Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-04-18

first OF January came, and the pro-
clamation was made the great fact in
American history Renewed APP
plause. Every human being through
out the whole length and breadth of
this land received the pledge that they
should be maintained in their freedom:
and so now this proclamation has been
consecrated as part of the American
Constitution by the action of this
same American people. But there is
more work to be done. Slaves eman-
cipated are but half men. Theymu
be educated; they must have the COS
pei preached to them; and we have
missionaries going abroad throughout
the length and breadth of the land
preaching to them. and everywhere
noble women and noble men are con-
secrating their energies to the work of
their instruction. But this is not all
that is necessary. The faith which
has been pledged to them by the ma
ton, that they shall be maintained in
their freedom, mist be redeemed, and
to-day we have the intelligence that
the Congress Of the United States,
representing the heartfelt sentiments
and the fixed resolves of the whole of
the American loyal people, have de-
clared that these emancipated slaves
shall have equal civil rights. ZAP
pIause a step further remains
among the steps; for 1t is a long work
this raising a whole people; but one
EOf these stFps, as count it, II that
they to whom You have given freedom
must beI permitted to defend it by the
ballot Loud applause. And speak
ing here between tie two centuries, !
should BE- unfaithful to my own con-
ylctions Il / refrained from uttering
that word before you. But. then. let
Us look forward This work i all to
be done; civil rights are 40 be secured,
political rights are to be secured, fra
.ternifyl is to be established, and we are
to feel that every man who wears tie
image &c God il entitled 20 all sthe
rights which God has given 20 his.
ebilfiren. IApplause. Everything is
to : left then. TO She operations of
tho e natural laws by WlAch men raise
the mselyes in society, each selecting
the ~ whom he prefrs for his asso-
CT, Stes and no man deaming that any
64 ar man has a les right to life, lib
49, and The nprait Of happiness, and
III " III 60 ,neazs by which life, liberty,
= III, H. -lrsuit Of happiness are guar
ane e-S and defended, fsian he has him
sslf. And now, my friends, SO much
for what the nation and the Church
have done together thus far. a. hum
dred years to GOMEZ When we look
back and see what God hath wrought:
when VIE see what He has been pre-
pairing In these later days through all
this great work of mercy and en-
REIMBURSEMENT, what can We think a
hundred years to come? Who can tell
what this nation il to become If tits only
faithful to itself? Who can measure
the work that this church has to per-
form in making this nation true to it.
self and to its God? I verify be-
lieve that but for this Church moth
ing of that which we have thus far
realized could have been accomplish
ed / verify believe that, God in His
Providence raised up this Church. I
do not say that He did notgive appro-
priat6 spheres of action to other
churches; but | do verify believe that
God raised up this (the Methodist
church, for the purpose of aiding in
leading this nation to these grand re-
suits. Now this Church is celebrating
her centenary year. She is calling
upon the members of her own denom-
ination, and am glad to know that
many other households of the Chris
tan name are ready to come forward
and stand with her, recognizing all
that she has done, praying for her
success. and anxiously sympathizing
with her, anxious that she shall attain
greater measures of efficiency and use
fulness. [ say this Church, thus aid
ed this year, is preparing to take her
place-not to take her place-she has.
taken it-but to keep her place and to
move forward in her place in the van
of Christian and moral regeneration.
And then / shall not undertake to
portray the future, as it rises dimly be-
fore me and / see the great multi-l
tudes now filling the land doubling
and quadrupling and quintupliRg; and
[ see such churches as this rising all
over it, and vessels, winged with
steam, bearing the messengers of sal
walton to earth's gremotest corners,
and Geographic wires girdling the
earth IN every direction-more nu-
l-mer0us round the world IMAM they aro-
to-day through New York-so that
every pulsation of every heart is re-
sponded to throughout the world, and
the Church multiplied in her NUM-
bers, purified in her faith, standing
between the world and God, bearing
aloft the standard of regeneration and
salvation-the powers Of language and
of conception fail. No human being
can paint what the centenary of
! Methodism is to bring forth. 1t is in
the hands of God. He who has
wrought thus far, will work still.
Only be it ours-our part, however