Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1872-08-01

from the prosecutions of religious ,bigotry
and, the oppression of kingly tyranny, they
were the unconscious instruments in divine
hands for founding an empire Of. civil and
religious freedom. They laid wisely and
well the foundations of a. superstructure,,
whose final and complete glory is as unknown
to us as to- them. The first work of their,
hands was to erect church, and q school,
house. Hand In hand have these moral and
intellectual instructors, with multiplying
numbers and increased efficiency, accompa-,
| MED the wonderful march of the Caucasian
| race across the continent Under their tut
ton feeble colonies have ripened into, popu-,
lous and mighty States, q disjointed ecnfed-
eracy become compacted into the most en-
lightened and powerful nation that the sun in
his circuit beholds. 1t snot too much to claim
that these agents that have, educated and.
| trained the intellectual and moral faculties of
the American citizen, and rendered him capa-
bic OF self-governmenta as a free moral agent,
have likewise fitted him to found and main-
tain free government The eye of the
Christian patriot may we'll glow with pride
and hope as it scans the advance in freedom
and intelligence made by this nation within
the last decade-never advancing more rap
idly than to-day; with its earliest allies and
constant benefactors, the church and school
house, still in the van and crowding to crown
the crest of the Rocky Mountains. May this
happy alliance never be sundered; nay, may
it forever be regarded as inseparable, and
linked, still closer to, our life and destiny.
May the Church, find and fill its true sphere,
resting freely and securely upon the spon-t
taneous affections of q people that recognizes.
its services, and is conscious, of its ,benefcent
powers declaring the law and the love of God
In its simplicity purity, and divine, power;
ditfusing in precept and teaching by, example
that comprehensive charity that can, see a
brother in the most degraded outcast, and that
win stand appalled, by no difficulties, .obsta-
cles, Or refusals, in Its attempt to, reach and
save the lost, and turn the wayward step into
the paths of virtue, honor and usefulness.
But this occasion addresses itself to a
wider audience than is gathered here, or than
win ever assemble within the walls of this
church. Itwill be said by some, stlet those
build churches who are members thereof,
who believe in thesethings, who feel the need
of their ministrations.'' And does any one,
/ care not what may be his station, occupa-
tion, or professed belief, think he has no
part, interest or duty in rearing these institu-
tions of moral teaching2 Willany one stand
up with the cold, self-satisfied indifference of
the pro-consul PLATE and wash his hands of |
the innocent blood of his fellow-mortals and
think that thus he can purge his own soul
and answer his God? Or will he, like the
fratrieidal, terror-stricken Cain, exclaim: |
, 4" Am IImy brothers keeper? Z and think the |
question thus finally answered? If there be /
any such self-suficient being in this commu-
nifty or elsewhere thus wrapped in his robes
of righteousness, and who cares not for |
others welfare, let him learn before it be too
late that his own interests. temporal and eter- |
nal, are linked indissolubly for veal or woe
with those of every Other, human being. All
the waters of friyer, lake and ocean cannot I
wash from Eonr hands or soul the innocent
blood Of those who fall or sink through your
own neglect. You are your brothers. keeper,
and his life win be required at your hands.
You and every one of us, and oil within the /
range of influence that may radiats from this |
centre, are interested that the truths of the
Bible shall be bound upon the hearts; of the
young and proclaimed in the dull and in
different ears of the adult engaged in the
harrassing and engrossing pursuits of gain |
the deyotee of fashion and pleasure. You
and all of u.s. are, interested that wisdom's
ways shall be thronged and not deserted.
Dismiss the fatal heresy, that you can disr
sociate yourself from the welfare of your
fellow-beings and learn to do good as you
have opportunity, everywhere. Seek that
highest and diyinest pleasure that can thrill a
human soul, that comes from doing good to
others. Listen to no false and narrow plea /
that this is sectarian institution. Its sect
arianism is not drop in the bucket; nay,
not q drop in the ocean of its influence and /
good teaching. It's bare walls and towering /
steeple, and the sonorous peals of its brazen.
throated bell; ;lso far as they can be seen or
heard, oyernpalley and hilltop, to yenaer
swelling mountains. shah exert an influenced
r aMakenimany3 . serious thought and fix /
many'a wagering 'purposenofa farefofm! The
mos, careless and abandoned, thonghithey 7
never enterifs doors, shall see elhand-ys -ysriting
on, lis outer rlwallsIwhich their awakened eon+,
scimceil ointefpret, and iRhos can 4 say
whereits influence shall begin or end, or how \