Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-04-22
FAST DAY.
The Religious Observance Of the Day in
this city.

Ihe Neiigtous Observance CT the Day Ia
this city.
\ union religions service, well attended, was
held at the Winthrop Street Uniyersalist church,
on Fast Day forenoon. sermon was preached
by Rev. c. a. Curtis, pastor of the Unitarian
church, the subject being "Our evil spirits and
how to cast them out" The text was 10 Marx 9;
l7-lS-22: "Master have brought unto thee my
son which hath dumb spnit | spakc to thy
disciples that they should cast him out and they
could not Aud Jesus said unto them "lhls
kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and
fasting.
Mr. Curts said that in the early days fasting
was OF the body-eXterual, formal. Bye and bye
men saw q deeper meaning 10 the service. They
recognized its bearing upon their inner nature.
So they confessed their s,ns, and thus huLnbled
their souls in the sight Of God.
When Jesus came preaching the religion Of the
s1ir.t be condemned the formal observance OF
fasting, and advocated the benefits Of soultastng.
Is followers OF Christ it is duty to make this
q season of spiritual humiliation; occasion in
which 10 devote ourselves TO a sober selt-eNamna-
ton. \ part of the duty Of the day Is purely
personal. That which relates to the ackno Hledg-
lnent and confession of our individual SINS, does
uot form part of this public service. 1t should
be ''to the Father who seeth IN secret
La the public exercises OF asst days all
cd to notice the State and nation; to acknowledge
the sins we, as people, have committed. Neare
very boastiul of our country, and do not like to
admit that there is anything bad IN Il; but there
arc some thoughts suggested by the condition OF
our national affairs, that have tendency to tone
down our national! pride. We have some glazing
faults some dark stains on our escutcheon. We
have fallen into errors that I'LL the minds OF the
thoughtful with apprehension. As IN the time OF
Jesus an evil minded man was thought TO be pos
SEES ed by demons, so ii may be hguratively said
of our country, that evil spirits have entered into
it. As turn our eyes to behold the guardian
genius of our land, we do not see the far face OF
Columbia as she appeared to our fathers, but grim
orges of vice, corruption and lawlessness menace
and ieer at US from many points The Goddess
of Liberty seems TO have been deprived of part
Of her Iightfu domain. Evil spirits, minions of
the Prince of Darkness, have usurped share in
her realm.
The speaker then ske4ched as the work of these
evil spirits. the corruption and immortality that Is
seen in our political social and business affairs.
How can these evil spirits be cast out from
among US Christ said of what were then CON
sdered evil spirits, this kind can come forth by
nothing but by prayer and fasting. The same
may be said Of ours. BY prayer and fasting he
sgned all that relates to religion and its duties.
And so believe that in the teaching of true re-
ligion and in the performance of the duties which
it enjoins shall find the path that will lead us
| TO light Christ spoke in condemnation of certain
| practices then in vogue. They tried TO cast out
spirits by diyination, by the use of magic words or
rites. Something of that same spirit is seen IN
| our day. religious amendment to the constltu-
talismanic effect in warding off our ills. But our
| disease requires deeper remedy. We need GOD
in the national life and character. Ii men oil every
| faith would live their religion as they ought, 1t
would require no constitutional proclamation 10
prove us God-serving people To purify orr
politics need to make religion more part OF 1t
| than we do. mans moral character as much as
his ability, and more than his political standing,
should be the standard used in Judging his fines:
| for office.
| The use Of the Bible in our public schools is adj
vacated AS one means OF helping Us out of orr
| trouble, but too great results are Claimed for IT,
1t is apt to be used in formal, sprltle,s manner
| The truest moral training comes from hone lntin-
| encc. The welfare of the ration depends upon
1 the NATURE of this home training. w hen our pa
| rents ill do their whole du,y in the moral and
religious teaching Of their children, and VIII. oar
| Sunday schools are properly supported anu en-,
| couraged, then we shall take on a higher moral
character as a nation, and we leave the secular
schools unmolcsted in their rigAtiu province.
| In the consideration of oui national sins and err
rors feel our reverence deepencd for that Gfeat
and Good Being who guides, through human frail-
ty and weakness, all things to true and worthy
| ends We are not dshearcned by these thoughts
There is nothing discouragiug in she presence OF
| these faults in our land.
| The glory of our nation is not that it is free
from errors, but that its errors great as they are
| do not oyerwhelm it. 1t has Il strong vitality that
throws Off these impurities 1t is because they are
| thrown to the surface that they are so noticeable
We have overcome some great evils that threaten
ed to engulf US, ami to-day our nation rises like
| "Some mountain tall whose awful form
Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm
Tho round its base the rolling clouds are spread
| Eternal sunshine settles on its head
The preliminary exercises were conducted by
| Rev. Mr.. Dearborn.
union prayer meeting was held at half-past
ten o'clock, in the vestry of the First Baptist
church. 1t was fully attended and of very in
teresting character. Rev. Mr.. Tilden, pastor OF
the church, led the meeting. lie read scripture
selections, being the 9TH chap. of Isaiah; Sd chap
of Jonah, from the 9Th to the 10th verses inclu'