Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-29
In RELIGIONS REALM.
DISCOURSES ON THE WASHING.
TON CENTENARY.
Christianity Not Antagonistic to
Governmental Glance at the
COuntry's Progress-Etc.

|
croft and Desmond, rendered excellent
music, Miss Gerrish, the organist, being
assisted by Mr.. Ball and Mr.. Costello in in
| strumentation. A TIE Deum was sung as
an opening piece, after which all the music
was of a patriotic character. Rev. C. P.
Massey spoke from the text, Genesis vi, !:
There were giants on the earth in those
| days." He first alluded to the centennial
observances, which, extending over Pc
riod of fifteen years and marking all the
events of our revolutionary struggle, from
the assembling of the Continental Con-
gress, in 1774 had thus contributed to en-
dear the national traditions to every patriot
heart The event, however, to be cele-
brated on Tuesday, and to which this Sum-
| day observance, two days in advance of the
secular occasion, was intended to give the
| sanction of religion, was an event emf
nently proper to be made the theme of re-
| ligious discourse, for it was one calculated
to inspire within US those gentler virtues
which have fullest play in the everyday
and ordinary walks of human existence
Peace hath her victories no less memorable
than those of war, and with the event of
the inauguration of the first President of
any American Government that could be
called truly national, it seemed that the ma
ton had at length emerged from thescorch-
| ing glare of day, crowded with dire and
disastrous experiences, into that realm of Sc
curity and repose which may be typifed as
"a pillared shade, high over-arched, with echo
ing walks between"
| But it is not of war and its conouests we
have to speak to-day, for war and its con.
quests have been already relegated to the
past, but OF peace that came to still the
tumult of civil anarchy that had sue
ceeded the epoch of international conflict
that peace that always rules the day when
reason rules the mind"
| We come, then, rather to celebrate the
beginning of time when the bugles, hav-
ing sounded the truce of God the pen in
the hands of such men as Hamilton, and
Jefferson, and Jay, became clarion of
| more triumphant note than any trumpet
call to victory on the ensanguined field. 1t
is perhaps for the reason that the wears
pregnant of the greatest good for America
were the years between the surrender of
| CORVALLIS at Yorktown, in 1871. and the
adoption of the Federal Constitution in
| 1883, that no epic poem describing the
| American conflict has ever been composed,
llium had her Homer, the Crusades pre-
sented theme of imposing suggestion suf-
ficient to enlist the genius of Tasso for
their rehearsal; and, although prose was
his vehicle, Carlyle found in the French
Revolution subject for sustained and i'm
FASHIONED eloquence. But there must ever
have been latent feeling that the essential
| grandeur OF the revolutionary period was
in character of achievement before which
the fame of the conqueror faded in the
ulster OF the most constructive statesman
ship the world has ever seen, and that a
tale of battles would do little to present to
the intelligence of an interested world the
principles upon which Freedoms most
substantial structure has been securely
built.
MIR. Massey presented some startling con-
| trasts between the condition of affairs now
and the condition of affairs century ago.
He alluded to our compacted territory and
the influence of swift communication upon
the political and moral welfare of the peo-
| pie. He alluded also to the national credit,
| when debt still enormous could be funded
at 3 per cent, and pictured John Adams
just subsequently to the close of the revo-
| lutlonary struggle selling the drafts of
Robert Morris upon him at any discount
the money-lenders at Amsterdam de-
manded.
Speaking of the fear of an encroaching
aristocracy of wealth and to the labor
troubles of the period. the speaker used
these words at would seem sometimes
| as though the arm OF the Government was
nerveless in the presence of the tumult.
but the reason of this apparent fear or
| apathy is to be found in faith in the civil
and political order that has been firmly es-
tablished; in the majestic strength of the
underlying principles that are not disturbed
| by the agitations that simply assail the sur
| face Of things, and in the confidence that
even granting human imperfection the
great interests of humanity can be protected
under that Constitution that Washington
swore to faithfully administer one hundred
years ago, and which has since remained
the palladium of his country's liberty.
:" Mobiles oblige," rank imposes obligation,
and 1t remains for US to show that if wealth
has arrogated rank it is Indifferent to the
obligations which rank implies but
whether so or not, to constantly exalt those
moral virtues that are the proudest es-
cutcheon of individual privilege, saying
| confidently:
| " Howe er 1t be, 1t seems to me
| 'Tis only noble to be good
Kind hearts are more than coronets
And simple faith than Norman blood"
AT THE CENTRAL NJ. E. CHURCH.
The servicesat the Central NJ. E. Church
| were given up to the observance of the
centennial of the Washington inaugural.
The occasion drew out large congregations.
The church was tastefully decorated, a
feature being full-length engraving OF
Washington set in the center of large
flag drapIng, and a beautiful fower-piece
10 the national colors. The choir rendered
patriotic music.
In the evening Mrs. Bartholomew sang
the Grave of Washington and Mrs. D.
G.. Smith the solo, The Star. Spangled
Banner"
Speaking to the theme, "Christ and
| Cesar" Rev. Mr.. Filben said The spirit
! of Christianity is not revolutionary. 1t
does not anywhere sit itself directly in OPP
position TO existing orders in government,
though it should be bad government. 1t
did not in Christ's day, it has not since,
when its true spirit is preserved. 1t oper-
ates to reform wrongs Dy silent revolution
only by the force of the leayen OF its teach
ings. Jesus did not resist Roman tyranny.
and He did not directly attack political
evils. He recognized the principle that re-
| form in any line before readiness for il is
abortion. Self-government is the ideal in
government, but to attempt it before the
people are equal to it is to delay it,
More than this, Christianity enforces
duty to self-goyernment. 1t may not be a
good government; but, if under it, duty is
| 10 IL. II you nave It's prOtectiOn, you must
be obedient to its authority. Patriotism is
| corallsry of religion. No Christian may
blamelessly neglect the duties of citizen
ship, they are conscience duties in religion.
Loyalty TO the Governments the support of
it, and in our system personal interest in
its affairs. Every man by duty is in poll
tics with all that implies, from the word
caucus up. No one is excusable on any
ground.
Christianity is superior to the viciss-
tudes OF government A good Government
may help il, but poor one cannot per-
manently hinder. II ever one was potent
to hinder, it was the Roman Empire. and
its force was turned to hinder, bal when il
seemed most to prevail the cross suddenly
took the place OF its eagles, and Constantine
| came up from the bosom of the people 10
make it his standard. Governments come
and go; religion stays and will stay. The
most lasting thing in the world is not
monarchy. not republcanism, but religion.
The shifting panorama of the nations
Christianity is older than all but a few
dying and doomed nations, and, considered
as founded in Abraham, the Christian
Caufca is the Oldest institution in the
| world.
:" The greatest things in our govern.
mental history are in line with the princi-
pies OF Christianity. 1t is the explanation
of these. The greatest figure of our history
| is Washirr.ou and bis r~aofast oharao,o,