The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-01-12
THE NEW YEAR.


All hail a New Yearl Thou CONTEST to us
all laean with the bounties Of gracious Heav-
en-, and with 10y we bail thy kind return.
TIE era Of a New Year has its reviews, ex-
aminations and suggestions. If 10 the rapid
rolling away Of the years, many Of our fellow
comrades to have passed away, and we that
survive have grown older, tho living should
thank God and take courage-grateful hearts
for the past and strong hearts for tho future,
il is the Just demand We are spared, because
the world has need of us, because there is
work to be done, and because God is merciful
and long. suffering.
What shall the New Year be? II is. q
thought full of the largest consequenees.-
Leaf by leaf does the God OF nations unfold
the book of time. Says Mr. Pope,
"Heayen from all creatures hides the bool, of fate.
All but the page prescribed, their present state:
From brutes What men what angles Know
VI VINO ,0u,u sunsr 0e'ng mere D~o"
| now the new ear snail De, under the Di-
vine blessing, each one for himself must set
tie. II men commence it Alright, with new
and noble purposes, the high resolve, the firm
endeavor, TO live for mankind and for God, to
do what is self-denying and benevolent, to
sympatbize with suffering humanity and TO
live for Others more than oneself--and if there
shall be continuance in such true philanthro.
py and self-crucifxion-then shall the year
bo one Of the worthy record. How tho Di-
vine alotments of the year shall be, what
changes shall come 10 iamilies and persons, is
with God: but in what spirit and measures OF
noble and earnest conservation Of all upon the
altar of Right we meet the responsibilities OF
! S64, each man and women is to be the ar
bitter. Let every mortal hail the New Year
with earnest resolve to mako il the best year
of bis life.
But standing thus upon its threshold, it
well becomes US TO pause moment, and ask
what shall be the unfoldings Of Ammo Domini
1854? No mortal can positively know; but
as coming events not pnfrequcntly cast their
shadows before, there are some things which
the New Year will most likely reveal.
Gods purr ose is to permeate all nations
with the leaven of Christianity as the waters
cover the earth We rnay s.peet, then, to
see many precious Tevloais during tho next
twelve months. For three years the great
American war has necessarily engfossed much
attention; but the last year, and particularly
the last three months, the revival spirit has
~ 49, ..~v
1t abundantly multiplied TINS, and 80 lar and
SO fast as such reports reach US, the Star shall
hasten TO bear the glad news to lis thousands
OF readers.
The cause OF Christian Missions has just re-
ceived nn impetus and enlary cement, by its ac
cession to the hundreds OF thousands OF Ire ed
men thrust upon us for help by tho onward
roll OF emancipation. From Norfolk the
teachers sent out 10y tho American Mission
Association says. "Ws are in for the cam
paigu, and do not mean either to desert or
resign. God has biess' . our lab,ors, steadily
and constantly we have been making progress
and Government is Offering us increased faclll'
tie" This just indicates who in all parts!
the teacher and preacher, under "the aroused
llberaiity OF the free West and North, and un'
der the auspices OF the National Government
the increasing thousands o. liberated slaves
are to be cnllg ghtened and Cbri.tIanlzed dur
ing the year OF graca which to day ushers in
What whltened lelds for the gathering 10 oil
sheayes into everlasting l'ie, do these United
States, and the vgrlous ioreign helds, present
for this year!
What shall the New Year evolve as It's
brightest and grandest doingsf we ardenlly
play for these two aes'o our sad country
and Emancipation 0.all American slaves
All hail. New fear,it thou mayes, accom-
plIsh these! And why not hope NJ IL re-