New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-19
RELIGIOUS ASPECTS IN 1775


THE RETREAT OF THE BRITISH TO BOSTON
Deut xxi, q: Remember the days of old
consider the years Of many operations ask thy father
and he will show thee thy elders and they viii tell thee
Never words appropriate than are these To
ourselves in the circumstances in which We are now
assembled We have met together for the express pur
pose of recalling the faith and vaor OF our fathers We
filed with when reminded that we stand over 'ho
very sod which drank the first blood in the great struggle
which made these United States OF America an ndepc
dent nation The actors in that memorable scene
have long since passed from the world But beng dead
they shl speak. The names OF the men who fell on Ley
ington Common carved in granite by order OF tue
grateful Commonwealth of Massachusetts, IN the last
year OF the last century. The granite monument may
eTumble 10 dust but the pOsthumous influence or our
artyre ancestors VIII be felt throughout the world till
the heavens he Some OF us nave seen Inc ven
orable forms Of who took part in Revolutionary
war; aud have heard them rece the details Of those
evcntfu days. Though cannot any moro listen TO the
THE fell from their lips can rehearse their deeds
and consider those magnificent results which have pro-
seeded from their martyrdOm SO with hia reverence
and with gratitude TO Almighty God are we gathered
about the very handspring OF stream which already
has far and is destined 70 swell into so vast
food.
nwas on the evening Of the 18th of April 1775 just
one century from this hour that detachment Of British
troops forth from Boston their march to this town.
causing by spark that explosion OF slnOthered ndg
nation which sent its reycrberatODs over the whole con
tncnt The centennial anniversary OF that event Oc
surrng upon the Christian sabbath II has seemed good 10
the Committee in charge these services that the cee
nation should begin with such religious lessons AZ might
be expected from Christian minister. This would
moi seem impertnent 10 any who recall the
direct influence OF the ministry I'm the scenes
and events which now commemorate. IL was
~ the house Of the Rev Jonas Clark, the Pastor OF TINS
town, that Samuel Adams and Hancock met on that
;,rfnu Ia
blessing The day following, when the citizens OF Con-
cord rnshed 10 arms, their minister, the Rev. William
Emerson showed himself among them. gun IN hand, to
cheer and help. When few weeks later oar connrymeh
were about to march from Cambridge Common ontrench
themselves Bunker Ill., prayer was offered by Press
dent LangdOn beneath the stars OF that summer night Tor
The favOrof heaven upon the solemn procedure Among
the sncrs of the Declaration Of independence stands the
name of a clergyman, John WitherspOon, the rep
Tesentavc Of large profession, and patriot true ana
brave rs any whose hand became familiar with the
sword Incidents without number might he cted
Illustrating the influence of the ministers of religion by
PRAYER and preaching and personal presence in the
council chamber and the field OF battle, giving the
sanction of heaven to the of patriotism, and
inspiring their cOuntrymen with more than native
courage But there need of recalling the services Of
that profession which il is my highest honortO represent
oil this occasion. Unlike the clergy in many countries
who have been looked upon with suspicion and disuSt
because OF their relations to systems of despon, &c
clesascalan and civil clergy OF tins country as
possessed all the confidence and respect they could
wish because throughout the Revolution and the adop
ton OF the National Constitution they were universally
regarded as among the foremost friends Of true liberty
This fact by itself proves that there were religions ele
ments in Revolution which distinguished il from
most political movements, and which invite Us now TOT
tfevOut religious mention.
RELIGIOUS PHASES OF GEFAT EVENTS
without anticipating any of those historic lessons
20 which We shall listen the morrow when
civic professions and military pageauts and
political officials will grace the celebration of our
American Revolution in its secular aspects trust
shall not disObge you if in keeping with all the associ-
atiOns OF holy time venture upon ground less ire
aucnty trodden and undertake to present some OF the
religious phases Of that great event In the very act OF
making this announcement, I detect myself in
che use of terms secular and religious, III the
Way of distinction which most
1nischievous faacy. This distinction may he Tor our
convenience just we divide the one great ocean
encompassng the globe into and bays Let us not
deceived by diagrams used only TO facilitate our own
conceptions In the last induction all things are reli-
gions; by which that all the events OF time and
history under the presidency Of One Mind borrow their
importance from that ultimate object which religion con-
&c nplates That connection may be more OF
less direct obvious and intentional. Some events
like the Protestant Reformation, the Common
wealth Of England, the Covenants Of Scotland, and
religions motive Others having religious intention
are overTued of God for religious end. 1t is the
arcanum of Providence to make sin the instrument Of
own defeat-causing the wrath OF man to praise
HIN. The French revolution, that cauldron
Of frenzied passions, should say, had as little OF
religion in it a. any event that could he named but
reviewed from this distance Of time, who can
doubt that the remarkable man then thrown
% the surface in the hand OF Goa IKE
rod of rOn dashng in pieces those old despotsns Wch
had so long smohered the life and hndered the progress
Of the world SbOrt-sighed are, we cannot inter
pret at the time the import and bearing OF particular
events-so many of which appear to be adveseon the
general result 1t is with when we look upon
"A machine Of intricate construction the wheels OF
which fy in opposite directions but whose compound
motions contribute to fabric many events appear to
MS disastrous and ncOmprehenshe but the assurance
given 10y religion is, that under the control of Him
with whom thousand years but one day all things
work together for furtherance of that object which
gives 10 time all its importance and to the life Of our
race all its significance Can define what this object
ST II We cannot We grope in the dark. II cannot,
N the movements of the world incohcrent as the
caves which the Sybi scattered to the wind.
Iucretius the Roman knight confessed his ignorance
sf all final and intentions But We do not stand on
she same ground with the Pagan epicurean. BY
positive revelation. we are informed for what this
xOrld was made and to what all its events tending
The teaching of revealed religion on this point is
she end Of all philosophy and the highest OF all
sciences. We have in times the scientific history OF
creation when science has analysed the air. the light
land and te and all the component parts of This
material cosmos shall she stop abruptly at any link in the
ehan and fail to press the iuquiry-What is the ultimate
purpose Of creation itself Is physical science TO dspace
moral science the scaholdng 10 be msgnhed above
the buihngi Congresses convene and issue decisra-
lions and frame constitutions, aud organize govern
mems and lc1slse for and commerce and man
Ia