Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-02-21
A S E r M ON
PREACHED AT GLOVER. FEB 4. AT THE
FUNERAL OF CAPT. DAN MASON.
BY REV. SIDNEY X. b. PERKINS.

BY REV. SIDNEY X. b. PERKINS.
LAMENTATIONS Sd Chap. 18Th Verse And /
said my strength and my hope is persisted from
the Lord.
JEREMIAH 4Sth: 18th: All We that are about
nm bemoan him, and all We that know his name
say how is The strong staff broken and the beau
tiful rod
PSALM 9lst; ID: will say of the Lord he is
my refuge, in him viii trust
Such were the words once employed
by those who were in affection, or who
sympathized with those who were en-.
during great trial, and deem them
appropriate for us tc use On the pres
ent occasion. Truly one of our young
men has been taken from US under
such circumstances as while they add
lustre to his name, at the same time
deeply move our hearts. The large
assembly convened, and the interest
manifested by every one, show that
this is regarded 5 no ordinary
event.
We feel as we do in part, because
the young man deceased represents a
class, and his death far from home. en-.
ables us to realize afresh what has
been the experience of many families
and communities throughout this com
nIUIWCaIIn.
| selected the text found in Jere
miah 18Th. Chapter, 18th. verse, be
cause the relation of Young men tc
their country is 50 happily illustrated
therein. They may well be compared
to the shepherds rod and staff. BY
means OF which he climbs the noun
tain heights, and guides his flock anC
protects them from the ravenous beasts
The people addressed were called t.
mourn because the strong staff whose
strength was the terror of their enc
mics, and whose beauty was the pride
of its friends, was taken from them b,
the cruel hand of war.
Invite the attention of those pres
ent while We consider first, the rela
ton OF yourg men to their country
secondly, the characteristics whicI
render them equal to the trust rcposet
lii them, and thirdly, to such app!ica
tom Of the discourse as all must admit
to be justly merited III the present
instance.
Under no form of government ii
the world do young men exert greater
influence than under our own. for sool
after attaining the age when the,
should leave the schools 50 wisely
provided by the public, each become
a sharer in the government and help.
to determine what the destiny Of hi
country shall be, and in fact in III,
case OF the young men of America thi.
influence is Ofno snail coasidcrutios
since they help to decide who shall
Iprcside over oar national counsels
what shall be the prevailing state o
morals, and how persuasive the voice
Of humanity shall be in the cours,
pursued as to our home and foreign
relations.
Ere long the highest places of in
tluence and power must be occupied
by those now in their youth. The,
will control the pulpit and the ros
trum and in their turn will instruct
the then rising generation. They will
own these farms and the marts o.
trade, and the merchandise viii be
theirs. They will also control tho
long lines of railroads intersectiao tho
country and they will command the
ships and steamers that cross tn {
ocean and bring foreign lands so near
1t will be for them therefore to deter
mine what shall be our relative posi-
ton among the nations. and whether
this broad country shall support a race
of mere consumers OF shall be able to
send abroad civiIizing and purifying
influence throug lout the globe.
BUTT is when our rights are invaded hv
some foreign power or some don. este
dl58ensiOn arises, that our country looks
to her young men with the most ex-
pectant eye.
Then she calls upon them to leave
the peaceful pursuits to which they have
been accustomed, to buckle on their
armour and to 90 forth to endure the
hardships Of war with purpose to
pcrsevcre till the last foe is subducd.
In fine, they are the nations right
arm to bear the sword in its defence.
Such then are the relations in which
young men stand to their country
They are her hope as to the future. they
may be her present efficient aid, and
her protectors in time of war.
We consider secondly, the charac-
terestics which render them equal to
the trust to be reposed in them.
LIST. They must be intelligent. I
Wouid not argue that every one must
pursue the full course of study rouir-
ed In the college or university. but eve
ry young man should receive an educa-
ton to the extent afforded by our
public schools, and there SHOULD be adj