Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-30

! to he free -.that men begin I'd Seek each other
This is shown in cberishipg the fraterpsl feeling
to promote business, social contact. in reaching
out the hand OF bene to those regions Of the
world beyond the pale of civilization. The prin-
cipes Of freedom melt away barriers between na.
tons.
Fourthly. the tendency TO closer union that is
manifest in the religious world. 1t is .
most gratifying fact beyond all controversy, that
| an increasing kindness of feeling has sprung
up between the various bodies Of christians bear
iug different names. general his.ian sentiment
does not Justify enmity q result of difference of
belief No sldder feature is there on the page of
church history than the record of bitterness be-
| tween those who disagreed in their thinking on
| r. ligious questions. They have ceased thus to
SIM and have come closer to each other. They
have seen how easy thing it was TO be mistak-
en-, and how noble thing it was to cherish sin
| ceie aud unprejudiced convictions. With this,
has come change in religious life, and despite
the fears of some. change for the better. Chris
tian cha, acter has become more simple, more
scrptural. The lesson has also been learned that
unity is not promoted bv yielding or ignoring
| truth, but rather by holding firmly TO the truth,
and yielding error. How beautiful the specta-
Gle we now behold, of the whole Protestant
| world, through its representatives, bending to-
gether over the Bible that they may, If possible
get nearer to its original inspired meaning. Not
before orr time has such . sight been seen. A
| better will not be seen till we, the Protestant
world, take up that newly translated word to
read it. The word Of God is one, and the near
er Christians come to that the closer will they
come together.
The preacher said that il did not escape him
that there is much about us quite unlike our
wish but our joy and confidence lie in this
that the encouraging things of our time are vast
ly mightier than the discouragLg things. The
things we rejoice in are stronger than the dis
coursgng things. Can we imagine that human
intercourse will ever be less than now 7 or that
the students of science will ever 70 back to its
chilly alphabet Z or that government will retro
grade through monarchy to dospotism or that
christians will again become angry with their op-
pOne nts in short, that civilization will 20 back
into bar ism
1t is b til agreeable and appropriate to allow
this train of thought to lind application to our
country, of which we lovingly and gratefully
think to-day. We have said more about union
than any other nation, and doubtless because we
have made greater progress than any. We are
the United States, and are such more than in
name. We have here all the elements calculated
to produce union. That was an eage-eyed
statesman who made Union, NTH Liberty, the ma
tons wstchword. Liberty, turned into license,
makes union dsunion. He cannot be q friend to
his country who practices any form Of corruption.
We must deny to any man the title Of statesman
or patriot If his hands be not clean, if his heart
be not sound. The precious power of the ballot
should never be prostituted to lift man into Of
fee who is morally unsound. On the other hand
we cannot too much praise and honor that public
servant who lifts up his voice in defence Of the
nations honor and integrity.
There are MANY things in our national life to
deplore. There is Dead Sea in most sll our Holy
Lands. But we do clam that our nation is
planted and conducted on principles of right and
Justice that It countenances no moral wrong, that
it upholds truth and virtue. We are not Is 1t. bic
as China or England, but we might be il we pro-
crossed no faster. The price of liberty is high,
eternal vigilance and whoever Is unwilling to
pay it, is undeserving the boon. Some may
point at the chasm between the North and the
South. and laugh at the idea Of Union. But what
made the chasm! The awful sin Of slavery. No
wonder it is vide. But it is closing; the bene-
factions of the North to the South during its recent
scourge have helped to close it up. The heart Of our
people is true; whenev' they pronounce their YER
dict upon the questions of the day, it is sound
A large part OF this country has recently utter
ed It's voice upon important issues-issues in
which were at stake the honor of the country. and
the voice said the nation shall keep its promises.
Every lover OF his country has rejoiced at the
sound and has lifted up his voice in Thsnksgiv
ing to God that his fellow citizens were still the
soul of honor, and demsgogues were rebuked.
The most of us must shape public opinions as
private citizens. But As such may be true
patriots. Our lives go to make up the sum to-
tai OF the Datlon's spirit and temper. 1.-THE int-
vdual life Is pure, so will the national lie be.
But there is further power in our hands that of
the ballot Use II as conscientiously, as sobery as
diligently. as You per orm your devotions. Some
are SO pure that they cannot smear their gar
ments by coming near a ballot bot. Politics are
so corrupt that they cannot forfeit in the least
their sanctity. He deplored such nonsense. In
such q country as this. in such times as these.
for a citizen to throw away his ballot is very
like soldier throwing away his musket in time
OF battle. Do not give up such a royal prerog
alive, especially If you are christian. Use It !;
1t is for you 10 say how. Use it; for you not
only choose rulers, but help to form public SEN
timent
The discourse closed with a reference to the
more special reasons for Thanksgiving such as the
continuance of peace and prosperity, the bless.
ings of health, and the abu ndaut harvests.