Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-10-04
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BURLINGJO&
FRIDAY MORNING, OCT. 4.IecI.


THE NATIONAL FAST.
The day Of public fasting and Iraya
proclaimed by President Lincoln, received u
Burlington a degree Of observance. as meas
urei by theattendance in the churches. muc'
greater than is usually given to the Anal4
STATE Fast. The stores and places OF je-i-
ness were generally closed, and tie caul.ae.
were well filled. The cficIating c.ers ilen
generally improved ,he OCCASION 10 pres mt
the gait aud shame of the natiyna. si7 q
/ Slavery, now eliminating in rebellion and
civil war, and to direct the prayers and lie
resolves Of the people towards It's removal,
and the audiences listcLcl with a rcvcrential
attention which bespoke their appreciation
Of the truths presented, and Of the objects Of
the day.
The two Methodist Societies and the two
Congregational Societies joined in worship at
the Congregational Church, and filed it COM
pletely. The sermon was by PRor. \. G.
CLARK, who IN a discourse Of great power
and interest connected our present national
troubles with their cause-Slayery urged
that our fasting should not be on account Of
the rebellion and the war, but on account IF
the SIN for which God had sent them upon
the nation and maintained that without
"A removal Of the ofense, it was hopeless to
expect from God the removal OF the national
calamity.
in the Unitarian Church, Ely. Mr.. YorNc,
preaching from the text ''If the Lord be
for Us, who shall be against u.s." discussed
the conditions on which the favor OF God
may be asked for and expected in this war.
Abiding to the fact that the South haIal-
ready held day Of fasting and prayer fr
the success Of their arms. lie rccanu-ad tie
fayoTins harvests and the freedom from pre-
vai.ins disease at the South the sympathy
Of England with the rebellion t.c successes
e southern arms, and the various rcyeie.s 5f
Federal forces, including the Pro,.d u;' u j.
iGcation Of Fremont proclamation (Which
lie cousldcrcd to be 4 greater disaster than
Bull RUM. as seeming evidence, rb,, c.4
,,.,s.or .be Soptb.rn siia tle..-..-- II.
proceeded, however, to find IN tuese events.
no anproval on Gods mart of rbo ir.ti.s .r
the rebellion; but only the reward which
God, in his providence, Is won't to give to
f,-o.ast onerov and sim ,r., H.. l,.
cause. Following this line Of t5ougbt lie
insisted that. not by our prayers or the ius-
tie Of cur cause could success Pc gained
but by energetic and wise action. and that o
fatal check upon such action must exist.
unless the war be made one of cuaacipa1or.
Such, be trusted and bcucved, the war would
vet become, and that the old bell m InJe-
pcndence Hall, which in I776 rang out tie
Declaration Of Independence, would again
peal forth a declaration, in mere literal ac,
cord with the motto on Its side "Proeam
Liberty throughout the Land-to every In
haMt4nt thereof"
The choir OF the church. assisted b. sew
eral singers from the Musical Couvea.
ton, apparently considered it not contrary
to the Presidents proclamation to INDULGE
the lasters present with musical feast. Of
which tbo nr,nciraI f.aturos ,vcr, hsan,i-
full ductt and chorus a solo. Come uut,
me - riren with raro .rectrcss and cvnr.s-
sion by Mrs. Minnie Little = and the Star