, 1873-11-28
GRACE IL. e. CHURCH,

GRACE II. z. CHURCH.
Interesting Exercises Yesterday Forc-
no0i-ScrMon by tho 8kov. G. Il. Eel-
ton.
Tho Rov. Q. T. FELTON, conducted Tho exercises
In Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, at tho
corner Of La Sallo and White streets, ycBtorday
forenoon. Willie lie congregation waB gather
ing. Mrs. Whipple playod several tunes on tho
orgnn.
Tho exerclaos Tere opened by singing the
lynn of Which the following Ia tho concluding
stanza:
Great God, our guardian, guide. aud friend
O Httll thy Hhelt ring arm extend;
Preserved by theu for agss past,
For agcs lot thy Kingdom lust.
An eloquent and impressive prayer was mndo.
A chant was rendered In Ano Style by the
pastor and congregation.
Then was suug hymn expressive OF Goah
presence with his people, beginning:
When Israel Of tbs Lord beloyed
Ont from, the land Of b0ntlaKe came,
uer Fathers Cad before ler moved
An awful guide, III SMOKY aud dame.
THE SERMON.
Afr. Fclton took for lis toxt, "Rondcr thorc-
foro unto Cmaar tho things that are Clesar's. aid
unto God tho things that aro qod'H." uo Baid
they wcro assembled by tho joint executive au-
thority Of tho President Of the United States aud
Of tho Governor of the stato In Thanksgiving
meeting. He wishol to sny something about
our relations to God md to civil government.
They might tiud subject for contemplation In
ouumorating the blessngs they had reoaivod dur
ing the year, but taose matters wero boforo thom
oyory day, mud, ho hoped, were never forgotten.
God demanded our supreme love, olir faitnfui
obedience to all his requirements, whothor Of
omission or commission, and our constant graft
tule. We woro bound to honor the Government
under which we lived, to faithfully obey tho laws,
unless thoy como iu conflict with an enlightened
conscience; aud lastly, re woro bound to support
tho Government physically II necessary to de-
fcnd mud maintain 1t. and financially by paying
taxes. These wero tho requirements Of tho
Gospel towards God aud government. and mon
were bottcr and happier for obcying them. The
genius Of tho Gospel and OF government wcro
novcr in antaEonsm when perfectly understood,
nnd when government WINS III tho interest Of the
whole people, mud not Of party or faction. Tho
divine idea OF government WIS self-gOyernmont.
Civil government WIS but tho symbol OF moral
government in the heart Of man. Anything taat
ronlcd to promote sef-goyornment should 10
hailed with ioy.' A1on should be iudiyidualized
IN their aims and character.
Eyonta had happened during the year which
bore on the Helt.goyornmont OF man. Tho
ssnvson assoap in Of s ss2 tea onssn Of poudl Rom" Il
Italy and aer forced abandonment Of po-
iticnl wire-worhing in Germany showed
that she was losing political Influence. Tho Old
Catholic movomcnt showsd progress, as it con-
tcmplatod instruction in tho Bible, tho abolition
Of forced confessions, Of the celibacy Of the
priesthood, OF tho appointment OF Diahopa by
tho popo, and in many other ways IL ENCOURAGED
individual thought nna opinion. The Fsco
Church Moyemont In Italy WAS nnothor moye-
n1ent that tended to crush tho aggregate of
power which lorctofolo had suppressed priynto
Judgment. lie regarded tho movement in this
country inanguratcd by Bishop Cunllnins ~ an
othcri1nportant oyont in the sanae direction. Tho
discussion ofrelgious matters ty Arnold spencer.
Huxley, ,Tyndall and othors brought out religious
subjects III clearer light aud made them tnke n
stronger hold upon, Christian hearts. Ho was
glad to see tho growing harmony between scionce
had transpired, 30 That thero was religious frec-
dom. The Presbyterian Church bow at tho samo
altar as before the war. Episcopalians from
North snd South mot in the samo Conventions.
The Northern and Southern &lethodists welo
united as one groat Church, mud Christianity in
this country was stronger than ever.
New York, tho a'poct qf tho religious
world waB favorable 10 individual freedom.
Politically, there wero changes affecting self
government. Dack-nay had boon robuliod by
tho elections, which ho regarded Us tho coming
forth OF tho indtvidualism OF tho country to re-
buko the corruption OF public mon. There was
a tendency to Independence Of party, and If
American citizens would net OH their private
Judgments independent Of tho buslo-call Of any
man or party, tile country would occupya higher
moral plano. There wNB moro Independent po-
litical thought now than ever before. Looking
across tho Atlantic, there was growth Of iudi-
yidual opinion IN Trance, and france would vet
liaye republican government pure a1d simple.
Italy had hbnrai party, working slowly. So had
Germany. aud in every country tlero wna q
growing loeling Of liberaiity aud independence.
It looked as II thero might bo var with Spain
on tho Cuban question. 1Io believed Cuba nut
urAlly belonged to tho United 6tateB; 1t WAS m
outpost, md whether war wns dooinrod now or
not the destiny Of tho island waa Inevitable.
Whether by war or concession Cuba would he
acquired by tho United Statos lie did not lka
war, but il it wero necessary, tho country would
not shrink from it.
On tho whole tho eyanta Of tho year Ind
raised mon to higher plateau, md
Ind thrown them nearer to tho Divine
idea Of government. Thore WAS no doubt
that the world was approaching the timo when
man won!d 'rendor unto God the things TINT
CWBar'a"
"My country, His Of thce,"
was sung by tllo congregation, and the interest,"
ing services wore at an ond.
CHRIST CHURCH,.
Row. Dr. Cheney 2'rocInims His With
ftrsu4 45