which only produces to our minds another evidence that the ditrerence of feeling between this younger member and those of the older and stronger ones of the great Methodist family, is fast passing away. And why should it not? since the principal difTcrcnce consists in this: the Method i.st Protestant Church alhnvs of lay rep- resentation in the law-making department of her 4"
82 CHURCHES AXD PASTOKS
ecclesiastical bodies ; to which measure the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in many parts of the country, appear to have an increasing inclination. We hope and trust the time is not far distant, when the Methodist churches of this city, and of this whole Union, will have but one fellowship, and be one in Christian effort.
TKIXITY CHUKCH.
This spacious edifice was filled to overflowing on
Sunday night, to hear the E.ev. Gteo. D. Cummins,
rector, present to the young men the motives which
the scriptures urge for leading a religious life. His
subject was based on the choice of Moses, from
Hebrews xi. 25, 26 :
" Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season ; esteeming the re- proach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of reward."
In presenting the motives to piety, the speaker made an impressive contrast between the pleasures of sin for a season, and the " hundred-fold" prom- ised by our Saviour to his followers in this life, and in the " world to come, life everlasting."
The rector of Trinity Church holds a position of no ordinary responsibility and importance in this city.
OF WASHINGTON. 88
Among tlie six Protestant Episcopal churclies, Trinity Church is the most central, as well as the largest. &'o few of the other churches holding service at night, it is not unfrequently that the adherents of the Episcopal church in the First "Ward, meet those of the same order from the Sixth and the Seventh at that of Mr. Cummins's, which is, to many, a third service. The Rev. Mr. Cummins meets these large congregations, which assemble to hear his soul-stirring appeals in the church first occupied by the single-minded and devoted Dr. Butler, who had only to be known to be esteemed for his work's sake. How well the present rector fills the place, may be inferred from the large at- tendance on his ministrations, and the many addi- tions which have been made to the communion and fellowship of the church since he has had tl>e pas- toral charoe.
SIXTH STREET PRESBYTERIAN CIIURCn,
COUNER or SIXTir STIIKET and MARYLAND AVENUE.
Rev. Mason Nohle, pastor, preached the dedica- tion sermon of this newly-erected church edifice to the worship of Almighty God, from Hebrews x. 25 :
84 CHUKCHES AXD PASTOKS
*'Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another 5 and so much the more as ye see the day approachhig."
The speaker, in a very clear and forcible manner, defined the nature, duty, and benefits of public worship. We observed Senator Cass, and other distinguished men, among the auditors.
Rev. Mr. Ts^oble preached on the nature of the office of ruling elders, from 1 Tim.othy v. 17 :
"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in v,"ord and doctrine."
After the sermon, two ruling elders, Messrs. Thos, Button and Chas. W. Fenton, were ordained. The pastor of this church is delivering a series of lec- tures on Sabbath evenings, expository of the book of Daniel. Sunda}^ evening his lecture was on the second chapter, which embraces Daniel's vision of the image. The lecture was historical, illustrative, and exceedingly interesting. A series of evening meetings are in progress in this church.
Rev. a. D. Pollock supplied the pulpit left va- cant by Rev. Mason Noble, now chaplain on board
OF ^VASHIXGTOX. 85
the flag-ship of the Mediterranean squadron. It is sincerely hoped that the good beginning which was made to raise a congregation and to complete the church edifice, which is now a commodious place of worship, will be successful, and that the pulpit will be regularly supplied by a useful minister.
GERMAX EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
CORNER OF TWENTIETH AND G STREETS (FIRST WARD),
Rev. Samuel D. Finkle, pastor, preached on the condition of the ria^hteous and the unrio^hteous in the spirit world, from Luke xvi. 31.
" And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the proph- et?, neither will they bo persuaded though one rose from the dead."
By information obtained from the pastor of this church we are enabled to lay before our readers the following account of this church and congregation : In 1833 a small band of Germans, organizing themselves into a congregation under the above title, wors^hippod for a time in the City Hall, and then built their present house of worship, under the
supervision of the Rev. Mr. and others of
their people, which answered the requirements of
86 CIIUKCHE3 AXD PASTORS
the coiigregation, under the care of its several pas- tors, for upwards of fifteen years. In 1853 it was found necessary to enlarge their chnrch, which was speedily accomplished, and filled again with attentive hearers. They now number more than five hundred communicants. On the 27th of De- cember, 1846, the Rev. Samuel D. Finkle, after having preached a number of times previously (in English and German) to the congregation, entered upon his active duties as pastor. As the number of members increased, funds were collected, a par- sonage was built, a cemetery or place of burial was purchased, a school established, and a society formed to aid the congregation and council in pe- cuniary as well as other congregational affairs, and in matters pertaining to the school, which is now in a flourishing condition, under the tutorship of M. P. Matter. The next effort the congregation intend to make is by a collection and a Fair, a *' Grerman Fair," to erect a steeple, with a bell, and to obtain a good new organ for their church. From the usual enterprise and energy hitherto manifested by this people, we doubt not that in due time their designs in this behalf will all be accomplished. The church statistics for the last
OB^ WASHINGTON. bi
nine years stand as follows : Baptisms, 632 ; con- firmed, 150 ; married, 296 couples ; funerals, 236.
SHILO BAPTIST CHURCH.
VIRGIXIA. AVENUE, BETWEEN i\ AND 6tH STS., (ISI^XD.)
Elder AYm. J. Plrington, pastor, preached
from 1 Corinthians i. 29-31:
•' That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and right- eousness, and eanctification, and redemption ; that, according as it is written, he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord.''
From this text the speaker taught the sover- eignty of God and the doctrine of predestination ; that repentance, like love to God, was one of the fruits of regeneration, and that it never preceded it, unless it was such as Judas had when he went out and hanged himself; that love to God was found in his chosen people only ; and that it was produced by electing grace through the vicarious sacrifice of Christ in his elect people, who were chosen in him before the foundation of tho world. The speaker, who is evidently a close student of theology, and appears to possess a devoted and humble mind, presented his subject in an affecting and impressive light, producing a solemn and awe-
88 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
inspiring view of the Supreme Ruler of the universe. This church is the only one in Washington which represents a large and respectable set of Baptists known as the " old school " or " old line " Baptists. On account of their opposition to any modernizing or modihcation oi their views of predestination, and to many other modern institutions, they are often called, as a term of reproach, "hard-shell" and " particular" Bapiists. They insist that their minis- ters should not confine their minds to written dis- courses, but that they leave themselves free to receive any new thoughts which the Holy Spirit may be pleased to give them " in that same hour." They do not allow the organization of any societies auxiliary to the church. While they oppose missionary soci" eties whose object is to send men to preach to the heathen, they do not oppose any man who desires, from his own sense of duty, to "go" to preach the gospel in other lands. While they do not unite with any Sunday-School " Unions," they are not opposed' to such measures as will diffuse among children a better knowledge of the unexplained Scriptures. Although there are a few of these churches in nearly all the older States of the Union, yet they are most numerous in the South and
OF WASHINGTON. 89
Southwest, numbering altogether about 150,000 members. The small wooden edifice in which this church worships in this city, together with the grounds around it, were donated to it some twenty- five years ago. Those who are attached to the views entertained by this people in their own re- spective States, when they Come to Washington, are pretty sure to find the "Old School," or, as they prefer to be called, the Predestinarian Bap- tist, at the Shilo Church. Besides many good cit- izens, there were present on Sabbath morning two United States Senators, one of whom took part in the (congregational) singing with an apparent de- vout cordiality. It is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when this church will entertain the design of building a house of worship which will afibrd ample accommodations for all who sympathize with them in th(.'ir faith and order of worship.
90 CHURCHES AXD PASTOKS
PRESBYTERIAX CHURCH,
SEVENTH STREET (ISLAXD).
Rev. E. "B. Cleghorn, pastor, preached from Isaiah v. 4 :
" "What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it '!"
In illustrating his subject the speaker enumer- ated the instances in which the Divine Being has manifested his interest in the moral improvement and salvation of our race, and the tendency of sin- ful man to disregard them ; and closed with an appeal to his hearers to give more earnest heed to the solemn responsibilities accumulating upon us by the m^ercy and goodness of God. Mr. C. has just entered upon the duties of his pastoral charge in this new church, recently vacated by the Rev. Mr. Henrv, who was their first pastor. He enters the ranks of laborers in the Lord's vineyard in this city with credentials which give promise that his labors will not be in vain. AVe .should be inclined to place him in the Baxterian school of preachers. Religion having taken strong hold of his own mind,
OF WASPILVGTOX. 91
he presents it in a strong light to others. It is to him not a theme of speculation, but a solemn re- ality. He speaks with earnestness and to the point.
Rev. E. B. Cleghorn, pastor, preached from 2 Kings vii. 3, 4:
" And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate ; and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we stall die there ; and if we sit still here we die also. Now, therefore, come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians, and if they save us alive we shall live ; and if they kill us we shall hut die.''
In the afternoon from Matthew ii. 2 :
" For we have seen his star in the East, and arc come to wor- ship bim."
On Tuesday evening of last week Mr. Clegiiorn was ordained and installed pastor of this church by the Presbytery of Baltimore. Rev. Stuart Robinson preached the sermon. Rev. ]\[r. Kaufman gave the charge to the pastor, and Dr. Gurley proposed the constitutional questions and gave the charge to the people. Rome six months since Mr. ('. came into this city a strang(M*, and was taken by the hand of kindness by hia brethren, especially
92 CHUKCIIES AND PASTORS
by the pastcjr of the F street Presbyterian church. He was pointed to this small church on the Island as a suitable field of labor for one who has a desire to do good. Into this field he soon entered, v/here, with a straightforward course and steadfast faith. he has labored on, until he has won not only the confidence of the people of his charge over whom he is now regularly settled, but the fellowship and brotherly aflfection of the Presbytery of whom he is now a member.
METHODIST CHURCH SOUTH,
EIGUTH STREET, BETWEEN G AXD H — REV. DR. DOGGETT, PASTOR.
Rt. Rev. Bishop Pierce, of Georgia, preached in the morning on the Deity of Christ, and the doc- trines predicated thereon, from John i. 14 :
*' And the "Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
At 4 o'clock, P.M., Rev. Mr. Hanell, of Alaba- ma, preached from Psalm Ixiii. 25 :
' ' Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee."
The whole discourse well sustained the proposi- tion given out in the commencement, that the re-
OF WASHIXGTOX. 93
ligion of the Bible fully meets all the wants of the heart. The speaker said he was not about to pre- sent some revised edition of " a religion adapted to the times," bat that it was his purpose to show that the religion of the Bible was universally adapted to the real moral wants of the heart in all time. He discoursed like a man of reading and reflection, presenting ideas somewhat original.
At night, Bishop Pierce preached a second time. Ilis text was from 1 Timothy i. 8 :
" But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully."
