New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-12
NATIONAL INTEGRITY.
The Rey Charles r. Baker at ne church Of he Messiah
BROOKLYN.

" Brooklyn.
The Rev. Charles r. Baker preached on Sum
day. April A. sermon "National Integrity" OF which
an abstract is given below The text of the
selected from l. Samuel third fourth, and fifth verses
Mr.. Baker said substantially: Samuel was an old man.
God had given him work to do, and he had done It, AT
tho beginning of his the nation was sunk In the
deepest moral degradation The exutan faith OF Noses
time had been lost; tho military spirit liad
deolned the national sympathies had decayed Indeed
the high moral attachments Of the times OF the Exodus
arose not the people, but from the powerful impulse
of one great spirit; and when he passed away, they
quickly returned 10 that stage Of moral culture which
might be looked for in nation of manumitted slaves
The 400 years Of the Judges period OF ignorance
and barbarism. The great rulers caused occasional
reyvals of gous devotional spirit but they wero only
mOmentary, and served to show how dense was the
prevalent darkness Ell was type OF the inslpdty ana
mon, like Hophn and Phlnehas might use what little life
remained for their own base ends inns was
to act. His severe training as Nazarite
had taught him to curb his passions to deny himself the
but truth and Justice The prevalent corruption s dsye
oneoming of the mountain torrent. lilo was a
stern. solitary man, with whom no one dare to
tho national conscience and when He spoke it was to the
there are periods when moral plagies rage and break
down or deaden manhood: 1 believe there arc such
ne s peyf sa ,n9 Sr whan a S
badness OF the human heart flows out in one direction
There have been ages of cruelty when was not confined
to any one class, but infected the whole community.
There hayO been ages OF dark grim supelSton ages OF
greed ages when honor was almost lost am about to
mako statement, which should be made only with
lennity and after great deiberation believe such
plague is raging here There has been great de-
cline in oldfashioned honor, and the body polite has
been thoroughly diseased ''' 4 few years ago
spoctacles ever seen among The whole nation had
risen to put down gigantic wrong lt was contested py
noble dea. 1t showed itself superior to everything but
right The name Of American was ono to be proud OF.
Now in view Of Credit Mobiers, and Pacific Mail sub
sides and canal frauds and rings of bad men controlling
have '' for PRIDE da Now 'D we are in danger Of
nation OF INSCRIPTIONS sharpers. The enemies Of
form of government said that we could not stand inc
strength Of united and enlightened people they said,
"we they have exhausted themselves by This one effort
and will perish by slow decay" Now, we do not believe
a-S thorough S,s aud disno5is and find out how
tho disease preying upon us has proceeded
. We want less party men, and more national men;
less representing sectional interests, and more repre-
senting the best good of the whole land. You can
ccs the banks although there have been noble excep
tons. "" But the disease is deeper still. 1t Is
in tho dissatisfaction Of the merchant at
has crippled tho la6orer 1t shows itself in the
attempt to pervert the administration OF justice. God
has given to THIS coanly hoDe s4 s mas a1S len
erty which were announced by the Goldman Ihat
which makes country grand Is not her splendid mQl-
is ia the degree OF integrity and honor In the great body
Of the people, Christianity means NaSsy cT mCTc
1t means that shall be true to bapsmal VOW and
be ashamed TO confess the faith OF Christ eruclhed
sin, the world, and the devil, and TO continue
Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto our
that we shall put on the whole armor Of God,
lie who, in these times, gives up the contest IN dscour
no wounds no dents on his armOr, no blood on his
sword, Is "a coward and craven.