The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-13


us.-1 Sum-, z, ~.
This stone was To commemorate "A
victory of the Israelites over their enc.
mics. As the ancient Hebrew had his
memorial stone, so the American PEG.
pie have memorial day-the Fourth
of July. This day which we have just
passed has connected with it lessons
worthy Of presentation from any pulpit
1. First, then, let us learn that lit
tie concession may sometimes be the
most profitable even to the one who
yields. England proposed to tax the
American people beyond their endurance.
To taxation without representation they
would not submit. If England had yield,
ed little here, it is quite probable that
the United States would have been now
British possession, as is Canada. But
rather than yield ever so little, England
entered upon long war in which she
lost the colonies, sacrificed thousands of
her best soldiers and expended over fifty
millions Of dollars.
The human will is slow to surrender.
How this is illustrated in our lawsuits !!
A mans anger is aroused and he says
{" will lose every dollar but that shall
beat that man in this case" The suit
developes to the great delight of the
attorneys and the decided detriment of
that mans pocket.bo Before he sur
rcuders his will he is willing 10 surren-
der every dollars worth OF property.
Sometimes true wisdom is seen in yield.
ing somewhat Washington's retreats
were his most brilliant teats of general
ship He seemed to know just when to
fall back. When one sees that he is
getting into a quarrel, it is great thing
TO know how TO make graceful retreat.
He who can surrender little of his
will when the occasion requires it,
evinces true generalship.
Christ told the people of his day that
their obstinant wills were all that stood
in the way of their salvation. eye
ac'U not come TO me that We might have
life"
.. Again, learn that it is great
thing for one to commit himself publicly
TO the support of certain principles
Fifty.siX men put their names down on
the Declaration Of Independence The
pen with which they wrote was on cxbi.
bition at the Centennial Placing ones
name on that paper meant victory or
death. Only one name bears indica-
tons of nervousness in the writer
Stephen Hopkins, and he had been sick
with palsy. Had these men not have
committed themselves thus publicly, it
is quite probable that they might have
given up before the long struggle ceased;
but there was now no going back their
names had gone forth to the world as
supporters of the principles embodied
Ia the Declaration.
Not every one who signs the temper.
ance pledge will continue true to his
promise, but the mere fact of his having
publicly put his name down on that
document gives him strength He can
not now indulge in the use of intoxicat.
lug drinks with the ease that he could
before. He stands before the world
pledged to better things
The mere matter of publicly confess.
ing Christ before the world aud Joining
the church will not necessarily keep one
faithful unto death, but it IS a decided !
help in that direction. One cannot now
engage in wrong loing as easily as he /
did before. He says: -" | have com.
mitted myself publicly to the cause of
Christ. l stand before the world pledged
to better things" This has tendency
to keep him in the right A sailor boy
while in New York was converted to
Christ, but he did not know what course
to pursue during his next voyage to keep
his old companions from ridculiDg him
and seeking to lead him to do wrong.
He took large piece of pasteboard and
wrote on it am christian" and
nailed that up over his hammock where
all could see it. He was not molested.
His companions saw that he had com
mitted himself to Christ, and was not
ashamed to have people know it, and
they respected him for it.
When Sherman is about to start on
his march through Georgia he destroys
the railroads and bridges connecting
him with Grant aud the authorities at
Washington. When his massive army
: in readiness to move he sends fare.
well telerrams to these parties and then
destroys the wires. He has now cut
himself loose from his brother generals
aud from Washington. There is now
10 retreat. He has fully committed
himself to that expedition. There is
now nothing left for him but to 90
ahcad-and go ahead he does, through
storm and through sunshine, through
night aud through day, until the spires
Of old. Savannah greet him in the dis.
lance.
>. We learn fran this subject some
thing OF woman's influence. When Great
Britain placed a tax on silk, the women
of America said they would wear no
SILK when tax was placed on tea,
they said we will drink no tea. The
women OF America dared the British
D..