Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-06-09

University OF the Commonwealth was
founded and endowed now lost sight of by
aperversion Of testamentary trust.
| The next leading object of the preach
er was to point out those causes, axspi-
e'ous and induspicious, which operated
from the early settlement of New-England
to the present day upon the religious con-
dlflon OF this country. Among the aus
picious causes he enumerated the forma-
ton OF churches upon evangelical princi-
pies, the establishment Of schools and col.
leges, the regularity Of family government,
the observance Of the Sabbath with scrip
tural exactness, the respect paid to office
and to merit. and above all the influence
es Of the Holy Spirit, which, during three
great eras had been copiously shed upon
the churches. The first period was for 80
years after the landing at Plymouth, when,
ne proved by several quotations from CO.
temporary writer's, there was continued
revival. After the death of the first set.
tiers, divine influences were in a great
measure withheld for the space Of seventy
years. when God began to turn again the
long captivity of his people by the minis
| try OF Edwards, and the occasional labonrs
OF Whitfield and the Tennents. From
1885 to l745, there was one scene of re-.
vlvai throughout New-England. The third
era begins within the memory of many
living. in 1875, and continues with in
creasing glory to the present hour and
shows that God has not forgotten to be
gracious to the children's children of his
people.
Among the inauspicious causes, which
DR.. Beecher enumerated, as operating on
the religious condition of this country, nv
memory serves me with the few following.
The arrival of settlers, who were not ac-
tuated by the religious motives Of the
earliest colonists-the worldly influence
which broke down the terms of church
fellowship, and made the Lords table &C
cessible to the confessedly unconverted-
the introduction ofthe halfway covenant
the lukewarmness of many ministers, who
opposed the revivals which occurred about
the middle of the last century, and thus
drove many Of their people to a separation
from them, and the covert introduction Of
the liberal system, so called, into the
country, within 20 or 80 years past.
In the application of his discourse the
preacher eloquently exhorted the children
Of the pilgrims to walk in the way in
which their fathers had gone, not merely
because it was endeared to them by so
many interesting associations as the relig-
ion OF their ancestors, but because it was
the good way which the word of God had
marked out, the way which had been tri-
ed in its effects on society, while the sys-
tenn was an innovation.
| The musick, to the praise of Mr..
Houghton, its conductor, and the several
gentlemen amateurs who assisted in the
instrumental part, was performed with
much taste and effect throughout the day.
AT the conclusion of these exercises,
the assembly was conducted by the mar
shall of the day, Col. Whitcomb, of Har-
ward. and followed by the band of musick
and procession of clergymen, to cool
grove in the adjoining park, where a COL
lation was spread in readiness. l was
struck with the novelty of the scene, and
the bounty of the entertainment, which
provided for such multitude ON the YER
dant grass, and beneath the canopy Of the
overshadowing trees, and thought Of Him,
who from the scanty store Of single bas-
ket, fed the five thousand on the noun
tain-side. After the rural repast was fin
ished, the multitude again assembled for
the afternoon service. A very excellent
sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr..
Fairchild. Of South Boston, and thus clo-
sed the exercises of this interesting day, a
day which we believe will be long remem-
bered in the religious annals of the sur
rounding country.
June 4, 1929. SPECTATOR.