The New York herald., 1876-07-03
EIGHTEENTH STREET M. E. CHURCH.
OUR couNTEYs PROGRESS AND DESTINY

EIGHTEENTH STREET M. E. CHURCH.
OUR coUNTRY's PROGRESS AND DEsTINY-
SERMON BY REV. ". r. HATFIELD
In the Eighteenth street Methodist Episcopal church
Rev. W. f. Hatfield the pastor, delivered = discourse
last evening the progress of the country during the
century future destiny and the duties of it's ciIi-
The church beauti fully decorated with flags
and flowers, and large congregation assembled
hear the discourse, which breathed a true spirit Of
patriotism throughout The text chosen from
Deuteronomy, xxi, 40 -"Remembcr the days OF
old. -
One hundred years ago, the Fourth day OF July,
We flung out our banner to the breeze. which was
inscribed these ever memorable words that made des
pots in the Old World rcmblc THAT al men
aed equal endowed with certain nacnable rights
among which are life, liberty and the pursuit Of hap
pincss" From that hour, said the preacher, be-
gan our march onward toward high destiny
Around that day and hour what memories cluster
We recall the names OF few brave who loved
truth and justice too well to sacrifice them tor any
gifts that kings could bestow, who believed that Free
dom was for all, aud who trusted in God and went
forth to accomplish work that was TO wreath their
brows with fadccss honors aud advance the cause
Of liberty and religion throughout the world.
tury ago there but thirteen infant colonies
talning population OF 5000 O00 All the OF the
narrow strip Of land along the Atlantic seaboard from
New England to be Carollnas, was dense wilderness
inhabited by wild beasts ana hostile tribes OF Indians
The mineral, the agricultural end other internal
OF the country were then uudevcopcd The coal
and oil fennsylvan the iron in Virginia, tho copper
Wisconsin, the lead in Missouri tho silver in Nevada
and the gold in California were all unknown TO the
early settlers There were no canals railroads, steam
boats or clsgraphs in operation Machinery Tor
agricultural mechanical and commercial pur-
poses was not IN use. Inc arm OF Drawn
ancestors knew nothing Of the luxury Of rid
ing on springs, sleeping in palaces and sitting on
cushioned seats in cburcncs on the Sabbath day How
great the progress in a hundred years From thir-
colonies have grown to thirty eight States and
seven territories, containing than g. 900 900
square miles and population OF Al, oo0, oo0 Within
this vide domain there have been discovered mines OF
wealth in sucn abundance that if there should be a
failure OF coal in Pennsylvania there Us enough
OF the Western States 10 supply the demand Tor
turics, and gold enough in Sacramento and silver
enough Nevada to pay the national debt, and enough
lett 10 make every poor rich throughout the Rc-
public .peaking OF the progress in the arts and in
dustres OF the nation the preacher said The sound OF
the loom and spinning wheel that made music In the
of the natons OF the Republic has been hushcd by
the sweeter music OF machinery in 10000 factories
scattered all over the country Rail cars thunacr
the land, steamboats, cburn the rivers and the electric
telegraph flashes the thoughts OF men through air
and ocean from every hamlet in tho land to the
remote part OF the inhaoited glooe. Fifty years
ago there customs IN vogue that would not
be tolerated. DueIIing. gambling, n'cmpcrancc and
most wealthy and influential The morality OF the lit-
eraturc In the carly part OF tho century no,
that vi to-day IL Is often said thai the politics of
former times we're less corrupt than nowthat those
who managed the national affairs had cleaner hands
aud ruer hearts than thoso who direct the affairs OF
the state at the present time But IL the history of
the nation III It's infancy be true there in the days
oi the Adamscs and Jciiersons men who were base
ard corrupt who scruplcd not TO cheat the govern
mcnt and steal the public funds as in the days OF Lin
coin and Grant Schools semnarics. colleges ana
universities havo sprung upas by magic; churches
cants by millions million OF papors are
published every day in this city that are
read by millions OF people throughout the land
before the types are ready for another issue
How remarkable has been the growth OF tins city A
century ago New York was about one and one.half
miles IN length and hall mile in width. Then Tho
present Bowling Green was the centre Of fashion.
There and below TRINITY church we're the incst resi-
dcnccs and there the MISS Flora McFhmseys prone
naacd as they have done since on Madison square.
Less than thirty years ago the maps of New York
ended at Fourteenth street, and Union square WAS
suburban than Harlem oday. one hundred
wears ago this month the city was threatened by n
iorcisn Toe large fleet OF British ships we're IN tho
harbor and the inhabitants terrified at the ap-
pcarancc OF so formidable au adversary. But these
times have passed, ana how marked tho change! No
hostile fleet darkcns the waters o our beauttn bay
numbering cannonadc from foreign Toe falls upon
But everywhere is peace ia tho city and
throughout the nation. TIE dag that ioats above
floats over people al peace with themselves aud win
all mankind But that which overshadows all other
and which makes this year year oi eIadness
aud rejoicing TO the American people that have
succeeded IN preserving our form oi govern
mont uninpared Tor hundred years 1t
predicted by our foes when en-
tered upon tho work Of establishing independent
government that would never succeed; that like
the rcppblcs OF Greece and Rome would become
Involved in internal difficulties that would result the
nations downfall But after the lapse oi century,
during which tho government has been tested by war
by inc most base attempts to undermine the ounda
ton OF our liberties and destroy the beautiful heritage
conferred upon oy iorcathers, the government
hvcs aud Will live centuries alter ITS traduccrs are
dead and forgotten. And 1t rs stronger now than at
any period since u FIRST formed by that band OF
noho men whose names aud deeds are enshrncd IN
the hearts o! loyal ana grateful people That there
was provdcntial design IN the discovery aud settle
ncnt OF this country at the time by the people
whom We are Indicted Tor our laws there be
doubt The guiding hand OF God seen IN all the
events that have transpircd In history from the
hour when the Pilgrims stepped board the May flower
TO the opening OF thc Centennial
To day We would recall the early Struggles the self
sacrnces, the pryau ms, the lofty patriotism, and,
above all the sublime trust OF our orciatlcrs
God Who IN the darkest hOlr ol their history raised
up friends to aid them ~ securing their independence.
lie, US not io.g get this the day Of our prosperity
and IN THIS great Centennial year that all ,his great
ness and glory Of which speak and OF which We
feel an honorable pride has rot been wrought out by
industry. cntcrprlse that God