Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-07-15
THE BRATTLEBORO PULPIT
oS THE PRESIDENTS ASSASSINATION AND ITS
LESSONS

on TIE PRESIDENTS ASSASSINATION AND ITS
LESSONS
At the Baptist church, Sunday morning,
Rev. Mr. Cow discussed the political stun
ton from Psalms 10 God Is our refuge
and strength, a very present help in trouble
He remarked that the American people, in
their sorrow and CONSERVATION on account of
the assassination of the President, have taken
refuge in the Christian doctrine OF the sover-
eighty Of God in the affairs Of nations Their
faith is well grounded and yet the doctrine
has its limitations aud conditions which wise
men will carefully consider. Tho word of
God aud the history Of nations agree in teach
ing--l, that this doctrine does not prevent
the most dreful calamities and even entire
destruction from falling upon a nation =,
that il includes the accomplishment of the
divine purposes by means OF such calami.ies
and destruction g. that il so stands related
TO human freedom and responsibility that il
will never secure permanent prosperity TO a
nation which will not obey the command
ments of God. We have Acknowledged God
in our distress and besought Him to spare the
life of our President. We begin to hope that
the danger is past, but are in danger of for.
getting the call 10 repentance which we
have heard. Christ rebuked the Jews for
not discerning the signs of the times. We
are in danger of the same folly. What are
the perils Of the time in our public affairs
They grow out of the very prosperity which
God has bestowed upon us A yirtuous peo-
pie is sure to increase in intellectual and ma
terial strength. With education and wealth
comes ambition for power. The tendency is
for each OF these sources Of power to concen-
trate in the possession Of the few. Each de-
sires the aid Of the other. They combine for
mutual advantage The business Of the gov
eminent consists in the doing of three things
the filling OF public Offices the making of the
laws, the administration OF law With the
concentration and accumulation of intellectual
power and material wealth in the possession
of a comparatively few persons the peril is
that the few so exalted in power will fill the
offices, make the laws and administer them in
their own interest with little regard to the
welfare Of the people at large. The great
body Of the people engaged in agricultural
and mechanical labor are powerless in the
hands of such ruling cast when once it has
become supreme in public affairs. Offices are
filled for the advantage of office holders. laws
are made with reference TO the avaricious
demands of moneyed corporations and nd
ministered for the advantage of the rich and
influential. All these perils may be described
by the single word taDOritism. They are the
natural product of our national prosperity COM
bined with the natural selfishness ofmen. They
can be averted only by reform in both private
and public life. Only virtuous people can pro.
duoe honest legislators and magistrates We
are taking heart for the future from the good
ness of God in sparing the President We NAV
well do so, but only if we remember obedient-
ly the words of an apostle, knowing that the
goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance"
At the Universalist church Rev. Mr.. Whit
ney preached from Jer. 1923 his subject
being ''Divine Providence" The tragic
event at Washington, he remarked. has led
10 ogE Tp glar
He concerned in human affairs ?" From
smallest atom to farthest star Nature bears
witness to the plan and oversight of God
History, too, reveals a Providence which
guides and Overrules the affairs of men.
Guiteau's assault was base and wicked. vet
great good will spring from it. Most cheer
ing is the universal sympathy for the Presi-
dent. 1t shows the real unity of the nation
and foretells an era of good feeling and fra
ternity Startled by the sad event, the peo
pie are eager for civil service reform and the
issue may be the death of that system of
spoils which threatens the strength and life
OF the nation. Thus everywhere God makes
the wrath of men to work good results. In
closing the preacher urged all not to censure
God or yield to despair, but always trust in
Him who doeth all things well.
At the Congregational church, West Brat
tleboro, Rev. @. H. Merrill spoke from the
teAt 'Ihere Is no wisdom nor counsel nor
understanding against God. "-PRov. 2l;3O.
He spoke of some of the lessons suggested by
the attempted assassination of the President,
which relate specially TO themes most fire.
quently discussed in Christian pulpits. An
illustration of the truth of the text was found
in the career of the criminal Reference was
made to the thought, upon which the changes
have been SO widely rung, that this crime was
the result OF an overpowering sense of self
Importance and it was said that life like
his was significant as showing in its final
issue the tendency of all forms OF selhshness.
which is the root of sin. Whether he was
sane or insane when the deed was committed,
1t might matter little so far as the signi6.
canoe of his whole course of life was con- |
oerned. Selhshness ministers to q diseased
mind, and sooner or later there will not be
much to choose between its sanity and insan- |
ity. Goethes experience in dealing with |
"Werterism" was cited, and his advice to |
youths with unappreciated talents meditating
suicide, that cure for sentimentalism might |
be found in vigorous, self-sacrifcing work.
was endorsed and the suggestion added that |
this lawyer, theologian and politician"
might have found safety-valve for his pent. |
up energies in breaking stones upon the road.
The religious fanatioism of the man was held |
to be caricature Of the faith termed Chris. |
tlan, and it was claimed that those who cite |
his sayings or his conduct as in any way rem |
resentative of Christianity, we're making a |