The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-08-15
The Voice Of the Draft.

The Rev. VIM. j. Potter, of New Bed
ford, Mass, drew prize at the recent
draft in that State. He accepts the LOT
which has fallen upon him with alacrity
and gladness. He gave his reasons to his
congregation on the 26th ult., and they are
so pertinent, practical, and sensible, that
| we think we cannot do better than give his
sermon to our readers, and commend his
example to all as worthy of emulation:
II. Timothy, ". 5:-Make full proof OF
| thy ministry.
| The subject intended for to-day's dis
course, my friends, must be put aside.
| can speak to you only OF what is upper
most in my thoughts, especially as, ac-
cording to our annual custom, this is the
last opportunity l shall have to address
you for several weeks. You must allow
much as / would talk to you individually
in my study. I have no carefully arranged
discourse, the time nor my tastes
have permitted it. But the thoughts that
are passing through my mind, and in just
the shape they pass, since they may ulti-
mately concern you in the result to which
they may lead, have felt that you have a
right to know.
From the beginning of this rebellion,
which for more than two years has shaken
and devastated our land, have been
preaching to you, friends, of national
| themes. l have endeavored
so to speak as to excite among you and
in this community, a patriotic senti-
ment that would prepare our homes for
sacrifices, that would help fill our armies
| in the field, that would inspire men and
women with desire, in some way to serve
their country, and that would aid in bring
| ing the moral and religious strength of the
| community to the side of the national Gov
eminent in this struggle. / would fain
| have filled the breast of every man with a
irish to give himself to this holy cause; and
| / have sought so to speak as to induce the
young and healthy and capactated, not
only to have the wish, but honorably to
crafty it, by going to the field. L have
spoken Of the sublimity of selt-sacritice, o.
the nobleness of doing and dying for one S
country, of the immortal glory which. our
hero-soldiers, living or dead, are achieving
for themselves and for the nation which
they redeem. have thus tried to make it
easier for parents to give up their sons,
wives their husbands, sisters their brothers
and all of us those whom we may love bet.
| ter than ourselves; and | have striven to
| keep up among us at home a spirit and q
habit of charity that should help relieve
the sutferings of our soldiers in the hospi.
tai, or add to their strength and comfort in
! L
ored moreover, to excite not merely a pa.
triotic sentiment, but patriotic sentiment
| founded on sense of justice and a rever'
ent regard for human rights. Never for &;
moment have I lost sight of the fact, that
! to make the cause of the nation holy
| cause, and one which can properly receive
the support of any Christian pulpit, itmus
| be the cause OF Truth, of Liberty, of HUI
mainly. have sought, therefore, to sc
| below the fact Of civil war to its causes.
have endeavored to keep the thought clear
| that by this rebellion Truth and Liberty
and Humanity were assailed-the very
! fundamental principles of our Government
and that is only as we go to the defence
| OF these. and make them victorious
| throughout the land, that any real triumph
or lasting peace can be secured for oul
country.
! A call now comes to me, my friends, tc
make other proof of this my ministry
| among you. l have spoken to you hereto.
| fore by words: / am now called to speak
| to you by an act; l am hidden to make that
full proof of the sincerity of my utterances
which only deeds can give. I have held
up before you the beauty and the sublimi
| W OF sacrlhce; l am now asked to bring my
sacrifice to the altar.
Ihls call does not come to me unexpect-
edly; nor do answer it hastily, or in any
narrow enthusiasm of the moment which
shuts out view of the MANY collateral
questions and consequences it involves.
see all, and on all sides: just, l think, as
you see, and more than any OF you can see
Long foreseeing the probability of the call
my mind has been silently, and with full
deliberation, preparing it's answer; and SC
seeing and so judging, there is but one
! course that conscience opens to me. NV
friends, this call is Imperative; | must
obey.
would not make the matter too serious
There may be little service or sacrifice re-
quired; perhaps the showing readiness to
will be all; and l am glad to see that the
result of the military draft is accepted in
this community with such cheerfufness.
| Still, wish there were deeper feeling Of
seriousness beneath this good, but almost
too jocose, cheer. Probably there is more
| than there seems. But wish that our oh.
| legation to our country was more sacredly
! considered and revered, and thatth whole
question was decided more in the light OF
solemn duty. I wish that those whose
names have been drawn were asking rath.
er If they cannot go than seeking reasons
Tor staying at home. There ought to be
q . ax,.;1 4,