The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-05-07

of the ministers here are, fear too busy IN
promoting what they call religion, to give any
attention to the trifing fact that four millions
OF human beings have no security in the family
relation but are herded and matched and cross
ed like the beasts of the field; that they are de-
MED the word of God and kept to great ex-
tent in practical heathenism; that they are sys-
tematically debased, degraded and brutalzed !;
that in the case of these poor wretches, man
hood in man and chastity in woman is sold to
the highest bidder; that this astounding crime,
this enormous immortality, is fostering more and
more, eating out OF our national character all
that is good, and rotting away the very foun-
dations not only of true Christianity but of
social order and civilization. All this they
have no time to attend to.
On Thursday last some gentlemen men,
toned the sin of slavery very lightly and
casually; others limited at it and others avoid
ed it with as profound a veneration as the
African devil-worshpper pays to his demon.
All this in general.
On Sunday, 26th ult., Rev. DIR. Sunderland,
who has all along been a most bold and Jealous
Unionist, who has more than once expressed
such sentiments as to bring down upon him
the charge of preaching politics and Adolf
tionsm, and who has lost not a few of his
friends and churchmembers, gave notice that
he would on Thursday evening express him
self more fully than he had yet done upon
subject that had occupied much of his thoughts
for the last two years. This notice was the
subject OF many comments during the inter-
vening days and before the hour of meeting on
the evening of Fast day, the Doctors church,
the largest in the city except one, was filed to
overlooking. Hundreds went away unable
to obtain a position within ear-shot of the
speaker.
1t is well nigh impossible for those who
have always breathed the free air of New
England, who have never known anything of
the odious but memorable tyranny so long
maintained here over the right of tree speech
in the pulpit, who do not understand the false
sense of propriety that has SO long prevailed
in this city, to comprehend the moral courage
it required to take the step which DR.. Sun
derland proposed to himself Circumstances
were not wanting to make it peculiarly trying.
Some of those who had in vain attempted
to dissuade him from his duty, had shown
themselves capable of the infinite meanness of
torturing his sensibilities.
The speaker came to his task, profoundly
impressed with its importance, pale and al
most haggard, but perfectly firm. 9th ser
mon, l can only say it was just glorious.
Thus the Doctos defined his position: 81 am
for the abolition Of everything that prongs,
degrades, or mars human nature, ,ohether
found in connection Tith the sldue-code of
the South or the black code of the North.
If this is being an ABoLTTIoNIsr, 1 AM ONE"
At the close of the sermon, which was
every way worthy of the man and the occa-
sion, the speaker received the heartfelt con-
gratulations of very many friends. l cannot
think he will suffer permanently for this most
noble and Christian act.
After several months, characterized in the
main by cold and rainy weather, we are at
last enjoying bright skies and soft grateful
airs. The trees in the Capitol park are daily
spreading out toward heaven their thousand
palms, tiny and delicate as an infants, as if in
gratitude for the divine influence that is
awakening them to new life. The verdure
of the slopes grows richer and more luxuriant
starred with dandelions and gemmed with VI
Diets; the parterres lately fringed with crocus
blooms, are now fair and sweet with hya-
cinths; the ornamental peach trees are masses
of white and crimson blossoms, and all the air
is full of the warbing of birds and the balm
of spring. T. S. p.