Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-28
Meeting Mt Wesley ChapeI-The Military
- in AIfenhnnno. ----


Meeting nj Wesley ChapeI-The Military
in Attendance.
The Ernst Guards, Captain Ernst, and
Company A of the First Ward Reserve Mill.
tia, Captain King, attended divine service at
Wesley Chapel, at the instance of the pastor,
on Sunday last. The officers and men were
in full uniform, and when they arrived at
the house, the Ernst Guards entered at the
left, and the Reserve Militia at the right
door, and then marched to the front seats,
the Ensigns placing their banners on either
side of the pulpit. sg
The services were opened by singing the
hymn from the Methodist collection, "Na.
tional Difference Ascribed to God, " by the
congregation and military, followed by a
prayer. Rev. Mr.. Mitchell, the pastor of the
church, then preached a sermon from the
text, Deuteronomy, 4th chapter, 7th and 9th
verses:
For what nation is there 30 great who
hath a God so high unto them as the Lord,
our God, is in all things that we call upon
him for. 49,
"And what nation is there so great that
bath statutes and judgments so righteous as
ell this law, which l set before you this day"
He said that Government and Religion
were two blessings conferred by God upon
the country, for which mankind were in
debted to his holy will and pleasure, and
Illustrated the dependence of all good and
lasting Governments upon the Creator of the
Universe. When the Declaration of Inde-
pendence was under discussion, and a diver
sity of opinions existed in the Convention,
rankin suggested a prayerfql appeal to the
Almighty for his blessing and direction, and
the next meeting the immortal Declaration
was produced, accepted and proclaimed
throughout the world.
Freedom of religious worship was toler-
ated in America. There was no established
church, and every man w~orshipped accord
ing to the dictates of his own conscience.
He spoke Of the danger of the Government
as one of the blessings of God which had
caused the uprising of the millions of the
North to defend the right and ~perpetuate
Freedom. He referred TO the danger to re-
ligion by the vices which usually follow the
raising of armies, and which must be
guarded against by the Christians of the
land. Havelock's Regiment in India were
called saints" because the commander and
most OF his men were Christians, and yet
they were brave and prompt in the defense
Of the country they mad espoused. There is
nothing inconsistent in the character of a
soldier and Christian. ss7
Washington was a Christian, a statesman
and a soldier, and relied upon the goodness
of God for success in the great cause of
national freedom. He looked to Divine
Providence for protection. Colonel Ander-
son, when surrounded and overwhelmed by
numbers, placed bis trust in the same merci-
full Ruler ofthe Universe, and passed through
the scourge of battle unframed.
he concluded by referring to an incident
in the life of his own father, who, at the age
of sixteen years, was in the foremost ranks
of the companies which prevented Corn
wallis from pursuing General Morgan and
his command, when fleeing northward, after
the battle Of Cowpens. He did not expect
himsalf to be q soldier, but If called upon,
would yield his life in defense of his country.
After prayer, the congregation Joined 10
singing, my country, It's of thee" when
benediction was pronounced, and the mill
tsry companies again formed and marched to
their armory. The whole services were ex-
oeedingly interesting, and were participated
in by the large cOncOurse with pleasure and
satisfaction.