The Baltimore County union., 1880-10-16
EXTRACTS
From Sermon by the Rev. DR.. Hoff on
tho SosQui- Centennial.
600
EXTRACTS

rnE ExcELLrScE or oUg nEIIrA"E
! II is doubtful whether the goodness of tod 20
any people. as set forth in the 10th Psalm. has
been more sigsally display ed than tous; yet some
thing of the same process has been going on ever
since the time when tho command was given to
/ mankind 10 60 forth and subduc the earth. As
population has increased in particular localities,
the fertility Of the soil became exhausted. or
as oppression has turned the thoughts OF individ-
uals and classes TO seek new homes the same facing
Of dangers aad the same interpretations Of Divine
Providence have taken place. Notonly the records
Of history show this fact Of the desertion Of the
| old and the venturing on new lands, but the re-
mains Of ancient and unnamed cities found over =
large part Of the world witness to the same fact.
There arc proofs that America vas visited In
several parts before the time Of Columbus, but
until then the new world was not brought TO the
general notice Of the cultured nations of Europe
After that more than century passed before the
| parts now occupied by the inhabitants of these
states was discovered, and not until A. ID. 1907
was there any efectual settlement Of colonsts any
where along these shores. Then the noble Ches-
I apeakc, with its numerous inets and rivers, be-
gan TO open its bosom TO the bold advcnturcrs from
over the great deep.
Two hundred and seventy three years have
passed since that time, and at the head Of the
waters Of that inland We are celebrating the
| lJOth anniy iyersary Of the city which adorns its
shores. The foundation of Baltimore stands about
midway as 20 time between the first settlements
which so tried the energies of the colonists and
this proud day which the of our prosperity
shines 30 brightly. Instead of y wilderness where
the emgrant timediy set his foot. not knowing
how many foes he would have TO encounter or
whether he might not soon fall prey 90 the
beasts Of the Forest we around us the security
aud the abundance Of civilized and refined life
And may We not say that Of all portions Of this
fair land recovered by Gods gracious aid from the
wildness Of nature there is none superior to this
which is possessed by the people Of Maryland
All that ministers 10 the comfort cf human life il
near at hand or easily possessed. Our climate and
soil. our rivers and our mountains, this great bay
which divides yet uniies Us By an easy highway
which move the gallant ships bearing to and
fro the riches of and other lands our ar;i-
fetal connections with North. South and West. the
measure of wealth accumulated among us. sufii-
cicnt 60 stimulate 90 every needed work of public
or Of private good. surely these things properly
pondcred will awaken n sense Of thankiulncss to
Him who has east our ''lot in pleasant places aud
given Us this ''goody heritage" We cannot but
admire the human foTethought and energy which
have been displayed in bringing about such
suits from such feeble beginnings in so short
time. but not the less praises due 90 tod
for the wonderful working Of Iii. gracious hand.
lie prepared these beautiful and hcalthful diVsTs
ties oi land and water, Of hill and dale. In Ills
own time lie made known this cXccllent habita-
ti"n 90 those for whom II was provided. lie gave
them strength and endurance TO meet the difhcul-
labors with success 80 that now with all numcr
Gus population there is bread enough AMI 10 spare.
and the means not only cf living but Of living
comfortably. Here extended opportunities OF
cultvating all the arts Of life had BY large
a portion of society n anywhere on earth. II
view only our worldly situation and consider all
that God ha, done AMI is doing for the people of
this Commonwealth. We are disposed o. address
them in the refrain of this Psalm. "Oh that men
would praise the Lord for Ills goodness and tor
Iii. wonderful works to the children Of men,
rnE PROSPERITY or BALTIMORE.
The particular occasion of in,ercs, named Ia the
papers Of the day and which draw. together crowds
of per'ons from all parts Of the state and beyond
u l. the occurrence Uf the l5uth anniversary OF the
founding OF our chief city. We who live nca-
and almost part Of il cannot bg; he specially
anxious that all reasonable success should crown
the efforts which have been made. There has
been proper recognition Of the rcli eious aspects
Of the event by the call made upon the clcrgy to
take art in the celebration.
