Morning journal and courier., 1883-09-17
The Late Encampment.

Rev, RIr HoughtOn on ssCamp Waller
 and the sham Battle"
 Rev. Mr. Houghton, chaplain of the sec- ond regiment, preached sermon at the Church of the Messiah yesterday morning upon "Camp Waller and the Sham Battle" " He took for his text the words, ''He will thoroughly purge his floor" The text seemed a strange one, the preacher said, to use in connection with the subject he had chosen, but he would endeavor to make it's application clear before the close of the ser mon The speaker stated in opening the ob- feet of the Connecticut National Guard, and the reason of the encampment at Ninntic last week. He said he was chaplain of the Sec- ond regiment and had been at Camp Waller. While there he watched all the proceedings carefully and thought of the reasons behind them, as he believed in seeking for some thought behind our feelings. The preacher then described the routine of camp life and the details of the sham fight in graphic manner, speaking very feelingly about the sad accident which occurred He also described the scene on Governors day. In searching for the real
 meaning of all this that the Saviour saidwhen he came on earth that he came not to bring peace, but the sword. So if we trace the course of human events ln the history of the world, if we follow the movements of na- tions, their risings and fallings, we shall see that men have been compelled to push them selves forward by whatever means they pos sessed. Man is selfish and fond of power. He never is willing to yield up his prej- udices But the order of human life is such that the truth must Illumine the earth, the eternal power of right must sweep South had their convictions, and the people of the North had theirs. The conflict had to come, and armies were organ. ized and the question of who was right had to be decided by force of arms. So when ever there have been great changes 1n na' tions there has been war, and rum ors of war. You may ask why we cannot preach and pray men into doing right and being right. That cannot always be done until men are far more traetable than they are at the pres ent day. So this national guard has been or ganized that the country may be protected from the violence of enemies, who would drag down the emblem of liberty and trail it in the dust. But there are many other ene-
 mics that we must look out for, sin ln all It's
 forms Alcohol will bring ruin upon our fail | land yet. Sometimes we stop and wonder how far we have got in our civilization
 Some think we cannot go any farther. This | is not so. Sometime right and justice will prevail The time will come when men and women will not be murdered by human | fiends, when selfishness will no longer rule when oppression and vice and crime and out rages upon law and order will no longer ex | ist, for ''He will thoroughly purge his floor. , | Little influences are at work everywhere ! Every one should add his little to the side oi
 right and help God in his work. Let us be
 come instruments in purging the floor and 1 help on the time when there shall be songs oi | joy everywhere and the look of the divine love upon every face. Let every man joir
 the national guard against sin in all iti | forms.