The New York herald., 1871-07-10
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH.
Sermon by the Rev. Frederick Hinckley ON
the Uses and Abuses Of Liberty.

Sermon by the Rev. Frederick HinclSley ON
the Uses and Abuses Of Liberty.
WAsuINGTON. July Q, 1871.
Rev. Frederick Hinckley. pastor OF the First Uni
tartan church, preached this morning from the
text, "We have been called unto liberty. Only use
not liberty an occasion for the flesh, but by love
serve one NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., ", 13 Mr. Hinck-
ley said-The last week brought to US again the
anniversary OF the proclaimed Independence OF our
country. This occasion seems almost entirely 10
have escaped any worthy observance in this
place; for with a single exception, no far az am
aware-namey, that OF the services at Mount
VernOn-lnere nothing certainly worthy
OF the dignity Of the occasion. Tho mere
silence OF the public departments and
the marCs of business vacated, or the occasional,
noisy demonstration OF gun ana bell and Juvenile
fireworks, certainly not Of the character that
am speaking. The Church, therefore, feels COM
PEELED to speak where the Stale keeps silence, and
the theme OF the Church's speech to-day might well
be one OF congratulation over what that occasion
referred presented TO in itself and In contrast
with the past. Among the themes VI conpratula-
tion presented to US none certainly are more worthy
than the single fact that on Tuesday morning last
it was In the power OF the President Of these United
states to proclaim, as he aid, that
THE TREATY OF PEACE
prepared by the representatives OF the high con-
tractng parties had been du.v ratified and accepted
and the ratincauons properly exchanged; and 80
that treaty OF peace had become liked TACT.
That simple fact was worthy OF tho highest ana
most earnest congratulations that the day could
have brought; for whatever faults OF detail may be
detected In that treaty. certainly has in 1t this one
grand merritt binds over to keep the peace, for
some length OF time at least, these two mighty
nations on either side OF the sea. And. further.
more, Whatever OF merits there may be IN that
treaty-and those merits certainly are neither few
nor small-this one supreme merit find In it, that
1t becomes the forerunner, the precursor. in some
humble measure OF those better times that We trust
are yet to be; that 1t sort OF John the Baptist
heralding that . Meshanic day, when the
kugdon OF righteousness and peace shall be estab-
hshed on the earth. and nations shall no longer set
tic disputes ~ tue right arm OF strength, but
by quiet cOncessive arbitration. that day may be
indeed far distant and yet hold IL TO be nearer TO
because OF this act which IL consummated, and
IN this Treaty OF Peace may Ia any measure
however small, hep ON tnat grand day, certainly It
becomes suDiect worthy Of congratulation 10 our
selves and TO the world, Turning then TO the spe-
cal theme 0i the text,
Mr. Hnckly remarked that the day whose anniver-
sary we failed To commemorate spoke 10 ltseu uot
OF liberty, bur Vi Independence simply yet this nde-
pend-nce thus abored for was IN itself the proui-
ise of all the liberty since aud to-day enjoyed, as
the into the earth IN the early sDring Is In
Itself sure promise vi the summers blossom and
the autunln's ripenmg fruit. OF that promise Of
ago, wnen the sound Of the gun from sumter and
the Call iIom tie nations capital the natiOn's SYM
cHurc2 sore and house window throughout the
Northern land; and ol that promise the frult was
seeu In that proclamation o. 1885, aud those suose-
OuenL euacLinenC3 executive e e-lSiaLlVe and pOpu-
lar decreelng freedom. civii and political rights 10
those beiore ned IN servitude. Nay, tnat very
declaration oi equality itself was the rened ut OF
pteyiOus planting, Just As the seed Is not merely
the promise Tor the iuture, but contamination VI
kIsssrY is TnE HIGHEST CONDITION OF NATION
Taking Pauts words, Liberty Is the CHRISTIAN
ideai state Of human lle" for luat glorious LIBERTY
Oh the sous OF God Is the highest point IN his estl.
ma ION OF human aspiration, aud the pDlnt uut0
winch even al creation is seeking to come INTO sym.
patny ana harmony. rhe nature Of liberty IL best
Understood 10y contrasting IL with the nature 0f
slavery. What Is the essence of servltude It'll
sub ecton As oi The citZen To nls government, the
child 10 the parent but II IS unauthorized suDjec-
tion whiCn IS uased on no right al groJn,t anu Is
therefore injurious aud wrongful I'ne essence or
sery itude does Mt lie merely lii physical
has It's poverty. ia SUFFERING 1t not cruelty
slnipiy mat made slavery Odious. Kindness
could turn the slave into freeman. The
OF servtude is in enforced limitauon-that is, en-.
forced Limitation as distinct from that natural limi-
tation wnich comes from the imperiecton of our
powers ald the natu OF our reiailols TO our iei-
lows. IN Otner words, slavery Is the door ciosed
upon in his material enterprise, so that he can
not choose his Kind or Held o. labor. Ii Is the door
closed his intellectual nature, lorDldding him to
enter the domain of learnlng or TO measure human
wisdom. IL is the door closed upon his moral ma
ture, substituting human will Tor his own indi.
vIduxl conscience 1t Is the limitation or door
closed upon us social nature the deprivation or his
affections OF home, the love Of VIE, CHI dren, OF
friendship ana society; and 1t Is the limitation Of
man s religious nature,
CLOSING The DOOR OF THOUGHT AND LIFE
upon Its development Liberty Is the taking away
OF these RESTRICTIONS 1t Is throwing the door OPEN
Now, the very defnitiOn OF the nature OF liberty
ana the employment o this term suggest that It Ii
not mere possession for to boast Oi and glory
In but an instrument for faithful, serious IL IL
not an end, bat means by which we are TO attain
the end that lies beyond IT, Liberty Is an element,
condition III wncn we live, just as we live IN The
sunshine aud and we are 10 iakc these To MINIS
ter 10 and Increase our growth. Liberty IL To be
used, not rested on. hat. then, are we to do with
IL? We know that we are mot to MAKE IL an 0cca-
sion for the iesn to use IL FOR low, grOvellng,
pie for selfish gratllcdtoni Tor license Is not
liberty. What then, Is the law Of It's user by love
serving one another. The law OF love IS then, tho
true wv OF liberty. That law lea IS US TO MAKE our
liberty lce.De to our Ie lows, bids us take them
IL, bids help he b. II, that Is influence
and power mag be carried to the largcsl possible
extent. we called into that freedom which Is to
each OF US
TIE OPES DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY;
opportunity Tor material enterprises; opportunity
for Intellectual culture, for citizenship for worship;
opportunity i0r the freest religious thinSng and the
largest religious lie. Let use this liberty In
the spirit OF love as to make it, ana uiseves by it,
helpers and beneiactOrs 10 the race o. man. In
closing his discourse Mr. Hlncxley delivered a beau
tliul euOgiun Inc NE and character Of tho late
Rev. Samuei j. May, q lOaglie champion In the
cause U liberty who used his own liberty to obtain
and secure The liberty OF oChcrs.
TIE DIFFICULTY IN THE CATEOLIG CHyRCH