The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-05-08

gregational Church Of this city
April 9th, 1862.
/" How is the strong STAFF broken and the beautf
rod.''-JEREMIAH As: Z.
This lamentation was originally uttered i
view of the fall of Moab, heather nation; Oh
as we may say, Of the King of Moab who rep
resented the nation.
The staff was evidently chosen as symbol c
his acquired power; and the rod, springing GU
of the ground, thickly covered with buds, seem
TO have been selected as an emblem of his fu
ture prospects. His oppressive sway, both pres
ent and prospective, is at length destroyed. Hi
sceptre Of power Is shattered his rod, buddin!
with many hopes, is broken down.
"And all that are about him bemoan him ant
all that know his name say, How is the stronI
staff broken, and the beautiful rod =
If these emblems were titlingly selected t
represent en- oppressor of the race, how mucl
more suitable is the imagery to describe the
beneiactors of mankind. For peculiarly strong
is the staff which is used, not to break down
but to uphold the weightiest interests Of society
and truly beautiful is the rod which buds, nc
| selfshly, but with generous promises for the fu
turc Of Humanity.
Yet, usefuly strong as are these stalls, and
hopefully beautiful as are these rods often does
an al!-wise God break them. Often does he cal
US to behold, with sad surprise, the untimely
fall OF those on whom we had leaned, and from
whom we had hoped much They had long
been useful were greatly needed still. They
were so identified with the best interests of 60
ciety, that we deemed them insaperable from
those interests. They were so much needed as
to seem indispensable. We had looked to see
their good influence extend and expand with
the process of the years and if ever, indeed
we thought Of them as dying, it was far Oil in
the dim future, when; after long career OF use
fitness, they would go down to the grave at q
ripe old age, with their flashing honors hang
ing thick upon them But, before we are
aware, they are gone. Suddenly their day has
ended in the high noon Of their pOwer; in the
very morning of our hopes.
Since last we met within these sacred walls,
we have learned of one such, thus suddenly
snatched from US in our collective capacity as
a commonwealrh-ou loved and honored Gov
ernof
AS the twinklina OF an eye, the barnessed
lightning flashed upon US with the startling
news and convulsed the State with vehement
emotions of sorrow. Instantly from thousand
statf-tops, flags dropped to symbolic the fallen
hearts Of the people end everywhere, within
our borders, deep-voiced cannon opened their
mouths, and sonorous bells moved their tongues
in a vain attempt to reveal the lnexpres slble
grief OF the commonwealth.
Not yet have we fully recovered from the
shock but sufficiently, perhaps, to collect our
thoughts, and ING ui"e with reverence into the
meaning of this mysterious movement of an all
controlling God.
And it becomes US ali to do this, for, though
happily not Of those most severely stricken by
this strange blow, still we all struck hard,
as citizens IN common, Of the State which the
deceased had been called to govern. His uu-
timely death has saddened all our hearts, and
blasted the most promising blossoms OF useful
ness to an expectant community. We have seen
a noble christian ruler, generally known, and as
generally admired and trusted, mysterionsy
strucl, down at his post, in the fnlness OF his
strength. And, while in sadness we exclaim,
Sc How is the strong staff broken, and the beau
tiful rod !" we ask in reverence, why has
God done this ?"
Into the achoie will of Deity, in their unlock
editor events, We cannot presume to search but
perhaps, if we come to the proposed inquiry
with humble hearts and docile minds, we may
learn some valuable lessons which God would
in this way teach us, and so draw honey out
of the rock, and oil out of the hnty rock"
/. The first lesson which is suggested to my
mind as one that God will teach us by this
great civil bereavement is, that oos should not
misplace our trust
Man in all stages and in all conditions of life,
is weak and must necessarily rely on some be-
ino above himself Hence the child looks ND
TO his parent, the scholar to his teacher, the
soldier to his leader, the citizen to his ruler
To a CERTAIN extent this leaning of men upon
their fellow mortals is natural and right But
beyond a given point it is improper and dan
gerous. For, while God has, for ends subordi-
nate TO his own great purposes, placed parents
over children, and rulers over citizens, he re-
mains the true ard ultimate object of human
trust,
Yet we are apt to lose sight him on account
OF these Intervening objects. Whilst supported
bv our fellows with apparent irmness and per-
n}aneuey, we are wont to feel no need of lean
ing on another and higher power This IS our
norts, at the best, not strong enough to
bear up the entire weight Of our massive con-
Germs. Their good disposition is greatly check
ed by lack of power; and their power may be
still further enteebled; or their purposes may
change.
Now this misplaced confidence is, perhaps,
most commonly seen III the implicit reliance OF
communities upon their rulers. For the ruler
is, in one sense more than mere man. He is
an embodiment of the majesty of Government.
In him is concentrated, as Is were, the wisdom
Of ssnates, and The might of armies. He has
the power Of life and death in his hands. lie
is invested with a certain mysterious authority
which naturally does not belong to him; which
has some appearance, therefore, of being super
natural.
Hence men have always been more or less
sposed to defy their rulers. This inclination
is most apparent i'll the case OF an absolute mon
arch as in the extreme oriental dynasties, where
the ruler ia often looked upon as a representa-
ton of the Deity, clothed, like him, with unlimi
ted power, and unques!iOnable authority.
/ OF course there is no such formal dedication
| of rulers in christianized lands and, particu
! larly. in democracy like ours, where the ruIel
! is wen understood to be only chosen repre8en
tative of the people. Still, as, when raised t.
/ the chair Of state, he is no longer a mere man
Int the sublime majesty Of government embod
led. an extravssant trust is apt to be placed II
HIM by the community, resembling in spirit, /
not in form, a species Of dedication.
This is a dangerous tendency. 1t is an easy
current which quietly carries the ship OF stat
away from it's only safe anchorage. 1t lead
us TO put our trust Sin the creature more thar
in the creator" who Ouly can truly establish
US. For no truth is more definitely revealed Il
the Holy writings, or more clearly demo nsEra
ted by history, than that God rules among tn
Kingdoms Of men, ;" claiming the allegiance an
confidence of all and that that people alone
happy, "where God is the Lord.
This great truth our fathers well understood
when they established themselves IN colonies
here and there, along the savage shores OF tn
new continent. And, for many years, Will
they grew up into states, and, ultimately into
nation, they kept this important fact Promhen
ly before them.
But we, their children, have almost forge
ten that there is God who presides, IN persol
over the communities and states of men. L
surprising degree we have Withdrawn iloI
the Supreme Ruler that simple confidence whle
our ancestors placed in Him even till we 81
in danger of suffering, according as it is wri
ten, Cursed is the man that trusteth in ma
and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart
: parteth from the Lord"
= What wonder, then, that God. jealous OF .
own honor, and anxious tor our clVlI pfosPeil'
1 should endeavor to bring back to himself o.
> misplaced trust, by breaking the staff on whl'
we were leaning, and the God of our futu
!. hope .,uo.,o
I. What wond er that he has broken SO strong
~ Iao,f;fuIf Ware not