Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-08-29
ADDRESS
OF DIR. JOSEPH p. CHANDLER,

IiON IN LOWER BRANDfWlNE OHuittii, YIN
TIE EVENING OF AUG. 10TH, 1867 es
Ladies and Gentlemen II am happy
to meet you here tonight under such agree
able associations and pleasant surroundings.
The experiences OF life, so varied, so multi
piled and so cumulative, ever present us
with profitable subjects for thought and med
itation.
We, an integral part of the human family,
are acting, each, our part In the great serio
comic drama of human life. This worlds q
stage and we the actors but unlike the
mimic stage, we are not playing to. panderr
to the taste, nor for the qualification and
amusement OF the curious and idle. We are
playing higher game--our stakes are great,
they are immense-they are no less than the
attainment of the highest possible degree OF
social, moral and christian perfection, ,and to
insure Cor ourselves, beyond the confines of
the grave,a name and place among thej just
made perfect. By the rapid march OF time
by the crowdng Of events, so thick and
| fast-by the uncertainty Of lifc-by the loss
al parents and friends,wc are warned OF the
shortness of time, we have to complete our
| part Of the play in the various shifting scenes
| of life, in such manner and such way as will
| enable US to attain that condition here below
and that position hereafter, to which have
Just alluded.
Change succeeds change in rapid success
sion-soon we must part -soon those pleasant
places which have hitherto known us, will
know us no more. We are all drifting to-
wards that dark shore, beyond which no
human eye can see-whose dark mysteries
no human ken can penetrate. To this point
are We surely and inevitably trending.
Through the dark valley, the shadow of
death, all are doomed once to pass, and the
question, for where and for what, is big with
significance. When this subject is brought
up, fairly and squarely before us, in all the
magnitude of its Importance, it is well cal
culated-it is all powerful to startle the mind
from that slumbering indifference in which it
has been resting so long in tancicd security.
Believing then that though we die, we shall
still live and that, that other life will be CON
ditioned according to the deeds done in the
body, it becomes palpably plain that the
chief object in this life is or should be to
prepare for that other life, that it may be one
of peace, joy and happiness.
We are assured too that these bodies shall
rise again-that thoy will be terminated, re-
constructed bone to its fellow bonc-atom to
its fellow atom To use the language of a
beautiful writer--though the loss of parents
and friends--though the frequent intirmities
and yicissitudes of life, teach us gloomily fe
reflect that an angels arm can't snatch us from
the CARVE, yet sure prospect of the resurrec
tion, bids us say with ceaseless life, legions
of angels can't coniine us there. Fortunate
ly indeed it is for lis that we have not been
left solely to the light of reason in the work
of preparation, but that the light of rcvsla-
ton has been given us, to guide and direct
us in the path of duty.
Had we been left altogether dependant
upon our reasoning powers, we would have
been like mariner at sea, without compass
or chart, drifting about at the mercy OF th'
winds and the waves.
Blot out the bible-obliterat every trace
, of the knowledge we have obtained from 1T
, records-from the prophets and apostles
and, imagine what then would be the condi
l ton of the human family? Judging from
past history there is little doubt but wha
: opinions and systems would multiply so fas
, and be so conflicting, that soon the swor'
would be the sole umpre-soon the sworl
in the hand of INSCRIPTIONS power, woult
be the main instrument OF conviction ant
conversion. The more study and mediate
upon this subject, the more am in .sympa
thy and love with ull the means and appli
ances now in use, to make known and dis
seminatc the truths contained in the sacre'
: volume and this brings us up 10 the subjec
!, Immediately before us, the Sunday School
a means, an example of which you have he
fore you, in these smiling happy faces aroun,t
us--thc Jealous and general interest mani
tested, and the pleasing Improvement evinc
;, ed, socially, morally and intellectually.
What more pleasing-wliat more sou-in
s spring picture can you conjure up in you
minds, than that OF IL convocation of owe
an hundred children, united as it werc,in on
voice, singing praises to the great Redeeme
n eagerly seeking and acquiring Il knowl
i edge Of the grea, truth of the christian re
ligion and otherwise fitting themselves I
assume those important responsibilities
. which must soon devolvc upon them
e Pleased are we indeed to know that chang
}, has come oyer the spirit of our dreams. Fol
ty or fifty years ago, children were rathc
held back--tliere was less general interes
y manifested i'll their moral and mental cultul
" than now To be sure there were Sunda
4 Schools. hut they were small, partial in the
operations and unattractiye in their assocli
y tions. Now the younger portion OF I'll
community are brought out and made I'll
ic companion and co-worker Of the order,
= the great works of moral and spiritual pr
i gress. ;,
l. Teachers and children of this Sunda
as School, and must not forget here to incuI
your worthy and indcfatigable pastor, yc
NJ are enttle To the highest need of praise Ii
=, ulWcarTlpu tllotlS uilu tilcii SpiShuiu run,
'h One of the most gratifying features of Il
L. day and times. is that womans worth
70 better understood and more properly appr
ciatcd.
Away dtiwn the vista Of ages past, son
OF eighteen hundred years or more, when u
lie Roman empire iiourishcd in all the splend
NJ and glory of its power and extent OF q
main. Il Roman matrnn was asked for Ii
- jewels, and she pointed To her sons.
If that Roman mother lived to-day, 81
in might with equal propriety, in response
the same demand, point to her danghte
- TOO.
re Teachers and children, go ON in the go'
IS" work you are engaged in-neithcr falicr II
~ faint--your reward is certain-you cam
- make haste too fast in the right direction.
Who, that has taken calm dispassiona
IS, view of this church organization and It's no
he inluencc-ils sunday school-its library, IA
ba the Improvement, socially, morally and
- tellectually, of which it is the parent, G
cry, stop, you are going too i.st!
of If this beautiful and inspiring scene nc
spread out before ms, is properly weigh
Al. and properly examined ina all its beauty
!, - form and results, do not think that indiv
Ihe nal can be found.
her have listened here to night. with pr
I'VE and pleasure, to these sweet and happy volc
On singing praises to the great kedeemer, n
:, - express the hope that the progress made
RI this direction will still go forward. Forwa
"" is the command. Progress is the wat
ord word of the age. The rapid and wonderf
-, improvements in the art, sciences and n
~. chanics, prove that the giant minds OF
ain age are not all sleeping, but are abroad,
mi tive and capable OF expansion.
,od Here in this little assembly now before
,,sa may he resting the future man, whose lea
USE ing, eloquence and commanding infiuel
ays will yet make him an ornament OF soci
and the pride of the State.
Here in our midst may be slumbering
4 embryo genius that will out-strip the mi
ac- that conceived the steam enginc-or the M
hey that chained the lightnings of heaven /
a;s- rendered them subservent to the purpo
- of man, and yet confer greater boon Il
sle has ever yet been conferred upon the hun
lear family.
,ley Teachers of this Sunday school, in y
BOD efforts to cultivate and improve these inf
~eu minds and train them in the right paths
sit duty, you may be the humble instrument
producing those characters, who in the
ture, will adorn the forum, the pulpit