The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-03-14

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isles of western Europe. And now Il
religious zeal and covenant serving fdel
ty of the sons of Abraham, find their fi
ting counterpart in the determined stan
and God fearing attitude of the old Co
enanters of Scotland. And on the 2St
of February, 1888, an old burial groun
in Edinburgh repeats the historic seen
in Shechem.
AT such period, as it seems to m
have 'ce arrived in orr history as a natiol
We are called upon to decide where "
shall stand in the mighty ongoing {
events, under whom we will servo in tn
grand and solemn conflict which is to fl
our page in the history of the world.
Let us view the agencies which are o
work to influence our national course an
to guide our historic and social life.
And first the causes which are opera,
ing to drac as aUay from our allegianc
to Jehorah and to make of as worldl
and irreligious nation. These are mani
fold. We can notice but few of tn
most dangerous.
l. | will first refer you to our politics
and ask you to consider, what are tn
motives and influences, which are guidin,
the suffrages, and directing the ballots, O
OF the great mass of our citizens to-day
In choosing our rulers, both small ant
great, do we have regard to the mora
purity. the undoubted integrity and tn,
christian character of the candidates
Do we recognize God as our ruler ant
feel that no government is stable or last
ing which is not directed by principles o
truth and honesty?
10 answer these questions in the mega
tive seems humilitating indeed. Bu
who is found bold enough to deny tha,
men are nominated to our chief offices
not on account of their fitness or thei,
moral integrity but simply because o.
their ability TO draw om the strenqth oJ
a party? Is there not such a rigid ad.
herence to party lines as to force men to
support an immoral and corrupt candid.
ate in preference to an honest and righte.
GUS one? Smooth it over as best VIC
may, there is no Disgusting the fact that
corruption stalks in brazen forms through
49,. r-l;t;~-i -.-l ---I:---i i:r-. Ia - ~ n
lever which elevates our rulers to their
position. 1t is the engine which moves
the machinery of legislation. Bribery
and flching of the public treasury are
regarded as legitimate means of accom-
plishing political objects. Good and
honest men are found winking at theft
and speculation, and bowling down to vile
and Infamous demagogues because they
can control by their influence the suffrages
Of a certain class 1t has come to be
easier for the camel to pass through the
eye Of the needle, than for an honest
man to gain political power and remain
an honest man. Parties have become
huge cankers at the heart of the nation,
tainting the whole body polite, Are
not our politics well nigh Goddess i?
Have we not reached Il point, where it
becomes us as thinking men to pause
Does not our downward course proclaim
the need of our whole religious and NOR
al element being reused to action?
The mex next CAUSE CAUSE + viii e reier you to IS
the desecration OF the Sabbath day.
There was time in our history when we
were pre-eminently known as Sabbath
observing and church-going people, when
Gods Holy Day was revered and loved
and when rest and quiet marked its
hours.
But oh how changed! The command
Of the Lord in Leviticus "Ye shall keep
my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary
is now translated by many. "Ye shall
break my sabbaths and desert my sane.
tuary.
The open proclamation Of Gods Holy
Day is no longer disguised. Railroads
canals, steamship companies disregard it.
Pleasure seekers view it as wholly theil
own. Amusement venders would set W
their booths and blow their trumpets be-
fore our very eyes. Drunkards reel il
the street or sleep by their sides. Grog
geries fill their porches with soaking to
pers. Conversing idlers and loafers OBJ
struct the pavements, and genteel mel
with gaudy livcries dash along our high
ways. With nation Of forty million
of people, less than one-half attend tn
house of God. Not satisfied with 81,
days out Of seven they would steal tn
seventh from Jehovah, and devote it t.
their own selfish purposes and pleasures
3. Increase of immortality aud licenti
BUSINESS is the third cause l will notice.
Gambling, prostitution, intemperanc
are foul stains, plague spots upon on
national fame and reputation. They ar
demoralizng society, they are poisoning
our life blood, they are dragging dow
young men and young women to depth
of degradation at which Satan himse
must almost shudder. They are whole
sale in their character and are carrie
on, not by stealth, or behind curtain
but their black flag founts de6antly alof
They are covered with the mantle of r,
spectability, and their patrons are exalte
to positions of trust. Their palati;
saloons are reared at our iashiolabl
watering places and their upholders an
supporters have seats in our legislativ
halls. Society welcomes to its parlol
those whom common decency and con
mon morality should brand with infam
and shame. Law and justice look O
with Indifference, while death is dea
out to multitudes of of souls, and legisli
tive power refuses to stop the trafi,
The destroyer forms his leagues, mature
his plans, and by concerted action el
deavors to control the State that he ma
carry on his nefarious trade and fill h
Golfers with the money wrung from mu
dered men, heart-broken women al
starving children. And yet the NOR
and christian men Of our land KNOWN
that they are bound only with gree
withs, hesitate to exert their giant streng
and overcome the evil that is feeding u
on their very vitals.
A. The spirit OF speculation and worl
ly enterprise.
We are fast forgetting everything ell
in our intense desire to move ahea