New-York tribune., 1876-05-19
THE ANNUAL SERMON.

After tho usual opening hymns and prayers. the
annual sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. T.. ~
Norris who traced the progress OF American lresDy
terianisn the conditions of its growth. its perils,
and it's future, as follows:
We who are assembled this holy place TO review the
Divine goodness beloved Church. to consider the
evidences and the OF her present prosperity ana
20 confirm faith in the and blessing Oi ooa
Through coming times, shall readily recall TWO fainhar
passages Scripture which be felt to be the imme
dato basis and substance of our joint meditation Inc
rst found in the 63d chapter Of Isaiah viii be recos
pized as the song of commemOratiOn, celebrating In
beautiful imagery the historical word OF Jehovah to"au
His ancient Church and people, In all their aeuon
He was afflicted. and the angel OF HIS
presence saved them in His love and in His pity lie To
deemed then and He bore them and earrlcd them III
the days OF old" The second. found In the 4Sth fSan
the hymn Joy and hope inspired by the survey ofthe
present strength AMI beauty Of that Church. ana OF ee
dom confidence in her predicted anu glorious rutGe
"Walk about Zion, and round about her teh Sc the
vowers thereof Mark ye well her bulwarks consider
her paaees that We may tell il to the generation follow
ing For this God is our God forever and ever" In
combination these two passages suggest the ea'olna
lesson OF the hour that the CAurch In all ages en-
.oys In special the DIVINE Energy
ana protection they reveal to us God as the God si his
people The ecclesiastical year just CLOSING haS
been marked by many Illustrations OF this truth, IN the
prevalent peace and concord. In the a0OundE mAhioS
taions loyalty TO type of faith and the measure o
growth aud progress in the increase oil our ministry III
the vigorous prosecution OF denOmnationa work at
home and abroad and especially in the reviving Of
uRon in somany OF our churches, that have tnSiOly
proved that the angel OF the Divine presence has been
with us and is shielding u.s. Tho promise OF
the ensuing year is also ful, rich, abundant
In the midst of financial depression and 0f
political agitation the faith, courage, and devotion oil
our ueople are not declining; denOmlnationa enter
prises are moving forward with scarcely DIMINISHED
interest; devotion and conservation sull CHARACTERIZE
ministry; precious revyaS are IN progress anu
our churches rejoicing in numerous accessl"hS anu
in the bloom and progress Of redundant spiritual ne
Under such fayornS circumstances does 1t not az inns
sacred hour become foremost duty 10 roc" the ian
guage Of Pslmst and Prophet and 10 celebrate win
them the goodness Of Him who Is the shepherd OF l'"e
through all the glneratons As VIC conster the caor'
and condition, aud prospects Oh our Chch On oFo"
aeaa how much radiant becomes tie occasion Tor
such ymus jog and hOpe In this historic year III our
national lfe minds are naturally ied 10 coi'"er
with fresh interest two centuries nearly OF CIR de
nom,uatOnal existence this continent aud 10 trace
the hand OF our God upon us irJm age To age ~
Is natural TO note the vivid contrasts between tie earlier
feebleness and lab0Is, and conflicts and osoHo "oNeF
opment of the past and the mingled strength ana DiuS
OF our present Zion, fortified win o DuWaba VI SNd
ton Nor can W. refrain at such time from .oo"hs
forward ana gathering ap irom the teachings oi ba'!
and the witness Of Scripture OmiOItnS asatl&hctS
respecting the Of our denomination IN ihs CONT
nent in centuries that are to come on ioi mhH' |"
compreheud the wonders o. the Divine deahng Doth
realized and promised and for hearts that cxcam WitA
the P,alm,sr TINS God VINO has been and no" is ana
shall continue TO he our GOi fOreyer and forever
Considering broader aspects the occasion seems
to prescribe theme which demands present c"Asutia-
ton namely. the lgs and tho future ol AmoHc'n fies
byterianism WLi.c realize very painfully &c contrast
between The ..uituGc Of tins theme ana the 'al oCa
Limitations under which mus labor in disc' iaS H.
