The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-13
From the Chicago Times, Dec. 9.
Dispensation of Providence.

Some rather curious proceedings were had
in a baptist church in this city Thursday
1t was new church, and the services were
dedcatory. The subjoined curious speci-
men of scripture mangling we reproiuce
from "loyaP newspaper, whose report will
doubtless be generally accredited:
CATER this followed the dedicatnry sermon by
President Fairfield, who selected for his text the
passage of scripture to be found IN the epstie oil
Paul to the Philippians, LIST chapter, eth verse:
''Let your conversation be as becometh the gos-
pei of Christi
'sThe speaker thought the translators had ME
taken the meaning of the apostle in the OF the
tenn given in the text. To him 1t seemed if the
apostle meant to say, "Let your conduct Us cj.i
ze"s be such as becometh the gospel OF Christi
BY this was meant citizenship the kingdom OF
GOD, and such conduct would best cOmD0rl
with that citizenship
His text, therefore, suggested its OWE subject.
The relations and duties of ourselves as citizens
to the general government seemed to hlIa a sub
Ject fitting to be discussed upon such day as
rhis.''
No one will be surprised that divine who
could thus easily improve upon Paul should,
without difficulty. be led to the appended
loyal conclusions
"Years ago sanctioned the of villaiuies.
the fugitive slave law, and made former VII
lainy yet darker. In this we re-enacted the form
er SIN, and made the last act much worse than the
first transgresson. Our fathers had no right to
pass such law. The fundamental law of the ma
ton ought always to have spoken IN the clearest
tones OF the fundamental rights of man. guarantee
ing to him the right to life liberty aud the pursuit
of happlnes. And ifthe present generation refuse
to ratiiy the constitutional amendment abolish ng
slavery, upon their heads will rest all the blood
that has been shed In this broad land from the fall
of sumter to the surrender OF Lee. We ought
many years ago to have said, Eve demand freedom
for our brothers abolish slavery or be prepared to
meet 100, 900 bayonets.' This ought to have been
demanded-it ought to have been firmly said thr-
ty years ago. Glorious old John Brown He
dated to die for freedomi He was wiser than
Wise, and Wise was fool to hang him. His soul
has been marching on until, voiced by a million
stawart warriors, at last 1t has eliminated in the
grand old anthem, GLORY, Haelejphl'"
God, it seems, was Of the opinion that we
had one too many churches in this city pros
tisused 10 the celebration of abolition orgies
for q few minutes after the close of the aer-
vices in this one 10 was burned down. 1--WE
believe in special providences. We believe
that the boys who Knocked at Elijah were eat
en- by the bears for their irreverence. and not
because the bears were particularly hungry.
The coming of the bears was not accidental
but ordered. Whether II was worse to saw
"Go up old badly" twice than to sing halle
lujahs to a horse thief and murderer while
professedly dedicating temple to the wor-
ship OF God, Is a question about which there
ought not to be two opinions. We think tina,
the coming of the devouring fire, like that of
the devourlng bears, was not accidental, but
ordered. This opinion is strengthened by
the fact that the furniture of the church was
burned few nights ago in warehouse, a
circumstance which should DO pregnant with
warning to insurance companies how thew
take RISKS on appurtenances to John Brown
churches. They have too long insulted the
Almighty by irreverent fanatioism in nro.
tessed worship,and IN this dispensation of
His providence they may learn that
"The power incensed the pageant will deser,
The prestly robe aud sacerdotal state.n