The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-30
GOD IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
A Sermon Delivered by the Rev. Henry
Baker, Jr., In the Third street MsthO-
dist Episcopal Church, Camden, N. J.

BAKER, Jfss IN the street MeJhO-
dist Episcopal Church, Camden, N. j.
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in
all generations"
We are assembled in the quiet sacredness of
our National sabbath to perform the joyful SER
vices of thanksgiving and praise. More bountl-
full than our wshes-richer in blessing than our
utmost hope, God claims of us this return of
thenks.
As citizens of great republic, it becomes us
TO join right gladly in the plaudlt OF the
Psalmist:-"Lord Thou hast been our dwelling
place in ali generations"
American history is the development of the
most wonderful phenomena of modern times.
But Justice presides over the destiny of nations.
calm and restless in It's workings, undisturbed
by human taithlessness or repining. In await
ing the result OF Providence, we may, indeed,
learn the lesson OF patience and OF faith Athought
born of the human intellect has perfection
almost as the beginning of Its being, but the
conceptions OF the great [ Am, whose thoughts
are not as our thoughts, nor His ways like our
ways, with whom one day is as a thousand
years.
Progress, the law of the universe is an ndi-
vidual and social advancement, ever seeking
the idol of perfection. There is no Ell Dorado
Of rest awaiting humanity, when it shall cease
to labor, and which shalt toll no more.
New occasions have new duties
They must upward still, and on ward
Who would keep abreast of truth.
80, resplendent CLEAN her camp-fres!
We, ourselves, must pilgams be;
Launch our May yfOwer, ana Heer boldly
Through the desperate winter sea-"
The Republic of the West is the inspired, God
sent apostle of human liberty, the herald of that
great day, the dawn OF whose splendor filled the
vision OF prophecy, thrilled the tasks OF poetry,
and now out OF The chaos OF the present is rising
into clear, calm, organized existence.
Republicanlsm was put on trial in the torma-
ton OF our Government, under the most difficult
circumstances. Our institutions were the out
growth OF two hostile theories. And the prob
lnDl hos hpnn To oil ~ harn pniv tI,oTn
The impossible has thus been attempted. The
nation Was forgetting justice, becoming traitor
20 the baptsmal VOWS by which it was con-
secrated to freedom, when God in His goodness
sent war, His prophet, to warn us of our doom.
Revolutions are, indeed, not born OF chance;
they never spring from accident but are always
the means By which are accomplished Gods
great purposes, seen here and there in the cen
tunes, moving in steady procession, in their ebb
anu how obedIent 20 the infinite VIII.
In our own struggle patriotism had a resur-
recdon. The young men gave freely the bloom
of their lives to the cause. 1t was costly sac
ljfice. Three hundred thousand dead! and
thrice three hundred thousand broken and
breaking hearts!
But what glorious recOmpense-a resurrected
| nation, a people Iansomed from sin and slavery
| With the broken chains in her hand, her limbs
| released from the shacklcs of cruel tyranny,
| Columbia stands, with glad light in her eye,
| bright smile on her face, the song of liberty
| rushing up IRON her lips. And to the mourner
| she whispers:-"Weep no longer. These that
were thine are mine now, the nations children.
| embalmed in an eternity of tame"
Every pusation OF public sentiment, each
| tidal wave of revolution has settled our institu-
| tiOns further down through the shifting sands
| Of human policy into the clear granite of Gods
| idea. Forests bend mountains tremble, strong
| ships HE to the harbor when the storm rushes
forth in It's fury. But Destiny isstronger than the
| tempest mightier than an army with banners
| 1t Is Divinity moving to and iro in the EARTH
| Anglo-SaXOn civilization is a Wanderer no
| longer Standing on the mountain top it cries
| out to GOd:-'Where shall / 90 ?" And the
| answer comes everywhere ~
In addition TO this great Joy OF our national
| resurrection, we have other causes for thanks.
| giving. The pestilence has not been suffered TO
| deVastate our communities. He started forth
from his house in the Orient, and swept her
| cities rs with the bosom OF destruction. And,
then, the dread Angel OF Death, spreading his
arm across the ocean, stood hanging over the
land, when God called out-"AZrael A2rael ~
We were saved. And Thou, o Lord, hast been
our salvation. Thou hast been cur dwelling.
place in all eeneTatonsn ~
/ And as from the cornucopia az His goodness
golden stream of merces flows out to us all,
as civil bodies, as social circles, as individuals
may we not eXclaim: :-''Let the whole earth be
filed with His glory