It is not our purpose to attempt, in the brief space allotted us, to give even an outline of the two discourses delivered by this able divine. Vfe doubt not that he fully sustained the high reputation so generally awarded to him for biblical learning and pulpit oratory. That, like Timothy, he has from a child been a student of the Scriptures, must be evident to all who heard him speak, and saw the readiness (without the aid of notes) with which he brought the sacred text to his aid at every step, as he proceeded in the discussion of those topics which it is the most diflTicult to unfold clearly to the human understanding, such as the mysterious
94 ' CIIUKCHES AXD PASTORS
trinity of the Grodhead, the vicarious sacrifice of Christ, justification by faith alone, and the neces- sity of a renewal of the heart by the Holy Spirit. The two discourses were only parts of the same subject. Although delivered from different texts, they were predicated on the same first principles — the competency of Christ to make an atonement ; and (for the redemption of man) the necessity for it, in order that the law might be fulfilled by Christ and kept by regenerate man. The whole together might be regarded as a clear and forcible exposi- tion of the system of theology as taught by the orthodox, in distinction from Socinianism, and es- pecially by the whole Methodist family. But one prominent object of the entire day's effort w^as to raise, by donations, a sufficient sum of money as would be necessary to relieve this small society not only from a debt on the original purchase of their church edifice, but to complete their design of en- largement and improvement of both the interior and exterior of their house of worship. They have already reconstructed the interior, making a new pulpit, new, convenient, and cushioned seats, add- ing many more to the former number. They have given a very pleasant finish by new gas-light fix-
OF washingto:n'. 95
tures, fresco painting, and other ornamental works which furnish convenient seats, in a room present- ing an air of neatness and good taste which it will be difficult to surpass. Although the subscription fell far short of the sum proposed to be raised, yet the amount actually donated was decidedly liberal, extending to about $l,oOO. Southern members of Congress gave (as if they were determined that there should be a Methodist Church South, as far north as Washington) from ten to fifty dollars each. The church membership worshipping here is small, but they have a faithful pastor in Rev. Dr. Doggett, and on this occasion the crowded house presented rather an imposing accession — with one of the most able and eloquent divines in the country in the pulpit, and an appreciating audience, embracing persons of a high order of intelligence, as well as those high in ofliec, from our Chief Magistrate and many members of the National Legislature, to the single-minded inquirer after truth. Thus a new era has been made in this church — in this lone representative in Washington of that body of tli<3 great Methodist denomination who, in 18 14, sepa- rated fr(Hii the j\Iethodist Episcopal Cliureh proper, in order, as th'^y Sijy, that tliry rnny, hy iiiore sym-
96 CHURCHES AXD PASTORS
patliies and affinities with the institutions of ihe South than those which their northern brethren appear to possess, labor more successfully among their brethren of the Southern States than they could do if they were on terms of co-operation with those who know less of southern institutions.
THIRTEENTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH,
RE^Y. mi. TEASDALE, PASTOR.
This church edifice, notwithstanding the unusual storm, was dedicated to the worship of Almighty Grod in the presence of an interested audience, which numbered several of our most distinsjuished residents, among whom were President Pierce and sundry members of the National Legislature. The morning sermon was delivered by Rev. Dr. Fuller, of Baltimore, from 1 Corinthians ii. 2 :
"For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."
The speaker's first inquiry was : "Why did the Apostle come to such a determination ? Second, he assumed that the salvation of men is made de- pendent on knowing Christ as crucified ; knowing him as a sacrifice for us. To assert that the ser-
OF WASHINGTON. 97
mon conlaiaed great truths, forcibly expressed, is only saying what is characteristic of Dr. Fuller.
The afternoon sermon was by Rev. Dr. Barrows, of Richmond, Virginia, from a clause in the seventh verse of the sixtieth chapter of Isaiah:
" I will glorify the house of my glory."
The speaker said that God's house now is his church ; that he glorifies it as it glorifies him ; that we glorify God by preaching and obeying the truth, and observins: his ordinances.
At night, the pastor preached on the attractions of the sanctuary, from Psalm Ixxxiv. 1,2:
" How amiable are thy tabernacles, 0 Lord of Hosts ! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord : my heart and ray flesh crieth out for the living God."
AmoniT the attractions of the sanctuarv, the speaker mentioned singing by a choir, which, he said, was designed to assist, and not supersede, conorref?ational sini^ins:.
no o o
This neat, and we may well say beautiful house of public worship, has been erected under the supervision and indefatigable labors of Rev. Dr. Teasdale. It is an ornament to the city, and a splendid addition, in architectural completeness, to the church edifices of Washington. It is built of
98 CHUECHES AND PASTORS
brick, in a most substantial manner, and is one hundred feet in length by fifty-six in width. The basement, with its spacious lecture-room and other apartments, presents a pattern of utility. The seats in the main body of the house are all hand- somely cushioned, and the floors thoroughly car- peted. The fine-toned organ is from the house of Appleton & Co., of Boston. The steeple, which rises so gracefully above the roof, was designed by Thomas U. Walter, Esq., United States architect, and is one hundred and sixty feet high. The bell, which sends forth such solemn " church-soini?'' peals, was donated by two citizens of North Caro- lina, and weighs 2,163 pounds. Everything con- nected with the final finish of the building, appears to be in good taste. It is certainly a matter of no little interest to the citizens of Wa.shington, that such a public building should be carried forward to completion ; and it must be a matter of still greater interest to the new religious society which occupy it, whose members have shared so largely in the expenses of its erection, that the debt still remaining should be paid off. The greatest amount of the money expended in the erection of this church, has been collected by the pastor in other places.
OF WASHINGTON. 99
We could not help feeling a sympathy with Rev. Dr. Teasdale, when he alluded to the fact that after being kept away from his family and his people so much of the time, raising money in other parts, and having cherished the hope that the bal- ance would be raised here on the day of its dedica- tion, and he be enabled thereby to pass the re- mainder of the winter, at least, amid the comforts of home, and that after laying the corner-stone, more than two years ago, on so stormy a day as to pre- vent him from taking up a collection, and then dedi- cating the lecture-room on another day of such in- clement weather as to produce a like failure, — now, after one postponement, with the hope of having a fair day and a full house, they had after all this fallen on one of the most stormy days which has been known or perhaps will be experienced for a long time to come. Were we to venture on a sug- gestion, it would be that as soon as our citizens have assisted the poor through the hardes^t of the winter, the pastor of this church, on some moon- light evening, hold a kind of religious entertain- ment, when short addresses A\ou\d be delivurcd by dilfercnt individuals, where it should bo expected that all who may be in attendance shall give some-
157516
100 CHURCHES AXD PASTORS
thing, and thus join with the good people abroad who have so generously contributed to the erection of one of the handsomest public edifices in Wash- ington. Let us all lay aside our sectarianism long' enough to unite in one such meeting, and thus all have a hand in this good work. Stormy as the Sabbath day was, our Chief Magistrate set the generous and noble example of placing his name on the card that was circulated, for fifty dollars ; and, after church was over, filled his carriage with ladies, and went home himself through a drifting snow-storm on foot.
METHODIST PROTESTANT MISSION CHURCH,
XAYY YARD.
Rev. John R. Nichols, pastor, preached on two of the Christian graces enumerated by St. Peter in his second Epistle, first chapter, commencing at the
fifth verse :
" Temperance — Patience."
Since this church has become a mission, and the present indefatigable missionary has entered upon his work, the congregation has not only increased, but the Sabbath school has grown up to about one hundred members.
OF WASHINGTON. 101
CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY,
REV. J. "W. FllENCn, RECTOR.
Some twelve years since, this gentleman cora_ menced his ministerial labors in this city, in the relation of a missionary. He then collected a small congregation, who worshipped for a time in the building known as the Apollo Hall. Subsequently, his people built for him the commodious church on Gr street, bearing the above name, which is now filled from Sabbath to Sabbath with an audience who appreciate his ministrations. That Mr. FRE^'CH will take rank amon^: the thorouirh thinkers and readers in systematic theology, no one will doubt who gives him an attentive hearing. He not un- frequently announces a series of discourses to be delivered in the morning, with the design to illus- trate the less obvious and fundamental doctrines of Christianity, when, in the afternoon, his sermons will present a more practical character. Recently ho has been delivering a series of sermons, to which we furnish a clue in the following brief outline. The first of them was from Ptomans v. 12 :
"By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and BO death passed npon all men."
102 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
The proposition of the discourse was, that the first transgression was the source of original sin. After having shown that one class of objections was, in fact, not against the scriptural statement, but rather against a mere theological hypothesis of the federal headship of Adam ; and after having stated that a second class of objections was against the proposition truly given in the Bible, viz., that all men are in a sinful and suffering condition in consequence of the disobedience of Adam, he met this latter objection by the argument referred to. It was based on this fact, that each one of us has on others an influence similar to that objected to in Adam. "No man liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself." The effects of no man's sins end with himself. The dependence of all men upon the first for their condition, is but an expansion of the fact seen in every human life. Every man, in a limited sense, is to those around him an Adam or a Christ. The conclusion drawn from this fact w^as, that if we object to the scriptural statement of our connexion with our first parent, we must go further, and oppose the whole ordaining of Grod for society and for all men. Of course, if the objection involves so much, it must be abandoned. The next discourses were from Genesis iii. 1-7 :
OF WASHINGTOis'. 103
'• Now the serpent was more subtle," &c.
The subject was, the first transgression not only a source of sin original, but a picture of all sin actual.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH,
FOUR-A\D-A-HALF STREET (iSLAND) .
Rev. p. Meister, pastor. — This is a small brick church, recently built on the Island, for the bene- fit of those families in the Sixth and Seventh "Wards, who reside at too great a distance from the Rev. Mr. Finkle's church to attend on his minis- try. These two German Reformed Churches teach doctrines similar to Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Episcopalians. Although they have a liturgy, yet their rituals are quite as simple as the before- named churches. Their meetings would be often attended by members of other evangelical churches, no doubt, were it not for the difForence in language.
GER. EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
OF THE UNALTERED AUGSBURG CONFESSION. FOURTiC STREET, OPrOSlTE THE JAIL.
