The New York herald., 1876-07-03
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.
OUR CENTENNIAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OK
THE NATIONAL CELEBRATION BY THE REV.

OUR CENTENNIAL THANKSGIvING-REMARK on
THE NATIONAL CELEBRATION BY THE REV.
DR. MGLYNN.
At ST. Stephens church yesterday 1t was announced
at all the services that the Fourth of July,
o'clock A. NJ, there would be special services, con-
sistng OF solemn high mass the singing o. the hymn
OF thanksgiving, "re Deum'' and bcnedc,ion Of the
blessed sacrament. In announcing these services at
the high mass Rev. Dir. McGlynn said:-
You are exhorted especially on the one hundredth
anniversary OF our countrys birth gvc thanks 10
God for the blessings OF civil and religious liberty and
many other priceless blessings that Kind
providence OF God has lavishcd upon our beloved
country. The God who Numbered forth upon Mount
Sinai with the dread sanctions OF divine revelation
that teaching OF instinct and natural aw-"thou shalt
honor thy father and thy mother'requires by sim.
liar teachings of instinct of natural law of revealed
religion TO honor and love country our father
land Our country, in tact, in larger sense, stands
for the mature man than for the child in the
place OF parcnt-it is In great the
instrument OF GODS blessings aud holds, HIS minis
ter, share Of His authority. II was therefore, that
the apostle OF Christ, speaking will, the author
ity as he who brought down the law from Sinai
taught every soul be subject to higher powcrs
those that are ordained OF God; they that resist
purchase TO themselves damnation." If the apostle
could say much OF the bloody power that was even
then preparing to put him to the sword and drcnch
all the soil OF her empire with the blood of Christians
what wonder that our hearts should respond ex-
ultipgly they do day TO the teach.
,ngs of reason and religion in behalf OF
this blessed land In her spirit is no
thought OF oppression. She exercises the divine
Ministry that the apostle teaches has been given to
her, not with the terror OF power, but with the be-
nign SWAY of abencdeent mother. She takes equally
her maternal heart her children OF every and
creed and color, whether born OF her womb nurscd
uron her lap OF coming IN the mature wisdom OF
choice east theIr lot forever with hers. She
showers benefits upon all, and all up to-day and
call her blessed ON the nome day that closes lor
century aud ushcrs the IS the instructive
prompting OF the religious heart to pause TO review
the past. to look into the future. AS review the
wonders of ccnturys history the heart that is
entirely bind must confess that all this OF
human schievement--that It has been brought about
under the guidance and mercy OF a LIVING Father
heaven. Let us, then be thankful. And what reasons
have TO be thankiuls What farcr noblcr.
richer land God ever gvon to the children of men
IL would seem as II IN the silent ages before
made The hand oi Cod with president love, was here
shaping the future land OF promsca theatre and
bcautui-for the enactment OF many of the best apd
ncbicst pages OF mans history. All mere fash.
ioucd gigantic scale and with sipgu-
lar unity of pan The vastncss of ocean
and lake and river and field and mountain SO siugu.
ary bound together the crut,y and variety Of soil
the treasures hidden In the bowels earth all told
that here was 10 be the home oi a numerous and
mighty OF men with no small part to play the
the rocks; II has been chantei tor ages by the
surges OF oceans 1t Is sung by the OF the
mighty rivers that bind together aud enrich and
II Is the motto oil our country-"E PurJus Unur-"
Let not forget to uc thankful for the messenger
OF God who discovered our tar land, whose cnlight
cncd mind ana adventurous spirit were strengthened
and made prophetic by his Christian faith Let US
name with reverence and gratitude Christopher Colum
bus. Let us DC thankful Tor tue OF sturdy arms
and strong hearts who were sent hithcr, OF
and from many land, 10 be Tie fathers Of this people
Tor Washington and his compeers, vino were gifted
u nd
TO shape our Institutions Let US be tnauStul
tor the bountes OF nature for the inventions
OF mind, Tor the progress OF letters, ior
the achievements OF The arts OF the useful
ana the beautiful Tor cities improvscd in the wilder
ness, for continent suhducd for the bondman made
tree, Tor liberty ami union preserved. Especially let
the people oi the land they assemble before their
aitars thank God that those ALA free, that re
lgiOn Is here Tree ia but lew other lands pitch
her peaceful tents and TO accomplish without hudrancc
from any ciyii power her heavenly mission; and let
them reproach themselves that II religion, here unfc
tered and untrammciled, should IN any ia iui-
hl her blessed MISSION, they need blame only them
selves Tor failing To Improve the liberty and protection
OF all their rights, Tor which religious other
laEds signing IN Let be thankful
for the blessings that Know and or the many that
We know not or are better than VIC know. Let the
nation then rejoice, as well II may; le, 1t abound
every dcmonsrsIou of gadncss; let u Tcjocc Tor the
old and take heart Tor the but let all this bc but
accompaniment and expression OF universal
Ihec God We acknowledge Thee TO be the Lord 80
and Of fervcnt player for blessing upon the
come Let US minsle with our gratitude
healthy sclf-reprOach for our numerous short
comngs. aud tue threshold OF tho
new century with high resolve 10 do what
To- repair aud preserve the bcah OF poIti.
cal social ana individual 1.le, manners and mOras
A. eu,cr upon new century vc may we'll feel anx.
ous at the thought Of the instability OF all human
things and The OF empires ana republics; YET.
ind courage and assured hope in the thought that