The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-12-26
THE CENTENNIAL AND ITS
LESSON.
A Discourse Preached in st.
Peters Church, Hillsdale,
Michigan, Nov. 80, 1876, by
Rev. w. w. Raymond, Rector.

Nations into n.'-kev. XXI; 70.
This apt passage Of holy scripture,
furnishes n ready means by which to
conduct you, in brief time, to the city
OF Philadelphia; and much farther, or
il SO be TO stop much nearer.
The words themselves are literally sig
ni6cant OF an international exposition;
as also the title OF the city Phil-a-del-
phia, which means brotherly love. is
an nppellation equally appropriate and
pleasant. The year 1876, taken togeth.
er with its deeds, developments, and
display, particularly so far as our own
country is concerned, will hereafter be
known under tho general title OF the
Centennial" A nation may very
properly be regarded as having attain
ed its majority, or become OF age, in its
hundredth year; leaving its minority
the first distinct period OF time in the
background. 1t was most fitting that
our nation should celebrate this event
in her progress, in the fields OF her ma
tivity, Mt the old home, and the birth
place. It was q good thing for Phils-
delphia; it was a good thing for the
nation; il was q good thing for the
world; and We trust it may be found q
good thing for waiting Paradise, and
the crowning Heaven. IL was q good
thing to Re there; and yet not all could
60, even OF OUR own nation; only the
few indeed, comparatively; and OF any
other nation far fewer still. Not a
fifth part OF our own people saw the
exhibition; and OF the whole world not
one in one hundred Bnd niiy. But in
the dispensation OF lab n and recrea-
tons, privileges aud opportunities, it
is well to take the Apostles lesson to
ourselves, and in whatsoever state to
be content, whether we staid or went
The Centennial proper is formally and
finally closed, and the Great Exhibi-
ton, thing OF the past. And as our
country has been the chief actor before
the witnessing world for the current
year, so will the centennial be hence
forth q fixed point for reckoning for
ward into the future; q new starting
ground for the nstions next journey
into later historic times. Moved by
the unmodified commendations, and
the almost extravagant exclamations of
earlier visitors, and favored by the ac-
ceptable assistance and kindness of
generous friends aud neighbors, SEQ
onded and strengthened by continual
ly growing desire Of our own mind and
heart, like many others, We reconsider
ed half decision not TO go, and went.
We are not sorry. That would be very
unfortunate. We are, on the other
hand, very glad and well satisfied; and
We know scarcely a single visitor who
did not have the same feelings of de-
light. And yet, though we were quite
eager TO go, we could possibly, for sew
eral reasons, have staid home more
contentedly than did many who went
not.
Our visit was for general survey rath-
er than for close inspection; for TO that,
time, and mind, and means, quite COM
PEELED us. More than TO become any,
even TO the minutest, part Of the cen.
tenpial, our purpose vas 10 learn q
more perfect lesson from il by an act
ual survey. For once, before leaving
the world, we desired to see as much
as possible OF the world in one place,
and to make little tour of ell nations,
by courteously calling upon them as
visitors in our neighbsrhood. As in q
Pentecostal day long past, there gath.
cred together religiously, in the Old
Jerusalem, Parthians, and Medes, and
Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopo.
tamis. and in Jndea, and Cappadocia,
in Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, and Pam.
phylia. in Egypt, aud IN the parts OF
Libya about Cyrene. and strangers ol
Rome, Jews and Proselytes, Cretes and
Arabians. and they heard the Apostle,
speak the wonderful works Of God
every man in their own tongue where
in they we're born: (Acts NJ So in
our day, We desired 10 behold a quit,
similar spectacle Of Americans and Eu
glisb. Australians aud Canadians, Bel
gisns and Brazilians, Cbipamen ant
Chilians, Danes and East Indians, Aus
trians and Columbians, Germans ant
, Liberisns. Egyptians and Peruvians
Portuguese and Persians, Mexicans an,
4 OiNtSiabcs obphutcc abQ IIuhtlnur
Italians and Bolivians, Isthmians an,
Islanders, Highlapders and Neither
lsnders, French. Russians. Moors
Swiss, Swedes and Turks, all speakin,
our own tongue, and setting forth til
glory OF their several realms. We be
lieved, 80 10 our esfimstion u wa
proved. that this great gathering, com
mingling. observing aud dispersinl
crowd, would themselves constitut
the one grand exhibit. thick swellin,
tides Of humanity, travelling togethe
one step farther forward towards Para
disc. We desired TO sec, il il were 4
be found on the earth. little type an,
foretaste OF millennium, unto whicI
we gladly hasten. Seven Of these for
ward steps have been taken within IN
last quarter Of century, in the way O
: Worlds Exhibits: i'm London, 1851
New York, 1863; Paris. 1866; London
1862; Paris, 1867; Vienna, 1873; au,
1 PHILADKLrHn IN EroHTEES HUSDREI
AND sEvESTY-sIx.
IL is hardly extravagant 10 say, q
one has suggested, that this latter wa