Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-09

Impotence for peace. Or peace might have
come through mutual exhaustion, but such
is not ours. A graphic sketch of social and
political affairs under this supposed state OF
things was drawn. Or the struggle might
have ended in the forced acceptance of
terms which would have made one of the
fairest portions of our historical heritage Il
foreign: country to us. But such a peace
would have known no permanent repose.
Turning from these considerations, which
the preacher dwelt upon quite at lie 9Th, but
with vigor and freshness, he stated that we
have an incentive to gratitude in this, that
in vindicating and maintaining our free IN
situations, in our exhibition of courage and
patriotism, we have advanced the claims OF
such institutions all over the world. Des-
pots looked on with fear and dread upon our
struggle, and rejoiced when we seemed
doomed to fail but the poor prayed for us,
and then most when the issue appeared
doubtful.
The eloquent preacher concluded with Of
fering congratulations to men of all parties,
in view of the death of slavery. Herein, he
declared, lies our chief incentive to devout
thankfulness. The past is behind us with
its evil the present is purged; the future
is bright, and, if we be true, glorious and
sure.
ERNOS BY REV. T. 4. srARKEY.
The sermon in Trinity Church was
preached by the Rector, Thos. A. Starkey,
D. D., who took for his text st. Luke II,
18th W:
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace,
good will towards men,
The preacher, after referring to the an
gelic song of peace, which heralded the
birth of Him who is the fountain of all
blessings to the world, spoke at some length
of the changed circumstances under which
we meet to celebrate our annual Thanksgiv-
ing, from those of the last four years. "The
present occasion" he said, "when the chief
authorities in the state and nation unite with
the Ecclesiastical in calling upon the whole
people to offer their thanksgivings to Al
mighty God for his protecting and preserv-
ing Providence, demand of us a serious and
grateful review of the mercies which His
goodness has vouchsafed us during the re-
cent struggle, and a calm and sober, yet
earnest, consideration of present and future
obligations thereby imposed upon u.s.
Among the first and ehiefest of them must
be reckOned the preservation Of the nation.
The preacher declared that we be sutfi-
| GENTLY thankful for such a deliverance, and
proceeded to enumerate the various causes
for expressions Of gratitude, among which
were mentioned the preservation of the
| HIllCllAc VI udbluudA uuibE bHC
harvests, and material prosperitY.Qf the
four years war, the restoration of e Asias-
teal unity, and the destruction O that
which has caused so much conDAtion and
i'll will in the past, viz: human slavery.
The preacher proceeded at some length to
Justify the course which the Episcopal
Church in the North had taken in the late
General Convention, with regard to the
slavery question. Our own reformed
III - l. 1.r
fers in his respect among others,
from most Of the other Protestant
ions, that she regulates her synodical action,
as well as her general teachings by the pre-
/ cedents furnished by ancient Catholic ira
/ dition and usage. 1t has been so with her
| course on the slavery question. The apostles
when they laid the foundations of the
| Christian church, formed this institution,
along with many another political abuse and
usurpation, existing throughout the civil
| led world. In meeting this difficulty they
had to reconcile in their treatment of 1T two
rules of action, by which their consciences
were comparatively bound: One was the
Injunction to obey magistrates and all in
authority, the other to do away with abuses
by prociaiming righteousness. The entire
history of the Christian church from the be-
ginning, in its treatment of slavery, is per-
fectIy consistent. II interfered with no
| pOllIlc0l HndCLIleUlg ~ diu Hb hAoithb hdhh
upon his wrong. 1t assumed everywhere
and always that human servitude was an
evil, opposed to the genius of the Christian
religion. The canons of the ancient Pro
vinciaI councils testify continually to the
chureh's efforts TO gradually undermine the
institution, by intoxicating those truths
which once fully received, would make Its
continuance impossible. When a Monas-
terry or seat of learning or other religious
foundation itself owned bondmen, they were
in all cases treated as Christian brethren
and were frequently given their freedom
and one of the most common acts OF penI-
tence required by the clergy of the dying
noble was the liberation Of his slaves.
The chief duty dwelt upon in the SER
mon was that of providing for the spiritual
and other wants of the freedmen, whose
claims upon the church were stated at some
length.
Rev. Mr.. Hawks, of the Second Presby-
terrain Church, delivered a most excellent
sermon from Isaiah SD chap. 18th and 10th
verses, which we find ourselves unable, to
day, to give a synopsis of that would do it
Justice, and, therefore, defer It until Monday
morning, when we hope to give a summary
that will reflect the character of the sermon
in its entirety.