Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-03-30

| ing OF the Dung Mems Christian Association
of Baltimore, held in the ID Presbyterian
Church of that city on the 2Gth instant, there
was large attendance consisting in great part
II the most prominent citizens. including mcm-
! hers Of the various professions merchants and
Others \ great many ladies were also pre-
sent. although the weather exceedingly
di>agrceahle Upon the platform We're seated
| Governor Whyte. Hon. j. Morrison Harris.
George ). Brown, Rev. DR.. NcCron. Rev DIR.
| Icvhutn Rev DIR. Granuicr. Rev Dr.. Smith.
George W. Corner. {. W. Ford Prof. Thomas
D. Baird. Rev II l.. Singleton and G. W. Ro-
iil,>un. His Excelicucy Governor Whytc pre-
sided, and addresses were made by distinguish
ed citizens Of the clergy and Others. The Hon.
| Rev. riy Johnson was TO have addressed the
meeting. but being detained Mr.. HarriS read
the following letter from him. and then ad
dressed the audience in an c'olucnt and etfec
| tive speech.
BALTIMORE March -. 1872
TnJ t. Boiyiunn P,rai,m Dfthc lo""g
.Nns CHrsti,n .lsSocnfiDm = Dear Sir:
shall not be al lie to be present this evening at
the anniversary mcctr. Of your association Tor
Il rca ,on beyond by control This ] much re-
greet | .huud have much qualification IN tie
opportunity which Your !uvl alton offers me,
| could avail myself o 1t. tn show the dep IN
tcrcst | fell in the promotion Of the go"! cause
in which your association i engaged
Tie influence Tor good nI Christianity l. in
NV Judgment 50 obv"'l> that | would gladly
do whatever might b. able to assist the cf
forts Of those who are engaged IN attempts tn
maintain and extend II.
That it has had IA decided effect III c1ntroU-
ing the passions ol inel and III anlmat!ng them
III the c;llS" Of virtue and enlightened reIgl"n,
lis history from il olIgIntn the present time
| :, b.,. /, 4 mr.
less influence in contron" the conduct o! ma
tons and. i'm mitigating. when. in spite ofl':wars
occur among them the no rors 81 that dlrcSt
>rOurgc of humanity. must. think. be appa-
rent to the historic student.
Aud beside this. M tongue can cXaggelate
its itIictou> effect aud power over the heart. OF
individual men. and It's tendency IN promote
their happinc,S in this world aud to lmpart to
their diving holnS un<pcakab!e consolation.
Although the truth VI Christianity ha> been
denied by men If acute nlcl!cct. aud ly areu
meut> plausible when moi fully examined, yet
these unbecvcl> have proved unable IL I'm
pcde its progress.
Is act, it has ever seemed 70 me, since ]
was capable OF thought that the evidence III
SUPPORT III it l. a. strong "a any which we pos
r>> of any her historic fact.
Iiumr'< hitch famed E->ly on Miracles rests
altogether upon what the g!clan> term l"-
hhn J,1mIi5Wa Begging OF the Question:
In >ub>lall his proposition is lhi> t!'at II
i more I,"hablc that huula:i Testimony may he
false or that men lnay BIZ ieiuird or deceived.
than hat the laws of nature ~Imu.d lc Ill
rrnlrd
The argument necessarily collrc'l> that the
witnesses to the miracles wrr'' hume r"'> ami
a. intelligent the gospels inform VS. And Ii
also colrrlc> that the miracles il they really
were performed. were contrary 10 the laws
which rod has established for the government
Of the world \rd that this is must be ad-
nittcd
That there >hnu'd he on earth one in human
shape. and >ul icct apparently 10 the Limits pre-
scr bed to humanity. capable iy u word to sill
the ocean, tempest to feed hundreds and
thousands with few li>h and a few lpavcs OF
bread, to cleanse the rpcr make the lalne 10
walk the deaf u hear. the bind to see. aud
the dead 70 live again. cannot b" accounted for
except upon the hypothesis that he was invest
ed with those great attributes with a view t"
demonstrate to the world the truth Of his doc
trines. Hume ; argument that the laws of ua
turc cannot be changed hardly deserves the me
ri, of being f;illacy. That the Being who
created the universe and nil that Is in il. and
established laws for its government and pre-
Scrvation Ia power 50 ncomprehcnsbc that no
mind is able TO grasp it. although it knows it
to be trucl should not he competent TO suspend
those laws whenever in Ii providence lie
might think it necessary to accomplish pun.
pn.. of His own. is un! only unwarrantcd. but
almost absurd.
The question therefore, whether Christian
" is true or false necessarily resolves itself into
this: Did the miracles referred to take place?
And this is purely "A question of'lact. depending
upon evidence For if they did. the power ex
ted must have been the power Of Onlni o-
tercc.
But beside the support which the faith has
from cxtrin>ic circumstances, the purity OF the
principles taught by our Saviour, and the purl-
ty of his life. ALL in my judgment. equally de-
monstrate that he was. what he proclaimed
himself TO be. part Of the Deity.
That such man as he was should have been
an impostor and continuously have dealt in false
hood is suppostion unreasonable, and con
trary to all experience o! the conduct and mo-
tives of men,
And the doctrine would derive additional
support. if any were needed, from the charac
ter Of the lives Of those who sincerely adopt
and live up to its preccpts
It is no doubt true that the mere m0raist
may be, and very often is good man; but
sincere and pious Christian m"st be and always
is good man His life is as vlrtuous as hui
man traiIty will permit, whilst his last hours
strikingly exhibit the consolation which Chris
tIanity secures. i
1t may, indeed. with literal truth he said of
him that over him the grave wins. no victory,
and that for him death has nc sting.
Again rcgrctting my inability to be with you,
remain with much regard. your obedient ser
want REvERpY JoHSON
TIE TARIFF BI.I.-Thc more important
features Of the tariff bill passed by the Senate
on Thursday and sent to the House, are \
total reduction Of taxation amounting to fifty
five millions of dollars he abolition Of the in
/ rnmr t:lx 50 as to nreyent the collection of the