The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-05
A SERMON BY THE SEA.
FOURTH OF JULY DISCOURSE TO sUM1ER
VISITORS.


VISITORS.
LONG BRANCH, July 4. 1876.
This morning the Seaside chapel was well filed
with an attentive congregation, composed manly
OF summer visitors from the hotels. The chapel
is only open through the summer, and though
tine pastor of and Of the village church, Rev. j.
B. Wilson, Dutch Reformed clergyman, preached
this morning, he proposes TO invite some OF the
pulpit ceebrties from New YORK. during the
season, and make the place peculiarly attractive
to the transient custom OF the metropolis VINO,
while they are at The seaside, want very little re-
lgon, but what they do lave OF 1t well peppered
and spiced. Mr.. Wilson chose mis- text from
Jonah l.. s-"what is thy country, ana OF
what people art thouS" The preacher said that
Jonah found 1t dangerous to run away from
the presence OF the Lord. The ship he was in
was drawing to Its destination. Jonah was fast
asleep the tempest came and the sailors drew
lots to find who should be sacrificed. Jonah told
them he was the cause OF their trouble This
quotation, "What is thy trouble ?n and The cir
cumstances under which 1t was uttered, suggested
a train or thought TO me this morning. Lei US
consider our country and our natlon, our dangers
and duties as citizens. WHAT'S our country ? A
free and Christian one, which God has blessed in
the past century OF its existence; one indeed,
which has been blessed above all Others. Coun-
tries, like individuals, must pass through sieges
or misfortune; but the struggle makes them the
purer and better. But by liberty ana ndepend-
ence we have been paid a thousand fold for oil we
have gone through, and the sun now shines
all tine brighter Tor the clouds which
temporarily oDscured IL. The very name
OF our land causes our hearts TO throb with Joy
What our ancestors f0ngnt for with their blood
we shall defend. When Jonah was asked, "Of
what people art thou ~ ne answered, al am a
weight and power. The Hebrews were a people
who had suffered for freedom and fought for 1t.
They looked on prosperity with a chastened
spirit and recognized that their wonderful
triumphs were only through the power or God. If
IL were a great thing Tor Paul 10 say he
American citizens. But let this not blind US.
There are dangers winch lie in our pathway to
strike deathbloW at our liberties. To-day, the
ninety-nintn anniversary OF American Independ-
ence, we should be alive TO tue Importance OF
the event as 1t promises for the future. The en-
cOuragng aspect Is not without It's dark side.
Discussions are going on throughout the land about
admitting the BOOK or God TO our youth. The edu-
cation OF the masses Is serious question. Prot
estant America IS put against the hierarchial
despotism OF Rome ana the atheistic tendency OF
the age is everywhere checking she progress OF
religious liberty. feel alarmed at this. There Is
not that attention paid TO the Sabbath which IL
demands DIsrespect Tor this Gay Is seen in the
high places oil the land. Railroad companies run
Sunday trains, steamboats, travel on sunday,
newspapers are issued on that day, hotels keep
open their oarrooms and lager beer gardens
open their doors in defiance OF civil law. the
power which reRnS supreme here grants licenses
for this thing with impunity, working terrible
wrong Sabbath breaking and intemperance are
our two greatest evils. The preacher went on in
stringent laws be passed and that they be OBJ
served.