The Portland daily press., 1881-09-30
The Sympathy Of Nations.
The Close Of DIR. Brooks's Sermon ID
Westminster Abbey, July 4, 1880.

From ''Ths Candle of the Lord" and Other Ser
mons.
NV Friends:-May L ask you to linger while
say to you few words more, which shall
not be unsuted to what L have been saying,
and which shall, for just moment recall to
you the sacredness which this day-ths Fourth
Of July, the anniversary OF American iniepen-
dence-has in the hearts of us Americans. II
dars-generously permitted as am to stand
this evening in the venerable abbey, 80 full Of
our history as well as yours-to claim thai our fes-
tiyal shall have some sacredness for you as we'll
as US, my claim rests on the simple truth that
10 all true men the birthday of nation must al
ways be sacred thing. For in our modern
thought the nation is the making place OF man.
Notify the traditions of its history, nor by the
spendor of its corporate achievements, nor by
the abstract excellencies of its constitution,
but by its fitness to make nen, to beget and
educate human character, to contribute to the
complete humanity, the "perfect man" that is
to be,-by this alone each nation must be
Judged to-day. The nations are the golden
candlesticks which hold aloft the candle OF the
Lord. No candlestick can be 80 rich o. vener-
able that men shall honor it If 1t holds no can
die "Show us your man., land cries 10 land.
which God has led another nation IS he led
ours out of the midst Of yours must surely
wasch with anxiety and prayer the pecuiiar De-
velopment of our common humanity oI whlcn
that new nation is made the bone, the special
burning of the human candle in that new can
dlestlck; and if she sees hope and promise
that God means to build in that new land me
strong and free and characteristic manhood
which shall help the world to It's completeness,
he mother-land will surely lose the thought
al ma Of w anOniIh accom- nan ed
The birth, for gratitude over the gain which
humanity has made, for joy that man Is
born into the world"
1t is not for me to glorify Tonight the cOun-
try which love with all my heart and soul
may not ask yonr praise for anything admlra-
| ble which the United States has been or done.
| But on my country's birthday may do some
hing far more solemn and worthy OF the hour.
may ask you for your prayer in her behalf.
That on the manifold aud woDdrous chance
which God is giving her,- her freedom ('or
sho is free, since the old stain OF slavery was
washed out in bloody; on her unconstrsined re-
ligious life; on her passion for education, and
ler eager search for truth; on her Jealous care
| for the poor mans rights and opportunities;
on the countless quiet homes where the future
| generations of her men are growing; on her
| manufactures and her commerce; on her vide
gates open to the east and to the west; op her
| TRANCE meetings of the races out OF which
| new race is slowly being bora; on her vast Gu
| terprise and her illimitable hopefolness,--on
| all these materials and machineries OF inan-
mood, on all that the life of my country must
| mean for humanity, L may ask you TO pray that
| the blessing of God the Father of man, and
| Christ the Son of man, may rest forever.
| Because you are an Englishman and am
| an American; also because here under this
| high and hospitable roof of God, We are all
| more than Englishmen and more than Ameri-
| eans because we are all men, children Of God,
| waiting for the full coming OF our Fathers
| kingdom, ask you for tn at prayer.