Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-29
MEMORIAL SERVICES.
Sermon b fore the q. A. Il. by Rev. IL. w
Tiiden-A Large Congregation.


Tiiden-A Large Congregations.
Services were held at the First Baptist church
last evening, in commemoration of the Patriot
Dead and in anticipation of Decoration Day. The
church was finely decorated with hags, ana the
pulpit and platform with flags and flowers. Seth
Williams Post, G.. A r., to the number OF about
Is, occupied seats in the BODY of the house The
members were in uniform, and made fine ap-
pearance. The Post is comprised of some OF our
best citizens The church was literally packed,
every square inch Of space being filled, and many
| being obliged to 90 away for want of even stand
| ing room. Mr.. Geo. II. Ryder of Boston, presi-
| ded at the organ, and brought out its wonderful
sweetness and volume of tone, with even more
power and effectiveness than on the night OF the
organ concert. Singing was by the fine choir con-
nected with the church The preliminary exer-
cises of the occasion were participated in by Rev.
W. Ii. Dear born, Rev. DR.. Kicker, Rev. j. II
Ecob, Rev. c. F. Penney, Rev c. A. Curtis and
| Rev. Mr. Adams.
The sermon was preached by Rev. H. w. Tiden,
pastor of the Baptist church, and was an able,
studied and most appropriate effort.
Mr. Tilden's text was in lst Peter, ~ chapter
| 18th verse, Honor all Men" When God Great
ed man in his own image, he laid the foundation OF
this Injunction. The snowy distinctions that exist
| among men, are often too much emphasized, and
draw attention from the deeper likeness found in
all. Upon each individual and not upon the mas
ses, God stamps his own image. thus end0w-
ed the individual steps forth into the arena OF life,
and is to be largely the maker of his own destiny.
! lie is comparatively an independent being. He is
| to decide between the right and the wrong. God
| knows not society, multitudes nations; he knows
only Individuals even as he creates only individu-
| ais. His commands and njunctions are to separ-
ate pei sons. and Christ died for each. Salvation
| 10 his name is offered to each. The scriptures
| e ach that each person, without reference to his
| earthly station, must bear his own burden OF &C
| courtabhty and tina. God 10 His dealing with man
| is no respecter Of their persons. lie Is unmoved
| bv their rank or condition i'll life. Man Is being
| OF igh moral dignity. \ certain famous painter,
contrary to the custom of artists, scarcely ever
| signed his name to his pictures On being asked
why be did not he replied, 81 sign my name all
| over them SO with every man who comes into
the world he bears upon his entire being the i'm
press of the Almighty.
The scriptures are ever bring ing into prom-
nence the poor the needy the downtrod ten As If
| to counter balance the wrong estimate OF men.
They are the special sharers OF the blessings OF
the Gospel. For were its precepts obeyed. all OPP
| preston would vanish away. and each man would
stand forth on the plane of equal dignity in the
sight of man. as he now does IN the sight Of God.
| The basis of tue honor due from every man to
every other man, is the image ofthe Creator which
| he bears-no more no less. On this platform men
| are equal matter what their various attain
meuts NAV be. Grant that man has fallen-the
image of God tn ough defaced, yet remains to
claim our highest respect Whereve! we see man
though he live in howell, though he be clothed IN
rags. and engage in the most mental service, We
see our brother and eqnal-one who bears the
likeness, though faint, of God, one for whom the
Saviour died, one created for an eternal destiny
| one who has powers akin to those which God him
self exercises one who chooses, reasons, acts, one
who marks out his own daily path, own who owes
allegiance only to the Most High; and we bow IN
his presence and tremble at the thought OF inter
fering in the slightest degree with the royal pre-
rogatves with which his Maker has endowed him.
There is around every person little circle which
we call his personality. 1t is sacred realm
Violently to enter this is the height Ct profanity
1t to tIampe upon the features of Divinity in the
person of brother. When the night to decide
| for ones self is taken away, man is made mere
machine. There is no moral significance even in
| a mans being compelled to do right The point
| is that for no purpose whatever may one private
individual compel another to act contrary to his
WILL 70 matter how strong or wise the one, or how
| weak or ignorant the other.
| But it often happens that wrong doing encrosch-
es upon the rights of others; then OF course the
| wrong doer may be violently restrained by some
power which can be recognized as impartial
| This power we term government. But govern
ment even is the seryant and not the master ofthe
people, God is thoroughly Sovereign. Human
rule other than parental, has no existence IN Ia
ture the entrance of error into the world made
| it necessity, and government IS constituted by
| each one giving up some portion OF his right OF
his own free choice, with the understanding that
| he shall have some voice in the administration OF
| the governing power. But human governments
have their imperfectons, and it has for ages been
| serious study to institute q model government.
We feel that our nation has attained more nearly
| than any other to this ideal.
The speaker then traced. the history of the prin
| ciples which triumphed in our recent war. and
| VIII ch now constitute the glory of our country
The value of true liberty was demonstrated by the
coming of Christ. Before that, despotism held
! undisputed sway. because can and wish to,
| toiU," was the motto of the despot. Nations
| polished with heather culture brought but little
| Improvement. But even these were an advance.
| nasmuch to seek the glory of the State was more
ennobling than to minister to demi- god in human
| shape. But there was no honor given to man
| for what he was before God, but only for what he
was before man. But when Christ came new
| light broke in upon the darkened land, the gold
en- rule was shown greatness was measured, not
| by power and success in oppression, but by eff-
| cheney of service to others. Man came forth from
spiritual bondage, q being to be hOnOred. Luther
went forth to rebuke the monstrous sins Of sacr-
ligious prize sthood nor did he run when the fire
was hot. OF all the great things Luther did, the
best thing was to bring Gods revelation out OF the
dead language in which it was cofined, and spread
/
began to realize the precious and ennobling truth
that they themselves were indeed "kings and
priests unto God.
The condition Of the middle ages was next con-
sidered. Men went to battle for their military
chieftains not to work out for themselves the
problem of life. But feudalism was destined to
pass away, not so UGH by the triumph of right
principles as by reason Of expediency. The up
rising in England under Cromwell was the polit-
| cal counterpart of the reformation in Germany.
which gave to the world glimpse of selfgovern-
ment which it has never lost sight of. But the
movement failed, ard monarchy still bore sway.
But these movements were proof that the doctrine
of liberty was making progress in the world.
Sunrise was towards the West-the finger of Gods
Providence was pointed towards the newly dis.
covered continent as the place where was to be
| tried the experiment of free government. The
heel of tyranny had trampled all over Europe,
but had not been set on this fair land The atmos-
phere was clear and pure. The Pilgrim fathers
sought room for the expansion of their cramped
manhood, for the exercise of those powers that
were given by God and limited only by him.
These men were Freedoms pioneers.
Through many vicissitudes the colonies grew, I'M
til they gained a foothold. Then the mother
country began TO bind ON the old chains. But our