, 1875-11-26

Our gtsss mousvtd corporations threatenns ths
possibility Of aRovernment by and for the pco:
PIC lust BY tho force Of their money! Practical
toms and tho teFtnue on tbs ono hand. men
aud women of ntantling virtually pe.juring
thamsclvos to rhcane legal outles and, on the
other band. Government spiea levying black.
mail where tAera was no Intention Of fraud
Municipalities given over 10 rings Of tbievon
and soctetY 1t large runniog Hot ii The Ways OF
npccnIatton aud dlsp1ny! Tho nation
asagser.ng., u lha.. untier tho sseumula..
=. good novernment threatened vlth overthrow
licre again, therefore, inhy not our thAnkfulnesn
~ tho tokens OF reform be enhanced by the con-
alteration thas the reforn ls nothing icns than =
1nscuo? For my own part. feJo'eo to-day over
tue nation checked til hor tremendous drift
toward dishonesty, even a. ] rctolcs over 4er
sAEratlon from acknowledgment and inscatno
slrtfe. | do believe thst even In the crisis OF
our peril the STANDARD OF reformation has been
Bot up. | htve ths faith that tho Aruercan peo-
pie, innpire1 Of God and led by hero aud there
truaty leader, Will 10 on III tho crusade Of hon
enty uutil private uusoundness, and corporate
failures, and municipal corruption, sad govern
cntal rottenness, shall give place to that spIen-
did Righteousness whereon may be built : nA-
ttons abiding welfare.
And 10 the record OF onr roasana fot fcrvcnt
thankngivtng might be indefinitely prolonged.
Did tue time allow. shond ba glad indeed to
recount somo Of tue hopofnl nigns to 30 seen in
should not doom It inappropriate to rctcr to
thoHe international moyements which, though
bocninE At first to bo far way frou, our concern.
arc til reality Of consequence to every people
and to every individual. Tho worlds prevailing
peace; tho goucral progress In ways Of philAr-
throric effort tho SUCCESS Of Christianity Ia
Lcathen lands tho erea. en1kfEing of civtiizs-
lions bounds. Thcao are results which might
be su'nmoncd to augment our revcrcnt rejoicing.
moments which you still may lend mc,
wish to direct your sstoaton to certain ub!l-
cations which rest on yon A citizens of CON-
munlty aud n nation no signat!y blossed Of God.
You koo" there ia an inspired word concerning
tho very goodneBu at God leading us to sopent-
ance. AHau1cdy, then, II Will not DO violent
transfer OF thought IT We lot tho welfare which
In already oura enkndo us 10 search for the
future methods and lncesuro Of our pcraonal
duty.
certainly ncod haYe no lcsltancy in Bug.
costing. at thls point, aud as tue primary con-
bldoratton. that Whatever we reco9nizo to-lny
a. an occasion Of personal thanksgiving should
DO mado M inspiration toward personal pcsfec-
ton. As the recipients Of tho Divine bounty.
We ought to rctush tho offering Of an endeaYor
to please our Denofactor, Wo are gathered here
~ public, joyful Worship. Yet We know. on IN
instant's reflection. the lie whom Ne worship
will scarcely bo pleased IL our service ends Iu
~ He looks lpto'heart and life, Tie will wish to
flud thcrc tho oydsbce OF our gratefulnost. We
can almost heas lin, saying" " / have b1essed My
people in BASKET and store; haye enriched thcm
IN mind body, and estate; hays male the out
goings Of both their morning and their evcn-
iogs to rejoice. Aud now'l long to SEQ them be-
coming what Lily favored onos should be. long
70 soc them. individually. putting Oh tho person.
children" Let ua, tben. in this glad hour, re-
'uhatsoevor II approved Of God. Lei us
60 from this place resotveu 10 cary to tho
home, and to the relations uf domestic and 40.
cial friendship, souo nex worthnass Of being.