Rev. Wm. Nordman, pastor. — This congregation follow the views which they say were maintained
10 i CHURCHES AXD PASTORS
by Dr. Martin Luther, and laid down in the un- altered Augsburg Confession, made in the year 1555, with such church ceremonies as were not condemned, but observed by that great reformer — such as havuig a high altar, surmounted with the crucifix, and with tapers which they burn on certain occasions, the use of the wafer at the sacra- ment of the Lord's Supper, a belief in consubstan- tiation, or the mysterious presence of the body and blood of Christ, together with the peculiar vest- ments of their clergy, fee. These usages, together with their decided opposition to Sunday school and all reformatory societies and institutions, give them as much distinctness from the reformed or pro- gressive churches of the city, as if they made no claim to being Protestants, or did not speak the same Ian2:ua2;e with other Grerman churches. They stand in about the same relation to the English or American Lutheran Churches (repre- sented by the Rev. J. G-. Butler's on Eleventh street) as the Old School or Predestinarian Baptists (represented by the " Shilo" Church on Virginia avenue) do to the other general Baptist churches of Washington city. But, whatever may be their religious creed, who can doubt the good moral
OF WASHIXGTOX. 105
effect to these ^' strangers and foreigners," as they come to this country, on the return of the day of rest, to unite in the worship of Grod as they were wont to do in the fatherland, to sing, in their own language, the same songs of Zion, and to join in the same reverential observances as those which lifted up their thoughts to the Father of Mercies in their childhood years ? While here, as in their own land, as they assemble together on the Sab- bath to worship the God of their fathers and the God of their innocent childhood, they are draw^i by it to live in the fear of the Lord. How much better is this for them and their children than to do like too many, on coming to this land of religious freedom, (where the civil magistrate recognizes no creed as a crime, but where every man is held responsible to God only in matters of conscience, so long as it does not lead him to interfere with the rights of his neighbor,) use that freedom to abandon all religious observances, and with it the Sab- bath and the fear of God. But fn- the benefit of all who have never had their attention called to the subject, we will call attention to those last words in his farewell of the Rev. John Robinson, as he parted with that portion of his flock, at their " em- 5*
106 CPIURCHES AND PASTORS
barkation" at Delf Haven, who came "pilgrims" in the May Flower to Plymouth Rock in 1620, and who planted the first colony, formed the first church, and established the first school in New England. Before kneeling down on the strand to commend them to Grod, as represented in the great painting in the rotunda of the Capitol, among other things he said : *• if Clod reveal anything to you by any other instrument of his, be as ready to re- ceive it as ever you were to receive any truth by my ministry ; for I am verily persuaded, I am very confident that the Lord has more truth yet to break forth out of his holy word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the re- formed churches, who are come to a period in re- ligion, and will go at present no further than the instrument of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; whatever part of his will our good Grod has revealed to Calvin, they will rather die than embrace it, and the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things."
OF WASHIXGTOX. 10'
ASSEMBLY'S CHUECH.
Rev. Andrew G. Carothers, pastor, preached from Luke i. 3, 4 ;
"■ It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed."
This was the third anniversary of the organiza- tion of this church. The pastor gave a history of its rise and progress and prospects. The projectors and builders were Rev, Dr. Smith, Rev. A. Gr. Carothers, and George S. Gideon, Esq. Corner- stone laid September 1, 1852. Session room dedi- cated January 16, 1S53. Church organized with twenty members March 9, 1853. Pastor ordained and installed April 20, 1853. The officers at this time are Elders B. L. Eogan and R. T. McLain, Esq. Trustees: T. C. Donn, W. Lord, John W. Wells, R. Prentice, and Ilagh W. McNeil. Whole number of communicants received 108. Ministerial visits 4,500 ; marriages 17 ; baptisms 63 ; burials 60. Missionary society organized June 20, 1855; members 204. Sabbath-school scholars 125. After service at night the congregation remained and
108 CHURCHES AND PASTOES
appointed a committee to request the sermon for publication. The Eev.-Dr. Smith preached at night from Psalm xxiv. 3 :
'' Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?"
Rev. Andrew G-. Carothers preached from St. John's Grospel, iii. 12 :
"If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not, how- shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things ?"
The speaker's object appeared to be to define certain fundamental doctrines, such as the sinful- ness of man's nature, the necessity of an atone- ment, and of regeneration. These are '•' earthly things," or things which are plain to the human understanding, but which, through the darkness of the natural mind, were misunderstood and denied ; and, "through the ignorance that is in them," they were unable to understand " heavenly things," because they "are spiritually discerned." He rebuked the pretensions of those who, forgetful and neglectful of first principles, profess to be greatly wise in things above their comprehension, and ex- horted to an entrance into the kingdom by the door of repentance. The Assembly's Church is so called
OF WASHINGTON". 109
on account of the fact that so many other churches throughout the General Assembly of the (New School) Presbyterian Church of the United States made contributions to its erection. The church edifice, Vv'ith its silver-toned bell, is a neat and ample structure, and furnishes a most valuable addition to the appearance of the more new and growing part of the city where it is located. Al- though the church has been built only about three years, there is already a goodly number who com- pose the regular congregation ; yet the plan of so spacious a building was no doubt wisely drawn with an adaptation to a growing city, and for the bene- fit of future generations, as well as for those who form its incipient era. Mr. Carothers, the pastor of this church, is comparatively a young man. Being a native of Washington, and a graduate of the Col- lege which, on an elevated margin, overlooks the city, he forms an exception to the general rule that '^ a prophet is not without honor save in his own coun- try." Yv^ith precarious health, which hardly anTords him sufficient bodily strength to meet the toils of a pastor's life, he is found at his post manfully sustaining the moral conflict of a soldier of the Cross with a depfrce of success which gives evi-
110 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
(lence that he does not run in vain nor spend his strength for naught. The pastor announced, among his notices, that on "Wednesday evening of this week, a Missionary Society, connected with the church, w^ould hold their annual meeting, which will consist of various exercises of interest, where all persons interested are invited to attend.
JEWS' SYNAGOGUE,
FOUR-AND-A-HALF STREET, OPPOSITE EAST END OF THE CITY HALL.
To worship with this people, one must go as early as eight o'clock on Saturday morning (the Sabbath of the Jews). Here one will meet with men and women who have walked (for ride they will not on their Sabbath) all the way from George- town, to unite with their brethren of Washington in chanting their services, and in listening to a chapter from the Sacred Scroll, containing the Books of Moses, which they bring forth from what answers to the ^-holy of holies" in the ancient temple. Some of the more conscientious Jews close their places of business on Friday night, and keep them shut through the best day of the seven for trade, until, as one of them informed me, he
OF WASHIXGTOX. Ill
could see three stars in the Saturday evening sky. Then, for the sake of law and order, they keep the first day of the week more strictly than some Christians ; so that, with the exception of Satur- day night, they have but five days of the week, in- stead of six, to trade as others do around them. But all are not thus conscientious. The Jews of this city, like Jews everywhere, have their temp- tations to contend with. They pay rent like others, and feel that they need as good a chance as others in order to succeed in business. They are there- fore induced to break their own Sabbath for profit, and the Christian Sabbath (which they do not sacredly regard) for pleasure. Then, again, it is only the more devout Jews who come up to the solemn assembly. It being only a plain hall in which they worship, not embracing all the gorge- ous drapery of a thoroughly-furnished Synagogue, some of their more opulent brethren (holding im- portant offices, perhaps, in our GeneralGovernment, or members of the National Legislature) do not find their more humble brethren in their devotional exercises. Then there are many of their youth, especially the more aspiring young men, wJio do not habitually come to the Synagogue on their
112 CHURCHES AXD PASTORS
Sabbath day. Yet there are some twenty or more families \vho are determined, with all the integrity of Jews, to worship the God of their fathers, and continue to observe the ordinances commanded them by their great lawgiver, and continue looking for the fulfilment of that prediction left them by Moses : " A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me. Him shall ye hear in all things," &c.
One v/ho is at all familiar with the history of the past cannot fail to be interested in the efforts of these people to maintain their ancient w^orship in this land, in which they only are sojourners. To mingle with them in their worship, is to come into the presence, not only of Moses and the Prophets, but of Abraham. Some sects among us, which had their origin compar- atively in modern times, can hardly refrain from giving an almost sacred importance to the long series of years which they have existed, as well as to the distinguished endowments of their first pro- pagators. But, turning to the Jews, we leave every religious sect now on earth far behind us, as we travel back on the path of history to find their orir-in. When arriving within about 350 years of the universal deluge, we find a lone man leaving
OF WASHINGTON. 113
his kindred and his native land — Ur of the Chaldees — to sojourn " in a strange country," where he received a promise that his posterity '' should, after receive it as an inheritance ;" here, passing through scenes well calculated to test his integrity, he be- came " strong in faith," and was called the "father of all them that believe," This occurred not far from two thousand years before the Christian era, about 3,856 years ago. Leaving Abraham's day, we soon fmd in his posterity a large family, and then a nation fulfilling the promise made to their great progenitor, that they should equal the '* stars in multitude." About 1,491 years before Christ, or, as the Jews would say, in the year of the world, about 2,513, Moses came down from Mount Sinai with his face shining in such a manner that the Is- raelites could not steadfastly behold it, and delivered to them the ecclesiastical, civil, and moral laws, by the former of which they were to be governed so long as they continued to be a distinct church and nation. It will therefore be seen that, as far as the antiquilij of the institutions of a sect present any claim to consideration, the Jews have more than all others. Wesley, Fox, Calvin, Luther, and even St. Peter, are all men of modern times
114 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
compared with Moses and Abraham. Although this people may no longer exist as a nation with a population to be numbered, as they once were, by millions, and dispersed as they now are among all nations, yet the little handful here among us are, as they everywhere are, still trying, as best they can, to adhere to the '' laws of Moses," as they un- derstand them. We feel a religious regard, we trust, for these people. St. Paul informs us that he had (although in a far higher sense) the same regard, for which he gives the following reasons : "Who are Israelites; to wdiom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of Grod, and the promises ; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concernins: the flesh Christ cam.e." We are in- debted to the Jews. Let us, then, be thankful that while they are among us, contending with many difficulties to keep " the law of command- ments contained in ordinances," they can do it with none to molest or make them afraid ; and let us labor to show unto them a "more excellent way" in the model life and character of Him who said, " I am the way, the truth, and the life," and who also said, " The hour cometh, and now is, when
OF WASHINGTON. 115
the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth."
UNION CHAPEL.
Rev. F. Israel, pastor, preached from St. John's aospel, xiv. 21-23 :
" He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me,'' &c.
The topic of this discourse was the nature and rewards of Christian obedience. The speaker main- tained that the ways in which God had manifested himself to Abraham, to Moses, and many others in ancient times, by " signs and wonders and divers miracles," had given place to a less sight-seeing, and a more spiritual manifestation, as signified in the text: "Judas saith unto him, (not Iscariot,) Lord, how wilt thou manifest thyself unto us and not unto the world ? Jesus answered. If a man love me he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him ;" and that this manifestation is made in these last days, as said by the prophet Joel, " I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh" generally, and that it will " abide" in a special
116 CHUECHES AND PASTOES
manner with those who " love God and keep his commandn:ients."
Mr. Israel is a religious thinker as well as teacher. Looking at a subject until it becomes clear to his own mind, he presents it clearly as well as forcibly to others. His repose of manner in the pulpit bespeaks confidence in his preparation for the work before him; and on entering into the discussion of his subject, he proceeds as if he believ- ed that a progressive religious life will be main- tained only by a conviction of its importance in the understanding as well as a feeling in the heart. He is most evidently leading the people of his charge into more comprehensive views of the relations and duties of Christianity ; and should the itinerant system chance to leave him in Yv'ashington until he could be heard more generally, we cannot doubt that the character of his preaching would be more highly appreciated, and would make a strong and useful impression, particularly in the Methodist church of this community.
OF WASHI^^GTO^'. 117
GRACE CHURCH,
Rev. a. Holmead, rector, preached from Acts xxvi. 28 :
"Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.''
