Smyrna times., 1886-07-07
The Voice of the Pnlnit.
PATRIOTIC UTTERANCEs FROM THE
SACRED DESK.

IL Is very proper tnaL tue pulplt
should be heard from at particular
times, notably on the Fourth of July
in reference to those secular questions
that so affect the peace of society and
the integrity of our free institutions,
especially as they stand on a higher
plane and take a broader view than
the mere politician who finds it ex-
tremely difficult to get away from per-
sOnal and party interests. As we had
no celebration as was our wont in the
years of the pastl to rekindle the fires of
patriotism, we take pleasure in giving
a brief outline OF the discouTses of two
of our pastors who touched in their
Sunday morning sermons on the
questions that now most interest us as
a people and a nation:
REV. ]. B. QUIGG's DISCOURSE.
The Rev. Mr.. Quigg. pastor of the
N. Z. Church took the following for
his text:
Think not that l am come to send
peace on earth; l came not to send
peace but sword. Matt. 10: 81.
His subject was The gospel produc-
ing disturbance" The points en-
braced in the discourse were as follows
First.-This ought not to be cOnsid-
cred an objection to the gospel. We
celebrate day of disturbance But
we do not think it an objection to our
fathers, for they suffered intOlerable
wrongs which fully justified them in
their revolt. The gospel as a disturb
ing element is always in the interest of
righteousness. 1t is the highest mani
festatiOn of that power in the world
not ourselves making for righteous
ness" The present is a mixed state
where wrong exists and right seeks
dominance. The gospel. is an efficient
and gracious power, yielding nothing
for peace, sharper than any two
edged sword, piercing even to the di-
viding asQnder of soul and spirit, and
of the Joints and marrow, and is "a dis
cerner of the thoughts and intents of
the heart" Martin Luther said at the
Diet of Worms, rejoice exceedingly
to see the gospel this day, as of old, Il
cause of disturbance and disagree
ment."
SecOad.-As the gospel produces dis
turbance where wrong exists we have
no immediate prospect of peace.
Wrong never assumed forms of such
| enormous and gigantic magnitude. TO
| illustrate: A land monopoly is a great
wrong. Home Rule agitates Great
Britain, why? Because 500 English
aliens hold 1900, 900 of acres of land
in Ireland or 26,O0O acres on the aver
age. We have supposed no such
wrong possible in our extended cOun-
/ try, yet according to a congressional
report % aliens hold an average of
more than 700, 900 acres of land, or in
| the whole 20, 557 900 acres But the
! day is one Of mOnOpOlies; syndicates
are organized to "gobble up" corn,
/ coal, &c, TO "bull " or " bear the
market and compel the people to pay
eXorbitant prices for every necessity
Wrong assumes gigantic magnitude
because it takes advantage of the
progress of the times. The rum trade
distributes its poisonous commodities
to the ends Of the earth. Railroad
and telegraph are made subscrvient
to the work of decentralization and
ruin. Wrong is an expression of sell
fishness or sensuality. In the latter
form it is full of effrOntery. In the
former it is more prevailing and dom
inant. Ayarice gives potency to all
forms of iniquity. THE organized
millions of rumsellers aspire to control
elections, to shape or Illustrate legis-
latinn. 1t boasts that prOhibitory laws,
if enacted, cannot be enforced, because
officers, witnesses, and courts can be
| corrupted The labor question ex-
lists only because avarice has been
strengthened by the developments of
the times. Christianity must take
hold of the property question in be-
half of the many against the grinding
exactiOns of enormous wealth. A way
must be found to adjust the relations
of capital and labor, so that the ma
terial progress of the day shall shine
upon all the benefcent rays of religion
and intelligence, and to all shall be a
distribution of the luxurious comforts
of the times.
Third.-The gospel justifes all dis
turbeTs who are allied with it in the
use of the sword. We are not advo-
Gates of strife. But right must tri-
umph. The disciples were disturbers
of the peace. Paul produced a great
disturbance and riot in the temple at
Jerusalem. At Independence Hall, on
the Fourth of July, 1776, the sigma
/
ment, meant, not peace, but a sword.
To-day the friends of temperance are
making a disturbance. Are they at
fault? Consider the array of outlaws
supporting the liquor iniquity. Bishop
Foster says, The church of to-day
must take to its heart the duty OF
combining and massing its forces
against that gigantic atrOcitY, that di-
abOlical conspiracy that
mothers nine-tenths of the woes and
sorrows that blight and curse our mod
ern age-the traffic in intoxicants.' y
We need only be anxious to be right.
Some are willing to purchase peace at
any price. That is not the spirit OF
the gospel. st. Paul exhorts US to be
OF good courage, to put on the whole
armor, to fight the good fight, to en-
dure hardness as good soldiers. Then
let US accept the issue, and may we
wax valiant in fight, until we have
turned to flight the armies of the
aliens"
REV. DIR. J. T. UMsTED's DISCOURSE
Although there had been no public
announcement, the services on Sun.
day morning at the Presbyterian
Church, were appropriate to the day
in cOmmemOratiOn of the 10th an
niversary of the Declaration of Amer.
lean Independence. DR.. UmstPd took
for his text Deu. 1 1888, and Ps. 48
8. And because he loved Oul
: fathers, therefore he chose their seed
after them to give thee their land fOI
; an Inheritance as it is this day. We
:: have thought of thy kindness o Goo
! in the midst of thy temple" As the
4th of July occurred on Sunday. he re-
; marked that it was specially befittina
to call to mind the loving kindness o.
God to us as nation and preserving
to US our free institutions and the
gOOdly heritage which had been pro
cured for us, under the divine bless
; sing, by our fathers He referred first
to the fact that God is the God OF
nations and would hold them respon
sible for the blessings they enjoyed
would prosper them if they thus ack-
5 nowledged him and walked in his
ways and remembered his command.
} ments to do them. That he would
punish and finally destroy them if they
F. disObeyed his voice and did not feal
$ his name. That all history had proved
the truth of inspiration, 4" the nation
:. and kingdom that will not serve thee
, shall perish; yea, those nations shall