New-York daily tribune., 1861-01-05
pRAYFR-MEETING AT THE COLLEGIATE
DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH.


In obedience 10 the recommendation Of the Chief
Magistrate of the Nation and Of the Executive OF the
Ntaie. the members commandments, and congregation
.,f the COLLEGIATE Dutch Reformed Church assembled
xrserday at noon in their house Of worship in Lafay-
sta plsce The meeting was opened with the hymn,
aIord teach MS how pray Alright, 10 which the en-
tire assembly Joined, without the accompaniment OF
either organ or choir.
Proclamation of the President Of the United States, and
remarked that such OCCASION and IN view OF the
state of our national afarsthough It was not the de-
.ign of the meeting to discuss political matters-lt
would be proper to invoke the aid Of Divine Pro9i
aence In behalf of the nation and it's rulers. And he
read as appropriate at this time, selection from the
ninth chapter Of Daniel:
AndI set my face Lord God To- seek by and
,rppli stions with fasting and ssckpth, and ashes
prayed unto ,ke Lord my God and Ga 51sde my csns I
mercy Of them that love Him. and them that keep
W. have .nned and have committed iquiy and have
done vicked and have Ieoeled even by departing from Ihy
precep,s and from Thy judgments'
After the congregation had sung from the hymn,
"On Thee our gosrdisn God. call;
Before Thy awful throne we fall"
Ibe Rev Chancellor Ferris rose and referred to the
passages Of Scripture which had been read, illustrating
lie manner in Which the pure and godly Daniel had
made common cause with his people-how he, who
was of unblemished character became the advocate
before God In behalf Of a wicked nation, Illuminating
hmsef and imploring the Great Jehovah 10 avert
threateped calainites and preservs his fellow-men.
The rsyerend speaker thought that at this time the ex-
ample of Daniel peculiarly bit to be placed before
us Had we not contributed personally 70 hasten tie
dread crisis through which We are PASSING Neither
had the good Daniel been guilty Of any Of the multi
pied crimes for which the Judgment Of God WIS WIS,
lied upon bis people. We are fellow-ciIzens bound
tooether in common feeling and common interests.
Our interests are mutually involved, In the most vital
manner; nor can we Of the North escape the deysta-
ting tide which sweeps the land If II is 10 rush
onward-from which calamity he prayed God TO save
abe United States.
A by,nn was then sung BY the congregation.
The Rev. Dr. Hutton then offered few remarks
ppon our duties this time and asked the congrega-
tion 70 Join him In prayer TO tne Alnlghty INA. ene
President and Congress might be endowed Win VIE
slom sufficient for the emergency.
The congregation then sang
They saw thy w'onders Lord,
And then thy praises sung"
The Rev. Dr. Bethune then addressed the Throne Of
Grace. He saiG we appeared as children come unto
father to whom all praise, all thanks for boundess
blessings. He thanked the Ruler Of the Universe thai
the influence of religion was 30 widespread that
wa had heard from the seat Of high authority the iny
tsiou 10 fast and pray 81 this time. lie prayed God
In mercy 10 looE down on our wounded, weak, dis
syacted land and guide our Presldent-a mere man
-,rith passions like our own-and give him wisdom and
.,osrdge 10 perform his duty. The emphasis is that OF
aha reverend clergyman And he petitioned his Maker
10 send disappointed and hameaced to their homes the
pen who would rend the iaDr1e WINCH nsa oesn CON
Micht the maehnations OF the wicked be brought to
poasht and might our people be brought unto ee ever
lasting. - .:- 90
After another hymn, sung by the congregation IS
before the Rev Dr. Hardenburg offered an eloquent
prayer that God would grant wisdom TO the pesdent
HE Senate the House Of Representatives and the
people, acknowledging the wiekedness OF the nation
which has NO long been ruled by wicked menand i'm,
ploring the Great Ruler 10 exat Righteousness and
1reserye Ia this favored land the blessings OF religious
a. well as civil liberty.
The pastor then added few wordsupon the impend-
INC clond oyerbanging our national councils which he
thought that the union Of these States, In connection
with beir heroic history should BE- dear TO the heart OF
cyery Christian.
Tie congregation then sang:
Shine on our land Jehovah shine
With beams of heavenly grace;
Reveal Thy power through all ouT coasts,
And show y by smiling face"
The house WAS densely flled, and notwithstanding
xle snow stOrnOf the morning, majority IN attendance
sre the yes and daughters with many OF the silver
haired fathers Of the Society, who appeared TO have
derived much Satisfaction from spending the bour N al
80 fashioael Drzver.meefiDR,