Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-06-04

from voice in the wilderness not from
king, but from One whom king behead-
ed. 1t was born in a manger and came
into the world with tyrants price on its
head. Its disciples were taken from the
people; Its message was preached to the
peoples its miracles were wrought for the
people, and the first proof of its moral force
was that the people heard it gladly. Its
first beatitude was for the "poor in spirit;u
its first promise a kingdom-but king
dom in the heart its first denunciations
were against the guilty Scribes. 1t reveal
ed at once the universal brotherhood of the
human race; addressed its lessons to every
man heart and understanding, and argued
personal responsibilities to meet and per-
sonal lives to live. Its teaching was
Prove all things, and hold fast to that
which is good.n 1t talked with men in
| the market places, in the highways, and
on the hillsides asked and answered
questions denounced the blind who led
| the blind; uttered its heaviest woe against
those who took away the key of knowl-
| edge; set at naught the empty traditions
of the elders; made no account of the
| formulas which exalted the means above
the end took no note of majorities and
at no time, no place, and for no reason,
made terms with iniquity.
1t took meat with publicans and sinners and
| was severest on the washed and washing Phar-
| isees 1t treated with respect the instincts of
| sition to learn the truth, and their ability to
understa nd it. From the start to the end it
| Jared better with the people than with the
| learned a nd those high in our history The first
plot against it was by the chiet priests, and for
the reason that the people were attentive to
hear it. Its only hosannas came from the peo-
pie the first attempts against it were batiled by
| the people.
| 1t was the chief priests and elders who in
duced a mob to attack it, they who paid tho
money for its betrayal; they who sent the
drunken mob to arrest it; they who arraigned
it before PLATE; they who procured the false
that theyishould TASK Barabbas and destroy
Jesus - they chiefly who derided him on the
cross; and they that were plotting for viola
ton Of the sepulchre at the very hour when the
people beholding the things which were
done, smoteitheir breasts"
The Christian religion deals with the indi-
vidual mind and spirit of man, but recognizes
the necessity of q well ordered society; it pays
tribute to Cesar, while it gives every man his
due; it compels the injunction honor all men,
with the Injunction, honor the King.
The fault of the present day, which argue, ss
you see, is too great an abandonment of primary
and absolute truths and principles, and bar
gaining and compromise with expediency and
injustice. But am not here to speak in praise
or dispraise OF this eyentful age Looking to its
conquests of material things into the service of
, man it's making small all earthly distance,
and interlacng the whole civilized world with
palaces for travel and the lightnings foG news,
its facil minstraton to every bodily wfEt, its
triumph over pain, and its prolongation of life
through greater familiarity with organic laws
! its augmented wealth., its increased benevo-
lence,, its energized industry, its expanded and
gained ten-fold greater security, its advance in
| science and art and literature and sound learn
ing, its educational and philanthropic and re-
igious activities the power Of it press wherever
its press is Free its added lessons that right is the
only real expediency and duty the only true
!, prudence, and justice the only genuine
conservatism, the greater respect and less jesl-
D ousy of nation towards nation, and their more
open readiness to learn each OF the other-look-
ing at these we might easily applaud.
D Turning our eyes to its darker festures-to its
selfish extravsgances its heartless designations,
q its vicious refnements its conventional stand
ards, its material aims, its high assumptions and
:, its boastful ways-taking thought that ciyiliza-
ton often polishes but to corrupt; that wealth
adds new pleasure but to bring new pains, and
ministers to DESIRE but to give strength to temp
e tation that too often learning is not wisdom
nor industry virtue; that in spite of all our in
s telligence and riches, pauperism, vice and crime
q flourish beautifully that progress Is not always
= | improvement, that innocence is not seen amid
the crush of innovations, wisdom in the
y heats of controversy, nor justice amid tho
clamors OF crowds-with all this before u, We
: | might easily sail.
c Following the old saying, perhaps itwcre bet
e ter spoken of this nineteenth century, its hopes
# rather than its accomplishments are to be APP
!, proved.
:, But to return, ana learning from Lne history
of the past and the experiences of the present
q whether we view them in either of their aspects
>. | whether we briag into contribution the teach
ings of a true philosophy or the mandates of 0u
= true religion-we know at least that
v The path of duty is the way to glory"
v Listening, if ever we will, we catch the note
: of the order of the Great Commander issuing t
the chiefs of corps passing to generals of divis
: ions and on to brigades and regiments-tht
: | companies and squads-tO videts, picket.posts
U and reserves-to each and all the same: "Thnb
right, act right. Do unto others as ye would
that they should do unto you"
Il The Address was listened to with
n marked attention, silence reigning SUI
e preme, after which the excellent song wa:
given by the choir entitled "Brave Battery
i Boys" AT the conclusion of the singing
s the President read the programme for the
II decoration of the graves and the names Of
e the ladies in charge of each division, when
e the distribution of flowers commenced
5 while the Band performed a "Funera
d March, !" composed by Prof. Knabe. OwinG
a to the admirable system inaugurated, the
IS decoration of the graves occupied but {
short time, and soon the crowd returned
y to the stand and received the "Benedic
e ton" by Rev. j. B. Ford. The procession
9 then returned to the city in the same order
/ in which they went out.
Contributions OF Flowers.
a. Among the flowers contributed for the