The national Republican., 1860-12-12

hear his voice saying to her, What is thy peti
ton, and what is thy request2 During the last
three years, the Union Prayer Meeting has
grown strong with us.
1t has borne up on It's faith full many bur
den Of sorrow and Of sin. For, like the drom.
edaries which brought up from the wilderness
the stones of the temple at Jerusalem, it has
bowed itself under the load, and by the heav.
ing Of its great muscles, enriched out of the
strength Of our impotence, it has lifted the vast
interests Of individuals and Of communities up
toward heaven.
Brethren, can you think that these muscles
Of prayer have become strong enough now to
take upon them the burden Of an empire, al.
ready shaking with the throes of dissolution,
and bear up the destiny of continent with all
its races, its present turmoils and future hopes,
undivided and unbroken?
1t is for this cause, among others, that we
welcome you here, and ask that you shall go
in and out among us during your sojourn at
the capital of the Republic, as though it were
your dwelling place, as it is the mutual and
common heritage Of all the people Of the land.
Be pleased, beloved fathers and brethren, to
accept our Christian salutation and earnest
hospitalty-and may the God of heaven bless
your coming hither, to the peace Of our souls,
to the prosperity of our country, to the further
Of His own great name.
The address was listened to with intense in
terest, and at its conclusion the hymn com.
mencing as follows was then sung:
"How pleasant thus to dwell below
In fellowship Of love-"
Rev. Mr.. Owen, Of Baltimore, said that he
was happy to say that the people of Baltimore
have spent the entire day in prayer for our
7 eli d II
sentatives that we shall continue in earnest
prayer to Almighty God, that he may restore
peace and union to our distracted country.
Rev. Mr.. Moores, of Boston, said that he
felt encouraged to hope for the continued pros.
perity of the Union, from what he had lately
seen and heard. We had examples in the
Bible Of great national distresses, on account
of designing politicians. He cited the case of
Ahasuerus and Of Daniel the city of Nineveh
was to be overthrown in forty days. They re-
pented, and God heard their cry. God lives
Christ lives, and he will reign.
Rev. DR.. Moore, OF Richmond, said the time
had been when prayer was not heard; had not
Christ died TO save man, there never would
have been such a thing as prayer. He related
the circumstances of Christ walking with his
disciples on their way to Emmaus. So long as
Christ is on the throne, this heart would not
q
ization Of the daily sacrifices. He gloried in
tribulation.
Rev. Mr.. Blair, of New York, expressed
himself as being very grateful for the kind
welcome he had received in Washington.
The closing hymn was then sung, and the
benediction pronounced by Rev. DR.. Spring.
SECOND DAY.
The Convention reassembled this morning,
and effected permanent organization, by ap-
pointing the following officers:
President-W. H. Fowle, Alexandria.
Vice Presidents Rev. DR.. Spring, New
York Mr.. H. Hamlin, Boston; DR.. Armitage,
Baltimore; Mr.. James Gordon, Richmond
Rev. DR.. Samson, Washington.
Secretaries-Rev. M. Morrison, New York
Rev. ]. G. Butler, Washington.
On motion of Rev. Mr. Moore. of Boston,
committee was appointed to prepare business.
Rev. Mr.. Moore Of Boston, Rev. DR.. Sunder.
land, and DR.. j. Hall Moore of this city, were
appointed. In few moments the committee
returned, and reported in favor of holding the
sessions as follows:
The morning prayer meeting in Wesley
Chapel, from 81 to 81 O'clock. Morning ses
sion Of the Convention in Trinity Church, from
| 10 to o'clock. Afternoon prayer meeting in
| Trinity Church, from to o'clock, and even.
ing session in Trinity, at u o'clock.
After the adoption of the report, the Conven.
ton resolved itself into devotional meeting,
and was addressed by the Rev. Z. Goodrich
Smith and Rev. J. G. Smith.
The hymn "From every stormy wind that
blows was then sung.
Rev. Mr.. Hagan, Of New York, offered the
following resolution:
ReSolued, That committee of three be ap.
pointed to prepare, in behalf of the National
Convention, an appeal, to be signed by the Off
GERS Of the Convention to Christians of all de-
prayer in behalf Of our nation, in its present
temporal and spiritual distress; that God would
pardon our sins, and unite us altogether in
Christ Jesus our Lord through the power of
His Holy Spirit.
Rev. Messrs. Taylor, Cross, Sunderland,
Brauns, Cummings, of Delaware, Grigg, Reed,
Jones, of New York, Pardin, Hammer, Blair,
E. G. Smith, and Mr.. Botsford of Boston,
spoke on the resolution, which was unanimously
adopted.
After singing verse, the report of the Cen.
tral Committee was read and accepted. The
report abounds with mauy instances of good
both in the United States and Cansdss.
Dr. johnson moved that committee be up.
pointed to wait upon the Speaker of the House
of Representatives to request the use of the
Hall tor the Union Prayer meeting on tomorrow
night.
DIR. Hammer seconded the motion, and was
speaking when our report closed.
ORPHANS CouRr.-Judge Purcell. This
court was engaged to day in continuation of
the petition Of j. W. DeKraft, asking that some
person be appointed guardian of the children
of the late Mary e. Barney, and that the hus-
band Is. Chase Barney be excluded from ex'
ercising any control Of the children or their
property, which application is founded on a
divorce obtained by Mrs. Barney in the State
:. of Iowa.
Mr.. Magruder was addressing the court,