The New York herald., 1878-12-30
EIGHTEENTH STREET Nj. L. CHURCH.
GREAT EVENTS OF THE yEAR-sERMoN BY THE

GREAT EVENTS OF THE NEAI-SERMoS By THE
REV. W. T. HATFIELD
Before the volume of 1878 is closed, said the Rev.
W. +. Hatfield. at the Eighteenth Street Methodist
Episcopal Church. it il well for to look that
which has been written and to note some of the
things that have made this year OF the most
memorable in modern times. In the Old World the
year opened with the march of armies and the
Of artiIery-Russia con,ending Tor supremacy and
Turkey for existence and her religion This was
one OF tie important in history. because the
questions involved affect all the great European
Powers. and led 10 the Congress at Berlin, perhaps
the august body that has met TO settle national
differences since that on the Field Of the Cloth of Gold
But while England was rejoicing over the diplomacy
OF Bcaconsfeld. and heaping honors upon him such
few men have received from that government,
a dominant ruler in the East refused TO comply with
past stpulations and 10 preserve her interest in In
dia the forces OF the Empress and the Amcer
arrayed against each other. Mr.. Hatfield then
ferred t. the dissatisfa,tion among the working
classes III Germany and said that the three attempts
to take the lives of reignng sovcregns seemed to
argue that government ruled hy one person ~ be-
coming more and more unpopular. and that gov
crnment or the people and tor the people must be
that which Will take precedence OF all others i'll the
centuries to come In speaking OF the sore distreys
that felt In many parts OF the world during the
year the preacher referred 70 the failure of the Glas
Cow Bank. aud said it disclosed systam OF fraud
with which the frauds and cinbczzicinents on this
aide not 10 he compared
sEw @oII.D BrEs AFFECTED.
have occurred. The great work OF preparing the
freedmen Tor citizenship Las gone steadily forward
aud though grave charges have been male against
individuals in regard to recent elections the south
States there be no doubt these charges viii
he investigated and the guilty punished. even though
they be- the leaders OF parties aud nen of wide iniu
Though there has beea great depression IN
business and the predictions OF year ago have not
been realized yea there has been marked improve
mcnt in our manufactures. our sales OF merchandise
and exports 70 foreign ports lie alluded to the
ract that tine national debt had been reduced
$50 0OUUO during tine year and that the ba lance OF
trade in our iayor wa- over SO,pODuoU. anu gave
some other interesting statistics 10 show the
way to period OF removed prosperity. This has
been year cf triumph for Temperance reform,
cight thousand persons having taken the pledge In
thts city in the meetings he! by Francis Murphy.
Although there has been no general rcii ous awiken-
ing there have been extensive revivals through
out the country. and one OF tho most encouraging
signs of the times the growth OF Christian unity.
Reference was made to the Southern General Con
ference in May last. where Tor the frst time
ia the history OF the church white and colored
were represented, and this Mr.. Hatfield claimed
i step taken on the roai to fraternity between the
two preat Methodist families. The yellow fever pes
thence was alluded 10 fitting terms and appro-
pirate reference made Deaths harvest ia all lands
Among the distinguished dead the preacher recalled
Pope Plus TX, KING victor Emmanuel, the Princess
Alice. william cullen bryant aud Bayard Taylor. In
conclusion. Air. Hatfield said. as We look over tho
year closing and the wreck 0f fortunes anu
Of character aud remember how nave been guided
SUSTAINED ana prcsers esl. may we be PROFOUNDLY inn
pressed with the goodness, of God aud manifest u
grateful loving oDedent spirit.