The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-12-18
ORR COUNTRY.
Thanksgiving nay Services. Sermon by
Rev. John EEaafn5ers. The Future OF
Ghe Nation. What Shall il BE -


Church, Broad street, Rev. John
/ Chambers, pastor. At the opening
hour, eleven O'Clock, quite a large con-
gregation assembled. After introduc-
tory services, appropriate for special
thanksgiving, and q collection for
/ benevolent purposes, the pastor deliv-
cred . sermon upon the existing con-
/ dition Of things in our country.
Mr.. Chambers announced his sub
ject Of discourse as ''The Future Of our
Country. What shall it be?''
/ His sermon was drawn from the fol-
lowing text; righteousness exalteth
a nation, but sin is a reproach to any
people. Proverbs, XIV, 81.
The following is substantially his re-
marks:
I have selected this subject after a
/ great deal of thought and reflection,
because l supposed that there was not
an American citizen, whose heart vas
in the right place, that would not feel
interested in its solution. Far be it
from me, on an occasion like this, to
introduce any topic in the pulpit calcu-
lated TO set men at variance with each
I other, or to accomplish any other OBJ
/ ject than the alliance Of the heart Of
man to God and to his brethren. I
/ therefore soIemnly declare that the
single, sole and pure object that have
is to make to you such statements as,
in my conscience before God, / believe
viii aid this people and nation.
! recognize iu this discourse no par
", no class Of men, but will look sim
ply at the facts as they are, and look
at them fairly, and present them to
you fearlessly, leaving you to Judge as
TO their righteousness, or unrighteous-
ness; their applicability or their want
Of applicability.
The statement Of the wise man is,
''that righteousness exaiteth nation,
aud sin is a reproach to any people"
With the past history Of our country
we are all familiar, or ought TO be.
y brighter, q EraDder history was new
er made by men or nations than was
made by the people Of America ia the
first seyeaty-fya years Of her nation
ality Spriaging up from the child
hood Of her being into a mature man
hood, iu the brief period Of years that
rolled on from her commencement, to
about the close Of her seventy-eighth
year, her progress was marvellous her
far-reachjug influence wonderful. The
men that filed her. offices Of trust, and
those who were Senators aud Repre-
sentatives Of her national as we'll as
state governments were men whose
peers could only be found among the
mightiest Of nations. Iultitudes of
Tf1etgT LTIeru were IF 9z41fl a cast and
character Of mind that a singe mark Of
their pen would make monarchs quake
and thrones trenbie. Her moral quail.
ties were equally great.
The present, however, I must can
didly admit, is sh0rn or its original
glory and grandeur. OF this you can
speak as well o. I; Of this you must
decide from your OWL experience as /
have endeavored to decide from mine.
To this conclusion you must come, or
not, as you investigate the records Of
the past. In the days that have gone
by. craftsmanship was magnificent,
was grand, and glorious. Vow we find
il dEagfed, and bereft Of every evil
Z dence Of its moral character. I give
this az my deliberate Judgment, from
my own observation.
Men Of the present age have lost
their manhood; that high sense OF
honor which distinguished the past,
alas, has perished, and gone from the
men Of cur nation. We have to look
at facts as they are. Forty years ago,
who would have had sufficient temeri-
~ 10 enter our halls Of legislation and
attempt to bribe! How Is it now?
What has been the history OF the Leg
isIature Of Pennsylvania for years past?
What is its history today? Is it a
history Of righteousness i 1t a his
tory ofsuch Righteousness as lifts it up
I in the eyes ofthe world and the ad-
mira.i0n Of God? i it not notorious,
rather, that men 90 there in sturdy
and stern conflict, the one with the
other, the one asking this and the 9TH
or demanding that. and always the
strongest wins! i not this true, my
brethrcn3 Is there a man in this
house who viii say, 1T is not true?''
You know that these things are 90.
Looking into our National Senate forty
. yearszince, what high prince, whataan
or saunedrim would have attempted to
bride any Of the members Of that au-
gust assembly There were no Iscari-
cts then, who for thirty pieces ofsIyer
could be induced to sell the Saviour or
the country. They were not 10 be
found. The men OF that day were un-
approachable. They sat like giants in
their intellectual and moral worth.
They went to lcgislate for the nation !;
10 watch over the interests ofthis grow
ing empire in the morning Of it, exis-
. tence, aud - feed it with food c0nven-
/ ient for il, and 10 nourisil and cherish
/ itin IL growth 10 degree Of man
hood that would command and did
/ command the admiration Of the whole
/ human race! They scsre unapproacha-
bic,
Then pass over 10 the House Of Rep
/ resentatives at this same period Of her
history. what incarnation Of an intru-