Let thauEfulness lift us above Ill hardnoaa aud
selfshucss, into the farer realms Of geotleneaB
and love. Let tho beauty Of joy carry III on 10
the beauty Of holiness md the garments OF
praise 10 tfansfgu1ed upon US into tho garments
Of aspiration for Ill that is personally praise
worthy.
And yet, the moment We consider tho Issues
Of duty, re tind ourselves borne to uldsr rcla-
tions. Aa GUT blessings arc seen to embrace
community and nation, It dawns on us that our
tue upward and shining path Of Thanksgiving,
We behold the vision Of service expanding to
broader and broader horizons. Il Is here. how.
ever. that re have nerd TO admon!ah ourselves
against fatal Inconsistency beswee.: perception
nnd act. Tho argument Is clear. but tho prac-
teal conclusion B oftsn especially fa1lty. Those
who personally and positively omutAtc all private
Vittuea hro not tnfraluent!y Indifferent 10 moro
public demands. Ia their verT whisenoss aad
<@A3tAt4Eo3 W HAO t3SJ DA444Ah 4kH3 b04 t%u9Iy
moro open struggled. 8onetinos. In huncst
diacoiragcmcnt 1t their il.succrBs, they think
they nav lawfully devosa themselves to unA. ts
simply their own coucora. Az consequence,
thoy gradually ylold to the prevailing tendency
which makea goodness seok repose and culture
insist on seclusion. aud enterprise prefer private
investments. And so,. Is \ fusthor coa-
saqucncs, tho, control OF pubic Affairs
psssos largely Into the hands ot those who
arc In every wav unworthy. They who deem
pubic life arena for Eeifsh aggtapdixement and
positions Of public trust tbs opportunity for
pornonas plumber, aro endcred 10 carry into
effect ths!r base Ideas. While meantime, the
gowned and ahppored Gallo sits BY hin tirestdo
hts day aud generation.
Nov agains. all this, and 10 tho namo Of
duty which appeals to blcss!ogs enjored, l
come to-day to protest. "a m ambassad5r for tho
public welfare, aud for Righteousness, aud for
Christ. ontzeat you to hold your re1stions to
tbs community and tho State 10 different estoom.
1 ask you to heaEkon aud obcy, even ~ it is
wrlttea that "to obey is better than sacrifice,
aud to hearkea than the fat OF rams"
hare spoleu Of = duty which appeals 10
blessings enjoyed: bat You Will pardon ms
though find that cannot rest until hAvo put
tho clams Of public splzite1 oltizens on q yot
deopor foundation. Tho truth IL that rs do NOT
touoh tue ground thought until wo perceive that
Ia donlug With matters OF tho community and
The State, wo nre dealing with matters which ere
more than prudential. Behave II, my hearers
when you have - 10 with tho rotations OF
clslzeush.p, you hAvc to do With what il Bao,ed.
You know, tot example, that the ark OF old uas
made With human bands. Out Of gold minod
from the rocks they fashioned II. Cunning
ar,itioets wrought 1t with thsIe utmost
skill. let noao the leAs tho pAttarn
OF 1t mas given IN the mount when God spoka
taco to face with Hts aorvans. Over It tho cloud
OF 1od'a proAonce rasted, aud from between ta
soulpturad elleruosm g1esmcd the tokens Of ths
dvine indweltug. Even SO 10. it be understood,
once for al, that organized society, government:
Is not OF merely human origin. Il was provided
for lu ono Of the dty,nely-implauteI necessities
Of mankind. Humanity cannot exist without It.
Do not tn!suodesatand me. l do not SAY tl.at it
ts some particular form Of government Which ii
given OF God, for hold that tho divine right Of
republics u not necessarily whit superior 10 tho
diTine right ofK iags. II ia tue government ~
government tLat ID OF sacred origin, and 1t is
that primarily wllol, laa sacred right. The spe-
oiai form ID the result OF experience, and should
bs determined ~ tue greatest goad Of tho Ereat-
out nutnboE. Hauce, and neyosthslcss, there Ia
the most direct solas!on between each 1od.fea.-
ing soul And tho government under which 40
lives. Such sonl neod not stop TO compute re-
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