The speaker so presented this subject as to make the attentive, respectful, moral members of his con- gregation, who allow few to go beyond them in at- tention to the externals of religious worship, feel that there is a possibility, after being almost Chris- tians all their lifetime, of not quite entering into the kingdom of heaven. It was an earnest, solemn appeal to all such persons to reflect and decide to choose whom they will serve.
Rev. Mr. IIolmead, some four or five years since, in the spirit of a missionary, without the remotest prospect of any earthly reward, commenced reading the church service and preaching to some dozen per- sons, more or less, in a small school-house on the Isl- and. The next season we happened to be present whnn the corner-stonn of the neat and convenient church edifice in which he now worships was laid, in the presence of a large gathering of the clergy and
118 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
people of the city. Now, if an earnest preacher, a faithful pastor, a convenient house of worship, a good choir in the orchestra, and an interested au- dience present evidence of success, then Grace Church furnishes signs of being permanently estab- lished. The Rector evidently is laboring from the love he bears to the cause of Christ, and is doing good in a position of the city where there was at the time he commenced his labors, a destitution of places in which to worship God on the Sabbath. All true Christians must feel gratified to see evan- gelical efforts of this kind successful.
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH,
XOFwTn CAPITOL STREET, BETWEEX B AND C.
There was no service on Sabbath mornins:, the congregation having joined the worshippers in the Capitol in listening to a sermon by Rev. Wm. B. Hayden, of Portland, Maine. In the evening Mr. Hayden preached in the church, from Luke xvi. 31 :
" And he said uuto him, if they hear not Moses and the proph- ets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.''
The 'New Jerusalem Church differs from the various sects of the present Christian church, re-
OF \yASPIiyGTOX. 119
marked the speaker, ia one important particular. It claims to be a revelation of truth from Heaven, and not a system of doctrines excogitated from the mind of man. It presents facts, and not mere in- ferential opinions. But the objection was some- times urged that if Swedenborg was thus made the medium of a new revelation, his divine mission ought to have been attested by miracles. This ob- jection it was the object of the discourse to answer. Mr. H. proceeded to show, first, that miracles were not a sure test of truth. When Moses turned the water of Egypt into blood, " the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments." Second, miracles did not convert those who witnessed them to the true faith. The most stupendous miracles did not turn Pharaoh and the Egyptians from the worship of false gods ; and the Jews said that the Saviour ca:>t out devils through Beelzebub, the prince of the devils. Third, the claims of a new revelation founded upon miracles would attract little attention at the present day. The New Jeru- sahiin Church makes no claim to miracles in its be- half. It presents a system of spiritual truths, and makes its appeals to the rational faculties of men. If the adaptcdness of these tr\iths to the nature nnd
120 CHURCHES AND PASTOES
wants of mankind does not afford a sufficient attes- tation to tlieir heavenly origin, " neither will men be persuaded though one rose from the dead."
GORSUCH CHAPEL,
greexleaf's point.
Rev. Mr. Steel, pastor, preached from Genesis
xlix. 4 :
" Unstable as water thou shalt not excel" —
on nature and cure of religious instability. And at Ryland Chapel, at night, from Hebrews ix. 27 :
" It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judg- ment."
Many individuals are commencing a religious life at this chapel.
FLETCHER CHAPEL,
CORNER OF XE\7 YORK AVENUE AND FOURTH STREET.
A NEW chapel bearing this name, recently erected on the corner of Fourth street and New- York Avenue, was solemnly dedicated to the worship of God. Services were cond acted in the morning by Rev. Mr. Dashiell, in the afternoon by
OF WASHIXGTON. 121
Rev. Mr. Brooks, of Greorgetown, and in the even- ing by Rev. Mr. Israel, of Union Chapel.
PROVIDENOE CHAPEL,
CORNER OF DELAWARE AVENUE AND I STREET.
This is one of the out-post missions of the Methodist Church of this city. The fev/ devoted individuals who have engaged in this mission en- terprise, have hitherto held their Sabbath-school and public worship in a dwelling-house. Last Sabbath afternoon, at three o'clock, those who have the care of the Sabbath-school held an anni- versary meeting. Among the speakers were the Hon. Mark Traftox, member of Congress, who delighted the audience for nearly an hour with an address on the proper training of children ; and John C. IIarknkss, Esq., of Washington, made a stirring appeal on the duty and privilege of giving liberally to support the mission ; after which a subsciiption wasiuade, which amounted to nearly six hundred dollars, besides a lot, which was do- nated by one of the citizens, on which to build a chapel.
6
122 CHURCHES AND PASTORS
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
CAPITOL HILL.
Rev. Mr. Day, pastor. The lower part of this church was dedicated to the service of God on Sunday. Rev. J. McK. Riley, of Baltimore, preached in the morning from Psalm xx. 8 :
" In the name of God we will hang out our banners.''
At three o'clock P. M., Rev. G. F. Brooke preached from Ephesians iv. 21 :
" As the truth is in Jesus."
At night Rev. I. P. Cook discoursed from
Isaiah Ivi. 7 :
"For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all people."
Much interest was manifested in the proceed- ings of the day by a large number of persons from all parts of the city. A collection and subscrip- tions were taken up after each sermon, amounting in the aggregate to 81,300. That amount re- duces the debt of the church to about S200. The trustees contemplate finishing as early as practi- cable the main room and exterior of the church.
OF T^'ASHI^^GTON. 123
Rev. Bishop Waugh, D.D., preached a mission- ary sermon from Hebrews xiii. 10 :
" But to do good and to communicate, forget not ; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."
Notwithstanding the piercing cold wind, a large and attentive audience listened to the venerable divine as he traced, in a most interesting manner, the history of missions in this country, as they followed on the trail of the new settlers of our western domain, as well as the progress of those who are laboring in distant lands. Ke said the Bible was the great instrumentality in the cause of missions, it being now circulated and read in two hundred different languages.
WESTERN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
Rev. Mr. Haskrll, preached on the certainty of death, and the equal certainty of a future judg- ment, from Hebrews ix. 27 :
" It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judg- ment."
The whole subject, more especially the closing reflections, took their character from the solem- nities of the scene prc^sentcd in that lecture-room
124: CHURCI-IES AND PASTORS
the day before, — the upper part of the church not being completed.
On Saturday the funeral exercises of Mr. David M. Wilson, of this city, took place, in the presence of a deeply-affected auditory, composed of promi- nent members from nearly every church in Wash- ington. Notwithstanding the stormy and inclem- ent weather, the house was crowded to its utmost capacity with those who appeared to be sincere mourners for the deceased. After a short prayer by Rev. Dr. Smith, the young pastor, whose only elder lay a corpse before him, with a few v.^ell- timed remarks, read select passages from the word of Grod — passages which appeared to point with solemn import to the occasion. Then followed Dr. Sunderland with an address, containing thoughts and reflections which it seemed as if such an occasion alone could suggest. Dr. Gurley next followed with an impressive prayer, when the choir sang in low and subdued voices the hymn commencing,
'' There is an hour of peaceful rest To inournh-ig wanderers given."
After which the "last of earth" was conveyed to its final resting-place in Glenwood Cemetery.
OF WASHIXGTOX. 125
Thus has passed away one whose various labors and useful life brought him into contact with a larger number of our citizens, in connection with religious matters, than falls to the lot of few lay- men, but whose real character and good works could be known and properly appreciated only by those who intimately knew him — knew his inner life. Mr. Wilson, in his church relations was a Presbyterian, and for the most pa-i't of his religious life an official member in that church. Mr. Wil- son was also a Chrlstian. In his own spirit he imbibed the spirit of his Master. His thoughts appeared to be on heavenly and divine things ; his words were those of forbearance and kindness ; to the delinquent, words of exhortation ; to the dis- heartened, words of hope and encouragement. ]a his life he literally "went about doing good." Living thus, he allowed no sectarianism to limit his freedom to do good, or to prevent him from taking by the hand as brethren all whom he be- lieved to be the children of Crod. Carrying out the dictates of a great soul, full of love to God and man, he was the brother and frii-nd of everybody who full within the sphere of his labors. That the *' Washington City SunJay-School Union" has lost
126 CHURCHES AND PASTORS.
an efficient friend ; that the " Bible Society" and the "Tract Society," and the church, and espe- cially the poor, and those who decided to entrust the distribution of funds to judicious hands, have lost a faithfal and trustworthy laborer, need only be named, for that he was such a man, was read and known by all men who knew him. That such a man is a loss to a devoted family cannot be bet- ter understood. With the bereaved we sympa- thize. Could our pen drop tears, and not words, our feelings would find a better expression for the loss of a good man than with the barrenness of language.
CHAPLAINS TO CONGRESS. 127
CHAPLAINS TO CONGRESS.
REV. HENRY CLAY DEAN, of Iowa.
Chaplain to the United States Senate.
REV. DANIEL AVALDO, of New York,
Chaplain to the United States House of Representatives.
Services every Sabbath morning in the Capitol, conducted alternately by each of the chaplains.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN THE U. S. CAPITOL.
Rev. Daniel Waldo, the recently-elected chap- lain to Congress, who officiated on Sabbath morn- ing, is a Congregationalist minister from the town of Geddi.s, near Syracuse, N. Y., in the district represented by the Hon. Mr. Granger, who intro- duced his name into the list of nominees for chap- lain to the House of Representatives. In an inter- view with this venerable man, we learned that ho was a native of the State of Connecticut, and is now in the 94th year of his age ; that ho was a soMicr in the war of the Revolution, fi)r which
128 CHAPLAINS TO CONGRESS.
service he now receives a pension ; that he was
personally acquainted with Greneral Washington ;
that he was taken prisoner at York Island, and
was confined with several hundred others in the
fatal '' Sugar-house prison," in New York, because
the " Jersey prison-ship" Vv^as too full to hold them,
and, after suiTering the cruelties which carried so
many out of existence, he barely escaped with his
life ; that after the war he entered Yale College,
and is now the oldest graduate of that venerated
institution ; that he has now been in the ministry
more than seventy years. He has the appearance
and bearing of a gentleman of about seventy-five
years of age, and speaks with a tolerably distinct
utterance. This is accounted for by the fact that
he has never been sick. He now reads from six to
twelve hours each day, and, as he said, without
feeling his eyes to tire. AYe are not surprised to
learn that the Rev. Dr. Sprague, of Albany, is
preparing for the press a history of his life ; nor
are we surprised that such a man should deliver
so able a discourse on Sabbath morning, and which
no one can thoughtfully read without being prof-
tted. His texl was from James i. 19 :
" Wherefore, my "beloved brethren, let every man he swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 129
SABBATH SCHOOLS.
Statement showing the present condition (I806) of the Sabbath Schools of Washington, together with some account of the late Anniversary of the Sabbath-School Union of the city.
