Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-04-17

After the preliminary exercises, prayer, read
ing Of scripture chanting and singing Of
hymns, the Pastor, Rev. Mr. WARE. preached a
sermon from the text Let Us have grace,
whereby we may serve God acceptably, with rev.
erence and godly fear = Hebrews XII, 2s.
Speaking Of the humiliation cnjoired with
fasting and prayer. in the official proclamations
for the yearly observance of this Day, a, not
meaning ablsement, not 4 grovelling into the
ground, but rather lowering to tie ground Of
pride and conceit, the preacher preceded to
speak Of REFERENCES the virtue from which true
and acceptable humiliation springs. 1t is a
virtue Of whose lack we as nation are often
accused, and sometimes with unjust severity. by
those who do not rightly understand our chsr-
acter. We are characteristically quick, eager &c
investigate, independent, not afraid to grasp or
handle any subject, but not necessarily irreyer-
ent,or in spirit wanting that virtue which indeed
the careless, needless action would sometimes
indicate, if the motive we're overlooked. But
ed irreyerent, it behooves US to look and see if
there is any ground for the charge And firstly,
that there is too much lack Of reverence for our
elders, is painfully apparent. The young are
almost vulgar and brutal in their heedlessness
Of the wishes and rights Of those whose years
should entitle them to respect and attention
contemptuous and impudent in self conceited
ridicule Of the wisdom Of ripper years. This
fault is, alas, So common, as to be oftener Oh
served than remarked upon. Apostrophizing
g Young America, and commenting highly his
good qualities, the preacher babe him bear in
mind the command Of God by Moses, g Thou
shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor
/ the face Of the Old man and note vel
the following sentence, & And fear thy God. -
Secondly, here is n lack Of reverence for old
things, IS well as old people We are too prone
to think Of the present, what it brings Of good
to us. what is to be accomplished in it and By
its wonderful development Of agencies and means
regardless Of how much We owe to the past, il
making possible what we are and do -datoy
Thrifty, there Is great lack OF reverence for
high tone Of character and life. In business. Il
politics, in society, it is the low tone that rules
till acts of petty meanness and deception ar
even defended as the rule Of trade, motives O
policy and e1pediency are vindicated as the ne
cessity of politics, and they who do not rails
themselves above these things are looked up t
and followed as examples in social life. Bu
lastly the worst lack Of reverence Of all. is tn
religious lack The word God, Is easily said 5
that it is too often profanely said, on week day
by those who solemnly, perhaps even seriously
worship God on Sundays it is word easy
put into official papers, on our national coin
But we cannot in unprejudiced Judgment br
accuse ourselves Of coming short of the reve
ence due to our God and Father, and he wi
lacks this reverence and godly fear lacks Il
substance Of religion and the essential of life.
The services closed with the Lords praye
singing Of the hymn " Jesus, lover of my soul
by the choir. and benediction by the pastor.
I In the Baptist and Methodist churches no Sc
mons were preached but prayer meetin
j we're held in them, which were well attende
c considering the weather In the Catholic cath
+ dral the customary services Of Good Friday Al
Y Fast Day were held, with services and singing
the Tenebrae in the evening