Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-05

| Az hAA0 + AAaf a AN9Ag seA Ath SAAeANAt y NofoA
day, the Rev. Mr.. Goodrich spoke TO a larg
and apparently deeply interested audience
His text was from Matt, 18th chapter, 2ls
veroe. "Ho'05et Ais Kind gOeth not out b..
BY fasting aud prayer
The speaker said; We are called to tn
house of prayer by a proclamation Of tn
Chief Magistrate Of our country We or
invited 10 confess our sins and to humtl
ourselves because of our iniquities. We ar
informed that our Union is in danger, am
that want and famine are staring Us in tn,
face. No hint is given whether any State
are arming, or whether any oaths have beer
violated, or whether violence has been Of
fered to unofending persons, but let it b,
enough that the higher power feels and &C
knowledges his sense of accountability to 3
Supreme Ruler. Would that the God Of our
fathers, whom we so often invoke, had been
our guide before now Had all our Offices
been peace, and all our works righteorsness,
then the questions which are now distract
ing US would never have arisen no one who
believes in prayer can for a moment doubt
that there is reason for US to humiliate our
selves, to fast and to pray. We may say as
Christ said of the dsmoniac child, "This
kind goeth not out but by prayer and fast
ing" -aL
This is no time for smooth generalit' es
we need to deal with faets-with affairs, Just
as they exist. What has been called fanati-
eism one day, has been pronounced wisdom
the next. It drives opinions, principles and
results to extremes often denying the au-
thority of laws and carrying a spirit of dis
order which fOments the evils which assail US.
We have been beset by fanatics who have
been unspariDg in their denunciations of all,
even the best and kindest of shareholders,
and have likewise scofed at religious
churches, because they refused to counten-
snce such things. This class is fortunately
small one, and would long ago have died
out had it been left TO itself, but resistance
has only stimulated TO further exertion..
This conflict has been preparing for gener-
atiOns. The real question is, not how to get
over the crisis, but rather, how can a coun-
try divided by such ideas, exist unbroken.
The fact is, the real difficulty in the system
Of slavery, is slavery itself. At the present
rate of increase, in twenty years there will
be double the number of slaves at the South
that now are there if insurrection is feared
with 100000, how will it be suppressed
with 100000, for no precaution can pre-
vent the negroes from knowing their
strength.
For the present we have no hope, and no
duty but in guarding the rest of our manor
from eneroachment. It must be stopped
sometime, and it will cost US less now, than
it will cost our children.
The other Presbyterian congregations in
the city, united at the First Cnurcn.
In the afternoon, prayer meeting was
held at the Euclid Street Church.
At Trinity, Rev. Mr.. Cooley made some
remarks in addition to the regular service,
but did not refer particularly to the present
state of public affairs.
St. PsuPs was also open, Rev. Mr.. Pad
dock, the rector, officiating.
APoLIuCAL ALLEGoRY.-Rev. Mr.. White,
in the course of his lecture last Sabbath
evening, in Plymouth Church, on Bunyan's
Pilgrims Progress, extempOrized political
application to our own nation at the present
time. The speaker had just finished his re-
view of obstinate" and Pliable,D two
noted characters in Bunyan's celebrated al !
legOry, and had described the "slough of
DesPOnd," how Pliable got out at the point
where he got in, and turned back selfshiy |
to his old companions in the q City of De-
structiOn," while Pilgrim struggled man
fully for the right side, next to the g New |
Jerusalem" and was soon assisted on to firm |
ground and sent on his way rejoicing by one
% Mr.. Help" when he made this depression:
I cannot pass this point without an ap-
pllcatlon suggested by the present condition |
Of our county. This nation is a true politi-
cal Pilgrim from the Destruction Of the Old |
World-directed westward by some good
70 Evangelist" who pointed out the bright
shining light that would lead to the q wick
ct gate" and Heaven.
q For time it resisted all entreaties to re-
tnrn or turn aside; but falling into company
with one Mr.. Pliable,' who was fast for pill
grimage, having no book in his hand nor
burden on his back, they both heedlessly fell
into the Slough of Despond4an awful
luagmire where settled the scum and filth
Of the nation, and which was subject to over
dow at certain periods and change of wealth
er. Now there were good constitutional
steps or eauseways clean across this Slough,
but Pilgrim was of his guard through the
conversation with Pliable, and both fell in.
q" Plisble makes a great adO-blames Pill
grim and everybody else, and says if he can
only get out of this fearful bog you never
will fnd him going--a on pilgrimage again.
So he fretted and labOred, and got out on the
side next to the City of Destruction, where
be got in, and put back in haste towards his
boon companions. But our true Political
Pilgrim lthe nation) struggles manfully and
strikes out only for the right side, next TO the
wicket gate and Jerusalem. And I perceiv-
I'd in my dream a man coming towards him
whose name was Help who extended his
rough and ready hand to poor Pilgrim, and
with two or three good hearty pulls brought
lim out upon firm ground, and sent him on
MS way rejoicingl I
" If now our national Pilgrim does not fall
nto the hands Of some sworldly-wise man
rom the famous town of sCarnal Policy
nor allow himself to be turned out of the
straight and narrow way to consult some eel
,brated DR.. Legality or his nice young
ion Mr.. Civility,' in order to ease him Of
ais burden by some slight-of- hand or quack
process, under the forms of Law then shall
lie surely reach the wicket gate and the
glorious New Jerusalem beyond r.
The Lord grant it for his own names sake,
md for the sake Of our common humanity
s well This is our prayer, without Presi-
lential fasting. IHE UNION.
DANcE.-On Monday evening, Ballou gives
dancing party at Chaplin Hall, and will be
lappy to see kis friends and those of his