We take the opportunity on this return of our annual gathering of the Sabbath schools to notice a class of laborers in our churches who fill an im- portant department in the means of moral training and religious instruction. Nearly half a century has passed since Sabbath schools began to be or- ganized in our churches. Their w^onder-w^orking power in bringing about reformations and the right training of vagrant and almost homeless children, as well as the formation of a high standard of morals in those whose care-taking parents secure a regular attendance at these schools, does not yet cease to excite our surprise and admiration. Time enough has already elapsed to bring into various fields of usefulness those who in their childhood took their starting point on the road to distinction from Sabbath schools. Boys who were almost as destitute of honestly-gained food and raiment as
180 SABBATH SCHOOLS.
they were of moral instruction, have been taken into tlie kind regards of Sabbath-school teachers, and cared for by such men as Harlan Page, until these alm.ost houseless ones have grown to maturity, and are now pillars in the church at home or successful standard - bearers of the Cross in other lands. The true Sabbath-school teacher's work is one of philanthropy and benevo- lence. Prompted by no hope of earthly reward or worldly renown, he is stimulated to laborious per- severance by the one single desire of usefulness to others. If he chance to enter upon this work more by yielding to the persuasion of others than from the drawing of his own mind, he soon finds in him- self a want of that moral character which a teacher needs to make him successful in leading others into " a more excellent way ;" and he soon goes himself to the Strong for strength, or finds some excuse for vacating his place as teacher in a Sab- bath school ; for the main object of a Sabbath school is to influence the bad to become good, and the good to become better. Cases may often occur where much labor is required to develop capacity and intellect by teaching neglected children how to read and receive ideas ; but the ultimate object
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 131
of Sabbath-school instruction is the formation of character, not intellectual merely, but moral ; not to form a conscience, for all men have some kind of a conscience, but it is the province of the Sab- bath school to form *' a good conscience." As to Sabbath-school children who are regular in their attendance, the examiners of our criminal calen- dars and the inmates of our penitentiaries all over the land furnish reports which prove that few, very few of their names are ever found upon these dark rolls. In every view, therefore, which can be taken of the subject, what a deep interest parents and children, philanthropists and statesmen, must feel in Sabbath schools ! Monday morning, (a more delightful morning and in all respects adapted to the convenience of the occasion no one could have asked the wise and beneficent Father of us all to have sent us,) at 9 o'clock, the Protestant Sunday schools, forty in number, embracing 700 teachers and about 4,700 scholars, assembled on the grounds of the Smithsonian Institution, and after marching under the care of marshals, with banners and music, to the places appointed, this long, splendid procession, on which the holy angels (who, we are informed, take an interest in human
182 SABBATH SCHOOLS.
welfare) must have felt a delight at beholding, filled the E street Baptist and Four-and-a-half street Presbyterian churches, and old Trinity church, to hear addresses from clergymen. What a scene was here presented for contemplation I
A larger number of well-dressed, well-behaved children never before assembled, at one time in Washington. They were now brought together in one common bond of sympathy and brotherhood, co-workers in the great conflict of overcoming all that is wrong in one's self, and preparing to do good throusfh all the future of this mortal life.
To those who are interested in the mental cul- ture of these children and youth, it is a matter of no small gratification that the aggregate number of library books which are entrusted weekly to their care, does not fall short of 15,000 volumes. But of these thousands of children thus cared for by affectionate parents and teachers, all do not reach maturity. Sume fall soon after entering upon life's battle-field, and others ripen in the path of virtue and then fall. Twenty-one children have been reported to the Secretar}^ of the Union as hav- ing died the last year, and that father in the Sun- day-school cause with whose voice of good counsel
SABBATH SCHOOLS. 183
not a few of the scholars were so familiar, namely David M. Wilson. Among the proofs that these efforts to bring children to Christ are effective, not less than 120 have made a public profession in the several churches of their purpose to live a religions life. There are also some 800 colored children who meet in their respective Sabbath schools in "Washington, besides some five or six Roman Cath- olic Sabbath schools. Such, then, is the nature of the work and the number engaged in the grow- ing Sabbath-school enterprise of this city.
The last report of the Washington Sunday School Union furnishes the following statement respecting the increase of the Sunday school interests.
In 1842 there were 17 schools, 303 teachers, 1,827 scholars. In 1856 there were 40 schools, 700 teachers, 4,700 scholars, v/ith an aggregate number of about fifteen thousand volumes in the libraries.
This report docs not include some five or six Catholic Sabbath schools, nor those conducted by the colored people.
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS OF SERMOKS.
FIVE HUNDEED TOPICS. 137
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS OF SERMONS,
Delivered by the Pastors of the several churches of "Washington, and by a few other clergymen.
The reasons and necessity for giving heed to the
gospel. Heb. ii. 1. Sunderland.
The xlbrahamic Covenant.
G-en. xvii. 7. Sunderland.
Religious condition of the world.
Isaiah Ix. 2. Sunderland.
Different methods of hearing the gospel.
Luke viii. 18. Sunderland.
A preached gospel the instrument of human destiny.
Matthew xxiv. 14. Sunderland.
Faith the neutralizing principle of fear.
Mark v. 3G. Sunderland.
Men make light of the invitations of the gospel.
Matthew xxii. 5. Sunderland.
Christ seeking the lost.
Matthew xviii. 11. Sunderland.
The shield of faith.
Eph. vi. 16. Sunderland.
The advent of Christ ; his mission and its results.
I.ukc ii. 11. Sunderland.
The nature, origin and condition of Christian peace.
Isaiah xxvi. 3. Sunderland.
138 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
The nature and power of the gospel.
1 Cor. xxiii. 24. Sunderland.
Divine providence.
Exodus xiii. 22. Sunderland.
The duty of listening to messages from heaven.
Jeremiah xiii. 15, 16. Sunderland.
The power of prosperity and adversity to divide the
soul from Grod . Rom. viii. 38, 39. Sunderland. On the increase of the church.
Acts ii. 47. Sunderland.
The awful event of being finally rejected, consid- ered. Matthew vii. 23. Sunderland. The influence of faith upon character.
Matthew ix. 29. Sunderland.
Necessity of regeneration. The interview of Christ
with Nicodemus. John iii. 1-13. Sunderland. The gospel a curse to those who reject it.
Luke xii. 47. Sunderland,
The power of saving faith.
Romans iv. 20. Sunderland.
Perseverance in the exercise of faith and prayer.
Matt. XV. 28. T)r. Boardman.
The divinity of Christ and the efficacy of the
atonement. Matthew xxii. 24. Boardman. Sermon in behalf of orphans.
Mark x. 16. Sunderland.
The divine origin and authority of the Bible as the
word of Grod. 2 Tim. iii. 7-9. Sunderland.
The instructions furnished by judgments.
Isaiah xxvi. 8, 9. Sunderland.
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 139
The dignity and moral worth of human nature. Gren. i. 26. Sunderland.
The necessity of humility and activity in the church. Judges vii. 20. Sunderland.
Necessity of co-operation between pastor and peo- ple, in order to secure success in Christian effort. Exodus xvii. 12. Sunderland.
An appeal to the impenitent.
Luke xxiii. 34. Sunderland.
The indifference of impenitent men illustrated. Prov. xiv. 9. Sunderland.
The impenitent interrogated about their stub- bornness. Prov. xviii. 31. Sunderland.
Unbelief the great obstacle to success.
John XX. 27. Sunderland.
The visible manifestations of (Jod's presence. Exodus xxviii. 30. Sunderland.
The minuteness of God's care of his creatures. Matthew x. 30. Myrick.
The great commission.
Mark xvi. 15. Cole.
Rest for the people of God.
Heb. iv. 1. Wilson.
The necessity of a divine revelation.
1 Cor. i. 21. Wilson. The importance of faithfulness to the end consid- ered. Rev. ii. 10. Wilson.
The Christian's triumph in Christ.
2 Cor. ii. 14. Wilson.
140 FIVE HUNDEED TOPICS.
The great object of Christ's mission considered.
John X. 10. IVihon.
Christ our sacrifice.
John i. 29. Wilson.
Motives for living a life of holiness considered.
Eph. i. 13, 14. Wilson.
The adaptation of the gospel to human want.
John iv. 21. JVilson.
The instability of things temporal and earthly.
1 Cor. vii. 31. Wilson.
The day of small things not to be despised.
Zech. iv. 10. Wilson.
The nature of faith and its rewards.
1 Peter ii. 7. Wilson. A funeral sermon.
Phil. iii. 21. Wilson.
A ritual and a spiritual worship.
2 Timothy iii. 5. Wilson. The duty and the encouragement to call upon God.
Jeremiah. Wilson.
Heaven has somewhere in God's universe a local- ity. John xiv. 1,2. Gurley.
The high standard of piety enjoined by the gospel. ]\ratthew v. 20. • Gurley.
What is implied in walking with God.
Genesis v. 24. Gurley.
The miracle of regeneration one of the evidences that Christianity is from God. Gurley.
A child of God a stranger and a sojourner on earth. Psalm xxxix. 12. Gurley^
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 141
The certainty and credibility of the resurrection.
Acts xxvi. 8. Giirley.
The believer under the protection of Divine Provi- dence. Grenesis xxviii. 10-22. Gurley. Our responsibilities relating to the poor.
Psalm xli. i. Gurley.
Our duty with reference to the sick.
James v. 14, 15. Balch.
The character and condition of the rich man.
Luke xii. 16-21. Gurley.
Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane contemplated.
John xviii. 1. Earth not our enduring home.
Heb. xiii. 14. Gurley.
The power and influence of the gospel.
1 Cor. i. 21. Gurley.
The possibility and pleasure of communion with
God. Psalm Ixxiii. 23. Gurley.
Man's immortality.
Heb. vii. IG. " Dr. S. I. Prime.
Christ the life of his people.
Col. iii. 4. Gurley.
New Year's sermon.
Job vii. i', JO. Gurley.
The Christian's hope contemplated.
Heb. vi. 19. Gurley.
The faithful testimony of a faithful minister.
Deut. XXX. 19. Wynans.
The blessedness of believing in Christ presented as
forming motives to piety. Ps. ii. 12. Gurley.
142 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
The ascension of Christ.
Luke xxiv. 50, 51. Gurley,
The nature and necessity of submission to God.
James iv. 7. Gurley.
The preserving and governing providence of God
in the affairs of his kingdom. Ps. ciii. 19. Gurley. No hope out of the favor of God.
Ephesians ii. 12. Cole,
Exemplary piety.
1 Timothy i. 12. Cole.
The sympathy of angels in the work of redemption.
1 Peter i. 12. Cole,
The compensating principle contained in the gos- pel for all that is lost for Christ.
Phil. iii. 8. Phelps.
The loftiness and holiness of God's habitation.
Isaiah Ivii, 15. Phelps.
The institution of the Lord's Supper.
Luke xxii. 19. Phelps.
Shortness of the present life, and the certainty of a
future accountability. 1 Pet. iv. 7. Phelps.
Faith and the obedience required in order to ob- tain salvation. Acts xvi. 30. Phelps. The evidence of a true faith manifested in the life.
James ii. 17, 18. Phelps.
To whom is the gospel hid ? and who blinds the
mind. 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4. Pieg-ister.
The right way to glorify God recommended.
Jer. ix. 23, 24. Register.
