National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-15
REV. LEOPOLD wITrE.
Speaking nj the ConGresntIanal Chnrr

Speaking At tho Congregational ChWrrb.
Mr.. Chairman and dear friends, I did not
know that the law was given here that every
preacher was 10 speak only i've minutes;
however thl. law Is executed with great kind
ness by your chairman, so I will be Obliged to
be brief; and as the same skill In expressing
myself Is wanting to me, will say only two
words-the one a word Of salutation the other
Of thanks, and the salutatlon from free Ger
many grects free America. l do not think
that freedom consists In any political state Of
things, he It republic, bolt empire, or be 1t a
kingdom. 80,
l think freedom Is not where man can do
what he likes to do, but where man can do
what he ought to do. [Applause.l And the
only one who not only shows but wishes us
to do what we ought to do Is our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ; and in his name, we,
German delegates and the French delegates,
our brethren from abroad, have come over,
and In his name have the honor Of standing
before you and greeting you on behalf OF
those brethren who have the same Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ as you have, and who
wish to worship him with the same energy Of
faith rs you wish TO do.
The other word should be word Of thanks
We Germans arc not, perhaps, as you know,
locomotive nation as you are. There are
a great many Germans who come over TO
America, but who do not stay, however, as
most Of us intend to leave this week.
The crossing Of the Atlantic was an under
taking In our ideas, as grand as Il was for
Columbus when he came over. Now, when
we landed we did not find desert here. VIC
found hospitable shore. In these speeches
OF farewell, which have been delivered In the
assemblies In New York, there was one word
l know, because had to 20 from one place
to the other, that was repeated In every
speech, and that word was hospitality. We
have met with American hospitality every
wherein the North-in the South-in the
East and In the West-hospitality by prcsi-
dents and by ENTHUSIASTICALLY by towns
and villages-in families and In the houses.
The kind, warm feeling and greeting has
met US everywhere. And for this hospitality
we have met with, even In this city, In the
heart of your American continent, we have
to tender you our thanks, In the name OF our
German brethren, and In the name Of all
those have the honor TO represent.
But in thinking Of human hospitality lot us
not forget the great landlord to whom we all
arc gucsts-the great landlord In the heavens,
who has taught you and allowed you to give
us so many tokens of your kind Christian
affections, and who has led us to accept them
He, the great God Of the white and the col
orcd, OF those that arc near and Of those that
are afar; he, the great Lord, In whose domin-
Ion his will Is done, may bless your country,
which we, perhaps, may never see again 10
this world. He may lead us safely under the
shelter OF those prayers that have been ut
tered In New York. He may lead us home
to our families, and may bless all banners
may he written and painted his cross-thc
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hope
will bless us all. tApplausc.l