The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-27

his Idols. Let MN alone. VIII you '0"'o'
Thou art the man. a.,
In the afternoon tho Rev. Mr.. French |
preached from the 9th chapter OF Luke, 20 |
verse: 'Jf any man will come aiter me, lei |
him deny himself, and take mp his cross
daily, and follow me-"
rpEE UNITARIAN CHURCH.
Services at the Free Unitarian church, City
Hall. were conducted by Rev. Mr.. Holland.
The inclcmency IT the weather prevented q
large attendance, hHt respectable number
were present to listen 10 this able and cult
waited divine, whose uttcrances on this occa-
sion, as heretofore, were marked by m easy,
graceful, unpretentlous eloqucncc, which at
tracted close and continuous attention.
lie commenced by reading chapter in
the Bible. This was followed by prayer and
singing-hymn, go, thou to whom In an
cicnt time"-discourse from the nth chapter
Of John, "Lord, show u.s."
For the most part Jewish customs and
Jewish ideas hang around to-day. Though
assuming to shake of Jewish rites and eerc.
monies, yet we do not get rid OF much that
belongs TO their history and religion.
When Christ came, the Greek and the
Roman were struggling in darkness power
was their ideal; destiny raised up one nation
and put down another; men were perplexed,
restless, unsettled. Men longed to have
Deity step out from behind the ycil-somc-
thing uncommon. Christ came into the
world; miracles were attested, which at
tractcd the multitude, and made the people
wonder and believe. This was fully illus
trated with warm and glowing thoughts.
In Providence we see many things to admire
and study; but we want not merely q Gre
ator, q God, but an all-caring Father. In
Providence, evil sometimes triumphs the
pronlgate accomplishos his vicious ends, the
criminal succeeds In outraging the Just and
innocent. The philanthropist may stand
amazed, and the poor and suffering may well
cry, so Lord, how longf'
But the Lord rclgns and hears. Great
deeds and grand reforms arc being accom-.
plished under His inspiration. These times
witness, and through all generations the
nineteenth century must be honorcd. All
ongdoing is wrlthing, passing away.
Slowly, surely the tide rises, the throne OF
GOODWILL goes up, and announces In q thou
sand ways the coming reign Of goodness on
earth. In Chrlst's experience on earth you
find your guide. With this before you you are
to sow and reap and hope-you are to risk,
! dare and endure for distant day. The
books are not closed, the tarcs grow with the
wheat. Let us have an education that will
bring out our manhood; we have this in
Christ, in Ills life and works. lie is the
only perfect manifestation, the believing
| love, the generous sacrifice and parent Of the
most loving nature that ever lived. While
| Ills teaching was paternal, His discipline
was also paternal.
lie did not remove all stumbling blocks
God does that-but he showed us how 10
leap over them. lie was kind and liberal.
lie often manifested this by bestowlng more
than was asked. What sublime generosity
and mercy in tcnderly, patiently, cyerlast-
lngly loving us. Witness his love for his
disciples, his country, the world. lie that
hath seen me hath seen the Father, seen
Him, in Christ's life and love.
Let us worship the Father whom lie has
thus brought so near by his own sympathy,
and commit our throbbing hearts TO his
care. Remember the hottest homage is not
that of the Blended knee merely, but In works
| Of mercy and love which infinitely tran
sccnds all forms. The consccratcd soul is
the divinest life-thc best religion. This
will crown us with JOY and blessings aud
prayer.
SERVICES IN SOUTH WASHINGTON.
Yesterday morning, at IL o'clock, not.
outstanding the inclemency Of the weather
the congregations OF all the churches repre-
scented In the South Washington Sunday
School Union, with the exception OF Gorsuch
chapel, assembled at the Sixth Presbyterian
church to hear q discourse upon the duty OF
parents by the Rev. B. +. Blttingcr, of the
| Seventh Presbyterian church. The Rev. C..
| W. Baldwin, Of Ryland chapel, and the Rev.
| G. c. Meador, Of the Fifth Baptist church,
| participated In the exercises. The choirs OF
the different churches united In the singing
under the leadership Of Mr.. b. F. Lloyd.
Mr.. Bttinger delivered most interesting
and instructive discourse, taking for his text
the last verse of the Book of Malachi: "IIC
shall turn the heart Of the fathers TO the
children, and the heart Of the children to
their fathers, lest come and smite the eartl
| with a curse"
The interest of the occasion upon which
we are assembled In Gods house this morn,
ing, said the speaker, Is only exceeded by
the Importance Of the subject which Is to en-
gage our attention. As parents and as guar
dlans of the young, having committed 10 III
the work of their religious training and in
structlon, it Is question involving momen
tous consequences to both them and us
What are the best means of securing thi
cndi
Recognizing the connection between mora
training and moral character, Il was no lCsi
n matter of human observation than q
promise of divine sanction that If child be
trained up in the way he should go, when he
, Is old he will not depart from II There wa ,
| however, a marked disparity between cX.
| pectation and result. Why this disparity
Either parents neglect to bring up their chill
lren in the way they should 20 or have
mistaken views of Christian culture aud
training.
There were families in Which children
were only trained for Ine world. The insti
tuition Of the family relation, while includ
ing the provision OF wants of the body, is de
signed Tor higher and nobler ends. When
therefore, parents who manifest solicltud
only how they may rear their children 70
worldly positions, without Installing int
their minds the principles of religion, !,
them not be surprised or disappointed tina
in after life they possess not the former no
walk In the latter.
There arc others, again, who neglect til
early religious instruction of their chlldre
on the plea that 1t IL to PREJUDICE the mind
which should be left free and unbiased unit
the more advanced years of maturity, whcI
1t can Judge for itself While this view ma
be entertained by few, 1t is with the grea
majority nothing more than covert plea 70
opposition, or at best Justification o
neglect. The inconsistency of the plea j
shown in the early training of the mind II
every other kind Of instruction.
l The speaker dwclt some time upon TIL
= theme, urging the necessity Of carly religion
, teaching OF the young, finding promises an
I examples In the cases of Abraham, jacob
{ jeremiah, Samuel, Timothy, aud others. II
( referred to the Moravlan brethren, regardln
= whom DR.. Bushnell says "Thc radical d
lIHtlIOH VI tHclI system rests IN lis power
c Christian education. They make the
churches schools of holy nurture 10 chile
; hood, and expect their children TO grow II
there rs plants in the house OF the Lore
Accordingly, II Is affirmed that not one /
} ten of the members Of that church rccollcct
any time when he began to be religious"
The scriptures teach us by both preccp
aud example that our children are with Il,
embraced In the covenant, and entitled t,
all its blessings and privileges. Admittin!
the natural dopraylty of children, he main
tanned that ample provision was mad
against its hurtfHl consequence by the cx
press promise Of the holy spirit to remov
the natural cnmity Of the heart. When wa
II wiscst TO apply or expect n remedy Whe
Is the human heart so duCtile TO the motive
of religion as In the simple ingenious az
Of childhood The conclusion was therefor
irresistible that If parents reflect themsclye
the Christian character, and If in their faml
lies they live the truths Of the Gospel, givin!
to their children practical Illustration o
them by their daily walk, aud inculcatinl
them by prccept, the result could not b.
otherwise than claimed, the growth and dc
Nelopment Of their children In the same
The speaker was far from attrbuting the re