The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-29
THANKSGIVING DAY IN TROY.

THANKSGIVING DAY IN TROY.
POWERFUL UNION SERMON OF THE REV. DR. BEMAN,
W. L. YANCEY's STEP FATHER-YANCEY's EARLY
ANTEcEDENTs-A STRONG DEFENCE OF THE WAR.
Thanksgiving Day devouty observed at Troy yes
terday the great feature being the discharge Of i'm
polco religious columbiad upon the rebellion
from Rev. DR.. BExAs, eminent Presbyter, anil the
stepfather OF William L. Yancey, leading ncter OF this
rebellion and at present attempting represent the rebel
confederacy in Europe, sketch Of which is herewith sub
joined. DR.. Beman may be regarded the head Of the
New School Presbyterian Church in this country and
who for the last thirty six years has been remark
able for his varied learning the outspken yet cha
ractcr Of his theological and political opinions, which
have had nconsiderabe influence upon his denomina
ton and the country both from the strength Of his intel
lectua powers, ana his peculiar domestic relations
the South. Though born and reared at the
North, he early married Mrs. Yancey. the mother
OF the rebel representative and brought her from Georgia
Troy where they resided for years, until aic-
lions OF domestic nature separated them Mrs. Yancey
Beman returning to the South where she died several
years ago. Her son, William L. Yancey upon her going
to Troy to reside, became part Of tho family and re-
ceived his early schooling, his ante collegiate uteage
and his general training that city, where he was noted
for high spritedncss and that elementary animation
which has conspicuously marked his subsequent le
He always social rebel among mis- playmatcs ever
commanding, and ruling their boysh sports with
energy and generally accustomed to repe any attempts
subordinate him with the storm logic and arbitrament
OF the 1st. From Troy he entered Williams College, his
stepfather then already eminent the pulpit delighted
at the idea Of being compelled harbor striking
youth in too close proximity TO the domestic fanes He
left the college for tho college good and
never aforward resided permanently at the
North. Thrty-six years ago Dr. Beman was
called from Georgia 70 the pastorate Of the
Presbyterian church in Troy, As the successor OF
Rev. Jonas Coe D. minister OF rare Christian insight
and attainment Shortly after the accession Of Dr. Be-
to the pastorship Of the church, Fnnsy the rev
vast appeared in It's midst, and by his ntempcrance
Of ecclesiastical demeanor completely broke up the or
ganization. Many Of the leading members among whom
may mention the late Hon. George Tbbis the friend
and associate Of Dewitt Clinton the late Hon. John Dick
nson influential member Of Of the early Confer
Hon Jonas c. Hewitt Speaker Of the House
semby Of this State the American friend par xceence
and valued correspondent Of the present Prince Waes
the late Judge Amasa Paine, the late Hon Philip Heart
and many others becoming totally alienated and
ding formed the Second Street Presbyterian church,
under the pastorate OF that mpassoned powerful
minister at the altar Duncan Kennedy, D. D. DR.. Be-
man however, recovered from his particpancy this
unwse affair and is spared to nobly stand up in defence
Of the Union and its glorious traditions whose progress
slye development he has watched with the eve OF a
Christian sage for upwards Of sixty years Previous
to removing to the North DR.. Bcman was Presi-
dent Of the University Of Georgia, and has occupied
. similar position for several intervening years Middle
bury College, in Vermont, whose walls adorned with
splendid portrait Of the great pulpit thinker and
In addition to his present ministerial position he Is
President OF the Rensselaer, Institute Faculty Of In
structon school OF science at Troy. For years Dr.
Beman's Thanksgiving Discourses" have been noted
feature all the regions Of the State where delivered
reason Of thor political force President Beman's
tory is marked by absence Of fine elocuton but is
powerfully effective and impressive though strong rather
than fascinating
Dr. Beman took for his text Psalms cxv 10th verse;:
Tho heaven, the heavens the Lords: but tho
nayth hath hp civ a zen III me
II forcible statement Of the preachers notions Of
the nature and the probable results Of this civil He
commenced by general discussion the civil
government Wea perhaps as much indebted TO 81.
Paul Thomas Jefferson for the fundamental doctrines
Of government and civil society set forth in the Decara
equal" 1.-the nslenable rights Of life liberty and
the pursuit Of happiness The unity Of the human race,
and the setting apart Of the earth for the children
which the Bible teaches US, in the present text
shadow forth the same truths those which Thomas
jefferson teaches Therefore II is that the world looks
with tears, whenever self interest don't blind tho
judgment, at the spectacle Of inaugurated
TO overthrow those fundamental and naienabc rights
What excuse do the leaders Of the rebellion this
upon their government Why, they tell US the same
love Of liberty which impeled fathers throw Of
the yoke Of the mother country has led them TO take up
against the mdest and most liberal government
modern times But the instead Of being parallel
simply in contrast. Our fathers had no word in the
making unmakng Of king; but the South which now
rebels have furnished majority OF the Presidents during
history Our fathers had nothing with the Ju
dietary but to stand as feons at an English bar after
voyage across the Atlantic to stand trial In strange
country thousands Of miles from home. The South on
the other hand for than sixty years have controlled
tho Supreme Bench, and filled the highest Office with
saveholdng Chief Justice Why then do they complain?
Why. simply because the Northern mind holds slavery to
be moral and social evl-a curse the master and a
wrong TO the slave and because like speak freely
on this subject all others. The South have manu-,
factred theories and discovered interpret atoms
OF the constitution to suit themselves. Why but few
weeks ago Vim. L. Yancey declared in London that the
abolition Of the slave trade in repugnance the con
stitution To ustya revolution and authorize disc.
| tn he nj am
the revoutoniss required to make clear and
| mdisputabe Of wrong and oppression Have they
done 40 nowY Then what is but the rakest hypocrisy
and the most sordd pef which leads England stand
dumb the expression of her sympahes in this present
struggle but that she loves freedom and the South less,
bu sho loves cotton more The Doctor continued in the
same strain at great length and concluded with bold