Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-05-02
CITY AND COUNTY.


| AT the OLD SOUTH CHURCH there was united
service on Thursday Rev. DR.. Hill presiding
The opening prayer was made by the Rev Mr.
Lewis OF the Laurel street churche, who subsc-
quently read portion Of scripture. After PRAYER
by Dr. Hill, Rev. Dr. SSeetser read the presi-
dents proclamation, and made an excellent
speech, adapted TO the occasion. lie was fol-
lowed by Rev. Messrs. Chaplin, Shippcn, and
Richardson, i'll eloquent and timely remark
The closing hynn AMI the benediction was pro.
nounced by Rev. Mr.. St. John.
Rev. Mr.. ST. JoHN's DISCOURSE at the Uni.
verSalift church, Fast day, is highly commended
az an able, ont-spoken and patriotic expression
of the general feeling of his people concerning
| the duty of American citizens to support an
American president-not because of his individ-
uality, but because he is the expression or en-
bodiment OF the national life and the national
power. The speaker had no sympathy with that
class who inierposo all possible obstacles in the
way of the president, and then condemn him
because he does not accomplish more than lie
does; be. answered the objection SO often heard
from the lips of Seni-tratois that this is "An
abolition war" by showing that the question of
abolition has not yet b 'el base upon the aboli-
tionists' position of moral right, AID only comes
into the issue military necessity and the
man who wouldn't weaken the common foe by
taking away their negroes, and by using them
in any way AS helpers in the Strife has not
enough loyalty TO save him from the suspicion of
being traitor 10 the government and also TO his
couutry-if he make distinction in his mind
between the duty he owes to either
In short, the speaker entered upon the various
issues growing out of his subject, with earnest
ness, canvasSed item with candur, and present
ed the moral AMI political aspect of ach in way
to command the attention of every nearer, and
the assent OF Every patriotic heart.
The discourse should rot be confined in its in
huence TO ihe audience who listened to it, but
should, through the rAcss, reach wider circle
We are happy to learn that it is being printed
by Messrs. Tyler & Seagrave, and will soon be
given to the public in pamphlet form.
AT ALL SAINTS CHURCH, the rector, Rev. Mr..
Huntington, delivered discourse at once pow
erful, eloquent and patriotic He ascrb.d our
present unfortunate condition to the 81 is o. which
we as people had been guilty. He quoted from
the presidents proclamation
We nave forgotten God. We have forgotten
tue gracious hand which preserved us in peace,
and multiplied, and enriched and strengthed
us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceit.
fulness of our hearts that all these blessing were
produced by some superior wisdom of our own.
Intoxicated with unhroken success, we have he
come too self-sufcens to feel the necessity of re-
decmng and preserving grace, TOO proud 10 pray
TO the God that made us! 1t behooves us, then,
TO humble ourselves before the offended power.
TO confess our national sins, and to pray for
clemency and forgiveness"
One great sin has been our overweening conf
dence in ourselves and our power, in our re-
sources and institutions. Forgetting God we
have claimed credit for our great rivers, our
mighty forests and fruitful lands, taking to our
selves the honor Of the fertility of our country,
its extent, its peace and prosperity. But there
was another sin greater than our insoent pride;
one that frequently accompanies too great feel
ing of power, and that was Tho oppression of the
weak. For our systematic oppression of the In
dian in times past, and for many years of the nc
gro, God is Furnishing us now in the present sad
condition of the nation. The sermon was filled
throughout with suggestions of duty to God, and
with plain and practical reasoning and thought,
to which no meagre notice like the present can
do ju ,Ice TO.