Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-12-07

ports?) that with all that has happen
ed to debase and debauch it, the natiOa
at large was never more mentally Wig
orous or morally sound than il is to-
day.
ii. AS Christians We may be thank
fol. In our land Religion has always
exerted marvellous influence. De-
spite the wildness aud roughness of
much of the life, there has survived u
brusqe, hearty reverence.It is singular,
though gratifying that the Puritan
colony, while not the first, nor the lar
ger, has yet exerted immeasurably the
greater influence. When you speak of
the early settlers of this country, you
think OF Plymouth before jamestown.
From that band of men went out an
influence that has been combatted and
ridiculed, but which is singularly po-
tent after two centuries and half.
AS we look at.the Religions of Spain,
France, Germany, or even of England,
the state, religions l mean-and see
how unbelief, and Indifference have
honeycombed them how Journalism has
incrusted them, we ought to be exceed.
inS grateful that here the Lords king
dom is not yoked with Cesar's. And
is it not wonder We too were not
caught in the same snare? Had not
Puritanism, forgetting its own banish-
ment, attempted to c0erce Roger Will
liams and the Quakers, and thus ava
kened more intense feeling in favor
of federation, perhaps we should not
h % pt,f in hn
land perhaps, the Bible has won its
own victories-the Cross has exerted
its own peculiar power, and men by
statute have not seriously attempted
to hinder them. The Church, under
whatever name, has realized strength,
and developed an activity wholly fresh
in the modern world. 1t has not been
antagOnizei by that instinct of liberty
which always awakens against its
work, where religion is required by
law.
We ought to be thankful moreover,
for the opportunity that has been fur
nished for the cultivation of goOd-fel-
lowship. The practical exemplifica.
ton of that which we see here to-day,
in the meeting of the people of differ
ent church views, for common worship,
was not possible little time sgo-ai
least it was not 80 thought. May the
sentiment of Whittier's sweet stanza
ever hereafter control US:
''Oh, Lord and Master OF us all,
Whateer our Name and Sign;
We own Thy sway, we hear Thy call,
] We test our lives by Thine"
Enjc ying equal rights, the Churches
OF our land have drawn closer and clo-
ser together; have silently laid aside
the weapons of mutual warfare, until
now il is not so much which can over.
reach the other, can gain the victory
in set argument, as which can do the
most valiant work for the common
Master. In the work which was sci
them to do, to give the sovereign
American people the knowledge 6i
God in the Gospel of his Son, their on
ly strife has been one of emulation to
go the farthest, to give the most, and
to bless most largely the land and its fu.
ture. The spiritual incentive has OF
course been supreme, but patriotism
has added its impulse to the work. 1t
has been felt that Christianity is the
basis of republican empire, its bond of
cohesion, its Iife-giviug law. The De-
claration was possible only, because the
Gospels had been before it. And 40 in
the work of keeping Christianity prev
alent in the land. the Christian Church.
es have eagerly striven. Their preach
ers have been heard where the pio-
neer's fire scarce was kindled. In all
languages ofthe land they have been
told the story of the Law and the
Cross, present redemption and q
la NJ Fri Tho L.
most solemn and inspiring, have been
the truths most constantly dwelt upon.
1t has been felt that, in the hest sense,
muscular Christianity was indispen.
sable, where men by day and by night
contended against the valiant forces oi
| nature.
We may be grateful that, notwith.
standing our wickedness and impen-
itence, the Materialism, Rationalisp
and Infidelity of Europe have not set
tied upon us in any special sense The
truth accomplishesa Its work. The
times of refreshing come again and
again. Even now are these signs o.
awakening in the Churches, far and
near, that are most gratifying.
My friends, we will not be migrate
ful-we will be-thankful. We will no,
doubt-we will llbelieve. To doubts era
ven-tO believe is GOd-like. Though
with limited human vision we seen
10 see:
Fright forever on the scaffold-wrons forever
on the Throne;
Yet that scaffold sways the Future;and behinC
the dim Unknown
Standeth God among the shadows, keeping
watch above His own" -.
At the conclusion of the sermon prayer wa.
offered by the Rev. Robert Alexander of thu
Presbyterian church. The clergyman sought
the divine power for the, future peace and
happiness of the people
The services closed by the choir singing
Fountain of mercy, God of love,
How rich thy bounties are." ETC.,
And the benediction by Rev. Balph. =
| UNIONTOWN. n