Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-13
Fast Day Services.
UNION MEETING.

In accordance with the practice of pre-
yious years, the Congregationalist, Baptist
and Methodist Societies of this town,
united in the public observance OF fast
day. The meeting was held at the Metho'
dist church, and large congregation as
sembled to participate in the exercises.
The desk was occupied by Rev. Messrs.
Johnson, Mills and Hall, pastors of the
respective churches, and the members OF
the different denominations were we'll re-
presented in the congregation. ...-
The exercises were opened by singing
the hymn beginning, Behold 0 Lord
before thy THRONE" after which Mr..
Mills read the ffty-eight chapter OF
Isaiah. Mr.. johnson followed in fer
vent prayer, when the hymn beginning,
"Come let our souls adore the Lord" was
sung. Mr.. Hall then delivered a sugges-
tive and practical discourse, in which
some of the great evils that affiict our
body. polite were clearly pointed out and
forcibly rebuked. Selecting his text from
Hosea x, 10, SOW to yourselves In
righteousness, reap in mercy; break up the
fallow ground, for it is time to seek the
Lord, till he come and rain righteousness
upon you," Mr.. Hall spoke substantially
as follows:
The children of Israel, to whom the
admenition of the text was addressed,
had at this time departed widely from the
path marked out by the commands of
God, and it was to recall them from their
waywardness and declension that the
prophet uttered these solemn, earnest
words. They seemed to have forgotten
that as they sowed, so also must they
reap. But the Lord showed them, under
figure drawn from the practice of agri-
culture, with which they were familiar,
the inevitable consequences Of sinful
course. The course to be followed if they
would return to his favor was also indi-
Gated in the impressive injunction of the
text.
In the culture of land and the reclaim
ing of waste fields, from which the figure
of the text is drawn, we find that the first
step necessary is the breaking up of the
fallew ground. Farmers know what this
means. They know that f4llow ground is
untitled, uncultivated ground, that has
not been pulverized and made fit for the
reception of good seed. They know, too,
that while it is uncultivated it is not I'M
productive 1t has a harvest. but it is an
Improbable one. While the ground re-
mains in that unplowed state, noxious
weeds abound.
Now, it is the same in the moral field
Evil growths of varied forms spring up in
the moral nature where it is left unculti-
waited and neglected. Some of the wide
spread and gigantic evils in our own land
have sprung up, and taken deep root, and
continue to flourish from this cause. Let
US consider some of these evils.
First, there is the monster evil of Ro-
manism. Uprooted in many other coun-
tries, it watts its seeds into the fallow
ground of our own and has taken deep
root. 1t has been said that this form OF
belief was promoter of civilization AID q
source of benefit to the masses of the
country A greater falsehood was never
uttered. Go inquire of Spain, and learn
the truth of what l say. Go TO Italy,
Austria, Mexico, and every other papal
land. In all these you will find ignorance,
vice and bigotrv deep rooted and exertlng
their baleful influence. The facts are on
the page of history and caRnot be obliter-
ated or successfully denied.
In our own land there is danger from
this cause. 1t is not a light matter to
have this gigantic evil take root. Once
firmly established it will continue to grow
and flourish till it overpowers with nox-
ious luxuriance all healthful and beneficial
growths. Even now, in many places it
controls the ballot and Influences legis-
1aUion.
Then there is the weed of intemper-
anoe growing up from the want of moral
cultivation. 1t finds ready root in the
neglected moral field, and advances with
strong and vigorous growth. 1t is now
heavy burden upon our land. Taxes are
increasing from this cause poverty and
suffering, vice and crime are its results.
We would not endure such heavy bur-
den of taxation from any other cause.
The growth of this evil is from the lack of
moral cultivation. 1t is like the noxious
weeds that flourish in the falow ground
that has never been broken mp and sowed
with good seed.
Another evil that has sprung up, from
the neglect of moral culture, is political
corruption. We have gene a great way
in this downward course. So powerful
has this evil becomo that in many places
our elections are only deep-lsid syetems
of fraud. Money controls tie ballot. An
instance had occurred in the State of New
York where man had expended twenty
thousand dollars to secure single cleo
ton to the legislation. Men do not ex-
pend money so literally from generous
impulses, nor is it for the mere honor
which it confers. 1t is that they NAV
have An opportunity to gain advantage
from the Office, to increase their wealth
by ill-gotten gains. There is much legis-
lation that is not for the good of the
people. but in which the interests of cor
porstions are held paramount to the
general welfare.
From the want of culture our own
hearts are not producing good fruit, but
thorns and brisrs spring up and flourish. |
If in our hearts there is a lack of culture,
there is not lack ofgrowth AS noxious
vegetation fourishes on fallow ground, so |
weeds will grow in our hearts in place of
good fruit. Bad habits will take root,
and will not be easily eradicated. There
are influences that aid the growth of evil
habits till it seems that little less than |
miracle can break them up
Let us consider what are the instru-
menta!ities that can be employed to break
up the fallow ground of our nature There
is the gospel pillow that will penetrate and
subdue the hard barren soil of the heart
and there is an omnipotent power to pro-
pei this pillow. The gospel of Christ ap-
piled by the power of God is the only
agency that can reclaim the moral nature
and make it fruitful in good works. This
remedy must be applied to the political
field that has become so corrupt. Chris.
tan men may do this work. They must
enter upon it with a sincere, earnest pur-
pose, that they will work reform in our
political life, and not stand aloof from the
evil.
Our political life is not so unworthy
and degrading as some would regard it.
1t should not be beneath the attention
and effort of Christian men to reform.