FIVE HU^'DRED TOPICS. 143
The physical, intellectaal and religious training
of children considered. Eph. vi. 4. Register. Elevated pursuits of the Christian.
Col. iii. 1. Cole.
Divine agency necessary to the success of the
preached word. Zech. iv. 6. Cole.
Human life a short journey.
1 Chron. xxix. 15. Samson.
Proofs of the authority of Bible records found in
the traditions of Bible lands.
Mat. xxvjii. 15. Samson.
Parental discipline of our Heavenly Father.
Heb. xii. 7. Samson.
The basis of all our domestic and social duties.
Mai. i. (). Samson.
The continued intercession of Christ.
Romans viii. 34. Samson.
The great things which can be done only in the
strength of Christ. Phil. iv. 13. Samson.
Man's self-complacency illustrated.
Mai. iii. 7. , Samson.
Ezra an example for business men.
Ezra viii. 21-23. Cleghorn.
The infinitude and wisdom of God contrasted with
the impotency and folly of man.
Isaiah Iv. 8, 9. ClrL;horn.
On the Resurrection.
1 Cor. XV. 14. Cole.
The penitent thief.
Lnkexxiii. 42. Cole.
144 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
The choice of Moses.
Heb. xi. 24-26. Cole.
Ruth, — her works illustrated her trust in G-od.
Ruth ii. 12. Samson.
The progressive principle of good or evil in man.
Gal. V. 9. Samson.
The susceptibility of the mind to flattery.
2 Cor. xi. 30, 31. Samson.
The results of believing contemplated.
Matt. ix. 2, 3. Samson.
The sin of not believing in the Son of God con- sidered. John iii. 18. Samson. The nature and necessity of repentance.
Acts iii. 19. Samson.
The duty of familiar religious conversation.
x\cts viii. 29. Samson.
Christ a foreign missionary.
Matt. iv. 13-16. Samson.
The spiritual impression made by the ordinance
of baptism. I Peter iii. 21. Samson.
God the proper object of prayer through Jesus
Christ. John xvi. 23. Samson.
The triumph of the Gospel predicted.
Isaiah ii. 1-6. Poindexter.
The opposition of man to the Gospel considered.
Acts xiii. 8. Samson.
The object of our Saviour's advent into this world.
Titus ii. 14. Hill.
Giving thanks to God a duty and a privilege.
Col. i. 12. /////,
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 145
On the duty and benefits of prayer.
1 Timothy ii. 1. Hill.
The precious results of an active faith.
1 Peter ii. 7. Hill.
The happy effects of an acquaintance with G-od.
Jobxxii. 21. Hill.
The happy influence of religion in our domestic
and social relation.
Romans xiv. 17. Hill.
The duty and motives for seeking after communion
with Grod and sanctified affections.
Col. i. 5. Hill.
Acceptable worship, pure, spiritual.
John iv. 24. Hill.
Causes and consequences of rejecting the light of
the Grospel. John iii. 19. Hill.
The contrast contemplated between good and evil
Proverbs xi. 19. Hill.
Rewards of religious integrity considered.
Revelation ii. 11. Hill.
Funeral sermon of Samuel Southard Force. Ser- mon for departed good.
1 Samuel xxv. 1. Hill.
Self-knowledge and self-examination recommended.
Psalm xix. 12. Hill.
The goodness and forbearance of God illustrated.
Acts xiv. 17. /////.
The constancy and moral hcroisni of pious women
contemplated. John xix. 25. Hill.
7
146 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
The goodness of God and his Fatherly care illus- trated and considered. Jeremiah ii. 31. Hill.
A thanksgiving-day sermon.
Leviticus xxiii. 39. Hill.
The Christian conflict — he is made victorious through the blood of the Lamb. Eevelation xii. 11. HilL
The moral disease of nations cured by accepting the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. Ps. Ixvii. 12. HilL
The great number who reject the Saviour con- sidered. Luke xiii. 23. Hill.
Children invited to hear why they should fear the Lord. Psalms xxxiv. 11. Hill.
A sermon to sabbath school children.
Psalm xxxiv. IL Hill.
Children encouraged to come to Christ.
Luke xviii. 15, 16. Hill.
The faith and perseverance of Jacob rewarded Genesis xxxii. 26. Hill.
Character and relations of Christ to the human family. Rev. xxii. 13, 16. Smil/i.
The lessons which the dispensations of our Father in heaven are designed to teach us. Isaiah xxvi 9. Smith.
Integrity of character demanded by the Gospel. Luke xvi. 10. Smith.
Purity of heart and life demanded as a qualifica- tion for heaven. Luke. Smith
FIYE HUNDRED TOPICS. 147
The repentance of Jadas.
Matthew xxvii. ^14. Sniith.
"Watchfulness on the post of duty recommended.
Luke xii. 35, oQ. Smith.
The book of life.
Rev. XX. 15. Smith.
Moral deformity changed to beauty of regenera- tion. Psalm xc. 17. Smith. Motives to diligence in religious affairs.
2 Peter iii. 14. Smith.
The frailty of man and the uncertainty of life.
Psalm ciii. 14. Smith.
Human bereavements.
Eccl. xii. 5. Smith,
To believe there is only one G-od is doing well.
James ii. 19. Smith.
Narrow escape from ruin considered.
Psalm Ixxiii. 2. Smith.
Dangers attendant on prosperity.
Deut. XXX ii. 15. Smith.
The special providence of God considered. A his- torical discourse. The protecting care of our Father.
Deut. xxxiii. 27. Smith.
The spiritual beauty of the church considered.
Psalm xlviii. 2. Smith.
Song of the redeemed.
Rev. XV. 34. Smith.
The necessity of an atonement and the ability of
Christ to make it. Hob. iv. 14. Wright.
148 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
The resurrection considered.
1 Cor. XV. 32. Smith. The plaudit of the faithful servant.
Matthew XXV. 23. Smith.
The importance of Sabbath schools to the Church.
Acts ii. 39. Smith,
Human frailty and bereavements considered.
Ecclesiastes. Smith.
The downward progress of evils seducers.
2 Timothy iii. 13. Smith. Divine mission of Christ's ministers ; a funeral
sermon. John i. 6. Smith.
Christ our sacrifice.
1 Cor. V. 6, 7. Stanley.
Necessity of a preparation for Christ's coming as
our Judge.
Matt. xxiv. 43, 44. Stnnley.
A due preparation to receive the sacrament of the
Lord's Supper, considered.
1 Cor. xi. 24, 25. Stanley.
The joy of Simeon at the birth of Christ, considered
as an example for all believers.
Luke ii. 29-32. Stanley.
A preparation for the heavenly residence promised
us in the Gospel.
Heb. xiii. 14. Stanley.
The wickedness and folly of being ashamed to
confess Christ.
Mark viii. 38. Stanley.
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 149
The causes of gratitude which appear in times of
tribulation. A retrospective discourse.
Acts, xxxiii. 15. Stanley.
The motive to a Godly life.
Titus ii. 11-13. Stanley.
Obedience a proof of love to Grod.
1 Cor. xiii. 3. Stanley.
The causes of continuing in sin considered.
John V. 40. Stanley.
The inexcusableness of not entering upon a Chris- tian life. Luke xix. 16-18. Stanley. The care of our heavenly Father for little children.
Matt, xviii. 14. Stanley,
Conscience of G-od's law.
Romans i. \d. Stanley.
The consecration of our whole being to the service
of God. Romans xxi. 1. Stanley.
The benefits of public worship and the necessity
of our preparation for it. Ps. i. 2. Stanley. Reasons why we should love the church.
Psalm cxxii. 12. Stanley.
The Lord's Supper, — the nature of the rite and the
reasons which should lead us to its observance.
1 Cor. xi. 24. Stanley.
Man's need of forgiveness, and the provision made
for obtaining it through Christ.
Acts xiii. 38. Stanley.
The qualifications necessary in a candidate for
confirmation. Ileb. vi. 1-3. Stanley.
150 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
Christ our intimate friend and affectionate teacher.
Isaiah xxxii. 2. Stanley.
The still small voice.
1 Kings xix. 12. McCarty.
Excellency of the knowledge of Christ. In what
it consi'sts. Phil. iii. 8. Marshall.
The hidden mystery, present and future salvation
revealed by the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor. ii. 7-10. Israel.
Character and privileges of the righteous.
Isaiah xxxiii. 15-17. Israel.
The true method of learning the doctrines of Christ.
John vii. 17. Israel.
A sermon adapted to the sacrament of the Lord's
Supper. Isaiah liii. 5. Israel.
Necessity of firmness of purpose in maintaining a
religious life. Psalm cxvi. 13. Lenahan.
Christian obedience — its nature and rewards.
John xiv. 21-23. Israel
The object of Paul's glorying the efficacy of the
cross. G-al. vi. 14. Israel.
The elements of true religion.
James i. 27. Israel.
Obedience to G-od the best evidence of our love to
him. 1 John v. 3. Israel.
The means considered by which Christ will bring
about the triumph of his kingdom.
Isaiah xlii. 1-4. Israel.
Future home of the righteous.
John xiv. 2. Hildt.
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 151
The peculiarity and importance of the death of Christ. 1 Cor. xv. 8. Lenahan.
The wise and good work of saving souls.
Proverbs xi. 30. Israel,
Origin, design and obligations of Christianity. Titus ii. 11. Israel.
The generous provisions of the Gospel.
John XV. 16. Rogers.
The extent of salvation by Jesus Christ.
Matt. i. 21. Israel.
Repentance a primary doctrine of the gospel. Mark vi. 12. Israel.
The essentials of religion found in a right know- ledge of God and Christ. John xvii. 3. Israel.
The favorable influence of piety upon man's exist- ence. 1 Timothy iv. 8. ~ Israel.
The mutability of all things earthly, and durabil- ity of things heavenly. 1 Peter i. 24, 25. Israel.
The brevity and sorrows of human life.
Gen. xlvii. 8, 9. Israel.
The formation and development of Christian char- acter. 2 Peter i. 5-7. Israel.
The unity, harmony and power of the church of Christ. Israel.
The power of Christ over sin.
John viii. 36. Israel.
Influence of Christian example.
Matthew viii. 16. Israel.
The small number of eflectual laborers in the Church. Luke x. 2. F inkle.
152 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
The right of possession which G-od has on his crea- tures. 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. Israel.
The duty of every converted man to propagate the Christian faith. John ix. 26, 27. Israel.
The design of Christ's manifestation.
1 John iii. 8. Israel. Grounds of encouragement to make supplication to
G-od. Hebrews iv. 16. Wilson. Obligations and influence of early religious instruc- tion. Prov. xxii. 6.
The model Christian described.
G-al. V. 22, 23. Israel.
Duration of future punishment considered.
Matthew xxv. 46. Israel.
Cautions against apostasy.
Heb. xii. 18. Israel.
The exaltation of Christ, and the homage due him.
Phil. ii. 9, 10. Israel.
The resurrection of Christ.
2 Timothy ii. 8. Israel. A discourse in behalf of Missions.
John iv. 38. Israel.
