Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-04-14
RUTLAND HERALD.
Fast Day.

Vast preparations have been made fol
Che coming CONFLICT between the loya
armies of the Union and those who ar,
seeking its overthrow. Men, materia
and treasure have been freely furnished
by the loyal people in what they believe
righteous cause.-The preservation Of
their country. A brief interval remains
before the clash of arms is again TO be
heard in what must be the most mighty
desperate and bloody conflict of the war
conflict which IL ia believed is 10 be
decisive In its results upon the question
OF the saving of the Union, and upon the
immediate future at least, Of free gov
rpment
AT no more fitting time than during
such an interval could have occurred
Che invitation to the people, embodied in
the proclamation of his Excellency the
Governor, to assemble in their accus-
toned places of worship, to pray for the
pardon of their sins and beseech the Di-
vine favor and blessing upon the great
and hazardous undertaking about to be
commenced. To the usual prayer for
His blessing upon the labors Of the hus-
bandman, His favor upon all our in
dividual pursuits, and upon the COM
monwealth, is added the need of con-
fession and repentance of national rs
well as individual sins, prayer for the
safety of our brave defenders in the ar
my, for the consolation Of those who
mourn the slain, and for a speedy and
browning victory to the national arms.
The Intelligencer has some earnest and
appropriate words upon this subject
which we comend to the attention of all.
Itsays -..s
The waning proportions of the rebel
lion, the material prosperity real or
seeming of the North, the success Of the
Government in securing both men and
money, the confidence that in the end
our superior resources must prevail, all
seem to have essened the inclination of
even Christian people to call upon God
The EARN of flesh" has doomed up 80
largely that attention has been drawn
away from the arm of the Most High.
Prayer for our rulers, and soldiers and
sailors, has become formal and stereo-
typed Not springing from a sense of
utter dependence- IL naturally has lost
earnestness, fervor, and importantly.
Yet it would seem that but little refec-
ton is needed TO 'show that there is still
need for urgent supplication. Granted
chat even at our present rate of progress
the rebellion must, without miracle In
it's favor, be Subdued sooner or later,
still what fearful sacrifice of blood
and treasure il going on, what demon
alization OF the regions overrun by hos
tile armies, what untold suferings of
men, women, and children, what a
mountain of debt piled up month by
month what waste of capital and Ia
Dor The preservation of the Union,
and the removal of the barbarous insti-
tuition will indeed be worth all they
shall or may cost but is it not worth
while TO entreat the Almighty that the
days of conflict may be shortened He
may, If He sees fit, cause the struggle to
be prolonged for many years. The des-
peration of our foes may enable them to
infiict terrible blows upon us. One I'M
unsuccessful enterprise may defeat the
plans of whole campaign. A very
slight interposition of Providence may
bring to naught the most skillfully
formed scheme OF our ablest generals.
Tn word, we are In the hands of the
Lord. Would that this could be in-
wrought into the heart of the Church!