The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-08-03
NO. 49,

S'" =" viz sPilll ol man tD0C snail build
up tne soul and bring it nearer to the
goullkc state; n civilization which lava
broad and deep its foundations in do
mestic virtue and gives the place of
honor to parents, flial and social obli-
cations whose religion is the worshin
OF that all powerful. all wise. ever pres
ent. supremely just and good and loving
Being whom alone the intelligent mind
Of man is willing to call God: given
such civilization, and we have that
state IN which man can best realize the
end OF his creation, a state Of society
ever pure and enduring perpetually 70
the coming of that Kingdom and that
Day to which the good in all ages look
forward with anticipations Of holy 10y.
DO we need to give reasons and argu-
ments, MIR. President, to persuade men
to lend their aid and their sympathy to
the cause of propagating that Bible on
whose preceptS such a civilization is
builded The best and greatest minds
OF our country and Of christendom have
esteemed it not the less duty, indeed.
but one of the highest privileges youch-
safed to man to be permitted to engage
IN this work so free from every suspi-
cion Of selfishness or hope of material.
gain. TO the American citizen who loves
| his country and desires to see our insti-
tutions perpctnatcd. and the blessings
Of free, enlightened, od-fearing civil
iiiZation secured to generations yet uu-
born, study of late developments in
our history does indeed suggest peculiar
inducements to redoubled efforts in
spreading forward this cause. 1t is
fact that compels serious thought that
IN the past thirty years ten. millions of
foreigners have sought homes in the
| United States add To these their imme-
dinte offspring, numbering not less than
five millions more. Fifteen "millions of
people, foreign in character, ideas and
sympathies thus incorporated into our
national life" Add to these the six OF
seven millions of negroes who have in
the same period been received as factors
in the political life of our country. Over
one third OF the entire population Of our
country ut the present time to be assim-
| ilated in one generation and made like
| unto ourselves in opinion, in character.
in sympathies Of government, Of society.
of morals, Of religion, of luw, Of GOD.
| In this field the work OF the American
Bible Society has been boon to our
| country. Hundreds Of thousands of Bibles
have been furnished by it to these newly
| with them to their western homes and
become the chart and guide of their new
life i'll their newly found homes. What
wonder that Illinois law, as recently
proclaimed from the Bench Of that State
is strong enough to deal with the ami
hilist outbreakers |! What wonder that
the new formed society of the Western
States can stand the shock Of social up
heavals Their institutions are strong
and vigorous and elastic with the all
persuasive, litr-giving principles Of the
Bible. Drcalners in politics and social
ogy in forecasting the future Of our
country are accustomed to say that the
genius OF our people will save us from
political and social ruin. 1t may be and
probably is true, but that that genius is
live. political, evangelical christianity.
and the Bible Is her chief handmaid.
Mr.. President. travellers among the
Alps tell Us in glowing language Of tn.
magnificcncc OF the dawn and sunrise as
| viewed from those towering, suow-cop-
cred SUBMITS. So we to-day stand here
| at the apex as it We're Of our nineteenth
century civil: q ION and view the shad-
| ows Of spiritual darkness steal away
| adown the hillSideS and into the valleys
| Of this fair earth soon to disappear be-
fore the advancing sun Of righteousness,
| and as we look forward to the coming
brightness Of that perfect day we, in
unison with all the workers in this great
| Bible cause, breathe with renewed hope
and deeper, more solemn meaning that
prayer which in all ages has gone up rs
the souls highest aspiration from anx-
ious, waiting hearts, and shall ascend
with increasing frequency and fervor
from the ever increasing millions Of
hearts that throb with christian love till
miyhty, joyous shout Of triumph and
t'"alization shall rssoand throughout
TIC world
Thy Kingdom come
In Mem0rian.
| 1t was not my privilege to attend the
last meeting of the Abbeville District
Bible Society, being engaged at that
time in holding term Of Court in an
other part Of the State, hence the delay
in presenting this tribute to the memory
of the late Armistead Burt.
| Mr.. Burt, whose presence with US
on these occasions was seldom wanting.
was born in Edgefeld District on the
10th day Of November 1902, and depart
ed this life on the 3Oth day Of October,
1883. This is not the time, nor the oc-
casien for an extended sketch of his
long and eventful life.
BY reason OF habits Of temperance
amounting almost TO abstemiousness,
preserving strong physical constitu-
ton, lie was spared to attain by more
than half u score Of years the allotted
: period Of mans existence ON the earth,