Great cities have n life ol their own no, indcpen
dent indeed of the life of the country which feeds
them and from which they draw their wealth. but
yc, with pecuiiarites which distinguish them from
other parts of the Commonwealth. IL cannot be
said that those peculiariies are altogether 10 be
enviea.. The hustle and the glare. the amuscmenis
aud the golden heaps which commerce there
cumulatcs and displays are very attractive. The
young. Undertaking the quiet Of the country,
apt TO coset the opportunities Of the city. The
green fields and the noble streams and fac grand
forests associated n their experience OF obscr
walton with hard toll. with moderate returns for
labor. and they think the transfer to the city with
its present exeitements and its hoped for prize.
would be happy exchange. Well. il il in vain
to argue against the tendencies which give growth
to eur large towns. They a .csuit Of causes
which. lie deep in human nature and in the conli-
tion Of our present existence. The gathering to-
g,,hcr of cnterprising men. the frequent inter
change oi thought in the walks Of business, the
accumulation Of property. the extension Of the
lines of commerce. the nee'l of men who are pre-
pared 10 deal with all which arise in this
active condition Of affairs. all these things elicit
qualities in city life not much dcv elope in the
country. Bui when We think of other thing. that
here where the life Of many il 80 busy ani intense
Ia it, occupation temptation spreads it, snares in
the Ways Of those "nakipg haste To- be rich" and
that those who are not occupied with business are
in many cases absorbed in the pursuits Of
pleasure. and that. too. pleasure ever upon the
verge OF vice. such muiitudes passing that b0uni
and tumbling into the depth Ot ruinous iniqui,y
We have to confess that the city has its peculiar
dangers a we'll a. in own advantage. How
great the need there and everywhere Of the re
siraining and clevaiins power Of religious princi
pie. IL i interesting to know that in the neigh
boring city 20 - great an extent there are those
among the clergy and not n few among the laity
who labor most earnestly and successfully in set
ting forward the great principles Of the gospel oG
Jesu. Christ. Not only do churches and their
services abound. bu, many works arc prosecuted
by the religious and benevolent for allcviating the
necessities of the poor and guiding the feet Of the
unwary into the paths Of safety.
The great objection TO city life is its excitement
nduc excitement is the bane OF happiness and un
friendly TO the proper development Of human
character. II We reflect upon what this earthly
existence Is intended 10 be. u We consider that
man cannot be what he should be unless he has a
large measure of repose. time for thought. oppor-
tuniiy for the development of his own higher
qualities. there j. much 90 be said in favor Of the
retired life of the country. In the crowded city
Ten move with the crowd. Life there Is apt TO be
artificial. One does this or that because 80 many
do the same. Ia has been observed that many of
those who have grown up 10 be men of influence
in public affairs men who have been distinguished
ia the State and in all the chief ayenues Of society
have been taken from the country. Certainly
some Of the most interesting families where true
refinement. genuine hospitality. preparation for
all the duties Of life enlarged intelligenc strength
Of character. and the happy disposition which
gives brightness 20 the countenance and difuses
brightness around. have been families reared
apart from the crowded ways Of the city aud un-
concerned about many things which the sons aud
daughters Of fashion and gae,y think 10 be essen
tial to their happiness.
Yet whatever l. 20 be said Of the comparative
advantages of the two conditions. ciiics exist and
will exist and will 20 on to grow. May that with
which ve are more nearly connected not only in
crease In sire and In wealth but may II abound
more and more in all that makes the individual
and the community blessed. There il \ light from
heaven which 10 meant 20 illuminate ma nkind un-
der all conditions, and without Il We ate dcsolate
indeed. The Scriptures tell of a city of old where
God recorded hi. name Jerusalem. glorious with