New-York tribune., 1879-05-05
AYNI VERSARY EKERCISES.

OPENING THE WEEK OF MEETINGS.
THE LAST YEARS WORK OF TIE AMERICAN HOME
MISSIONARY soCiETY--A SERMON BY THE REV.
DIR. wITHROw.
Tho exercises Of anniversary week were begun
last evening at the Broad, ~ Tabernacle. the
occasion being the annual sermon before the
American Home Missionary Society. The Rev. Dr.
Henry NJ. Storrs read the fity-thrd report Of the
society, showing that since the last anniversary Of
the society one of its Executive COmmittce-Chris-
tOpher Il. Robert; two e-DreSidents-the Rev. Dr.
Nathaniel BoutOn and James Smith; three OF its
directors--the Rev. Drs. Horato n. Brinsmade
Henry Smith and George Thacher. and seven Of IFS
missionaries, have been removed by death. The
number of ministers in the service Of the
society in 81 different States and Territories has
been 9f6 and the number Of congregations and
missionary stations 2,126 The Sunday school
scholars number s7,573, and the additions to the
churches have been about 5232. The receipts
were 1913 691 50. and the expenditures $780,
$50 %, leaving $G.176 81 still due to missionaries
In addition to these past dues, appropriations
already made and daily becoming due. amount 20
Si3, 500 rs; making the total OF pledges Sj0-
399 3d. toward Tcdeeming which, and 70 apply on
other appropriations. there is "a balance IN the
treasury Of Sl3,4Ol 80.
The animal sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr.
j. l.. Wthrow, Of Boston, from the text: go
through the gates, prepare the way of the people,
The pertinent question, he SAID, Is which Is the
hOnOred nation that is 10 lead the procession Of the
people through the gates into thG4dea land. Some
one must do the leading, and why no. Americal
Nations rise as migratory birds 90 toward the skies,
with one or two leading spirits and the rest of the
flock following There was only one Moses one
joshua and one Luther. saint and sinner, Demo-
crat and Republican, all except the SOcialsts-many
Of whom ought to be in the lunatic asylum
love their country and desire 10 see our harbors
fuller Of shipping than any other on the globe and
that country snail advance To leadership IN
everything that makes mp the true greatness Of
country. Free schools and liberal education ought
10 aid rs in that advance, and should enable ~ 70
carry on the Lords mission. We want TO reach a
clear idea of public government 10y proper system
OF education, that shall not leave vestIge Of Cou-
nunsm in it. Ii will not DO 10 depend upon edu-
cation or extent OF domain alone 30 make MS the
leading Nation of the future. but there must be
education of the heart. As Charles sumner once
saId Righteousness eXaltcth nation" Nations
like individuals have GOT 90 - by 1zag routes mp
steep ascents to prosperity. Noble NATIONS nave
rested on the religion tley bad, ANA tie most noble
nation Of the future VIII rest on the most tylical
When other peoples look 70 America as
the sickly plants turn toward the sum- it remains
for Protestant, Puritan Christianity 10 answer h3t
cry for help. Ii We are to lead nations, We bave
got TO rise to q much higher standard Of religious
purIty-sOmething more like the old Puritan type.
Bv prayer and faith the past ours, and hy c0Luu-
uance oil them the future wIl DO assured.