Preaching the G-ospel the chief means of convert- ins^ the world. Rev. xiv. 6. Israel. The character and design of the Atonement.
2 Cor. V. 21. ^ Israel.
The faith and practice of the earliest Christian Church, considered. Acts ii. 42-44. Israel. The consequences of sin urged as motives to re- pentance. Matt. iii. 10. Israel.
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 153
The happy consequences of believing and trusting
in God. John xiv. 27. Henry.
On the importance of revivals, and the means of
promoting them. Habakkuk iii. 2. Henry.
The barren fig-tree.
Luke xiii. 7. Henry.
The recognition of friends in Heaven.
2 Samuel xii. 23. Henry.
The instances enumerated in which Grod has mani- fested an interest in the moral improvement and salvation of our race. Isaiah v. 4. Cleghorn. Nature of Grod, and the true mode of worshipping him acceptably. John iv. 24. Cleghorn. Our obligations to keep the Christian Sabbath con- sidered. Exodus XX. 8. C/eg'horn. A heroic and religious character to be given to all our actions. John xii. 3. Comvay. Piety of the intellect, or moral relations of the heart and will. Matt. xxii. 37. King^ of Boston. Spiritual gravitation.
Acts i, 25. King.
The ability to do good universal.
Mark xiv. 8. Conway.
The soul ; its conditions and its necessities.
Isaiah xxviii. 20. Conway.
Moral and affectional nature of man considered.
Ephesians v, 19. Conway.
The spirit manifested in the life of Christ con- sidered. Matt. XX. 28. Conway.
154 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
The parental care and cleinency of our Father con- sidered. Luke xi. 4. Conway. Christianity adapted to human wants and condi- tions. Acts xxiv. 14. Conway, The designs and benefits of trials and temptations. James i. 12. Moore. Scriptures, the grand educator of the conscience.
Romans vii. 24. Buniap.
Co- working with God in bringing about moral re- sults. 2 Cor. vi. 1. Tiffany. Mary's love — the ideal woman.
John xix. 25. Conway.
Life and death of Hon. Judge Cranch.
Psalm i. 3. Conioay.
Everybody must be about the business given him to do. Luke ii. 49. Conioay.
The results issuing after righteousness, contem- plated . Matt. V. (3. Weis^ Neiv Bedford, Mass. Reflections of Peter after denying his Lord.
Mark xxvi. 75. Weis.
Reliance on the interior selfhood considered.
John xxvi. 7. Conway.
The connection of Christ's death with human re- demption. 1 Cor. xi. 26. Conway, The strength of the lonely.
John xvi. 32. Conioay.
Scepticism and sceptics, or doubt necessary to suc- cessful investigation. John i. 45, 46. Conway. Conscience the Sinai of the soul.
Exodus XXV. 40, Conway.
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 155
The nature of spiritual freedom.
Gal. V. 1. Conway,
Conditions and prospects of a child of Grod.
Romans viii. 15-17. Conway,
Herod seeking to destroy the child Jesus, spiritually
considered. Matt. ii. 13. Conway.
God comes to us in ways beyond our consciousness.
Psalm cxxvii. 2. Conway,
Faith and the true spiritual worship of God, the only source of satisfaction to the highest crav- ings of man's nature. Ps. civ. 33, 34. Dewey. The voice of God in the wind.
Genesis iii. 8. Conway.
Motives for leading a religious life considered.
Heb. xi. 25, 26. Cummins.
The resurrection of Christ illustrating an import- ant doctrine. Matt, xxviii. 7. Cummins. The latest phases of modern infidelity.
Matt. vii. 20. Cummins.
Dependence of the Church on the Holy Spirit.
Zech. iv. 6. Cummins.
The young Christian counselled.
Phil. i. 6. Cummins.
An earnest Christianity.
Romans xii. 11. Cummins.
A sermon to moral men.
John xvi. 9. Cummins.
The responsibility of young men considered.
1 John ii. 14. Cummins.
156 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
The simplicity of the religion of Christ.
2 Cor. xi. 3. Cummins.
The sympathy of Christ with his followers.
Acts ix. 4. Cummins.
The paralytic healed, and the title, " Son of Man,"
considered. Mark ii. 10, 11. Cummins.
Religious patriotism ; a sermon suggested by
Washington's birth-day.
Ps. cxxxvii. 5j 6. Cummins.
The doctrine of a divine providence considered.
Luke xii. 6, 7. Cummins.
Christianity not to be held responsible for existing
evils. Jer. viii. 22. Cummins.
A true and faithful confession of Christ considered.
Matt. X. 32, 33. C^immins.
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper considered.
1 Cor. xi. 26. Cummins. The Christian armor — the object, basis and excel- lence of the Christian's hope.
1 Thess. v. 8. Cummins.
Models of Avarning found in the Scriptures. Grehazi. A sermon to young men.
2 Kings V. 27. Cummins. Christians a peculiar people.
1 Peter ii. 9. Cummins.
The character of Nicodemus.
John iii. 4. Cu?nmins.
Perversion of Grod's long forbearance.
Eccl. viii. 11. Cu7nmins.
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 157
Repentance — St. Paul on Mars' Hill.
Acts xvll. 30. Cummins.
The ultimate triumph of Christ's kingdom. Isaiah llli. 11. Cummins.
The agony of Christ in the garden.
Luke xxii. 44. Henry.
The compassion of Christ for obstinate sinners. Matt, xxili. 37. Henry.
The elevated and purified aiTectlons to which Christians should aspire. Col. iii. 2. Henry.
Hanging out a banner in the name of G-od : a dedication sermon. Ps. xx. 5. Riley.
The truth as it Is in Jesus.
Eph. Iv. 21. Brooke.
The church edifice dedicated to G-od, is a house of prayer. Isaiah Ivi. 7. Cook.
A sermon in behalf of the Norfolk sufferers.
2 Samuel xii. 23. Day.
A missionary sermon.
Heb. xili. 13. Bishop Waugh.
Reading the Scriptures, a duty not to be ne- glected. Isaiah xxxiv. 16. Day.
A sermon relating to the Lord's Supper.
Isaiah llli. 10. Day.
The sufierings of Christ — his resurrection — preach- ing repentance. Luke xxiv. 4G, 47. Day.
Discontent with present attainments in j)lely en- couraged. Matt. V. 6. Houg-h.
Intimate communion with Christ of the highest worth. Phil. III. 7. Pike.
168 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
The unspeakable gift.
2 Cor. ix. 15. Day.
The conversion of St. Paul.
Acts ix. 17. Day.
The diiiasive nature of the Grospei.
Acts xii. 24. Day.
By the power of faith we overcome the world.
1 John V. 4. Hough.
The apocalyptic viev/ of heaven.
Rev. vii. 9-17. Butler.
The love and practice of sin grounds of considera- tion. John iii. 9. Butler. A rebuke for pursuing temporal, to the expense of
spiritual things. Matt. vi. 32. Butler.
The character of the enemies of the cross con- sidered. Phil. iii. 18. Butler. The inconsiderate and ungrateful rebellion of
G-od's people considered. Is. i. 2, 3. Butler.
The duty of observing public worship, with the
excuses for neglect. John xx. 24. Butler. Zeal for the house of G-od : its nature.
John ii. 17, Butler.
Reproof of idle curiosity and speculation in regard
to the number saved.
Luke xiii. 23-31. Butler.
The sinfulness of man considered.
Isaiah lix. 12. Butler.
Be sure your sin will find you out.
Num. xxxii. 23. Butler.
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 159
Delight in the service of Grod an evidence of piety. Psalm xl. 8. Butler.
Faithfulness in preaching.
Acts XX. 26. Butler.
Parable of the sower illustrated.
Luke viii. Butler.
A discourse illustrating the designs of the Lord's Supper. Ex. xii. 26. Butler'
Counsels from the Divine counsellors considered. Eev. iii. 18. Butler-
The Saviour's mission and the aim of the Chris- tian's life. John ix. 4. Butler.
Contrast between a Christian and almost a Chris- tian. Acts xxvi. 28. Butler.
Parable of the lost sheep considered.
Luke XV. 1-10. Butler.
A plea fg>r the study and the circulation of the Scriptures. Eph. vi. 17. Butler.
Incomprehensibility of God.
Isaiah Iv. 8, 9. Titus.
The Christian priesthood : its privileges and duties. Isaiah Ixi. 6. Kemp.
Tests of a waking spiritual state considered. Romans xiii. 11. Butler.
A sermon relating to the painful disaster at Alex- andria, Ya.*" Luke xiii. 1-5. Butler.
Pleasing Grod the aim of life.
John viii. 29. Butler.
<> The walls of a building on fire fell, burying beneath its frag- ments several firemen.
160 FIVE HUNDKED TOPICS.
The mediatorial relation in which Christ stands to man. 1 Cor. v. 7. Morse/ 1.
The long forbearance of God with impenitent sin- ners. 2 Peter iii. 9. Hodges.
The hope of pardon for all who are truly penitent. Jonah iii. 10. Hodges.
The conditions to be complied with and the duties to be performed in becoming a disciple of Christ. Luke xvi. 26-31. Hodges.
Refuge in Christ illustrated by ancient cities of refuge. Numbers xxxv. 11, 12. Hodges.
The influence of envy.
1 John iii. 11, 12. Hodges. The support which religion affords the people of
God in affliction. Neh. viii. 10. Hodges. Causes and remedies of declension in religion.
Matthew xxiv. 12. Hodges.
Acceptance of the will for the deed when there is
no opportunity of the deed to be performed.
2 Cor. viii. 12. Hodges. The influence which our character exerts over the
exercise of our faith. Heb. iii. 12, 13. Hodges. On the character of the pardoned.
Luke vii. 37, 38. Hodges.
Insufficiency of the world to satisfy us.
Eccl. i. 14. Hodges.
Sickness and our duty with reference to it.
Matthew viii. 17. Samson.
The ways of religion pleasant and peaceful.
Prov. iii. 17. Kinney.
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 161
A right spirit needful in order to a right apprehen- sion of Christ. 1 Cor. xii. 3. Samson.
The reign of Christ on earth.
Revelation xx. 6. Samson,
The duty of acting according to our religious con- victions. John xiii. 17. Sa?nson,
Social study of the Scriptures.
Acts xviii. 2-6. Samson.
Nature, design, and effect of prayer.
Luke xi. 1. Samson-
The promise of faith.
Heb. xi. 1. Samson-
The intercession of Christ as distinguished from his mediation. Heb. vii. 25. Samson,
Moral lessons of winter storms.
Job xxxvii. 13. Samson.
The value of the soul.
Mark viii. 36. Dasheil.
The Christian a stranger and pilgrim on earth. Psalm cxix. 19. Pres. Binney.
Our obligations to Christ as a benefactor considered. 2 Cor. V. 14, 15. Samson.
Christ crucihed.
Luke xiv. 27. Samson.
Country recreation, the rule given us in this be- half. Matt. vi. 28. Samson.
Exercise of the moral and religious affections. 1 Timothy iv. 7. Samson.
Reading the Scriptures.
