Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-04-06
AT THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.


Rev. Horace James, at the Old South
Church, preached sermon for the times, tax
ing his text from Ezekiel, xxxvi, 22:-"And
will make them one nation in the land upon
the mountain Of Israel and one king shall be
king to them all and they shall be no more
two nations, neither shall they be divided into
two kingdoms any more at ALL"
There was no good reason why the Israelites
should not be one nationality, their land being
large enough and well fitted for one compact
people, their remarkable history binding them
together. Yet Notwithstanding all this, they
did rebel, and that, too, at time of unexam-
pied prosperity, when the broad dominions of
the realm extended from the Mediterranean to
the Euphrates, and from Syria almost to
Egypt And there were two governments, one
at Jerusalem and another at Shechem But
after time, under the weight of heavy calam-
tiles, the two fragments We're brought together
again. From captivity they looked back with
longing and weeping for the vine-clad hills Of
Palestine. God heard their prayers and finally
brought them together again.
This incident Of inspired history suggested
the topic of national unity for discussion.
These are stirring days we live in, and couse
quences no less than the worlds civilization
may hang suspended upon the events of these
passing hours. From some remarks upon our
past unparalleled prosperity, Mr.. james went
on to speak of the causes which might influ-
ence the decision OF the question as to the tu-
ture unity OF our country
First, our geographical features favor
national unity. Our Country, lie went on
to prove, is precisely fitted for one grand
nation, and no more than one. Nothing ex-
cept unnatural and criminal institutions
and practices can prevent the tendency
OF things toward unity in this land. AT this
day there is no example on earth of ma
ton composed of materials SO heterogeneou Gus
and even discordant as ours that is SO thor
oughly welded together. If moral questions
divide its different parts, so must it be. But
the physical features of our land are all strong
bonds Of union, combining immense variety
with general harmony.
Secondly, the history of this republic, its
honorable history, begets an expectation and
desire for national unity. 1t is history in
which the whole country has a feeling OF PRIDE
and in which every Sale has contributed its
portion. We cannot bear that this fabric
which has arisen by the toll and prayers of SO
many good and great men, should now totter
and fall. We connect it with the honor of
those men and the noble deeds OF their h'sto-
ry. We connect it with favorite places made
dear to US by natural or artificial beauty. We
connect it with manful struggles Tor the right
and against oppression. If any man can pc
ruse the history of this government during the
| eighty five ears of its existence, and not be
| impressed with desire that the course of time
| Should still bear it onward in a successful ca
reer, do not understand his nature. This tie
| is so strong with me that it renders me willing
to endure even what is OF itself revolving and
it leads me to prefer that South Carolina,
| Florida, and Texas, with all their sins upon
them, should remain in the Union, rather than
forsake it. Morally estimated, we are stronger
without these states, but still we wish to keep
them, that there may be no schism in the body
| polite Personally, i never expect to go 10
| Georgia or Alabama | could not, and hope
to return alive, If l were known, for have
never written "South side View" to recon-.
mend me to the lords of the lash still we are
10th to make the separation. With the legends
of our history sounding in our ears, we exclaim,
in spite Of our personal tastes, "Oh, my
country with all thy faults love thee still p
We prefer TO suffer under the censure of the
world, charging us with connivance at wrong,
rather than give up our fellowship with those
who have been with us as brothers and sisters
in the times past. There is not state but
| has kindred in every other. What personal
! connections and multitudinous ties are inter