The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-07-12
UNION CAMP MEETING.
Large. orderly and Interested
observation-disclosures Sermon
ON the Fourth.

| observation-disclosures Sermon
ON the Fourth.
The Union Camp Meeting near
Virginia Grove church, about three
miles trifie south of east ofTipton, be-
| gan as was announced on Monday even
ing of last week-Rev o. Il. Bowles
preaching the inaugural sermon. The
grounds were well ehosen-conyen-
lent, roomy, pleasant-and all the
necessary preparations were well
made. Twenty-Five different minis
tiers representing six different denom-
nations, participated in the conduct
of the services, and very much
larger number of denominations were
represented among the worshipers
and attendants. 1t was, therefore, a
Union Meeting in fact as well as in
name.
Tuesday, the stated order of daily
exercises commenced, and running
through tins days programme will
give an idea of the succession ofevents
on each day, although, of course, the
speakers and other active participants
were constantly changing: Early
morning prayer meeting; Social
Service at .; preaching at 10 80 by
Rev. q. NJ. Scott, of Iowa City, on
''The Wisdom that Cometh from
Above - Childrens Meeting ut
30 T. NJ, made very pleasant and eff
ficient under the conduct of Mrs.
Bowles and other ladies; prayer and
conference meeting same hour; regu-
lar preaching at /. NJ, by Rev. S.
A. Lee. upon the Renewal of Gods
Covenant with Abraham !" social
meeting at !, and regular preaching at
O'Clock by Rev. :. A. Barnes. Prayer
and altar EXERCISES followed each
sermon service.
The attendance was not large on
Tuesday, but on Wednesday 4th inst,
great company, variously estimated
at two from five thousand, gathered to
the solemn and interesting services.
The regular morning sermon at 10 80
was preached by Rev. II. ID. Parsons
and ut the request of many, both who
heard and who did not hear il, we
subjoin a comprehensive synopsis
its breyity, however, necessarily
emitting most of the fine illustrations
and other verbal adornment in which
Mr.. p. eNcelis. Taking cognizance
of the time, the subject was
THE NATION AS AFFECTED BY RIGHT
EoCSNEsS AND SIN.
Righteousness exalteth nation, but sin is
areproath to any people, Prov. XIV, "a.
Love of country is one OF the purest
and noblest emotions of the soul Ii
is kin in nature to love of God, or
love Of home. A man actuated by love
of God and man cannot be disloval to
his country.
A nations holidays indicate the
character of its people, and the central
truths around which its civilization is
organized. II Is a matter Of great joy
and encouragement that our gala DAYS
are not cruel combats, nor, i'm design,
days of revel and debauch but COM
memorate some truth or event OF
christianity or patriotism. We have
Thanksgiving day, a Christmas day
Decoration day, and Fourth OF
July.
There is a Providence superintend-
ing the affairs of nations: but their
prosperity or decline is not the mere
freak of arbitrary power; for nation
Is exalted by Righteousness and re-
preached by sin. Righteousness and
sin can only be attributed where there
/ Is ability to form moral character, and
| i'm that character to be rewarded or
| punished. Nations are capable oi
| forming character, and as nations are
rewarded and punish ed-the reward
| being OF the nature of growth and
prosperity, and the punishment of adj.
versity and destruction. A nation
may become righteous i'm two ways
LIST, by its own corporate or govern
mental acts being in accorda nee with
| the requirements of God and the prin-
ciples Of truth and justice. This will
| ihclude the nature Of its organic struc.
ture, and Of its acts of legislation and
md, by virtue becoming universal
or. at least, predominant among the
people. \ nation OF righteous people,
and righteous nation are practically
/ the same.
In the first of these requirements
we are righteous. Our fathers dug
! down to the bed rock OF eternal truth
when they laid the foundations OF
this republic. Though our legislation
has not always been in the fear of God
and in accordance with right, ii has
not been intentionaIlyin opposition te
them, and virtue has prevailed among
| the people.
We are IN consequence Il nation
/ highly exalted in material advantages
and resources. 1t is essential as a grea,
nation that ii have territory suffjcjep,
for the development of great people
that this domain lie in one unbroke,
body, and that the people be of on,
language, religion and custom. Tn,
advantage of our land in this respect
may be seen in contrast with England
or any other nation of to-day. Ii
should also be noted that we hay,
this vast domain so isolated from all
other countries as to be Independent,
of them in our politics and domestic
enterprises.
We are a nation exalted in the bless
ings Of liberty. intelligence and relig
ion. The principles of human freedom
for which patriots have commended
and martyrs died, and to which larg,
part or the world has not yet attained
are the common axioms ofour though,
and fully established in our law an,
practice. They are such as, that al
men are of one blood-are brothers.
and as to natural rights, equal; that
governments are made for the people
and not the people for the govern
ments; that every one has the RICH,
TO his opinion, which in serious mat
tiers becomes conscience, which
il not to be interfered with by fore,
either by government or private citi
zens. For the establishment of these
history shows IA weary struggle, rec
cord Of blood, fire ana tears. The bes
illustration of the fruit OF this liberty
Is the American home-the comforta
bic, refined, and beautiiied home of tn,
average farmer, mechanic and trades
man. The christian home is the fair
est product of our present civilization
a nation of christian homes canno
perish; IA nation without homes is il
ruins already.
We are exalted to the special favo
and Watch-ca.e of God. That ther,
is a Providence over Us i indicated
by our history. Ii is evident that Go,
kept his hand over this land and Gov