Luke X. 26. Samson.
162 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
Nature of spiritual freedom, and how to obtain it.
Psalm cxix. 45. Sa77ison.
Nature and proofs of a final judgment.
Acts xvii. 31. Samson
The ordinary work of the Spirit of G-od illustrated
and considered. Matt. xii. 28. Samson.
The nature and influence of early love to God con- sidered. Jeremiah ii. 2. Samson. The trial and triumph of integrity.
Job xxiii. 10. Dasheil.
The present imperfection and future increase of
our knowledge.
1 Cor. xiii. 10. Dasheil.
Nature, duty and benefits of social worship.
Hebrews x. 26. Noble.
The nature and office of ruling elders.
1 Timothy v. 17. Noble.
The means of triumphing over our spiritual foes.
1 Samuel vii. 12. Noble.
The will of Grod done in heaven a model for doing
it on earth. Matthew vi. 10. Noble.
Christ's reign in the heart defined.
Ephesians iii. 17. Noble.
The nature and effect of Christ's intercession.
1 John ii. 1. Noble.
The love of spiritual influences.
Romans xv. 80. Noble,
The sympathy between the people of G-od on earth
and in heaven. Eph. iii. 15. Noble.
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 163
The great ends of a Christian life.
Hebrews xii. 14. Moore.
The Saviour's call to Zaccheus.
Luke xix. 9. Finkle.
The publican's prayer.
Luke xviii. 13. Finkle.
The value of the soul.
Mark viii. 36. Finkle.
Condition of the righteous and the unrighteous in
the spirit world. Luke xvi. 25. Finkle.
The reasons for wonder and inquiry as to our
Saviour's character. Matthew viii. 27. Finkle. The witnesses for Christ and their testimony.
John XV. 27. Finkle.
The wisdom and goodness of G-od as manifested in
the seasons. G-enesis viii. 22. Finkle.
Religion the true source of cheerfulness and hap- piness. Colossians iii. 16. Finkle. The exaltation of Christ.
Philippians ii. 9-11. Finkle.
Trials of the Christian life.
2 Corinthians i. 7. Finkle.
Value of the love of Christ.
Ephesians iii. 19. Finkle.
Fewness of the laborers in the Lord's harvest.
Matthew xxi. 29, 30. Finkle.
Christian economy.
John i. 12. ChrT^t the only way to heaven.
John xiv. 6. Finkle.
164 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
Yalue and necessity of the new birth.
John iii. 3. Dasheil.
Terms of discipleship in the Jvingdom of Christ.
Matthew xvi. 24. Dasheil.
Advantages of early piety.
Ecclesiastes xii. 1. Dasheil.
Our salvation made dependent on knowing Christ
crucified. 1 Corinthians ii. 2. Fuller.
The way in which G-od is glorified in his house.
Isaiah Ix. 7. Burrows.
The attractions of the sanctuary.
Psalm Ixxxiv. 1, 2. Teasdale.
The d'ause of our Saviour's sorrow in the days of
his advent. Isaiah liii. 3. Teasdale.
Some knowledge of Grod necessary to render unto
him acceptable service. Exodus v. 2. Jones. A solemn declaration. John v. 42. Teasdale.
A plea for home religion.
Joshua xxiv. 15. Dasheil.
The resurrection of the body as well as the soul
considered. Phil. iii. ]1. Dasheil.
Christ's special commandment.
John XV. 12. Dasheil.
Christian faithfulness, its hindrances and incen- tives. Nehemiah vii. 2. Dasheil. The relation in which the death of Christ stands
to both G-od and man. 1 Cor. xv. 3. French. Parallel between the moral action and condition of
Adam and all other men. -•
Genesis iii. 1-7. French.
FIVE HUNDEED TOPICS. 165
The effect of faith.
Hebrews xi. 1. French.
The church, inclading, its ministers, the medium
of revealed truth to the world.
1 Timothy iii, 15. French.
The church the ark of safety to the written Word.
Jeremiah xxiii. 28. French.
The faith of antiquity against novelty and innova- tion. Matthew xix. 8. French. God is love.
1 John iv. 16. French.
Means provided in the Gospel to save man, who
cannot save himself. Eph. ii. 8. Addison. The power, mercy and justice of God.
Psalm Ixii. 11, 12. French.
Creation.
Genesis i. 1. French.
No real fulfilment of the law without the aids of
grace, through Jesus Christ.
John i. 17. French.
The operation of faith does not lessen the obligation
to obedience. Romans v. 1. French.
Spirituality of the divine nature.
John iv. 21. French.
Farewell exhortations
Jude 21. Haskell.
Duty of the Church to pray for the ministers of the
gospel. 2 Thess. iii. 1. Greer.
The final banishment of the wicked consiilered.
Proverbs xiv. 32. Haskell.
166 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
The conditions on which the wicked may be ac- counted righteous, and have a hope in his death.
Isaiah Iv. 7. ,, Haskell.
The certainty of death, and the equal certainty of
a day of judgment. Hebrews ix. 27. Haskell. Human life, its object, brevity, uncertainty.
James iv. 14. Haskell.
Immortality of the soul, and the retributions of
eternity. Job xiv. 14. Haskell.
The heirship established by being the sons of God.
Romans viii. 14. Haskell.
Doing good by every proper opportunity.
Isaiah xxxii. 20. Haskell.
The reality of having our affections on the unseen
G-od. 1 Peter i. 18. Haskell.
On revelation and inspiration. What is truth ?
John xviii. 38. Haskell.
The necessity of a human and a divine nature in
Christ, that he might be the mediator between
G-od and man. 1 Timothy ii. 16. Danforth. Family religion.
Joshua xxiv. 15. Haskell.
The worth of the soul.
Mark viii. 36. Haskell.
Funeral sermon of Mr. David M. Wilson.
Psalms xxxvii. 37. Haskell.
The relation of good works to the glory of God, or
the value of Christian example.
Matt. v. 16. Haskell.
FIVE HCXDRED TOPICS. 167
Resurrection of the dead considered.
Acts xxiii. 6. Haskell.
Evidences and blessings of a hope in Christ.
Heb. vi. 19. Haskell.
Moral truth superior to all other departments of
knowledge. Ephesians iv. 21. Haskell.
On the relations of the Church to the truth and the
power of G-od. 2 Cor. iv. 7. Sunderland.
A grateful acknowledgment of the Divine blessing.
A retrospective discourse.
1 Sam. vii. 12. Haskell. Christ the medium of connection between us and
God. John vi. 68, 69. Haskell.
The nature and fulfilment of prophecy prove the
Scriptures true. Acts xxvi. 27. Haskell.
Divine inspiration considered.
Johnxiv. 11. "Haskell.
The certainty and justice of future punishment.
2 Thess. i. 9. French. The existence of a personal Deity in opposition to
modern Pantheism. Psahn xc. 2. French. The fall of man and its consequences.
Rom. V. 12. French. Faith, its causes and consequences.
Heb. xi. 1. French. The justice of God.
Deut. xxxii. 4. French.
A comparison between the Jewish and Christian
Churches. Heb. iii. 56. French.
168 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
The evidence of adoption into the family of Christ.
1 John iii. 14. Pyne. Relation between the first and second coming of
Christ. John xii. 46. French.
Consolations of Christ in the hour of death an evidence of a preparation for the day of judg- ment. Heb. IX. 27, 28. French.
The original state of man's nature, and its present fallen condition. Eccl. vii. 29. French.
Doctrine of the Trinity.
Romans i. 18. Pyne.
The Divinity of Christ.
Heb. i. 8. French.
Evidences of the doctrine of the resurrection and of the soul's immortality.
2 Timothy i. 10. French. Aid of the Holy Spirit to be sought for in our de- votions. 1 Cor. xiv. 15. French.
Isaiah, his times and his prophecy.
Act xxviii. 25. Haskell.
Times in which the Divine favor is specially mani- fested. Isaiah Iv. 6. Haskell.
The providential reign of G-od in history of nations and races. Psalm ii. 11. Haskell.
G-od has spoken to man through the medium of human language. Deut. xxx. 19. Haskell.
A minister's doubts respecting his own continued usefulness* Philip ii. 23. Carothers.
A discourse adapted to the ordination of elders. Titus i. 5. Carothers.
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 169
On the joy afforded by the appearance of Christ
among his people. John xvi. 27. Cai'others. *'A good Suldier." A funeral discourse.
2 Timothy ii. 3. Carothers,
The duty to search the Scriptures urged.
John V. 39. Waldo.
An historical discourse. Luke i. 3, 4. Carothers. If we cannot comprehend things plain to the human
understanding, how can we comprehend things
which are spiritually discerned ?
John iii. 12. Carothers.
The source of original sin. Romans v. 12. French. Unity of the human race — an encouragement for foreign missions. Acts xvii. 26. French. As man is to be transformed, so is the whole crea- tion by the redeeming power of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Romans viii. 19-23. French.
The blessing of a revelation of a Supreme Being
as the " living Grod." Ps. Ixii. 1-3. French. The holiness of God.
1 John i. 5, 6. French.
The true standard for human action.
Psalm cxix. 127. French.
The specific aids which the Holy Spirit imparts in
the formation of Christian character.
Isaiah xi. 2, 3. French.
Upward progress of the just contrasted with the
downward course of the wicked.
Proverbs iv. 18, 19. French.
8
170 FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS.
Practical Christianity.
James ii. 17. Pyne.
The real existence of Satan and other evil spirits considered. Matt. iv. 1. French,
A sermon to the firemen of Washington.
Nahum ii. 3, 4. Carothers.
The reward of continuance in well-doing.
Romans ii. 7. Carothers.
Reverence and filial fear due to G-od.
Psalm Ixxxix. 7. Carothers-
The influence of personal piety on the world's con- version. Habakkuk ii. 3. Carothers. A retrospect of the season, with its temporal bless- ings. Matt. ix. 37. Carothers. *The religious condition of the world favorable for
receiving the gospel.
Matt. ix. 38. Carothers.
The superior excellence of Christianity considered.
Rom. iii. 1, 2. Carothers.
The prepared mansions.
John xiv. 2. Carothers.
The progressive Christian contemplated.
Exodus xiv. 15. Carothers.
The necessity of religious instruction.
Deut. vi. 6, 7. Carothers.
Omnipresence and omnipotence of God.
Jer. xxiii. 24. Carothers.
The duty of Christians to labor for the salvation
of men. Luke xvi. 4. Carothers.
FIVE HUNDRED TOPICS. 171
The power and glory of the Gospel.
Romans i. 16, 17. Doggett.
The Christian's cross and crown.
James i. 12. Duncan.
No rank in life exempt from the maladies of sin.
2 Kings V. 12. Lehon.
The functions and discipline of the conscience.
Acts xxiv. 16. Duncan.
The mysteries in religion.
John iii. 9. Duncan.
The tests and influence of the Gospel.
Luke xii. 49. Doggett.
The passion of Christ.
John xix. 80. Doggett.
The moral relations of man to the law of God.
1 Timothy i. 8. dishop Pierce.
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