The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-11-20
Fourth Presb yterIan Cnureh,
REV. MR.. ROBERTS, PASTOR,

about her; tell the towers thereof, Mark ye
well her .bulwarkH, consider her palaces
tnAt ye may tell Il to tho generation follow:
ing.-PSaInIS ss, u, Is.
Summoned by tho Chief Executive OF
the nation, we are met together nc.
cording to our yearly custom, to offer
praise, thanksgiving and prayer to AL.
mighty God, from whom we derive all
our blessing. David, under the Inspl.
ration OF the Almighty; on similar
occasion, began his song OF thanks.
giving by an ascription OF praise unto
tho Lords Of hosts. "Great Is the Lord,
aud greatly to be praised In the city OF
our God, 10 the mountain OF His holi.
ness" Then herefers to the position or
locaption Of the city-beautiful for stu
alton. the Joy Of the whole earth 10
Mount Nlon.' And follows 1t with the
declaration that God Ia known In her
palaces for refugee Referring TO the
past history OF The nation, his heart
swelling with the conviction OF divine
faitfulness and unchanglng mercIes Of
God, he calls on all the people 10 re.
joice; let the daughters Of Judah be
glad because Of thy judgments. The
congregation In the midst Of their glad
ness and songs Of Joy, have their mInds
directed by the PsalmIst TO the sItua
ton and glory OF their city. walk
about Zion; go round about her, tell
the towers thereof '
Following the plan of inspiration
given In this song OF Thanksgiving, we
would on this occasion desire In the first
place to direct your thoughts 10 the
prominent position OF our own country
amnnD tho annkNnnRku ~ kn a.lA ha
we may see how beautiful for situation
It Is; and In what sense It Is the Joy Of
the whole earth. -a. -.H ..I
Then turning our thoughts to the
loving kindness and judgments Of the
Lord, we may, In view OF them, rejoice
and be glad before the Lord our Maker.
Lat US then, In the first place, walk
about this Zion Of ours, and 90 round
about her, and see her towers and mark
her bulwarks. Lot us glance for
moment at the geographical features OF
our country. II we turn to the map oil
North America, we can, starting at The
lsthmus OF Darien, trace range OF
mountains extending all along the Pa.
citc coast, even as FAR as to the Arctic
ocean. Again, II we start from the
lsthmus; We can trace another range OF
mountains Of moderate height, veering
oil TO the East, aud trAVersing the Al.
lantic coast. Here within these two
great ranges Of mountains, Is a land
thousands Of miles In length and thou.
sands In breadth. Among the finest,
richest, most favored lands on earth,
Not mountain peak with stunted YER.
dure, scarcely high hill is to be found
In all this vast domain. Here ls land
with soil nowhere surpassed for
depth and richness; with numerous and
mighty rivers unequalled In length,
and with every variety OF climate. The
productions OF three zones are found in
the greatest abundance.
.
But the physical condition, or the
geological formation both OF Europe
and Asia are such as to be unable 10
furnish the grand theatre or stage for
tue development OF the highest form OF
civilization. There iS q want OF unity
In the structure OF the land there is q
want OF unity In the character. OF the
people because OF the small innavlga-
bic rivers. and ofthe ponderous piles OF
granite forever forbiddlng extended
and unobstructed ntercommunlcation
betweeu different parts Of the country.
There are 30 many petty nationalities,
so much Jealousy among rulers, 80 many
lnterneclne wars, SO many bloody bat
ties. There Is no freedom OF speech, no
freedom OF thought, no freedom OF the
press, no unrestricted intercourse be-
tween the uati0ns. rg'a NV .3a..
o. Srs 10 -
There Is sublime mission to be full
filled by the American people before
the end comes. 1t Ia to devotion the
highest type OF christian civilization,
then to carry It back 10 the old world
and dlffuae new lie into the nations
that are ready 10 perish. Now for the
attainment OF this highest type of our
civilization we find all the material
resources supplied with uubounded
liheraltty. Here In this vast expanded
theatre between two oceans with no
mountains or opposing obstacles Is
where the materials are to be used In
the development Of the nation. Here
nature 10 mastered without any effort,
not so In the old world. Here all the
modern discoveries and appliances Of
science aud art are used for the com.
fort and welfare OF man. The distant
parts OF the country are all united and
bound together by bands Of iron aud
are made great highways. Space is
anuihilated, mighty machines lmnelled
by steam carry him day and night
without pause or fatigue, swifter than
the wind. His word and Commands
are born on the wings OF electricity
with more speed than the oourpe OF The
Sun In his orbit. DIstancea disappear,
al obstacles are removed, and the
whole continent becomes one great
highway. There 10 q perpetual move.
meut OF the people, they run to and fro,
they mix and mlngle and comminRle,
they lose their narrow and local pre-.
Judices, fret away their national peculIa-
rifles, and their minds are prevailed
and their character moulded by the
broad deep and national principles
which lie at the foundation OF the Gov.
ernment MI lrdr 7gH II3I -l-Ig,Uf
a0..S pgGay aru.0u.
Now the God OF heaven In such a |
wonderful manner having prepared the
unbounded material resources OF the
country, the provisions for the intel-
'leoIual. moral and religious culture OF
the people, is sending hitherI In o per.
petual overlooking tide Of all civilized
nationsi and by his mighty power and
wisdom Is moulding them into chosen
generation, q royal priesthood, a holV
natlonI that they may chow forth the
praises Of him who called them ont OF
darkness Into bis marvellous light. Thus
formed aud moulded by the divine
hand into holy nation, they are com.
missioned by the Lord OF heaven Ia
bear the tIdings Of salvation 10 those
nations which are yet IN darkness and
groantng under oppression.lI ,u1r1
So . -
Our Lord has already sent out from
this country his choice trained bands 10
make known and establish the ptin.
ciples Of civil and religioua liberty In
India, China, Japan, Turkey, and In
the Isles OF the sea.
Tho mission OF this country viii not
BIO achieved until the spiritual conquest
of the world shall be finished. Mo.
hammedanism must fall. II Ia now
lettering. AntlcArIst shall be dashed |
In pieces. Brahmins and Sooders, and
CaStes and Shasters shall pass away;
all idols shall be thrown TO the moles
and bats, and the whole earth purIG ed
from her denominations.
This nation shall march on In the
van OF civilization. gathering strength
In her glorious career from all conflicts,