Iproposs on the one side 20 present some pertinent sl-
eest.ons respecting our denOmmauondi development,
from the FIRST planting of the seed 'J the present era OF
ratiye ygor and maturity, and on the other size - IL
dcaie in general the line Of progress for 'Ee iunrc'
and 10 name Of the conditions under WG'th s"ch
OroereSs may be anticipated Nth topic ttrh some
what vaguely announced let me solicit you sy npaheuc
attention.
IL dancing At the history Of Pr"sy tcriaaism as .t
history shades into The beautiful aud cheering pres
snt IL will be well 10 note at the outset tho important
r. that this P.esbytcransm sprang from jAe Brilish
rather than the Continental stock Continental Pr'sb5-
tsr4snsm starting the Reformation has tho primary
form church organization adopted ~ Ffotc'tAi7W
sod sssi,oatod by strong aud vital a. 20 te La,'nis-
tie type Of the reform doctrine but ha' Lot 1d'' 10
ustfy It's earlIeI promise especially during tho fyI-
teoutb century when enemies colsprcd against u III
eye-y form 10 change the serene bloom VI ts morn
ing INTO a cO.j. II r,eau"Ele otic"6th'heh -
essential eg4tcs Of eccle.4stea position, and through
tie struggles Or the seventeenth century secured TOT
Itself permanent home and wider iof iencs iare was
un,eh in such doctrine and order which vas caeaJd
70 win the British mind. II af1e ethical e'''''l ls
exoerience is practical i8eiAOJs. s '.ee ~. 5Y.t "fhs
Of orgoa za0h aud pecaIy ils clear, yNs"'' @'-t
tatiyn OF al that niJss y.4i4a IiO'ls.ns'
gave II ready entrance, s1d Won 'o5 10 prfHats lD'f'
~ Under such fayOll8g COD1tlO 10 s'rHIJ gre"
n5rthward and Eolthwarl, blt tgirD2d iH n""N+s
kruggles Fos state recognition aud peuZe o TfaErnf1
its spiritual influence ana at lat n Ea2'n1 g We
thrown back into secondary place. Yet before tle sAd
OF the century British Pro -a.-'tsn b11 confirmed re
right 10 separate existence, -4 Iasi!Ied ~ l"fi"H
on the proadsst spiritual groon1s. bad Honhba
,el. a. the symbols . Westminster hal OeeL esiaoA"ed
An scot.pf 20 To u.Jull church, aud tcrOme Known
tbroushcu. e.rope o tho most e3csiFs ipiee Di
protestant Christianity. To this British auceay. Amor
lean Proi,s. ntism 80 oxisteinc ~ l-e Tine 4"
that trans,antug Indepen1enoyi 10 ,- go va1eiie Dad
poases.sd New-Engaad. RepIeseutai.ras VI the pro
trbed Presterlauis % France bad uieauwlbg sDu&ht
refuge IN the c. arJlns; fB8 scatere1 adhe-cnN i 80"
doctrines Of Westminster, from scJJ4Bd and ireland,
and other EnrODsan nAcO8tsnt hal sgttei 90 Tie FA
Qua saies % America. II Do untn iLe beginning "
tbe eightesutb century hySegef tt BIlaL 1lesihis
were eomye.sd 70 IRE frOi0 ps5seatDn ana Tlf4i4
ba bscgn,s nors ericnzye tast particular oODxfcga~
tons bsgan 70 form b 1ayiaDJ aad pesJ .tsAl1 aD1
N. 6rs, Prssbytsry Drinzed. sBd oBf cbsfeS 40
suea "a dsbntgs yIscs smOBg tie GsDD1iD tDaI ~.
z.u5zstns ssa w1s Gssssd ~ sbAts 30 80 Afzs part
fbs fsnIo4s Alstgfy of ~ ne contDsDL
IsyLDgxcEs AY1ECTITG PHgsETTggibDsN'
AsssgAas tbs sgests o' 10 ksrn thus piant>1 ~
e,ssOsS 50 gsBsF4I sDB6stiDas AGeeiaS NM ~ tss
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6As xyestA ps< sis,ssh III hesS, ~ s'sg N hn"s
nSs - fstsrshes no E,.is4i s@Dstsys ifs~ Tie
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